February—A Spirit-Filled Life

God's Gift of the Spirit, February 1

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16, 17.ML 36.1

During the Jewish economy the influence of God's Spirit had been seen in a marked manner, but not in full. For ages prayers had been offered for the fulfillment of God's promise to impart His Spirit, and not one of these earnest supplications had been forgotten.ML 36.2

Christ determined that when He ascended from this earth He would bestow a gift on those who had believed on Him and those who should believe on Him. What gift could He bestow rich enough to signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy of His greatness and His royalty. He determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled. He would give all gifts in one, and therefore the divine Spirit, that converting, enlightening, and sanctifying power, would be His donation.... It came with a fullness and power, as if for ages it had been restrained, but was now being poured forth upon the church....ML 36.3

Believers were reconverted. Sinners united with Christians seeking the pearl of great price.... Every Christian saw in his brother the divine similitude of benevolence and love. One interest prevailed. One object swallowed up all others. Every pulse beat in healthy concert. The only ambition of the believers was to see who could reveal most perfectly the likeness of Christ's character, who could do the most for the enlargement of His kingdom.^{1The Bible Echo, February 27, 1899 (The Signs of the Times, December 1, 1898).}ML 36.4

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The Holy Spirit was sent as the most priceless treasure man could receive.^{2The Bible Echo, May 22, 1899.}ML 36.5