Living In The Light

August 29, In The Power Of The Spirit

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
—Acts 4:33 LL 255.1

Under their labors were added to the church chosen men and women, who, receiving the word of truth, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that filled their hearts with peace and joy. They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatenings. The Lord spoke through them, and as they went from place to place, the poor had the gospel preached to them, and miracles of divine grace were wrought. LL 255.2

So mightily can God work when men and women give themselves up to the control of His Spirit. LL 255.3

The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Savior, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through the long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives, have stood as signs and wonders in the world. Before angels and human beings they have revealed the transforming power of redeeming love. LL 255.4

Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit’s working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled.— The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 48—50. LL 255.5

Further Reflection: : If the work of the Holy Spirit is not constrained by time or place, do you expect to see manifestations of His working in your life and those who witness for Christ? LL 255.6