OFFICE­_ WORK_ OF_ THE_ HOLY_ SPIRIT.

By E.G.WHITE. __(all emphasis added by compiler)

The Desire of Ages_ -PG- 671

In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this Satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fulness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.

The Acts of the Apostles 51_ It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, "the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father." It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, "He shall not speak of Himself." _John 15:26; 16:13. __(52)

The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church._ Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden.

The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: _"When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8. _ It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. _If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements. _To the repentant sinner, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the Holy Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. "He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you," Christ said. "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." _John 16:14; 14:26.

The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. _The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures.

Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit (53) withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. _"He will guide you into all truth" _(John 16:13), the Saviour declared. _If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. _By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein.

Special Testimonies on Education _-CN- 21_ -CT- To Teachers and Students _-PR- 01 _-PG- 189

The intellect is to be kept thoroughly awake with new, earnest, whole-hearted work. How is it to be done? _The power of the Holy Spirit must purify the thoughts and cleanse the soul of its moral defilement. _Defiling habits not only abase the soul, but debase the intellect. _Memory suffers, laid on the altar of base, hurtful practises._ "He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." _When teachers and learners shall consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God, and purify their thoughts by obedience to the laws of God, they will continually receive a new endowment of physical and mental power. _Then will there be heart yearnings after God, and earnest prayer for clear perception to discern._ The office and work of the Holy Spirit is not for them to use it, as many suppose, but for the Holy Spirit to use them, molding, fashioning, and sanctifying every power. _The giving of the faculties to lustful practices disorders the brain and nerve power, and though professing religion, they are not and never will be agents whom God can use;

for he despises the practises of impurity, which destroy the vital nerve energies. _This sin of impurity is lessening physical vigor and mental capabilities, so that everything like mental taxation will after a short time become irksome. _Memory is fitful; and, O, what a loathsome offering is thus presented to God!__(Also found in:- Fundamentals of Christian Education PG- 227-8 __and in:- Spalding and Magan Collection PG- 73)

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald _-DT- 11-19-08 _-AT- Christ's Most Essential Gift to His Church_-PR- 05

In describing to his disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired his own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help he had provided for his church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that he could solicit from his Father for the exaltation of his people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fulness of divine power. _It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress his own character on his church. __(continue through to Par 15)

(Inserted comment by compiler:-- Is it any wonder that Satan is desperately attacking the true understanding of the holy Spirit's "office work" by getting people involved in arguing about the "Nature" of the holy Spirit which the human mind cannot understand.?)

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald _-DT- 10-13-04 _-AT- The Closing Work _-PR- 05

The saving knowledge of God will accomplish its purifying work on the mind and heart of every believer. The Word declares: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you._ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. _And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes." This is the descent of the Holy Spirit, sent from God to do its office work. _The house of Israel is to be imbued with the Holy Spirit, and baptized with the grace of salvation. __(continue with par 10 - _"false theories to deceive")

Lift Him Up_ PR- 03 _-PG- 191

In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. _It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. _Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.

Mind, Character, and Personality _Volume 2 -CN- 72_ -CT- Thought Habits _-PR- 04_ -PG- 663

Those who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God, purifying their thoughts by obedience to the law of God, will continually receive a new endowment of physical and mental power. _There will be heart yearnings after God and earnest prayer for clear perception to discern the office and work of the Holy Spirit._ It is not for us to use it, but for the Holy Spirit to use us, molding, fashioning every power._-- TSS 106. (CSW 40.)

SpTA10 Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers. -- No. 10 -PR- 01 -PG- 25

The Danger of Rejecting Light. _"Sunnyside," Cooranbong, Feb. 6, 1896. To My Brethren in America:

The great office work of the Holy Spirit is thus distinctly specified by our Saviour, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin."_ Christ knew that this announcement was a wonderful trust._ He was nearing the close of his ministry upon this earth, and was standing in view of the cross, with a full realization of the load of guilt that must be placed upon him as the sin-bearer. Yet his greatest anxiety was for his disciples. He was seeking to find solace for them, and he told them, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald -DT- 10-07-09 _Sanctified Service -PR- 02

The Lord will work for his people if they will work for him in his way, and not according to the ways of unsanctified hearts. The diligent, humble worker, seeking by earnest prayer and study of the truth as it is in Jesus, will most assuredly be regarded. He seeks for help, not from the ideas of human writers, but from the very fountain of wisdom and knowledge; and the Holy Spirit fulfils his office work to empty the golden oil into the golden bowls, that the lamps may send forth clear, perfect light, bringing to the understanding of others the purposes of God.

The Home Missionary _-DT- 04-01-95 -PR- 03

The office work of the Holy Spirit is to convince of sin, and I know that it is a sin for any one of us to be indifferent now. As we look around at the different fields that have been entered, we are led to inquire, "What hath God wrought?" What more could he have done for his vineyard than he has done? God has made provision to supply his rich grace, to give divine power for the performance of his work. Nothing is wanting on the part of God; the lack is on the part of the human agency, who refuses to co-operate with divine intelligences. Through the plan he has devised, nothing can be done for the salvation of man save through the co-operation of man. Sinners who have been blessed with light and evidence, who know that through grace that can be supplied to them, they may meet the conditions upon which salvation is promised, and yet who decline to make the attempt, have but themselves to blame for their own destruction. We feel that of such it may be said that Christ has died for them in vain. But who is to blame for the loss of the souls who know not God, and who have had no opportunity for hearing the reasons of our faith? _What obligation rests upon the church in reference to a world that is perishing without the gospel? Unless there is more decided self-denial on the part of those who claim to believe the truth, unless there is more decided faithfulness in bringing all the tithes and offerings into the treasury, unless broader plans are laid than have yet been carried into execution, we shall-not fulfill the gospel commission to go into all the world, and preach Christ to every creature.