In this our day men have placed themselves where they are wholly unable to fulfil the conditions of repentance and confession; therefore they cannot find mercy and pardon. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed; it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence.
1888 Materials 913
O, I am glad I have a saviour! We must have the Holy Spirit to combine with man’s human effort. We can do nothing without Christ. “Without me, ye can do nothing.” “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” [Revelation 3:20]. I am so glad that we can be partakers of the divine nature, and that through Jesus Christ we can be conquerors. This is the victory–even your faith, feelings, and good works? Is that it? No; “This is the victory. . . , even your faith” [1 John 5:4].
What is faith? It “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then what? “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” [James 2:17]. Therefore we lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. Our lives are hid with Christ in God. There we have the whole of it. We can do nothing of ourselves, but the fire of God’s love is burning on the altar of our hearts. We are not following cunningly devised fables, no indeed; but we have been revealing Christ our righteousness. If you boast in your own good works, you cannot boast in Christ.
1888 Materials, p. 345,346
If we neglect to walk in the light given, it becomes darkness to us; and the darkness is proportionate to the light and privileges which we have not improved.
If jealousy, evil surmising, and evil-speaking are allowed to have a place in the church, that church is under the frown of God.It will be spiritually unhealthy until it is cleansed from these sins, for till then God cannot reveal His power to strengthen and elevate His people and give them victory.
Oh, how much we all need the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then we shall always work with the mind of Christ, with kindness, compassion, and sympathy, showing love for the sinner while hating sin with a perfect hatred.
![English: Dianthus [ Pink ] flowers](http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HKP02.jpg "English: Dianthus [ Pink ] flowers")
Come up out of the cellar of doubt, of unbelief, of jealousy, and evil surmising, into the upper chamber of faith, hope, courage, and thankfulness.Make melody to God in the heart. The garden of the Lord is strewn with precious flowers. Gather the roses and the lilies and the pinks from God’s spiritual garden.
The more we think of heaven, the more happiness we shall have.—
Excerpted from:
1888, chap.14 – Counsel to ministers
Discourse, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 21, 1888 – Ms 8a, 1888
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