Friday: Further Thought – The Holy Spirit and the Church
“This is the work in which we also are to be engaged. Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement, we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must be done in order that souls may be saved.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Instead of exhausting the powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons which the Lord has placed in His own power, and withheld from men, we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions, to souls who are perishing for the truth.” – Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 186.
“Every individual is striving to become a center of influence, and until God works for His people, they will not see that subordination to God is the only safety for any soul. His transforming grace upon human hearts will lead to unity that has not yet been realized, for all who are assimilated to Christ will be in harmony with one another. The Holy Spirit will create unity.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 20, 21.
Discussion Questions:
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In the begining I fought with my wife because she wanted to bring home, to spend the weekend with us, a poor girl which the mother has to spend most of the day out to work, while the 9 year-old kid stays locked in the house before and after school, all alone. I really thought that this was a crazy task. The girl would be a companion to our 8 year-old girl. Every weekend, for months now, we have been doing this. The change in my wife's attitude towards life has been pretty amazing. I am impressed with the fact that helping others directly does bring most benefits to ourselves! We are also aware that we cannot save the world, but the little we can do to ease the pain of someone close by is more than enough to produce personal blessings that seem to wait for us as long as we put into practice our faith. We were made to care for each other!
JC, we see the same thing at our church following the annual mission trips. This year will be year 21 of which I have been on 7. Those that go, always come back having gained much more than they have given. It happens every time.
When the focus of anything spiritual is to get personal attention or broaden personal ideas or influence the Holy Spirit isn't the spirit motivating.
We cannot, because of our ignorance and sinful condition, manufacture unity no matter how much we study and think we understand it.
As stated again in this lesson above, unity is only possible thru the working of God's Spirit. He will unify all of God's children in service, and differences will fade because He is at work in each genuine heart.
Selfishness is what divides people, not doctrine. If true love brought to us by the Holy Spirit were the motivation of every soul there would be no problems over doctrine. Doctrine is a unifying force in the church when we allow the Holy Spirit to motivate with the Love of God in our hearts. To leave off the truth of doctrine would be a grave mistake.
Some argue that what will really unite us is service, not doctrine. In fact, they argue that doctrine tends to divide people; thus, it should not be made prominent. But why can’t there be unity in mission and service if there is division in doctrine? Why is a commonly shared faith a powerful factor for united and effective mission?
My answer:
If the Love of God is our motivation, doctrine and service will be a blessing together. All will be united.
If the Love of God is not our motivation for what we do, neither doctrine nor service can be a blessing or united.