26 “The Spirit Teaches Us the Things of God”

A. T. Jones

OF the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

To declare a thing is to call special attention to it, to point out its attractions and its value.

This is what the Holy Spirit does to us with the things of God. He takes the things of God, and presents them to our view, makes them plain to our understanding.

This must needs be, because these great things are so far beyond our view and our comprehension that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

But in His mercy and His gentleness, the Lord gives all these things into the charge of the Spirit, to “declare” to us; “for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).

Nor is it only that He “searches all things,” but He is to declare to us “all things;” for Jesus said, “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:15).

All the wealth, all the glory, all the beauty, of all the wonderful things of God are free to us; nothing is kept back. That we might know all these things, is one reason that the Holy Spirit is given. These things are of eternal depth and infinite compass, and only “the eternal Spirit” can fully fathom them. “Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). Therefore it is He to whom it is given to declare them to us.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

What a wonderful Teacher! What a wonderful school! A university, yes, the university, indeed. Have you entered the school? Have you this wonderful Teacher?

“Ask, and it will be given to you.” “Receive the Holy Spirit.” “For everyone who asks receives.” “Be filled with” “the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” 

For more than a year, in the demonstration and power of the Spirit, the message has been going to this people, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” And what is His office?—“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The day of redemption is right at hand. Would you be sealed? Then now, just now, surrender to the instrumentality that will accomplish this result.

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, February 28, 1899