Transformed Through the Presence of His Spirit

Once I read this story. Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), the great artist had to spend more than two years in order to paint his world renowned "The Last Supper." It is said that the delay was due to the fact that even though he could find a suitable model to paint Christ at the center of his rough sketch, he had a difficult time to locate someone who could embody Judas as a hypocrite-traitor with a glum face marked by antipathy and gloom. One day as he walked by a street corner, under the shadow he caught sight of a man lying on the ground--the man who totally fitted the image of Judas he had in mind. The artist was overwhelmed by this finding after such a long period of anxious waiting. Before he had a chance to grasp the man and take a good look of him, this fellow recognized da Vinci and in sadness cried out, "Sir, do you still remember me? Years ago I was chosen by you to be the model of Christ in your new work, but now who do you want me to model for? Or how can I help? . . ." Leonardo muttered, "Judas!"

Yes, in countless cases such tragic consequence of sin in human characters repeats again and again. And how can God's image in humanity be restored to its original perfection that God intends--from Leonardo's Judas to da Vinci's Christ? E.G. White states: "Education, good manners, and will power all have their place in helping us to do right things. But they cannot change our hearts and make our lives pure. Only new life from above can work within us and change us from being sinful to being holy. The power is Christ. His love alone brings new life and draws us close to God and makes us holy." (EG White, Steps to Christ, Chapter 1, pp 18-19) Jesus says, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14: 6. The only way for us to be restored to God's image is through believing in our crucified and resurrected Savior. You and I, dear brothers and sisters, can experience the transformation through the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has promised to bestow upon His followers who always trust in Him. As the Bible says: "...God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5 NIV). Without Christ and His sacrificing love, there can be no salvation; without the Holy Spirit whom we accept by faith we cannot appropriate and take possession of Christ's love.

I. CHRIST and THE HOLY SPIRIT and HUMANITY

A. Christ and the Holy Spirit

Christ and the Holy Spirit are one just as Jesus said "I and the Father are one" (Jn. 10:30). The mysterious Holy Trinity--Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit--the three persons all are one (Acts 5: 3,4; Gen. 1:2; Matt. 10:20; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6; Psa. 51:11. The Triune God has always worked harmoniously together as well as distinctively for our creation and redemption. This is one of our fundamental Christian beliefs. Karl Barth believes that the work of the Holy Spirit always magnifies Christ while conceals Himself.

Just how close is the connection and how intimate the relationship between Christ and the Holy Spirit? We find in the Scripture that the Holy Spirit was at work in:

1) Christ's conception and birth (Matt. 1:18; Lk 1:35);

2) Christ's anointing during His baptism (Matt. 3:16) and before His ministry (LK. 4:18);

3) Christ being filled, guided, and supported before and during His temptation by Satan (Lk. 4:1);

4) Christ's proclaiming justice to the Gentiles (Matt. 12:18);

5) Christ's driving out demons and miracle-performing (Matt. 12:28);

6) Christ's witnessing, testifying, and memory facilitator (Jn. 15:26; Jn.14:26);

7) Christ's being vindicated and justified (1 Tim. 3:16);

8) Christ as an unblemished offering to God for our sins (Heb. 9:14, 15);

9) Christ's resurrection (Rom. 1:4)

Since Christ and the Holy Spirit are one as the Father, the Holy Spirit is also the truth and the life, and the way to the Father as Jesus is ( Jn 14: 6,17; 15:26; 16:13; 6:63-64 and Eph. 2:18; Rom.8: 2,26). Jesus is an Advocate and Comforter, so is the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14: 16).

In Jesus' farewell speech again and again He introduced the Holy Spirit to His disciples and put emphasis on the Holy Spirit as His representative, successor and finisher of His redeeming work on earth during the solemn yet joyful "change of administration" ceremony.

B. The Holy Spirit and the Believers:

Jesus' redemptive work on the cross for us believers is totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. As E.G. White wrote: "Everything had been transformed by the working of the arts of Satan." (1897, Ms 143) so we desperately need the work of the Holy Spirit to restore God's image in us. But how?

1. By the Holy Spirit one can comprehend God's love manifested in Christ by faith (Rom. 5:5).

2. Only by the Holy Spirit can one say: "Jesus is Lord " (I Cor. 12:3).

3. The Holy Spirit helps one to repent, seek for righteousness and to be aware of the coming condemnation. "When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8).

4. By the Holy Spirit one can be regenerated and be guided to enter the Kingdom of God. "What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Jn 3:6). Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit" (Jn. 3:5).

5. By the Holy Sprit one can pray as a child of God. "For all who led by the Spirit of God are children of God...When we cry, "Abba! Father! It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:14,16).

6. No one can be justified and sanctified except by the Holy Spirit. "But you were sanctified and you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 15:16; 2 Thess. 2:13). Through the Holy Spirit, theory becomes reality in our experience.

7. We receive God's healing physically, mentally and spiritually through the work of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28; Lk 4:18-19). Jesus announced: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring the good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captivities and recover the sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Lk 4:18-19).

8. Only through the Holy spirit can one produce the spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal.5: 22, 23).

9. No one can be empowered to do evangelistic work effectively without the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witness...(Acts. 1:8, also Mic. 3:8). "When the spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth..." (Jn. 16:13; I Thes. 1:5)

10. The Holy Spirit guides, gives us discernment, helps us probes the mind of God and the glorious future He has prepared for us as well as helps the believers to endure for Christ's sake. Peter said: If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you" (1 Cor. 2: 9-16; Jn. 16:13; 1 Pet. 4:14).

11. Believers experience peace and joy and the abundant life today in the form of streams of living water flowing from within through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14: 17; Jn.7: 38, 39).

12. Believers will inherit eternal life through the Holy Spirit. "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you" Rom. 8: 11; Jn. 3:5.

In summary, Dear Brothers and Sisters, based on all these scriptural verses, we can see the crucial role the Holy Spirit plays in our believer's life and salvation. E. G. White mentioned: "In the light of the truth that is shining in our day, we are reproved for the dearth of the Holy Spirit...As long as an individuals are content with a mere theory of truth, and are yet lacking in the daily operation of the Spirit of God upon the heart, which is manifested in outward transformation of character, they are cutting themselves off from the qualification that would fit them for greater efficiency in the Master's work..." Letter 27, 1894. If we have the Holy Spirit we will have everything intended for us by God. Otherwise, we could not have Christ and all of what He wants to bestow on His believer in restored fellowship and eternal life with God.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST TRANSFORMED THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH

A church is composed of people with fallen human nature in need of grace, who endeavor to do God's will and carry out God's mission on earth. Though it was called and formed by Christ Himself, the Apostolic church was no exception as far as human weakness is concerned.

Even after Christ's resurrection, not to mention before His crucifixion, Jesus' disciples were a group of fearful people, ready to run and scatter in the face of difficulties and persecution. How could such people with weak spirit and trembling hearts be witnesses for their Master? John and James not only had their temperament characterized by their nickname "Sons of Thunder"; beneath the thunder lay their cherished ambition to hold higher positions than others in Christ's kingdom. Such hunger for power incited jealousy and anger by the other disciples. If Peter remained so depressed for his failure to stand up for Jesus and Thomas continued to be troubled by his doubts, what kind of message could they present in front of the Jews? Even right before Christ ascended into heaven, Jesus rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen, as stated in Mark 16:14 in some manuscripts. If they themselves had such difficulty believing in Christ's resurrection, how could the disciples convince others to believe in a risen Christ?

The question is: Could Jesus' Great Commission be entrusted to such a group of people like the disciples? What were the possibilities that the gospel could even be preached to all the nations, and kindred and people? The gospel to be effectively proclaimed must be first exemplified by the life of the disciples as well as even by the facial expression reflecting their own convictions. Something must be changed. And God knew it.

E. G. White had this insight: "Christ determined to bestow a gift on those who had been with Him and on those who should believe on Him,....what gift could Christ bestow rich enough to signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy of His greatness and His royalty. Christ gave His representative, the third person of the God head, the Holy Spirit. This gift could not be excelled." E.G. White Ms 44, 1898.

The unbelieving and vacillating disciples, however, had to prepare their hearts first in order to receive such a gift of the Holy Spirit. They needed to repent toward God and one another; to seek faith that would enable them to grasp Jesus' promise that God will give them another Counselor-Comforter. It was none other than the Holy Spirit who could prepare the disciples' hearts by convicting them of their sins of unbelief, helping them in their weakness, and leading them to repentance. (Jn. 16: 7-9; Acts 5:31; Rom. 8:26; Eph. 2:8; Zech. 12:10).

As excellent as the gift of the Holy Spirit is, God would not force such a gift on his disciples. People have the freedom to "Quench the Spirit" (I Thes.5: 19); "Grieve the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 4:30); and in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, "Lie to the Holy Sprit." We can "Put the Spirit of the Lord to the test" (Acts 5:1-11); "Resist the Holy Spirit" as the ancient Jews did (Acts 7:51); and eventually come to a stage when God will say "My spirit will not abide in mortals forever" as happened in the Deluge recorded in Genesis 6:3. King David once committed such grievous sins that he was afraid God would take away the Holy Spirit from him (Psa. 51:11). With human freedom which God honors, unbelievers' progressive opposition to the Holy Spirit will lead to "outrage the Spirit of grace" (Heb.10: 26-29) and finally "blasphemy against the Spirit" which is the unforgivable sin. (Matt. 12: 31-32).

Praise the Lord, the apostles and the first group of early Christians yielded to the pleadings of the Spirit and listened to Jesus "not to leave Jerusalem" but "wait there for the promise of the Father." As a result they were baptized by the Holy Spirit, and "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon" them. Empowered by the Holy spirit, they boldly went forth to be Jesus' "witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" as stated in Acts 1:8.

During the ten days before Pentecost the disciples had humbled themselves before God and fellow workers. They had repented of their sins and confessed to one another. They had solved the problems arising from egocentrism. The penitents' tears had quenched the fire of anger. Love as the anointing oil had soothed their hurt. The finger which once had pointed to another's fault now pricked their own heart. Gratitude had replaced resentment, confirming others' merit instead of criticizing their demerit. Even as Peter became old he still remembered this life-transforming experience. He later instructed his followers: "And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealing with one another for God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble." I Pet. 5:5.

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Applying the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, we can see today that only when the disciples felt their poverty in spirit could they begin the process of repentance--i.e. mourning for their own sins. Of course it was all the work of the Holy Spirit who brought the very holy Jesus and the kingdom of grace into their hearts by faith. Humbling themselves through repentance and confession, they became meek and gentle and eligible to be Jesus' disciples and representatives on earth. Meanwhile, with their hearts emptied out of jealousy and competitive strife, the disciples now had the hunger and thirst for righteousness, which Jesus typified. With generous infilling by the Holy Spirit, the disciples' demeanor and conduct were imbued with Christ's mercy reflecting the profound transformation in their inner being. Tender words and kindly deeds became their hallmarks. With their spiritual eyes cleansed by penitent's tears, they saw God in their brother's presence as well as the heavenly light shining forth from their co-workers' countenance. Blessed with purity of heart and joy indescribable, they went out boldly to proclaim the risen Savior and urge sinners to make peace with God. The Spirit empowered them with an inner courage that could defy fear in the presence of dangers and persecution. The Holy Spirit reassured them of God's presence and God's promise of eternal life beyond this life. Death under persecution was no longer to be feared as they preached Christ and Him crucified. Indeed they became the really blessed disciples.

Yes, Pentecost truly and radically transformed the Apostolic Church and set Christianity on its triumphant path to win the lost for Christ. But God did not stop there at Pentecost. He is with us today unto the end of the world and until His work is finished in His time.

As the disciples and the early church were on their knees with tears of joy, God was already preparing greater things for His Church. Once the Church cooperated with the Holy Spirit and fulfilled their part, Almighty God always follows through. We can see how God planned everything to accomplish His purpose. He designed the time and occasion-Pentecost in Jerusalem-the very location where the scattered Jews must visit thrice a year for the feasts. With "the sound like the rush of a violent wind" then the tongues, He drew the Jews' attention to the building where God's Spirit manifested. Provided with the gifts of tongues, the apostles could interact with those of different cultural and language background. And in turn the visitors and strangers could also understand what was going on. God knew the needs of a group of unprepared Jews who professed to be His people. He attended with care and drastically transformed the disunited church which hitherto had no spiritual power, nor heavenly message, nor loving attitude and influence. Without the preparation by the Spirit of the apostles' hearts according to God's design and wonderful provisions, the Pentecost experience could never have taken place. What He did then, I am convinced, He can do it again today, for us across the globe, if we will only humble ourselves and turn our hearts and seek His face.

Since I was born in China and in God's mysterious providence destined to be one of His witnesses of the Chinese church, in particular our Seventh-day Adventist church, let me tell you what miracles the Holy Spirit has wrought in China during these past 50 years. Back In 1888, an old layman, Abram La Rue started the gospel work in Hong Kong and later on mainland China. In 1902 J. N. Anderson was sent by the GC to be the first official missionary to China. Along with our pioneers from foreign lands as well as the Chinese native workers and converts, they sacrificed and labored hard for 50 years under very adverse circumstances. By 1951, on the official church record there were 21,000 SDAs in 278 churches in the seven unions under the China Division. Under the Division's supervision, there were also 15 SDA hospitals, over 100 elementary schools and academies and one college-level institute as well as a modern publishing house. Just 2-3 years under the Communists regime, almost everything changed in Christianity. At one time only a few hundred faithful Adventists could be counted and quite a few of them spent years in prisons and labor camps. Though foreign missionaries and pastors had been driven out and the official SDA church was dissolved later on in 1958, now looking back, we know that the Holy Spirit was still working silently those years in the formless and persecuted church. What appeared to be a total destruction to the church body was none other than a purification process by the Holy Flame. The desperate human hearts dying of thirst and hunger were quenched by the early and latter rain and nourished by the heavenly manna from the Holy Spirit. The flickering light of Chinese church not only survived but has thrived and thrived. As I speak today, even we have not yet seen a total spiritual resurrection of the Chinese Church nor a restoration to the pre-1949 facilities in terms of hospitals, church schools, publishing house, or seminary, by God's grace and the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit, we have something far more precious and pleasing to God. Today under the guidance by the Holy Spirit, we have over 300,000 faithful brothers and sisters in 3 to 4000 churches or companies. A record baptism week in one place recorded over 3,000 baptisms. Recently a new church building with 4,000 seats was completed-probably one of the largest within our SDA circle. Just as in the Apostolic church at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has for the past 50 years worked mightily in China. And more glorious work by Him is yet to be seen in this last generation. This we know from Jesus' promise.

We read in Acts 2 that the transformed Peter spoke in the Spirit and the people were cut to the heart after his exhortation and instruction. Those who welcomed the message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 persons were added to the early church. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers. As Acts 2: 43 stated: "Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."

Of course, the presence of the Holy Spirit did not make Jesus' followers immune against life's difficulties and pain. Persecution was still ongoing and the threat of death always around the corner.

But there was a big difference after the transforming power at Pentecost. From that time on, the followers of Christ were able to stand firm in their beliefs amidst trials and tribulations. Many commentators claim that the book of the Acts of Apostles actually should be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit." How true!

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE LATER RAIN, AND THE CHURCH TODAY

A more important question today is, dear Brothers and Sisters: Can our church in the 21^st Century recapture this marvelous Pentecostal experience--united in God's grace and in His Word, united in Christian worship and fellowship, Advent hope and witnessing the truth--to be a church enjoying the favor with God and people, a church who rejoices in the Lord always? Yes, E. G. White reminded us that "The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost wiIl lead to a revival of true religion" (Letter 27, 1894.) If we follow the apostles' footsteps to be constantly praying together, to have sincere contrite hearts, I believe our church can be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to proclaim God's message boldly.

We know that the glorious events which took place at Pentecost in the Apostolic Church was only a partial and initial fulfillment of Joel's exciting prophecy (Joel 2: 28, 29). The outpouring of God's Spirit at Pentecost was like the early rain in Palestine merely to water the seeds that have just been sown. The latter rain with its full impact will culminate right before the great harvest when Christ in full glory comes with all the mighty angels. From our Adventist perspective, "the latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord" (Hag. 2:9). If we consider that the great Advent religious revival occurred in the mid 19th century, then the first Angel's message calling people's attention to the judgment hour in the heavenly sanctuary began in 1844, through the prophets God has promised the latter rain and previewed in the history of the first Apostolic Church in Acts, it will accompany an "angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor" as we read in Revelation 18:1. This world and the Church need to witness God's coming glory in the form of a massive revival permeated by the Holy Spirit. I believe God is planning for such a climax for the finishing of His work and initiating Jesus' Second coming.

We can get a glimpse of what will soon take place by examining Joel 2:28-30, "Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on earth..." E. G. White said: "In visions of the night, representations passed before me a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lighted with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voice of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844." (EGW, 9T 126.1)

To recapitulate, the Advent Movement in the mid 19^th century can be thought of as the early rain of this last generation, but the latter rain with its glory and power of the Holy Spirit is yet before us, Brethren and Sisters! The great work is still ahead of us. How do we proclaim the everlasting gospel to billions of people who know Him not? How can we share the Three Angel's messages and the present truth of this last generation with millions of other Christians? When can we see the realization of the vision given to us by God?

As the repented and reformed Peter in front of his fellow countrymen said: "Repent therefore, and return to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that the time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through His holy prophets." Acts 3:19-21. So must we Brothers and Sisters repent and turn to God and have our sins wiped out in Jesus blood by faith as a prerequisite to having refreshing by God's Spirit.

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to Him" (2 Chron.16:9). God is not looking for things--money, building, high tech and diploma. God on the other hand is looking for certain people who have truly repented and are now turning their hearts to Him. With dedicated people all committed to finishing God's work on earth, the Pentecost experience not only can be repeated but indeed exceeded. God is eager to pour out His Spirit on the Laodicean church. The Holy Spirit is sorrowful because of our lukewarm state. He is anxious to equip us with the power and glory to finish the work. He reminds us, "Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light..." (Isaiah 60: 1-3).

The unsaved world, the Church, all of us, my dear Brothers and Sisters, need to be filled and transformed by the Holy Spirit. "The great need of this time of peril is the Holy Spirit, for it will bring to the receiver all other blessings in its train. The truth believed will transform the character." E. G. White, Letter 27, 1894. The greatest transformation in us individually, in our family, in the remnant churches, in the helpless world, is yet to be ushered in by the presence of His Spirit. So today, dear Brothers and Sisters, let us not be disheartened but take courage. Let us have faith to cling on to Jesus and God's promises that He will sanctify our characters (Rom. 15:16) and reproduce in us the likeness of the Son of God.

God's Word is sure; His promises never fail. We can trust Him to transform us by His Spirit today and everyday, because "the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" destined to "share in His glory" (Rom. 8:16,17). Hallelujah, Amen.