Our Need for the Spirit of God
Need is a circumstances in which a thing or course of action is required, 2) a situation of great difficulty or misfortune, 3) lack of necessaries, poverty, 4) a requirement, a thing necessary for life.
We are in need of the Spirit of God because we are destitute in the things of God. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” This is an assurance to Zerubbabel that the temple will be rebuilt and God’s purposes will be accomplished, not by human strength or military might, but the inspiration, guidance, and empowerment provided by the Spirit of God.
We need the Spirit of God because this is our greatest need as a church. “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be an earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it.” EGW True Revival, 9.
Elder Ron CLouzet shares this story from China. Gao Hung Tse, a laborer in the country, had been baptized. He had no family and no education, and not only was he illiterate, he had such a poor memory that he couldn’t remember what people had read to him. But Gao loved Jesus, and he longed to share God’s love and His Word with other people-if only he could learn to read.
One Sabbath he decided that he’d plead with the Lord to do something-anything-so could share his faith, so he spent hours praying for the Holy Spirit to empower him. Suddenly, Gao heard a voice say, “Read Psalm 62.” He protested that he couldn’t read, but the voice came again. It didn’t discuss the problem or argue with him. It simply told him to read again Psalm 62. So Gao took the Bible that someone had given him at his baptism and opened it to Psalm 62. Then, to his amazement, he found that he was able to read, so he read the whole psalm.
Gao couldn’t contain his excitement. He ran out of his shack and across the village, where he told the church elder, “ God taught me to read!” Then he recited the whole psalm from memory. God had miraculously given him the ability both to read and to memorize.
What did Gao do with his new, God-given abilities? He proclaimed the love of Jesus to everyone who would listen. He opened the Bible and read it to others as if each word came from heaven. And because this common laborer boldly placed his trust in God’s promises, God used him to bring healing and hope to multitudes of people. Hundreds came to the waters of baptism due to his testimony and ministry-180 in the first year after he was baptized!
Claim the Promise of the Holy Spirit
John 14:16-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (TRUTH)
Mark 11:24
New King James Version (NKJV)
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (FAITH)
James 1:5
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (WISDOM)
“Are we awake to the work that is going on in the heavenly sanctuary, or are we waiting for some compelling power to come upon the church before we shall arouse? Are we hoping to see the whole church revived? That time will never come. There are persons in the church who are not converted, and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less.” EGW, 9.
Warm greetings to all SDA Brethren. I am Bro. Dick Perlas of Manila, Philippines. I became as SDA while serving my prison sentence in NBP, Muntinlupa, Phil. I bought a book in a book sale last week. The title is\”ADVENTIST GREATEST NEED\”, written by Pastor Ron E.M. Clouzet. In Chap One, it tell the story of Gao Hung Tse. Indeed it is an inspiration. I look forward to know the exact place in China and time and date when this happened so that when we will preach it, even if the unbelievers will attack this story, we can defend it. Thank you. May God bless us all.(Bro. Dick Perlas, Manila, Philippines).