THE SPIRIT OF GOD

1. By whom was man created ?

“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33:4.

2. What agency was employed in the creation of the earth ?

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Gen. 1:2.

3. How were the sun, moon, and stars created ? 

“By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens.” Job 20:13.

4. How was the Bible given?

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim. 3:16. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:20. See also 2 Pet. 1:21.

5. What weapon does the Spirit employ in its work ?

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:17. 

6. How will the dead be raised?

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8:11.

7. What converts the sinner ?

“The Spirit and the bride say, Come.” Rev. 22:17. “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 sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 8:20. See also John 16:7, 8.

8. How do all mankind have access to God ?

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Eph. 2:18.

9. Is God’s Spirit everywhere ? 

See Ps. 139:7-12.

10. Is it necessary to posse’s the Spirit in order to be “Christians” ?

“But ye are not in the flesh, but In the Spirit, If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Rom. 8:9.

11. How do we overcome our sins ?

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Rom. 8:13, 14.

12. How may the Spirit be obtained ?

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13.

13. When should we ask ?

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Isa. 55:6.

14. Will the time come when God will withdraw His Spirit, and mercy no longer be found ?

“My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Gen, 6:3. “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.” Prov. 1:28. See also Amos 8:11, 12; Hosea 5:6.

15. How does the Spirit manifest itself ?

1 Cor. 12.

16. Must we believe every spirit ?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God.” 1 John 4:1, first part.

17. Why is this necessary ?

“Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Verse 1, last part.

18. By what must we test them ?

“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:16.

19. What are the fruits of the Spirit ?

“But the fruit of the Spirit Is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 5:22, 23.

20. If we possess the Spirit, will we live in sin ?

 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” 1 John 3:9.

21. Was Joseph a man possessed of the Spirit ?

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” Gen. 41:38.

22. When urged to commit sin, what did he say ? 

“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” Gen. 39:9.

23. If possessed of the Spirit, will we not answer likewise.

24. Did Joshua have the Spirit of God ?

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him.” Num. 27:18.

25. Amid the clamor of darkness and unbelief, what did he say ?

“If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.” Num. 14:8.

26. Can we grieve the Spirit ?

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30.

27. Will God’s people in the “last days” be in possession of his Spirit ?

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17.

28. If possessed of the Spirit, wherein will it dwell

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own.” 1Cor. 6:19.

29. If we do that which will defile our bodies, what will be the result ?

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God Is holy, which temple ye are.” 1Cor. 3:17.

30. Where is an appropriate prayer for Christians recorded?

 See Ps. 51. 

Geo. Thompson.

—Your pretending to have faith, while you have no works of charity or mercy, is utterly vain; for as faith, which is a principle in the mind, cannot be discovered but by the effects, that is good works, he who has no good works, has, presumptively, no faith.— 

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald July 24, 1888