Empowered by the Spirit: The Call to Revival

Remember that our faith consists of two parts: first of all, there is the history, and secondly, there is the truth, the doctrine that is derived from the history and which is an exposition and an explanation of the history. It is of supreme importance that we should always bear in mind both aspects of our faith. [00:00:30]

The coming and the sending of the Holy Ghost as described here is an absolute proof that he is the Son of God. You see, his prophecy is verified. He said this would happen, and here it is happening. If he had been but a man, well, this would never have happened at all. [00:05:50]

This is the real beginning of the Christian church as we know her. Now, I add that for this reason: it is not the beginning of the church. There was the church in the Old Testament, as Steven pointed out in his sermon. The church was there already while our Lord was still on Earth in one sense. [00:08:08]

We have here the only explanation as to how Christianity ever spread in the world and became the power that it did. Now, this is where I say the relevance of all this to us today is so significant. Have you ever stopped and considered the whole thing from this angle? [00:09:53]

The transformation of these men is the only explanation of the spread of the Christian church. Now, it's so difficult for us to remember this, isn't it? You see, our whole outlook has become so different. The church is large in a sense, is largely as an organization, and she's known about by all people. [00:17:05]

This is not only the explanation of what happened at the beginning; it's not only absolutely essential to an understanding of the spread of Christianity. It is also, in the same way, the pattern of every subsequent Revival and Reawakening of religion. And that, again, of course, is the most astounding and important fact. [00:18:25]

Every Revival that's ever been known in the church has always been an exact reproduction of this. This is how it's always happened. The church has become weak and ineffective after a great period of Revival. Slowly, the enthusiasm has waned, and people have gone back again into their ordinary methods and ways and habits. [00:18:59]

The coming of the Holy Ghost gives the church a great certainty about the Lord. You know, these Apostles knew him better on this day of Pentecost than they'd known him even when he was with them. He told them that. He had said to them, let not your hearts be troubled. [00:30:33]

The Holy Spirit had come with such Illuminating power that he was real to them. He was with them. He was within them, and they were likewise feeling with great joy, and his love had been shed abroad in their hearts. These men were so filled with joy that to some ignorant people standing around, they appeared to be drunk. [00:31:48]

The church without this power can do nothing. What's the power for? Well, it is to witness unto him. He shall receive power and shall be Witnesses unto me, and you see an example of it in Peter's preaching there on that day of Pentecost. What was the power that was given to him? [00:33:20]

The Holy Spirit does that. It enables a man to understand the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. We've seen Paul saying to the Ephesians, that's what happened. He hadn't got it before, stumbling, hesitant, broken, stuttering as it were, but suddenly he speaks with a new Authority and with a new eloquence. [00:34:02]

We need to return to a belief in the power of the Holy Ghost and to rely upon that and upon that alone. And remember, this is something that we need individually. Peter said the promise is unto you and to your children and to as many as are a far off, and he was referring to the gift of the Holy Ghost. [00:40:00]