p. 545 | The Spirit’s Outpouring by C. D. M. WILLIAMS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 5, 1913

The Spirit’s Outpouring

By C. D. M. WILLIAMS

C. D. M. WILLIAMS

“AND it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit.” Probably no promise is more sought after by Christian people than this one. And possibly none seems to be farther from being fully realized. Yet this promise is just as positive and just as sure as any that God has given to men. Why then do we not see it fulfilled?

After the resurrection of the Saviour, Peter and John ran to the sepulcher and went down into the tomb and saw the clothes of the One who had been crucified, and the napkin that had been wrapped about his head; otherwise the tomb seemed to be perfectly empty: but when Mary brushed the tears from her eyes and stooped down and looked into the sepulcher, she saw not the clothes but she saw two angels sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, and then when she had turned around, she saw Jesus himself. Why did not Peter and John see the angels? Why did they not see Jesus? Was it because there were no angels there? Was Jesus not with them?

After Elijah had prayed for the Lord to open the young man’s eyes, he saw that the mountain was full of the horses and chariots of the Lord. Why did he not see them before? Were there none there?

We do not see the great outpouring of the Spirit. Is it not being poured out? The angels were there and Jesus was there, but Peter and John did not see them. The horses and chariots of God were in the mountain, but the young man did not see them.

Is the Spirit of God doing its work now, and we so blinded that we do not recognize it? Is the message to the last church, “Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see,” a meaningless one? Are we, like Peter and John, looking at the rags and cast-off clothing of this earth, or, like Mary, really looking for Jesus? Are we like the young man who saw only the enemy, the trials, the trouble, persecution, and death, or like Elijah, calmly, sweetly resting in the power of God?

We read the prophecy with reference to John, that he was to go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias. Here was the promise of God that his Spirit should rest upon John in mighty power. Elijah had shut the heavens that it rained not for the space of three years and six months; the cruse of oil and the barrel of meal failed not in his presence, the fire of God had fallen from heaven and consumed the sacrifice at his command; the swollen waters of the Jordan ceased to flow while he passed over; the dead were raised to life at his petition. When John comes in that same spirit and power, what mighty work will he do? He will touch the hearts of men, he will turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. He will come baptizing in the wilderness, preaching the baptism of repentance. But what great miracle will he perform to show men that the power of God is mightily resting upon him?—Not one. John 10:41. “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.” Did the Spirit rest upon John in great power?—Yes. What was the power of the Spirit to do when it rested upon him? Was it to call down fire from heaven and raise the dead?—No. What was it to do?—It was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. What mightier miracle could be performed?

This wonderful power began its work by saying to God’s people, “Do not begin to think how good you are, do not look back at your ancestors, do not say, I belong to the church, but repent and turn away from sin.” The great work of this mighty power was to change the hearts of men, to turn them from disobedience to wisdom, to get them to see the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. It was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This same Spirit is again to prepare a people for the Lord. How will it begin? with what miracle will it commence its work?

“He will reprove the world of sin.” When you and I are praying for the outpouring of the Spirit, we are praying that God will show us our sins. Is this what we want, or do we want to see some miracle performed? Do we really want to see and put away every sin, that we may be a people prepared for the Lord, or do we want the world to see some mighty work that the Lord is doing through us?

The Spirit of God has a mighty sword to work with; it cuts deep, it reaches down through the joints and marrow and strikes the heart. It is deep-searching and knows even the thoughts and intents of the soul.

The sword is always for warfare, its purpose is to kill. So the Spirit takes its sword and goes forth to slay men. Then when they are dead, it makes them alive in Christ Jesus. “I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I

live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” “Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken.” “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”

The reason why we do not see more of the work of the Spirit is because we expect the Spirit to make us alive before we are dead. Do not be afraid to let the letter kill, if you want the Spirit to make alive. Is God pouring out his Spirit upon us today? is there a dying to self? is the sword of the Spirit cutting your heart, purifying your life, preparing you to meet the Lord? Yes, the Spirit of God is now touching the hearts of men, purifying their lives, turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and making ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Honolulu, Hawaii.