Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 5, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 35.

Our Bible Reading

The Outpouring of the Spirit

1. What special promise did the Saviour make to His disciples when He was about to ascend to the Father?

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1: 8.

2. What is the record of one of the remarkable fulfillments of the foregoing promise?

And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2: 1-4.

3. Who was the principal speaker on this occasion?

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and harken to my words. Acts 2: 14.

4. What was one of the immediate results of this discourse of Peter?

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2: 41.

5. What period was this special outpouring of the Spirit to cover?

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, . . . Be this known unto you, and harken to my words. . . . This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy. Acts 2: 14-18.

6. What is the promise of the Master in regard to the character of the works His followers would do after He should return to the Father?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14: 12-14.

7. Under this mighty outpouring of the Spirit what will be one of the "greater works" to take place as the Gospel closes?

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. Rev. 18: 1.

NOTE.—Power is invisible. Water must be heated into invisible steam in order to drive the great locomotive that pulls the heavy train; the electric current that lights our buildings and drives our streetcars and the like is also invisible. But we may see the mighty work of this invisible power just the same. Even so may we see the results of the mighty working of the Spirit of God on human hearts. And as Christ’s coming draws nearer and nearer, we will see more and more of the manifestation of this mighty power that was revealed in the working of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. That shower of the "former rain" will be supplemented by the great outpouring of the latter rain to fit a people to stand before the Lord in the day of His coming.