Marvelous Outpouring of Spiritual Power
By Ellen G. White
The Climax of Prevailing Prayer at Pentecost—That Manifestation of God's Working Brought Thousands to Christ in a Day—A Far Mightier Work Lies Just Before
THE commission that Christ gave to His disciples just before His ascension, is the great missionary charter of His kingdom. In giving it to the disciples, the Saviour made them His ambassadors, and gave them their credentials. If, afterward, they should be challenged, and asked by what authority they, unlearned fishermen, went forth as teachers and healers, they could reply, He whom the Jews crucified, but who rose from the dead, appointed us to the ministry of His word, declaring, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." Christ gave this commission to His disciples as His chief ministers, the architects who were to lay the foundation of His church. He laid upon them, and upon all who should succeed them as His ministers, the charge of handing His gospel down from generation to generation, from age to age. COMMANDED TO SEEK THEM OUT
The disciples were not to wait for the people to come to them. They were to go to the people, hunting for sinners as a shepherd hunts for lost sheep. Christ opened the world before them as their field of labor. They were to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It was of the Saviour that they were to preach,—of His life of unselfish service, His death of shame, His unparalleled, unchanging love. His name was to be their watchword, their bond of union. In His name they were to subdue the strongholds of sin. Faith in His name was to mark them as Christians. Giving the disciples directions, Christ said: "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." "But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." In obedience to the word of their Master, the disciples assembled in Jerusalem, to wait for the fulfilment of God's promise. Here they spent ten days,—days of deep heart searching. They put away differences, and drew close together in Christian fellowship. At the end of ten days the Lord fulfilled His promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit. "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." "And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." THOUSANDS CONVERTED UNDER THESE MIGHTY LABORS
"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." "With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them." Under their labors there were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the word of life, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that had filled their hearts with peace and joy. Hundreds proclaimed the message, "The kingdom of God is at hand." They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatenings. The Lord spoke through them; and wherever they went, the sick were healed and the poor had the gospel preached unto them. So mightily can God work when men give themselves up to the control of His Spirit. SECRET OF SUCCESS AND POWER
Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live, animated the entire congregation of believers. The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. GREATER BLESSING AND POWER YET TO COME
So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the "former rain," and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. What is the promise for those living in these last days?—"Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee." "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." PRAYER UNLOCKS THE POWER-HOUSE
By the grace of Christ the apostles were made what they were. It was sincere devotion and humble, earnest prayer that brought them into close communion with Him. They sat together with Him in heavenly places. They realized the greatness of their debt to Him. By earnest, persevering prayer they obtained the endowment of the Holy Spirit, and then they went forth, weighted with the burden of saving souls, filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. And under their labors many souls were brought from darkness to light, and many churches were raised up. Shall we be less earnest than were the apostles? Shall we not by living faith claim the promises that moved them to the depths of their being to call upon the Lord Jesus for the fulfilment of His word, "Ask, and ye shall receive"? Is not the Spirit of God to come to-day to His praying, trusting, believing workers, who are opening the Scriptures to those ignorant of the precious truth they contain? "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." UNSEEN AGENCIES BATTLE FOR CONQUEST OF SOULS
We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make-believe conflict. It is no mimic battle in which we are engaged. We have to meet most powerful adversaries, and it rests with us to determine which shall win. We are to find our strength where the early disciples found theirs. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." "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 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." As the disciples, filled with the power of the Spirit, went forth to proclaim the gospel, so God's servants are to go forth to-day. Filled with an unselfish desire to give the message of mercy to those who are in the darkness of error and unbelief, we are to take up the Lord's work. He gives us our part to do in cooperation with Him, and He will also move upon the hearts of unbelievers to carry forward His work in the regions beyond. Already many are receiving the Holy Spirit. A work similar to that which the Lord did through His delegated messengers after the day of Pentecost, He is waiting to do to-day. At this time, when the end of all things is at hand, should not the zeal of the church exceed that of the early church? Zeal for the glory of God moved the disciples to bear witness to the truth with mighty power. Should not this zeal fire our hearts with a longing to tell the story of redeeming love, of Christ and Him crucified? Should not the power of God be even more mightily revealed to-day than in the time of the apostles?