|
Why There is No Revival - Part II
|
|
|
Denial of the Personality of the Holy Spirit
This is the day of denial of the personality of the Spirit. There is a
grave danger in our high-powered evangelistic machinery that we may
organize the blessed Spirit out of the church.It is easier to organize than to agonize!
Unless the Holy Spirit is given the prominent place in the seat of
authority, there will be only false fire, no matter how big the
financial budget may be. How many evangelistic campaigns I have known
in which the executive member of the Godhead was completely ignored!
Revival comes from the Holy Spirit, and it is only a He is honored and obeyed that there can be a true spiritual awakening. Since the day of the Pentecost when He was installed as the administrator of the church, it has been His prerogative to undertake the leadership of all the gospel conquests. Throughout the Acts we see Him as a divine person residing in and over the church. For example, in the fifth chapter we have the unveiling of the presidency of the Spirit in the death of Ananias and Sapphira: “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?. . . Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God.”
In the thirteenth chapter, we see the Spirit exercising His divine authority as the Lord of the harvest: “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
In the general assembly gathering in the fifteenth chapter, the chairman James recognizes the Spirit’s leadership by announcing to the delegates: “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us . . .”
How extraordinary these words would sound in a Christian convention today! So far have we removed ourselves from the authority of the Spirit of God that such language would bring only a knowing smile from the delegates. Yes, the sin of the church today is the denial of the personality and presidency of the Spirit of Pentecost.
Campaign after campaign is conducted without Him. An occasional reference may be made to His Name; but alas, He is outside the camp and wounded in the house of His friends. The Holy Spirit is the source of all true revival. All our efforts apart from Him, no matter how big they may be, are like so much beating of the air. A church without her Pentecostal experience is utterly powerless to move herself or others.
Can it be that the church of Christ has so denied the Spirit of God His rightful place of authority and administration that it is too late in the day for Him to return? This is a very solemn and heart-searching question that ought to drive us to our knees in deep humiliation. Something is vastly wrong when we see so little results for our efforts.
|
