The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-12

superficial or real. True revivals may
be divided into three kinds: The Ezra
type or legal revival, adapted to the
Spiritual life of the Jewish people in
the time of Ezra the prophet.
Second, John the Baptist type of re-
viyals, which is much more evengeli-
cal than many think. This is the prev
aIent type of revival where men are
brought to a knowledge of sin, the
need of repentance and the acceptance
of Christ as the only Savior from sin.
John the Baptist said that after all
this was done, there cometh one after
me- He shall baptiZe you with the
Holy Spirit There are a great many
Christians who have not, as yet,
reached that upper room at Jerusa-
lem with its baptism of the Holy Spirit
and the fire OF love and power.
The third type of revival may be
called ''Pentecostal," because that on
the day of Pentecost may stand as its
representative. Pentecostal revivals
comprehend all others. 1t brings out
their beauty and glorifies them, but it
caps the climax. Our text asks. what
this kind of a revival means? The text
is an exclamation of wonder from the
lips of the lockers on at the day of
Pentecost. They heard sounds. saw
tongues of fire, heard the disciples
speaking of Christ in their own Ian
guage. l am going to let the chapter
in an Introductory way furnish an an
swer.
First. what does it mean to the
Christian; what does it mean TO the
Church; what does it mean to the COM
munity outside of the Church? Let us
follow this in an inverted order. What
relation has the baptism of the Holy
Spirit TO unsaved men? He can only
come to those who already have learn
ed TO love Christ and keep his COM
mandments But when He is come He
will reprove the world. The best in
terests of the non-Christians is best
secured by you as Christians securing
the best that God has in store for you.
1t is not only your privilege but your
duty TO have the best gifts of God.
Then Il Pentecostal revival means
the attracting of men to the Church.
1t means the magnetizing of men and
the drawing Of them 70 Christ. The
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. even
upon a handful of men will attract the
outside world to God. The multitude
on the day of Pentecost was attra cted
and held steadfast by a simple Gospel
message from a man inspired of God.
The great need throughout Christen-
dom is a revival which will reach many
who are church members. but know
nothing of the vital realities of the
Spiritual life. It is an awful thing TO
get men so far and then Supply them
with the opiates of forms. rites. or
even the so-called Church Activities =
What does a Pentecostal revival
mean to the Church? 1t meant four
things: The disciples attended preach
ing. were instructed in doctrine. They
had fellowship with each other; they
met together for the breaking of bread
and then for private, family and pub
lie prayer. No Christian man, no mat
ter what his strength. can afford 10
neglect any of the means of grace if
he would develop a symmetrical spir-
itual life The fulness of the Holy
Spirit keeps the Church moving in all
that pertains to its work. It affected
the finances of the early Church. for
they had all things common" Sane
titled hearts will make sanctiied pock-
cts. II also makes a happy. praiseful
Church: a genuinely Christian church
has nothing of a cemetery about it