Seventh-Day Adventist Church

February 20, 2021

In the Signs of the Times, February 10, 1890, par. 7, Ellen White writes that we could “have Pentecostal seasons even now,” if people would earnestly pray and believe God’s promises. What would it look like, according to the teachings of the Bible? If we look at these seven passages (Luke 3:21,22; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 4:31-33; Acts 8:14-19; Acts 9:17,18; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:1-6), we will find that each passage shares demonstrably supernatural happenings as individuals received the Spirit of God in their lives. The question then is, should we, then, expect something supernatural in our lives before we can know the Spirit has come in? Luke, in writing Acts is really highlighting the mighty works of the Holy Spirit to show what Jesus promised regarding the Spirit came to pass in His followers. However, every recorded incident of the Spirit’s outpouring did not always have an outburst of some kind of supernatural display. We have the seven men who were also “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3, 5-7). And the same was true with Barnabas (Acts 11:22, 24). The demonstration of the Spirit does not automatically imply miracles, but as we have learned, the fruit of the Spirit are traits of Christlike character. We are not to yearn for something tangible like Pentecostals and Charismatics but to look for what the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy teach. The offer of the Spirit is a Christlike life—the fruit of the Spirit, and a Christlike ministry --- the gifts of the Spirit. It is God’s choice as to how He will pour His Spirit among us. What we must do is look for the results of the Spirit’s indwelling and not the drama or lack of it in the outpouring. We cannot manipulate or even anticipate the moving’s of the Spirit. Charismatics seek for signs, while non-Charismatics tend to disavow signs. Both err by not letting the Holy Spirit be sovereign in these matters. “The Holy Spirit of God alone can create a healthy enthusiasm. Let God work, and let the human agent walk softly before Him, watching, waiting, praying, looking unto Jesus every moment, led and controlled by the precious Spirit, which is light and life.” (2 Selected Messages, 16,17).