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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
of David “as the angel of the Lord.” Every Christian saw in his brother
the divine similitude of love and benevolence. One interest prevailed.
One subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The only ambition
of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to
labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.
“With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them.”
Acts 4:33
. 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.
To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the
Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power
from above, as He endowed those who on the Day of Pentecost heard
the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are
for all who need them and will take Him at His word.
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.”
Acts 4:32
. The Spirit of Him who died
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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.
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