THE POWER OF THE CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18584, 3 June 1930, Page 10

THE POWER OF THE CHURCH.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST REVEALED. Speaking at the Baptist Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. C. W. Dun- , cumb said it was fitting that with the approach of Whit Sunday that the season of Pentecost should be paramount in the Christian mind, particularly so, since this year was celebrated the nineteen hundredth anniversary of that event. A recent book by the Rev. Stanley Jones “The Christ of Every Road," had focussed attention upon the significance of Pentecost to a remarkable degree. The Scripture record of that season revealed the birth of the Christian Church re-energised again and again by the Holy Ghost. The Scriptural picture of the influence of the Holy Ghost in the early Church made clear the testament of power. “Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Critically examined the. disciples were ordinary and weak men. Peter had played the coward in Pilate’s hall, and after the crucifixion, but after Pentecost he had become imbued with a new power, and only death could silence his testimony. That day three thousand converts had responded to the teaching of the disciples and so the Church was born. In his swan song, the aged Joshua said of Israel, “No man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.” Could this be said of the Church in New Zealand to-day? Was revival the predominant atmosphere? The Church which had revitalised and transformed the Roman Empire in the first four centuries of this era was not a Church of that type. The Church of Christ never been more thoroughly organised thah it was to-day. Weakness and sense of failure had driven Christians to a great examination and reconstruction, but even so, the number of conversions was small. There was a perilous lack of vital moral consciousness in the community, which was undeniable evidence of a low standard of spirituality. Pentecost followed prolonged definite prayer, as did the Wesley revival, which saved England from a revolution. Too many people knew of Christ as the saviour of mankind and had no knowledge of the power which transformed Peter from a traitor to a champion of Christ. The anniversary of Pentecost should mean the putting of Peter’s question to every Chqrch member. The preacher submitted that unemployment problems, the solution to which was being sought in all manner of conferences and leagues, would be met in a power filled Church. While mystery must always surround Christ's personality, it seemed clear that He deliberately put aside that power which John declared was His when He created the universe, and in the days of His flesh became man. The superlative sinless life which He lead was lived in the power of the Holy Ghost, received at His baptism. In consequence Jesus must not be thought of as a superman, but the true ideal man, as man would have been had not sin entered his soul. Christ had lived His life through the power of the Holy Spirit and nothing could stand before him if He chose otherwise. If the forces of evil were to suffer defeat, if arrogance was to wilt, if the Church was to become the force, a sinsick world would in honest moments have it be. if the spirit of real revivalism was to be experienced from land’s end to land’s end, then the significance of Pentecost would have to be studied, and its promise acted upon by every professedly follower of Jesus Christ.