Spiritual fervor.
The Pentecostal outpour was more than a mere flashing forth of Divine energy, suddenly emitted and immediately withdrawn; it was the communication of Divine power which remained in the Church and resulted in lasting spiritual fervor. This fervor, no doubt, took certain exceptional and temporary forms.
1. There were miracles wrought by the apostles (Acts 2:43).
2. There was a community of goods (Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45), which was so far from being permanent and general, that it only lasted for a short time in the one Church at Jerusalem.
3. There was daily temple-worship, necessarily restricted both as to time and place (Acts 2:46). But though there were these peculiar and exceptional features, there was much in the spiritual fervor of those earliest days which belongs to every age of the Christian Church.
I. IT WAS BEGOTTEN OF DIVINE INFLUENCE. We must not dissever this passage from all that precedes, but remember that this remarkable manifestation of sacred feeling was the outcome of Divine influence. It was the gift of the Holy Ghost, descending upon the Church in copious streams of sacred power, which brought forth these abounding signs of spiritual life. All life in the soul of man is "born from above." Whatever looks like it, in the shape of extraordinary activity or intense feeling, which is not awakened by the Spirit of God, is but the semblance and show of it, and is not the vital thing itself.
II. IT WAS MANIFESTED IN ABIDING FORMS.
1. In open declaration of faith in Christ: "They that gladly received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41).
2. In attachment to saving truth: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42). Souls in earnest will not leave the truth by which they have been led to God to wander in byways of unsatisfying human fancies; still less to go off into the high-road of error.
3. In fellowship: with man, and also with God (Acts 2:42, Acts 2:44, Acts 2:46). The disciples "continued in fellowship, and in breaking of bread;" they "were together;" they "continued with one accord in breaking bread." Here was
4. In prayer (Acts 2:42) and in praise (Acts 2:47). The sacred fervor which often comes as, in part, the result of devotion will spend itself largely in more devotion, in private and public "prayers," and in "praising God." Prayer and praise are the very atmosphere in which elevated piety lives and breathes and has its being.
5. In consideration of the needs of others (Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45). They who have a real "zeal for God," who are devoted to Jesus Christ, will ask themselves what they can do to help those who are in need; how they can best contribute to the comfort, the elevation, the well-being of those who are left behind in the race, who are defeated in the battle of life. They will show, in some form different states of society demand different methods—sympathy, liberality, succor.
III. IT HAD UNFAILING RESULTS.
1. In sacred joy: "They did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" (Acts 2:46). We may reasonably doubt the excellence of any spiritual fervor which does not show itself in gladness of heart.
2. In general devoutness: "Fear came upon every soul (Acts 2:43). If we are heartily and wisely in earnest, those who witness our lives will be impressed with the reality of our convictions, and will pause to ask whence this holy ardor comes.
3. In abounding usefulness (Acts 2:41-47). The Lord will add to the Church continually of those who "are in the way of salvation."—C.
HOMILIES BY E. JOHNSON