THE PROSPECT OF THE PENTECOSTAL CAMPAIGN

 

To Christians, the word "Pentecost" is the descent of the Holy Spirit with great power on the Lord's disciples. The "Pentecostal Campaign" is an effort by Christians to restore the true church through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

Towards the latter part of the apostolic period, the church had become infiltrated with heresies. During the past centuries, there were those Christians who revered Jesus Christ and who believed in the teachings of the Bible. They had struggled in their attempts to maintain the truth by reforming the church. Amongst them were Martin Luther, John Calvin, Wesley, and others. Their determination and efforts are indeed admirable, and they had made quite an impact then. However, reformed protestants had not attained the anticipated ideals. Instead, they had divided into so many denominations. Their doctrines and morality were worse and were even more deviated from the discarded old beliefs. There were also some who, by their conscientiousness, began to realise that only by the Holy Spirit can the church survive and be restored from the bad condition (Zech 4:6). Since the descent of the Holy Spirit in the beginning of the 20th Century, the "Pentecostal Campaign" began. Its purpose is to restore the very nature of the Apostolic Church. It maintains the concept that every believer should receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by speaking in new tongues, be given the spiritual blessings, and be confirmed in the messages 'by signs and wonders’ (Mk 16:17-20).

 

The conviction and pursuit are correct, because baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise (Acts 11 :6). It is the pledge of being the children of God and the guarantee of inheritance of the kingdom of God (Rom 8:15,16; Eph 1 :13,14). The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of the truth. Only through His guidance can we understand the truth, be sanctified (1 Pet 1 :2), and become one body (1 Cor 12:13). According to the prophecies and prefigurations in the Scriptures, God will rebuild the fallen tabernacle to restore the True Church of the Spirit (Amos 9:11). At the descent of the Holy Spirit of the latter rain (Zech 10:1 ), the "Pentecostal Campaign;' initiated by God's will, aims at restoring the church of Christianity.

 

In seeking the Holy Spirit, some churches are unable to discern the spirits and as such, have permitted evil spirits to set in (1 Jn 4:1); some do not obey the Holy Spirit to keep out leaven in their teachings (Mt 16: 12); and some do not have the charity to remain united in faith in the Holy Spirit which results in division in the church. Hence, the "Pentecostal Campaign" will have to overcome hindrance and difficulties. It has to come into unity in preaching together the gospel relying on the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit so that the campaign will become a great "river" (Ezek 47:5). The expectation of the restoration is at hand.