The Power of the Spirit - Absent

In a few more years—I know not when, I know not how—the Holy Spirit will be poured out in a far different style from the present. There are diversities of operations; and during the last few years it has been the case that the diversified operations have consisted in very little pouring out of the Spirit. Ministers have gone on in dull routine, continually preaching—preaching—preaching, and little good has been done. ( Emphasis mine) I do hope that perhaps a fresh era has dawned upon us, and that there is a better pouring out of the Spirit even now. For the hour is coming, and it may be even now is, when the Holy Spirit shall be poured out again in such a wonderful manner that many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased—the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the surface of the great deep; when his kingdom shall come, and his will shall be done on earth even as it is in heaven. We are not going to be dragging on for ever like Pharaoh with the wheels off his chariot. My heart exults and my eyes flash with the thought that very likely I shall live to see the out-pouring of the Spirit; when “the sons and the daughters of God again shall prophecy, and the young men shall see visions, and the old men shall dream dreams.” Perhaps there shall be no miraculous gifts—for they will not be required; but yet there shall be such a miraculous amount of holiness, such an extraordinary fervour of prayer, such a real communion with God and so much vital religion, and such a spread of the doctrines of the cross, that everyone will see that verily the Spirit is poured out like water, and the rains are descending from above. For that let us pray: let us continually labour for it, and seek it of God.
For meditation: Spurgeon saw answers to his prayers in the 1859 revival. What are your visions for revival? Lots of excitement with extravagant claims that the Holy Spirit is involved? Or a genuine work of the Spirit which speaks for itself in real conversions, true fellowship and godly living ( Acts 2:37-47)?
Sermon no. 30, preached on 17 June 1855

Meditate on these things.


I would draw your attention to the statement in bold type above.  This has been a refrain of mine for many years - preaching and more preaching, but little good being done, and nothing much to show for it.  With all the advanced education of most preachers today, the Gospel has been undermined by degrees, as has the clear witness of the Christian church.

That something is seriously wrong, none but the most blind will deny.  What needs to be done to correct this malady does not find agreement.  It seems that the church today wants entertainers rather than true prophets.  She wants men who will bring the world into the church in a 'spiritual' way. The less preaching of the Word there is, the better; hence new churches seem to place the preaching of the Gospel at a serious discount all in an attempt to get the people in and to build up their own personal empire.