(The Holy Spirit) 23. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DAYS OF THE RESTORATION
A.B. Simpson explains how the Holy Spirit powerfully worked through prayer and providence during the Old Testament period of Restoration, preparing the way for Christ's coming.
In this sermon, A.B. Simpson explores the powerful role of the Holy Spirit during the Old Testament Restoration period. He highlights how this era, marked by prayer and providential miracles rather than overt signs, was crucial in preparing God's people for the coming of Christ. Simpson emphasizes the Spirit's work beyond human effort, using Daniel's ministry of prayer as a key example. This teaching invites believers to trust in the Spirit's power in times of renewal and restoration.
Text
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6.
The restoration was a period of Jewish history as distinctly marked as the Patriarchal or the Mosaic age, the times of the Judges, or the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. It followed the captivity, and was intended to prepare the way for a yet greater event, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was one of the most marked periods of divine working in the Old Testament, and it is full of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This little message which Zechariah gave to his people as the motto of that Restoration, more fitly than any other word expresses its entire history. It was a movement, not of human power, but of the Holy Ghost.
It was unaccompanied by the miraculous signs which attended almost every other important period of Old Testament history; but its providential miracles and its manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit were even more signal and wonderful than the miracles of the wilderness and the land of promise.
Let us trace the workings of the Holy Spirit through this wonderful period.
1. The first stage might be described as the ministry of prayer. We have an account of it in the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel. "In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face upon the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes."
When God is about to work out any great purpose, He usually lays it as a burden of prayer upon the heart of some of His saints whom He can fully trust. So He called Daniel, His tried servant in Babylon, to this high ministry of prayer.
We cannot fail to notice the connection of Daniel\
Sermon Outline
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I. Introduction to the Restoration Period
- Definition and historical context of the Restoration
- Comparison to other Old Testament periods
- Significance in preparing for Christ's coming
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II. The Ministry of Prayer
- Daniel's role in prayer during the first year of Darius
- Prayer as the foundation for God's work
- Connection between prayer and divine intervention
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III. The Workings of the Holy Spirit
- Manifestations without miraculous signs
- Providential miracles during the Restoration
- The Spirit's power over human might
Key Quotes
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” — A.B. Simpson
“The restoration was a period of Jewish history as distinctly marked as the Patriarchal or the Mosaic age... intended to prepare the way for a yet greater event, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” — A.B. Simpson
“When God is about to work out any great purpose, He usually lays it as a burden of prayer upon the heart of some of His saints whom He can fully trust.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Trust in the Holy Spirit's power rather than relying solely on human strength.
- Commit to a lifestyle of prayer as a foundation for God's work in your life.
- Recognize that God's restoration often comes through providential means rather than dramatic miracles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the Restoration period?
The Restoration was a pivotal time in Jewish history that prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
How did the Holy Spirit work during the Restoration?
The Holy Spirit worked through prayer, providential miracles, and power beyond human strength, even without overt miraculous signs.
Why is Daniel important in this sermon?
Daniel exemplifies the ministry of prayer, serving as a trusted servant through whom God laid the burden of prayer to accomplish His purposes.
What does Zechariah 4:6 teach us?
It teaches that God's work is accomplished not by human might or power, but by His Spirit.