The Bible makes very clear how important the Holy Spirit is in the life of the Christian. We have the example of Jesus himself in passages such as:
Matthew 3:15-17
Luke 4:13-15
We observe the same power of the Holy Spirit being promised to the disciples:
Acts 1:6-8
Acts 10:44-48
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
We can also see examples of the Holy Spirit leading and giving instructions to the apostles and disciples:
Acts 8:29
Acts 8:38-40
Acts 10:19-20
Acts 11:12
Acts 13:2
Acts 13:4
Acts 15:28
Acts 16:6
Acts 16:7
Acts 20:22
I hope that by now it should be quite clear how important it is for a Christian to walk guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Now, back to the Sabbath. If not observing the Sabbath is as immoral as raping, killing, stealing or fornication, then we should expect the Holy Spirit to quickly lead people to keep the Sabbath. In particular, during a Holy Spirit revival, where the Holy Spirit moves touching many people's hearts and leading them into repentance and salvation (take Acts 2 as an example), one should expect to see a widespread adoption of Sabbath observance by multitudes (just like you would expect to see multitudes abandoning other sins and embracing holiness).
It turns out that there are many recorded cases of revivals throughout history. However, in all of these cases we fail to see a widespread adoption of Sabbath observance (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday). Below you can find multiple examples of revivals illustrating the point:
Matthew 3:15-17
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 4:1-3
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Luke 4:13-15
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
We observe the same power of the Holy Spirit being promised to the disciples:
Acts 1:6-8
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And in fact, the whole book of Acts is full of accounts of how the Holy Spirit manifested powerfully through the apostles and disciples, including the Gentiles:
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
There are many passages in the New Testament stressing the importance of living a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life and receiving power through the Spirit for witnessing:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
Romans 8:4-14
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:15-20
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
_________________________________________We can also see examples of the Holy Spirit leading and giving instructions to the apostles and disciples:
Acts 8:29
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
Acts 8:38-40
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (** teleportation by the Spirit )
Acts 10:19-20
While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”
Acts 11:12
The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man’s house.
Acts 13:2
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:4
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 15:28
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
Acts 16:6
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Acts 16:7
and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
Acts 20:22
And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
__________________________________________________
I hope that by now it should be quite clear how important it is for a Christian to walk guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Now, back to the Sabbath. If not observing the Sabbath is as immoral as raping, killing, stealing or fornication, then we should expect the Holy Spirit to quickly lead people to keep the Sabbath. In particular, during a Holy Spirit revival, where the Holy Spirit moves touching many people's hearts and leading them into repentance and salvation (take Acts 2 as an example), one should expect to see a widespread adoption of Sabbath observance by multitudes (just like you would expect to see multitudes abandoning other sins and embracing holiness).
It turns out that there are many recorded cases of revivals throughout history. However, in all of these cases we fail to see a widespread adoption of Sabbath observance (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday). Below you can find multiple examples of revivals illustrating the point:
- Uganda's Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- The First Great Awakening: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- The Second Great Awakening: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- The Third Great Awakening: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- 1904–1905 Welsh revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Azusa Street Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Pyongyang Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Watchman Nee's revivalist ministry: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Brownsville Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- 1949 Argentina Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- 1954 Argentina Revival: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Argentine Revival with Carlos Annacondia: no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Argentine Revival with Claudio Freidzon (check out this book also): no widespread Sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) observance.
- Etc.
Last edited: