By: Brian G. Chilton | July 7, 2020
Our nation, if not the entire world, is at the threshold of something major. It is no accident that 2020 has been as bizarre as it has. I think God is trying to wake us up to the reality of our need and dependence on him. While I have the constitutional right to speak on political issues, my concentration is not-so-much in that area. The problems we are facing are larger than political parties and ideologies. We have a spiritual problem. The American church is experiencing a spiritual drought that is leading to other difficulties.
In 2013, atheists Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans developed a secular assembly. These secular assemblies arose in several locales across Los Angeles. Oddly, their services did not look much different than many Christian services. The secular speakers delivered motivational speeches intended to inspire. The music was rousing and well played. The community they developed was quite impressive. The only difference was that they never mentioned God or Christ. It makes me wonder; how many churches have sacrificed sound doctrine at the altar of entertainment? Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus that their lampstand was being removed because they had forgotten their first love (Rev. 2:4-5). If secular assemblies can gather crowds without God, then how do we know when a sincere move of the Spirit of God transpires? If business strategies are what it takes to grow churches, are we growing churches by the hand of God? Again, how do we know when the Spirit of God has moved?
Jonathan Edwards answered this question in the 1700s in his book Distinguishing Marks. He provides nine ways that do not necessarily show that the Spirit is at work and five ways to know that the Spirit is working. The former are negative signs and the latter are positive signs. Edwards’s negative signs—those things that do not show that the Spirit is at work—include the following.
Negative Signs
1. The Spirit’s work is not gauged when something unusual or extraordinary happens. It may be that God has moved. But it may also be that something has been manufactured to look like something extraordinary.
2. The Spirit’s work is not tested by the impact on a person’s physical or emotional state. While the Spirit does impact the totality of a person’s being, emotional states are not always a good measure to gauge the Spirit’s work. People are roused by several things. A person may be roused by a musical number or a well-performed play. Does this mean that the Spirit has moved? Perhaps not.
3. The Spirit’s work is not the operation on the minds of people. People are impacted by different things. As free people living in a republic, we believe that the majority rules. But the Spirit of God may not be found in the majority opinion. Remember the story of Samuel and early Israel. The majority of the people wanted a king, but the Spirit of God did not want to grant them their wish. However, God allowed them to have what they wanted while fully knowing the problems they were bringing on themselves.
4. The Spirit’s work is not to be gauged by the imagination of people. Imagination is nice. However, our minds and emotions can play tricks on us that do not necessarily come from the Spirit of God.
5. The Spirit’s work is not brought about by the example of others. Sometimes spiritually dead people might do something good. Consider this; God used a donkey to reach Balaam. Jesus is the only perfect example to follow.
6. The Spirit’s work is not found in the subjects who are guilty of great imprudence and irregularities. Although God may use even donkeys to bring forth his will, one cannot state that the Spirit is necessarily moving through a person who lives a sinful life. Jesus noted that a person who loves him will keep his commandments.
7. The Spirit’s work is not found in those who promote errors of judgment and doctrine which are mixed into the work at hand. Theology matters! If a person is espousing flawed doctrines, stay away from that person even if the person is likable. Likable people can be heretics, too.
8. The Spirit’s work is not found in those who fall into serious sin or errors of doctrine even though they promote his work. Again, theology matters! Be cautious of people who willfully advocate sinful practices. God’s work is not found in such a one. Consider the example of Simon Magus in the New Testament—a magician who wanted to buy the rights to use the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-24).
9. The Spirit’s work is not found in ministers who promote and insist on the terrors of God’s holy law. The Spirit of God does not bless legalism. Legalism is just as bad as theological liberalism (the idea that anyone can do anything they want with no repercussions). Legalism has led many away from the faith.
Now that the insufficient ways to test the Spirit’s movement have been given, consider the five ways that the work of the Spirit can be known according to Jonathan Edwards.
Positive Signs
1. When the Spirit moves, the esteem of professing believers is raised and the truth of the gospel’s testimony pointing to Jesus being the Son of God and the Savior of humanity is elevated. The Spirit of God points people back to Jesus and the truths of the gospel (John 14:26). As such, the Spirit will use people to instruct and defend the truth of the gospel message. Apologetics is a spiritual exercise.
2. The Spirit operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom and the encouragement and establishment of sin found therein. While God does not bless legalism, the Spirit of God moves people to higher ethical standards. Unfortunately, the modern church spends more time criticizing other people and their own members that it has forgotten that the primary war is against the kingdom of darkness. When the Spirit moves, people are convicted of their sin and encouraged to right their wrongs.
3. The Spirit causes greater regard of human beings to the Scriptures and establishes them in their truth and divine origin. Should I say it again? It’s my blog, so I will. Theology matters! When the Spirit moves, the Scripture finds its rightful place as the revelation of God. Biblical truth is defended. Apologetics, anyone?
4. The Spirit’s work is observed when people are drawn to the truth and convicted of those things which are true. The Spirit of God draws people to the truth of God. Greater certainty of biblical truth is granted when the Spirit of God is at work.
5. The Spirit’s work operates as a spirit of love for God and humanity. This is a sure sign that the Spirit of God is at work. God does not bless bitterness and discontent. Rather, the Spirit brings about loving congregations when he is at work. If your congregation isn’t so loving, then it may be that your church has settled for a manufactured version of Christianity rather than an authentic one. John says it best, “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8, CSB).
If we are to gauge the spiritual condition of our lives and our church, then we must use the latter five signs which are found in Scripture. How much do we encourage one another? How much do we stand against the powers of Satan? How much do we genuinely care about the teachings of Scripture? How much do we love truth over traditionalism? How much do we truly love God and each other? Are we building up or tearing down? Are we focused on numbers more than a mighty move of God’s Spirit? In reality, you don’t need a church to build a community. You can find a community at a Moose Lodge or Country Club. To have a church, you need the Spirit of God. I pray that we see a massive move of the Spirit and see numerous souls enter the kingdom of God not because of our efforts, but because of the Spirit’s efforts through us.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill my life and the lives of our readers today. God, bring a revival and bring it through us!
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has been in the ministry for nearly 20 years and serves as the Senior Pastor of Westfield Baptist Church in northwestern North Carolina.
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