The Promise of the Spirit
The Promise of the Spirit
Text: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"—John 16:7-8
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" - Luke 11:13
“The great mistake of the Church and of the ministry is that they rest in conversion, and do not seek until they obtain this enduement of power from on high.”
Charles G. Finney - The Enduement of Power
The Promise of the Spirit
I. The Conditions of Receiving the Baptism (Speaks to the NEED of baptism)
A. The Case of Elisha – The Anointing of Power
1. He became aware of the fact that he was to occupy the responsible place of being Israel's leading prophet, as successor to Elijah. (Aware of the personal call)
a. He knew that without a full measure of the power of the Spirit that rested upon his predecessor, he would not be able to accomplish his sacred mission.
b. The reception of this anointing became to him the object of increasing intensity of desire.
2. This anointing, if received at all, must be secured before Elijah was taken away from him.
a. Therefore, he determined not to be separated from him until the blessing had been attained.
b. Three times he was tested to see if he would stay behind (where he currently stood - sp. analogy)…he would not.
· "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee."
3. The request for the anointing. (Asked for it)
a. Elijah said unto Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.”
b. Elisha said, “I pray thee, let a double portion (the rightful heir to the gifts of his spiritual father, Elijah - a full measure) of thy spirit be upon me.”
1. If the earthly ministry of Elijah were to continue, he would need the anointing!
2. This last condition secured the intensity of desire, a prerequisite for the baptism of power.
· “Had his faith wavered, had his purpose faltered, had the intensity of desire slackened, or had the required waiting expectation and watchfulness relaxed at all, "the spirit of Elijah would not have rested on Elisha." - Rev. Asa Mahan, D.D. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost”
B. Conditions for the Early Church
· "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:49.
1. The disciples had already been converted to Christ, and their faith had been confirmed by His resurrection.
2. He gave them their great commission to win all nations to Himself prior to His ascension.
a. He told them to tarry in Jerusalem for power from on high. He admonished them not to undertake the work until they had received this enduement of power from on high.
· They (men and women) Assembled for prayer. (Upper room)
· They Accepted the Commission.
1. As day after day passed, maybe they began to understand the difficulties of this commission and saw their inadequacies to the task at hand.
· A consideration of the results leads to the conclusion that they all consecrated themselves, with all they had, to the conversion of the world as their life’s-work.
· They had a work set before them and they had the promise of power to perform it.
C. Conditions for Christians Today
1. We, as Christians, have the same commission to fulfill.
2. We must Accept the Commission, fully consecrate ourselves, with all we have, to the
saving of souls as our great and our only life’s-work.
· Two differences here: 1 the first, a personal transaction (salvation); 2 an acceptance of the service of employment (He doesn’t require us to make bricks w/out straw).
· “No one has at any time any right to expect success unless he first secures the enduement of this power.” Charles G. Finney
a. Every one has the great personal responsibility devolved upon him or her to win as many souls as possible to Christ.
II. Stumblingblocks to Receiving the Baptism
A. Asking and Receiving
1. “Everyone that asketh receiveth;" but there is a "great gap" between the asking and receiving, which is a serious stumblingblock to many. How, then, is this difference to be explained?
· We are not willing, as a whole, to have WHAT we desire and ask. ($$)
· God has expressly informed us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not hear us.
· We resist the conviction of sin.
· We refuse to make restitution to injured parties.
· We resist Him by negligence in business, in study, and in prayer.
· Last and greatest; by unbelief. Praying for the baptism without expecting to receive HIM.
· This explains why so little is received, while so much is asked.
· We shall receive the promised enduement of power from on high, and be successful in winning souls, if we ask in faith and fulfill the plainly revealed conditions of prevailing prayer.
III. Can a Person be Filled with the Holy Spirit Without Speaking in Tongues?
A. Four Instances in the N.T.
1. On the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2)
· “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” 2:4
2. In Samaria - Simon, the Sorcerer – (Acts 8) After salvation, he saw the supernatural happening when the apostles laid hands on people and they received the Holy Ghost.
3. Cornelius and His Household (Acts 10:46) – baptized in the middle of his sermon!
· “…For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
4. The Ephesian Believers (Acts 19:6)
· “And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
IV. Is the Promise of the Holy Ghost for Us Today?
A. The Apostle Peter’s Address on the Day of Pentecost
· “Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.” - Acts 2:38-39