THE HOLY SPIRIT
INTRODUCTION
Today we will discuss the subject of the Holy Spirit.
There has been a great deal of misunderstanding and controversy concerning
this very topic. Most of the problems that surround this vital subject
is not what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit but rather what men say
apart and separate from the word of God. Prayerfully, and hopefully,
this lesson will give us a better understanding of this distinctive part
of the Godhead.
It is interesting to observe that we first read of the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:2
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit
of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The spirit moved or brooded upon the face of the waters.
I want to emphasis the fact that we first read about the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The last accurate thing you will ever know about the Holy Spirit you will either read it from the word of God, or someone else will have read it from the word of God.
The only source of instruction relative about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, heaven and how to get there, hell and how to shun it, is found in the Bible. There is no other source of understanding or information relative to these topics.
The problem surrounding the misunderstanding about the third part of the Godhead in whom we will be dealing with today, is not because we cannot understand the simple teaching or comprehension of God's word.
The problem in studying the Holy Spirit is faced because people place spiritualism above divine revelation, rather than spirituality.
Spiritualism is black magic soundly condemned by the word of God.
Spirituality is the result of following the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
The spirit is not an it. If a pronoun must be employed it is a he. And he is the third person of the God head, the Holy Spirit, God is a spirit.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
It is remarkable that we have little difficulty in comprehending that statement. Not that the finite mind of man can sufficiently encompass the significance of God being a omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent spirit.
By faith we accept the fact that he does not have temporal physical being as do we. Though we are made in the image and likeness of God, we do not physically resemble and look like God.
We are intelligent creatures able to assimilate evidence and testimony therefrom and draw logical conclusions and act upon the decisions reached like God. That's it.
We first read of the Holy Spirit in
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and
darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit
of God moved upon the face of the waters.
That is an important statement. There is a great deal being said and attributed to the third person of the Godhead that he does not know anything about except by way of condemnation.
His work and influence of course is felt throughout the word of God. His presence is inferred in the use of the plural pronoun employed in Genesis 1:26
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness:
.
Deity is the nature of the Godhead three persons partake of that nature. God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
There is a clear cut distinction between the three. While it may be difficult to comprehend it is set out very clearly and simply in the word of God.
A classic example of that distinction of the three is found in Matthew 3:15
Matthew 3:15-17 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it
to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went
up straightway
out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Notice Jesus Christ standing on the banks of the river Jordan soaking wet. The Holy spirit suspended in visible form between heaven and earth. John was given this sign as the identity of whom he was sent to make level the valleys.
He who sent me to baptize said, whomsoever ye see the holy spirit descending upon as a dove, that's he.
John saw it. The Holy Spirit between heaven and earth and the father speaking from heaven. God the father, son, holy spirit, three distinct persons.
That distinction is held up in the creation of this material universe.
Observe Genesis 1:1
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Yet John introduces his account with Christ and notice these words.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and
without him
was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This is Jesus Christ and Genesis 1:1 identifies
his position as creator.
Who was the carpenter figuratively speaking?
The father was the architect , and Christ as we know him was the carpenter. The design was in the mind of the father, and this was executed or brought into reality by Jesus Christ. John 1:1
The Holy Spirit played a part and put the finishing touches on the creation.
Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
God is the architect, Christ his son the carpenter, the Holy Spirit is the finisher of this material universe. No great problem with the great omnipotent all powerful Jehovah.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things
which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
He spake and it stood fast. There it was came into being by divine
fiat. There it is could speak it into existence easily. The
father loved us so much he gave his son to die for us in the plan of
redemption. This world is temporary you are not.
You are immortal. You will never cease to be. until God dies you will conscience either in heaven or hell and we have only a few days to make the necessary preparation.
Just as the distinction of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit is made manifest in the creation of this material universe, so is it maintained in the scheme of redemption.
God spoke to Adam and Eve our fore-parents in Eden before the eviction and expulsion these words.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Here is a promise from the father. Somewhere down the stream of time one would deliver a fatal blow to Satan. This would allow and enable sinners to escape the consequences of death.
The seed of the woman is Jesus Christ. Somebody says, we are all the seed of woman.
That's true yet he is different in the exclusive and meaning of the word.
Jesus was not begotten of a man with a woman. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of a woman. He is the seed of woman in the singular and exclusive sense.
Gal. 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
The seed under consideration is Jesus Christ make no mistake about it.
Here is the plan of God for man's salvation. This did not become a reality until Christ died on Golgatha at Calvary. Christ was killed, buried, and subsequently raised from the dead on the third day. Triumphant over death and the grave.
Christ made available to sinful humanity a means of salvation, concerning which we would know nothing about except for the finishing work of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have
said unto you.
The plan of redemption in the mind of God. The architect of the universe. This was executed by Jesus his son on the old rugged cross. Made a reality by his death burial and resurrection. Then we know this because the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles who inerrently recorded this message once for all time.
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave
all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints.
Let us notice a passage that is frequently abused there are those who
would teach us that we are to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, overwhelmed
directly by the Holy Spirit from heaven. Or in some way or means.
The they quote Joel 2:28
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass
afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your
young men shall see visions:
Men say, there it is preacher, we are to be recipients of some
miraculous direct measure of the Holy Spirit.
No we aren't, that's not what he is saying.
But preacher, he said, he would pour His Spirit on all flesh.
Well, nobody really believes that of Course. You say, Well, I believe it is poured on all flesh.
Do you really believe that Hogs, dogs, cats, horses, I'm not being facetious that's scripture.
I Cor. 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh:
but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another
of fishes, and another of birds.
All flesh is not the same flesh look at it. Which flesh does
God have in mind when he speaks through Joel?
Well preacher, its readily understood that flesh is all human flesh.
The only problem is that nobody can believe that either. Perverts, whore mongers, warmongers, dissolute, reprobates, immoral, Naw, that can't be right.
Nobody knows the meaning of prophetic, apocalyptic language, unless a inspired person by inspiration tells us what it is.
Any inspired prophecy, must be interpreted by inspiration. Until it is, you don't know what he is talking about.
The word mystery is used in the New Testament not in the sense of a fact shrouded by so much paraphernalia. That which only by arranging in proper order you may detect the will of God.
The word mystery means that which can be known only by its being revealed. Until you have a inspired man saying, this is that, you cannot know what a prophetic utterance means.
We will allow God to settle this matter of what the flesh is.
It is remarkable that if we would get us to be quite while God talks, its amazing what we would learn. But sometimes we don't do that. Sometimes I just keep yap, yap, yap, yapping, when I need to shut-up and listen to what God has to say.
Hush the noise ye men of strife and hear the angels sing.
Listen, stop and smell the roses once in a while, be quite and learn
something.
Isn't that something , if I would just listen to God, it is amazing what I would learn.
The promise is in Joel 2:28
Notice twice possibly 3 times but probably two of these occasions are a reference to this same occasion. At least twice the Lord renews this promise.
He is speaking expressly and directly and exclusively to his apostles in which the context will show.
John 16:7-14 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:
Of sin, because
they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and
ye see me no
more of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet
many things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he
shall hear, that shall he speak
: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall
receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you.
The Lord is speaking to his disciples or apostles concerning the Holy Spirit.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit is through the law of the Spirit
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin
and death. This alludes to the last will and testament of the son of God
validated by the
shedding of his blood.
Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there
must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength
at all
while the testator liveth.
He would guide the apostles into some of the truth,? Wrong
he will guide them into all the truth.
He will guide them until somebody comes and has a new revelation?
No, all the new revelations in the world not withstanding he guided the apostles into all the truth, no further revelation.
He guided the apostles and did not speak of himself. No truth originated from the Holy Spirit, no new truth is originating with the Holy Spirit today, No new truth or new revelation today.
What He hears, he speaks, and he glorifies Christ.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is explained right here by Jesus.
The also notice the promise and explanation from Jesus again. Right before his ascension to heaven to the right hand of God.
Luke 24:46-49 And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the
third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. 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.
Speaking exclusively to his apostles, He said wait in the city
till your clothed from power on high. This is an allusion to the
power by which they would proclaim repentance, remission of sins, by his
authority to all nations beginning in Jerusalem.
Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them,
commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem,
but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard
of me. For John truly baptized with
water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This was 10 days from when they would receive the power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.
They were to be baptized figuratively speaking, overwhelmed in the Spirit not many days removed from this statement. The fact of the occasion turned out to be ten days from Jersus statement.
When they where thus baptized in the Holy Spirit what happened? They would be witnesses and do the work of a witness. Teach testify, make known, reveal the truth.
What would they teach? Repentance, remission of sins in the name of Christ to all nations beginning at the city of Jerusalem. Can we be sure of this. Certainly and surely we can.
Luke 24:46-49 And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the
third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. 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.
What was that in Acts 1:4-5? Charge them not
to depart from the city. Wait for the promise of the father.
They were to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. this would be the power of Acts 1:8
They would teach, preach, and make known repentance, remission of sins in his name, to all nations.
The city of Jerusalem is the city under consideration, this is where we see the fulfillment of this promise.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
They is the antecedent of the pronoun they. The eleven and the added Matthias makes the twelve apostles
Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the
lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all
the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Here is the baptism of power from the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
Somebody says well, what about the tongues preacher. That's not our point but in passing.
All you need to know about the tongues is 2, 4, 6, 8 That's gives a total explanation easy to remember of the tongues of the New Testament. Acts 2, 4 ,6, 8.
Tongues are languages, I am speaking in a tongue today, a language
a southern version of the English language or tongue.
This language or tongue is a southern version of the English language.
This is simply a vehicle of communication. We understand one another
by its use. That's a tongue.
Somebody says, what's so miraculous about that? Not a thing, not one thing.
However if I spoke in a foreign language, I had never studied, and spoke it fluently, then you would know that a notable miracle has been performed.
Somebody says, why was the apostles regarded as having a miracle involved.
The miracle was in view of their commission.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
This they did in their lifetime.
Col. 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded
and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the
gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature
which is under heaven;
whereof I Paul am made a minister;
If they had made a study of the cultural background or dialect of these
particular people to whom they proclaimed the truth of God it would have
lasted several lifetimes, No, no, no, no.
Christianity was brand new and was confirmed by the supernatural powers performed by those who proclaimed it. These powers were supplied by God. Thus the source and the veracity of the message is established by the signs, wonders and manifold powers.
Hebrews 2: 4 God also bearing them witness, both
with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts
of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every
where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word
with signs following. Amen.
So when they stood before an audience they could miraculously, speak in whatever language or dialect that was required for the occasion. That is the miracle.
Oh, we have people speaking in tongues today preacher. Not miraculously we don't. We have many people who are bi-lingual and are fluently excellent in speaking other languages but they do not do it miraculously, he or she studies other languages. This is great intelligence but not miraculously. This is the point. Speaking in languages here before unstudied and unlearned that's all the New Testament is talking about when it speaks of talking or speaking in tongues.
But you say, we hear people on television, or other places speaking in an ecstatic utterance.
We have a lot of people doing a lot of things religiously but its based more on heathenism than in the doctrine of Christ. This thing originated in paganism not the church. This was brought over from paganism into the church but has no significance except that it indicates the person has no knowledge of the truth of God.
Tongue speaking in the New Testament was speaking in a language unbefore unstudied and unlearned so the people could understand the truth the apostles were commissioned to preach. That is it.
Here is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all
the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Some of the people gathered here standing likely on the perimeter of the crowd not understanding what was happening said these men are drunken and filled with new wine.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his
voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all
ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Peter standing up with the eleven. The eleven are the apostles who were speaking. Who was speaking those baptized in the holy spirit Acts 1:4. How many were there? Eleven plus one adds up to twelve.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all
ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
The only ones speaking were those who had been baptized in the Holy
spirit as the spirit gave them utterance. there was twelve who were
baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the
eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea,
and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken
to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour
of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men
SHALL DREAM DREAMS. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour
out in those days
of my Spirit; and they shall Prophesy: And I will shew wonders in
heaven above, and signs in the
EARTH beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of Smoke: The sun shall
be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This had been spoken by the prophet Joel. Here an inspired man saying of a prophetic utterance this is that. This was the fulfillment of Joel this passage specifically is identified by the inspired preacher. The sermon of Peter is recorded and the other eleven were preaching repentance, remission of sins, and the resurrection.
Peter said this is that which Joel spoke then he quoted Joel 2:28, in Acts 2:17-21
Joel 2:28-32 And it shall come
to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and
your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your
young men shall see
visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will I pour out my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire,
and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and the terrible
day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever
shall call on the name of the
LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,
as the LORD hath
said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
God said through the prophet Joel I will pour my Spirit on all flesh.
A inspired man Peter said this occurrences here is that which Joel spoke and then told us verbatim in a quote what passage Joel had under consideration. This takes care of it. This is that.
There is no use going any further when an inspired man says this is that and then quotes it verbatim. That is it this sums it up.
Preacher how do you interpret this as being a pouring forth of God's spirit upon all flesh?
Don't ask me how I do it, I didn't do it. God said it and God fulfilled it, and God told us when it was fulfilled, and God told us how it was fulfilled. So we just have to listen to God. I don't know anything about it except as the Lord revealed it. By the way that's the only way any of us know anything about it.
A lot of people don't pay attention to what God said. But then
those people don't understand God's will either, you see.
God's will is revealed in the bible, so we have to leave it to him.
He poured out his spirit on all flesh, that's right. remember his statement in his sermon in Acts 2:39
Acts 2:39 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.
This considers Jew and Gentile as the promise of God to Abraham .
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram,
Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And
I will make of thee a
great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou
shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
and in thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed.
Acts 7:1-4 Then said the high priest, Are these things
so? Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared
unto our father Abraham,
when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and
come into the land which
I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans,
and dwelt in Charran: and from thence,
when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now
dwell.
All the family of the earth will be blessed by Abraham's seed now listen to Paul.
Galatians 3:15-16 Brethren, I speak after the manner of
men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to
Abraham and his
seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but
as
of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
God promised Abraham every family on the earth would be blessed, that's
right. Who is the seed.
Gal. 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises
made. He saith not, And to seeds,
as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The promise was to the Jews and their descendants as well as the gentiles or those afar off. That's also what Joel said.
It would come to pass that whosoever.
Joel lived under a time with a national religion, a theocracy given by God to Moses 1500 B.C. exclusively to Israel. Deut. 5:1-5 The tenure of this was till the seed would come to whom the promise had ben made. Galatians 3:19
The seed is Christ verse 16.
How long was the law to law. The law was given because of transgression until the seed should come to whom the promise was made, Gal. 3:19 1500 years to be exact.
So God gave the law to Moses 1500 B.C. or 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham that in his seed, Jesus Christ that all the family of the earth would be blessed.
How may all the families of the earth be blessed in Jesus Christ?
By the condition that prevails, whosoever should call on the name of the Lord should be saved,
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This is directly quoted from Joel 2:32
Salvation is made available to sinful humanity through Jesus Christ
, both Jew and gentile. All mankind has equal access to the redemption
brought to the reach of sinners through the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ
death to bring us into a reconciliation
and conciliatory relationship with God. Jesus death in my behalf
made available to me the means of redemption. His death satisfied
the demands of justice for the penalty of my sins, he paid it. Thus enables
me to be saved.
How does that come about? Well lets go back.
Luke 24: 47-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. 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.
This was accomplished after Joel 2:28 was fulfilled.
When did they receive the power from on high? When the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Acts 1:8
The holy spirit came upon the in Acts 2:1-4 fulfilling specifically Joel 2:28-32.
For the first time in the history of the world salvation was proclaimed
unto all men. The keys of the kingdom was used.
The terms or conditions of salvation was made known. All men
both Jew and Gentile would have equal access into the ecclesia the church,
community of the saved. I Peter 2:9
Col. 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom
of his dear Son:
Peter what did you preach in Acts 2? He preached the death, burial, resurrection and ascention and coronation of Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. These people were cut to the heart by this message and believed and said.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked
in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?
Peter told them what to do.
Acts 2:38 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.
Peter is now preaching repentance, remission of sins, in the name of Christ.
Where were they Jerusalem,
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Who heard the message Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:8-11 And how hear we every man in our own tongue,
wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and
in Judaea, and
Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in
Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes
and Arabians, we do hear
them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
14 different dialects are represented right here on the first occasion
of the preaching of the Gospel. Acts 2:8-11
The inspired apostle is preaching repentance and remission of sins in the name of Christ to all nations beginning at Jerusalem this could not occur until Joel 2:28-32 was fulfilled.
They the 11 could not be his witnesses until clothed with power from on high Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8
This day of Pentecost the 50th day was a holiday the Jews gathered on the first day of the week.
Levitcus 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the
morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf
of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
50th day from the high sabbath of the Passover 7 sabbaths equaled 49 days the next day was the 50th and it was a first day of the week.. That is the background of Acts chapter 2
.Now Joel 2:28-32 is fulfilled so all the families of the earth could be blessed.
Another question preacher, wasn't the household of Cornelius baptized in the holy spirit in Acts 10.
If you want to call what happened to the household of Cornelius the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I will not debate this with you if you want to call this the baptism of holy Spirit its alright with me.
If you had been standing on Pentecost in the temple area of Mt. Moriah you would see what happened there, and if you had been in Ceasarea the sea coast town and observed what had took place when the spirit came on the household of Cornelius it would have looked exactly alike.
I am convinced there would be no difference in the appearance of what happened at all. But if the same thing happened Cornelius would not have needed Peter. Cornelius could have written his own Bible. Oh, but when Peter rehearsed these events in order back in Jerusalem before his Jewish Brethren he explained that the angel had appeared to Cornelius in the ninth hour of prayer and said fetch peter who shall tell you words whereby you and your house may be saved.
The words were from the Holy Spirit by which man could be saved where revealed by the Holy Spirit when Joel 2:28-32 was fulfilled.
Cornelius did not receive what the apostles received. The plan of salvation was the same to Cornelius a gentile as it was to the jews in the second chapter of Acts. Was not altered one iota. This could not be preached at all until Joel 2:28-32 was fulfilled.
Question, why did then the Holy Spirit come upon the household of Cornelius.
You recall Peter told the people something in
Acts 2:39 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.
Why was 7-10 years spent before the gospel was preached to the
Gentiles formally? Jewish prejudice! the Jews thought
that the oracles of God delivered by Moses to their nation made them an
exclusive people and indeed it did but they had become quite bigoted about
it. They looked down their noses at the gentiles as if they were
dogs and described them as such.
They were very prejudice against the gentiles, had no dealings with them, would not go into their houses, crossed the street to keep away from them in their exclusivism. That happens today pharisaism.
Bigoted, narrow-minded, shallow headed unGodly Pharisism, unless we realize we are sinners seeking to be saved by the grace of God, that all men have equal access, to the truth that makes men free. Share in love the conditions of salvation, reaching out to help the needy, lifting the weak caring for the unlovely, we're going to miss the point.
The Jews had this kind of prejudice. They did not preach to the Gentiles other than the Samaritans.
Remember Acts 10 the house of Cornelius and the conditions which he was instructed to send for Peter as he prayed.
Cornelius was an unusual man, feared God, Prayed to God always, gave much alms too the people.
Thus he was a devout or devoted man. That means he was saved don't it preacher.
No, no, no, nobody is saved without the blood of Christ. But the record says he was a devout man. Yes, he was sure was no question he was devoted to what he believed no question.
More than that he feared God with all his house. He was not only a righteous man but his influence was felt and seen by the remaining members of his family, probably so, and his servants indeed, very devout no question.
He was very devout and benevolent. He gave much alms to the people, that's right.
He prayed to the Lord 3 times a day, Yes, but that will not save you. The Lord nowhere predicates salvation of your good ness the only procuring agency in man's redemption is the blood of christ. His blood sealed his covenant, Hebrews 9:16-17
Christians aren't perfect just forgiven, Nobody is forgiven without the blood of Christ, the only way to apply the blood of Christ is to meet the conditions stipulated by the blood sealed covenant.
Gal. 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;
Though it be but a man's covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Hebrew 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also
of necessity be the death of the testator.
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength
at all while
the testator liveth.
After Christ died he validated his covenant. 50 days later. This was 10 days after his ascension, this was probated by his divinely appointed ambassadors or emissaries in the second chapter of acts. From that day until this hour it can't be altered.
The only way we will become recipients of any portion of the vast spiritual estate of our heavenly estate is to meet the conditions stipulated in the covenant the last will and testament called the New testament in contrast with the Old testament.
So Cornelius was instructed to send for Peter who would tell him words whereby him and his house may be saved, Peter came and while he yet spake his words, his sermon is recorded in brevity as in Acts 2
Acts 10:46-48 For they heard them speak with tongues,
and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the
Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the
Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Why be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, that's the great commission,
repentance and remission of sins is to be preached in his name to all the
nations. This is done in Acts 2:38
Baptism by the authority of or in the name of Jesus Christ is
unto the remission of sins, that's why Cornelius had to be baptized.
Was Cornelius saved by the outpouring of the holy spirit. Nobody was ever saved by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Nobody ever has been nor ever will be. The Holy Spirit did not come in any measure or relationship to save anyone directly.
He came to make known the will of God, to reveal all truth.
The Holy Spirit came upon the household of Cornelius they obeyed the
gospel and where saved. In the eleven chapter
we hear about what happened in order.
Acts 11:4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from
the beginning, and expounded [it] by order unto them, saying,
The Jewish brethren condemned Peter and Luke by inspiration says he
explained to the Jewish brethren in order.
Acts 11:15 -18 And as I began to speak, the Holy
Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized
with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch
then as God
gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ; what
was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things,
they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance
unto life.
With any other sign or anything less than what occurred so far as observation
is concerned the Jewish nation would not have been convinced.
God said to Cornelius That his prayer had gone up as a memorial before God.
Acts 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to
thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore
are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded
thee of God.
Memorial? Memorial, that brings to mind anthropomorphism being
employed. God condescends to human comprehension and speaks in language
we understand. He knew the gospel was going to be preached to the
gentiles. That's what he had said through the prophets of the Old
Testament, through Joel, through Peter in chapter 2.
This praying of Cornelius brought to mind the Jews had not preached the gospel to the Gentiles at least 7 years after Pentecost but they were to be recipients of the Gospel.
Cornelius sent for Peter as he was instructed and Peter preached the gospel to them. Why did the Holy spirit come upon them. In the conference Peter tells the others about this account.
Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing,
Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren,
ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles
by my mouth
should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
They were given the Holy Spirit visibly to bear witness to the Jewish
nation that they were to receive the gospel as well as the Jews.
This proves it as also does another verse.
Acts 11:15-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost
fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized
with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch
then as God
gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ; what
was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things,
they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance
unto life.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit was that the father knowing the hearts used this to bear record and witness that the gentiles were to receive the gospel.
The men obeyed and were saved by purification of the word.
Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Without the word you can't believe or be saved Faith comes from hearing God's word.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
They obeyed repentance and baptism for the remission of sins as in acts
2
:
Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that
these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost
as well as we?
They were baptized to be saved, for the remission of sins, this
is why the Spirit, descended to the house of Cornelius.
The problem today somebody says is what is the work of the Spirit.
The Spirit revealed all the truth to the apostles which inerrently recorded it under his direction. Through this word he convicts the world of sin and righteousness and judgment to come.
II Tim. 3:16-17 All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of
God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
Does the Holy Spirit operate separately from the word? No sure
don't, The Holy Spirit does not operate apart from the word.
But preacher the Spirit indwells Christians personally.
Prove it. You have a position that you have no word of God to support. If the word is not for it, then its false.
Galatians 1:7-9 Which is not another; but there
be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before,
so say I now again, If any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Not a brand new gospel, a brand new church, a brand new blood, a brand
new Christ, brand new God, or a brand new bride.
Just wrest, twist, abuse, misuse, misquote, misapply, the simply message of revelation given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. You see its right here in the Bible.
Am I saying that this word or Bible is the spirit, no this is the word of God. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
How are we led by the spirit of God? By following the teaching of the spirit called the New testament, the law of the Spirit.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
But preacher, I think the Holy Spirit....., No, No hold up not separate and apart from the word he doesn't.
If you have no word for it you have no faith for it.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Well wait a minute, the holy spirit dwells in the Christina, Yes he does no question too many scriptures proves that. most certainly.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit
of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised
up Christ
from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that
dwelleth in you.
I Cor. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
I Cor. 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have
of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's.
Certainly, the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian. The how is
not such a problem or mystery that would be spiritualism.
The Holy Spirit dwelling in the Christian is not a problem if you listen to what the Lord said. And if you won't pay attention to what the Lord says, no need to worry about it whatsoever, because you are lost.
God is a Spirit, he dwells in you doesn't he?
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Christ dwells in us, no problem we understand and accept this,.
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which
I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me.
The problem about the dwelling of the Holy Spirit is because of our
superstition and all the error being taught about the work and the person
of the Holy Spirit. That's why we get on these shaky grounds.
In 1611 King James when he authorized the translation known as the King James version or authorized version they used the word Holy Ghost. The word ghost is an unseen force that tends to lend itself to that type of mysticism. The third part of the Godhead is no more mysterious than the other two persons of the Godhead
Well just tell us how he dwells with us.
Just like how Christ
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
To the extent that Christ word the word of God directs our actions, permeates our lives and motivates or conduct to that extent you are led of the spirit beyond that you aren't.
The word is the sword of the spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
This is the instrument forged of the Spirit to be used on the hearts of men, called the word of God.
This is the only contact the Holy Spirit makes upon your heart.
A person in combat could be killed by a bayonet he killed that fellow.
Then you say no the knife killed him.
The knife killed him the man didn't.
People run around with anti-gun laws because guns kill people. No guns don't kill people, people kill people.
You can do it with a butcher knife, your bare hands, ram your fingers and palms into a man's diaphragm burst his esophagus with the heel of your hand. Break his leg with a 4 pound lick. Tear him in two. You can kill a man in any way.
Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
People generally usually use an instrument for the task.
The Holy Spirit uses the sword of the spirit on man which is the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
[is] a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.
The word of God is designed not to let you alone but to afflict the
comfortable and comfort the afflicted.
It is designed never to let a man alone. This sword rips right to your very soul. The word of God.
Preacher, I thought the Bible was a dead letter, I just proved to you it wasn't the word of God is powerful, active quick and powerful.
Quick you know what that means , cut your fingernail to deep yeah, in the quick, ohwhee, I cut it into the quick.
The reason it hurts is because that part of the tissue is alive and sensitive.
The word of God is living alive, and powerful, active. The word is not a dead letter.
Maybe Danny prepares his fields then takes the seed but it won't do any good the seed is dead, No, the seed contains the germ of life or the power of germination. The seed is alive. A few weeks something comes up but it doesn't look like what you sowed. The difference is the power of germination which is in the seed. The word of God is the seed of the kingdom and contains the power of life.
You sow this seed or word into the heart of man and it will either send him to heaven or hell.
For one it is a savior and influence from death unto death. From another from life unto life. From one it goes from bad to worse from another to bad to good. You will never be the same after hearing it.
You will remember in hell ever word of it, every word. Or you
will rejoice in heaven with the presence of God for all eternity because
of it.
James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the
word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The power is in the word. People look down and ridicule it but
the power is there.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Power is dunamis, root word for dynamite also. The gospel is God's dynamite to blast your soul from sin and hell.
I put 10 sticks of dynamite in a motor home with a 4 inch fuse, with a good cap, and then close the door.
I better be running, don't lean up against it, nothings gone to happen?
don't hang around, something is fixing to happen
with 10 sticks of dynamite, I better be moving when I light the
fuse.
You put the word of God which is his dynamite, in the heart of a man or woman, and something is going to happen.
Somebody says it won't make any difference, it will, it will it will make them better or worse.
this Gospel is a love story revealed by the Holy Spirit. God owed me nothing.
I with lying lips and a rebellious heart, refused to submit to his will and he loved me enough he allowed his pure, sinless, guiltless, innocent son. The apple of his eye, the jewel of heaven give up the grandeur of the supernal city to come live on this earth with common man. He hung suspended from the cross with a lacerated back, bruised cheeks and spit running down his face in sinless, guiltless innocence. Thank God he loved me enough to bear my sins and make available to me a sinner the means of salvation.
He wants us to be saved and his word is the power of God unto that end.
Do you believe it?
Believe Jesus to be the son of God, John 8:24
Repent of sins, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10
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