Christ begins His work in the sanctuary of heaven
| Why wait? |
| Why did the followers of Christ need to wait before receiving the Holy Spirit? For several reasons: They needed time to seek the gift in prayer and unity. They also waited for Christ to be ready to send the Spirit. His sacrifice was approved and accepted, then He was inaugurated to begin the ministry in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. What we and the disciples knew as Pentecost (from a Greek word) was the Feast of Weeks or Feast of First Fruits. That was a harvest-time celebration. At the end of the time of seven weeks it was time to bring in the sample of the harvest. This was the harvest of souls by Peter and others. Many or most of these had heard Jesus and the seed He had planted and cultivated was bearing fruit. We find the inauguration of Christ as Judge in opening the seven seals. This is the center part of the events of Revelation 4 and 5 re0509. I'm sure there's more to learn on this topic. Praise God. |
| How the Gift of the Holy Spirit is Given |
| God chooses
how and to whom the Holy Spirit is given. The Bible provides
many examples. A few are mentioned below. The Spirit is not granted by
human actions such as causing people to laugh in hysteria or to go unconscious
(2 Tim.
1:7). It is not given for human glory but to reach souls.
Our need for the Spirit "The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude. Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. (Acts of the Apostles p. 50) A few of
the times the Spirit was given
Conditions:
Lost
The disciples at Pentecost See the top of this page. |
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The
Spirit descended at the Jordan when Jesus was baptized (