p. 9 | The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for Service

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 22, 1906

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for Service

By Eugene W. Farnsworth

E. W. FARNSWORTH

(Reading for Monday, December 17)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”—Matthew. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”—Mark. In order to accomplish this great work, the followers of Christ must receive the necessary qualification. They were not permitted to go in their own name or strength. Unaided in power, and unqualified in wisdom, they would never be able to accomplish the task. But Jesus promised, saying, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

To encourage his workers, Christ assures them, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” As all power is given to him, and he is given to them, and is with them alway, they are assured of all the help needed. This power comes through the Holy Spirit. “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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” He was to be with them always, through his representative, the Holy Spirit. And through this agency, the power was to be given to them.

“Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were to receive a marvelous power. Their testimony was to be confirmed by signs and wonders. Miracles would be wrought, not only by the apostles, but by those who received their message. Jesus said, ‘In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’ . . . The disciples were to have the same

power which Jesus had to heal ‘all manner of sickness and all manner of disease’ among the people. By healing in his name the diseases of the body, they would testify to his power for the healing of the soul. And a new endowment was now promised. The disciples were to preach among other nations, and they would receive power to speak other tongues. . . .

“Thus Christ gave his disciples their commission. He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they obeyed his word, and worked in connection with him, they could not fail.”—Desire of Ages, Trade Edition, pages 983, 984.

This working of the Lord with his servants is referred to in many Scriptures. “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Mark 16: 20. Of the labors of Christ, and also of those who followed him, we read: “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.” Heb. 2: 4.

What a wonderful combination! The laborer goes forth and preaches the gospel. The Holy Spirit accompanies the word, and visible signs are wrought to confirm what is said.

Paul, in describing his own experience in proclaiming the gospel, said: “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Rom. 15: 18, 19.

Turn to the map in your Bible that shows the provinces and countries where this labor was done, and see what a large extent of territory it covers. Notice what large and numerous cities and towns were scattered all over it. All that remained of the Grecian empire and eastern Rome was included in Paul’s field of labor.

He tells of his own experience in one place. He came to Ephesus, a city filled with superstition, idolatry, witchcraft, and the deceptions of devils generally. The narrative shows that Paul preached, and persuaded, he taught and disputed daily, for the space of two years. “So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19: 10-12. This work continued, till, the narrative says, “fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver,” or ten thousand dollars. And the record very significantly closes by adding: “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19: 17-20.

GROUP OF WORKERS AT THE BRITISH UNION CAMP-MEETING, LONDON

We presume that all will concur that the foregoing presents a fair illustration of gospel preaching of early time. Of course not all these features were seen in every place. But some of them seemed to be manifest everywhere. Notice that when the apostle was too busy or weary to visit all the families, or to answer all the calls, he sent his handkerchief or some small garment, and great works were wrought in that way. This was the way God confirmed the word.

But not in this way only did the Spirit manifest his power. In Luke 4: 32 we read: “They were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” When the word spoken was pregnant with the Spirit there was a convicting power that went with it that astonished them all. “The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7: 28, 29. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4: 33. And they were not “able to gainsay nor resist.” Luke 21: 15. What a wonderful provision there is in the Holy Spirit! What a fulness, both in word and in wisdom, is promised, and a power of conviction that none can resist!

This endowment of power and wisdom came through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The promise of John was: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt. 3: 11. The same promise is recorded in the corresponding scriptures in Mark and Luke. The Lord said, “Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1: 5. This was to qualify them in wisdom, and knowledge, and power, and in all things necessary for the successful preaching of the gospel.

To be baptized with the Holy Ghost is to be filled with the Holy Ghost. When this experience came, the record testifies, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2: 4. Thus we see the baptism fills men with the Spirit. The record which follows makes this clear: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them” (Acts 4: 8); “and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” Verse 31.

In selecting the seven deacons, the qualifications required were not only that they should be honest men, but that they should be “full of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 6: 3, 5. It is said of Stephen: “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven.” Acts 7: 55. And the Lord sent Ananias unto Paul, that he might receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 9: 17. It is said of Barnabas that “he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost.”

And so the history of those times abounds with allusions to such experiences among those who proclaimed the gospel.

So important was this that the Saviour forbade the disciples’ going out to preach till they had received this gift. And when meeting with strange believers, one of the first salutations was, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Acts 19: 2. It seemed to be expected as a matter of course that when a person believed and was baptized, he would also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and if he had not this experience, there was something wrong. Would my brethren and sisters to-day be in any way embarrassed if the question were put to them as bluntly as of old—“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”

We can not close this reading better than by a quotation from a Special Testimony, entitled, “The Power of the Holy Spirit Awaits Our Demand and Reception:”–

“Just prior to his leaving his disciples for the heavenly courts, Jesus encouraged them with the promise of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs as much to us as it did to them, and yet how rarely it is presented before the people, and its reception spoken of in the church. In consequence of this silence upon this important theme, what promise do we know less about, by its practical fulfilment, than this rich promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby efficiency is to be given to all our spiritual labor? . . . This subject has been set aside, as if some time in the future would be given to its consideration. Other blessings and privileges have been presented before the people, until a desire has been awakened in the church for the attainment of the blessing promised of God; but the impression concerning the Holy Spirit has been that this gift is not now for the church, but that at some time in the future it would be necessary for the church to receive it. This promised blessing, if claimed by faith, would bring all other blessings in its train, and it is to be given liberally to all the people of God.”

[Let an earnest season of prayer follow the reading, in which all may take part, claiming this promised blessing, which will bring all other blessings in its train, and which awaits our demand and reception.]