For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Christ promised His disciples waiting in Jerusalem that in a few days they would be immersed in the Holy Spirit, in contrast to John's baptism with water. The promise was fulfilled at Pentecost after His resurrection, ascension and enthronement, when they were of one accord and were filled and spoke God's wonderful works in other languages. It is the Father's promised gift that makes them His witnesses, giving understanding, boldness and effective power for preaching, teaching and soul-saving. It renews and sanctifies the whole being to Christlikeness and binds believers in one mind, harmony and unity for service. The gift belongs to believers now and is to be received by determined, united prayer, humbling of self and putting away of sin, and is needed by ministers, missionaries, teachers and all workers before labor.
Words and Historical Setting
For John truly baptized with water, but the disciples were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. This was spoken by the risen Jesus when assembled with them after His resurrection, during the forty days He was seen by them and spoke of the kingdom of God. He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father which they had heard from Him. The same Spirit who dwelt in Christ would be given to them as the Father's promised gift, becoming the source of their understanding and power to continue Christ's work and bear witness to Him. Some hold the promise as baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire, fulfilled at Pentecost when, all with one accord in one place, the rushing mighty wind filled the house, cloven tongues like fire sat on each, all were filled, and devout men from every nation heard them speak the wonderful works of God in his own language.
The saying belongs to Christ's commission to the disciples and to the account of His ascension to heaven. It is joined to the message of the angels to the waiting disciples and to Jesus' promise to come again, and the promised coming of the Spirit together with that promise gave the disciples joy as they returned to Jerusalem. Linked with the call not to let the heart be troubled, it teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works in practical godliness. It shows that inquisitiveness can keep people from feeling the importance of relying on living faith and on the promises of Scripture, that things greatly desired to be known are not given to be known, and that it is a privilege to walk by faith and take God at His word.
Jesus told them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise was fulfilled and forbade them to begin their mission or preach until empowered from on high. Their stay in Jerusalem was temporary, for their strength for service was to be used in carrying the gospel beyond Jerusalem. The baptism brought the power needed to witness for Christ, first in Jerusalem and then throughout Judea and Samaria to the whole earth and to distant lands. The promise was fulfilled after His ascension and heavenly enthronement, when after Christ was glorified the Spirit descended at Pentecost with full efficacy to represent Christ to His followers, and many joined the church. This heavenly gift would confirm their connection with Heaven, give them courage and joy, and enable them to understand and proclaim God's love and the truths entrusted to them, to preach repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through the merits of Christ's death and resurrection. Those who carry a message of truth should likewise be filled with the Spirit and let its transforming power be seen first in their own lives and homes, then in their neighborhood and farther afield, since active service for others strengthens resistance to temptation, and persecution scattered the believers so they proclaimed the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria and to distant lands.
Before they went forth with the power and glory of Pentecost, they met with Jesus in Galilee and witnessed His departure from Olivet. They waited for the gift during the ten days that followed, devoting themselves together in the upper room to prayer and praise and communion. Their gladness and confidence came from Christ's promise, and they waited in prayer for its fulfillment. While they waited and gathered in prayer, the Spirit directed the choice of Matthias to fill Judas's place among the apostles. Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a distinct experience from John's water baptism, illustrated as God's power in Brother Baker's experience, accompanied by healing and loud praise to God.
What Spirit Baptism Gives
The baptism is the Father's promised gift assured by the Son, to be received not many days after John's water baptism, when the disciples waited in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus' departure. It is the same Spirit who abode and dwelt in Christ given to His disciples as the source of their understanding and power to continue His work and bear witness to Him. This endowment was the essential evidence that they were His witnesses, preparing and empowering them as laborers with Christ for teaching and the salvation of people.
It is the special blessing for which they waited and prayed in Jerusalem, equipping them to preach the gospel with the Spirit's power for carrying the gospel and saving souls. The gift gives power and efficiency for spiritual work, including preaching that convicts and converts, and it is to be received by faith now rather than treated as reserved for some future time. The Spirit is the effective agent in proclaiming sacred truth, awakening the soul's ability to value heavenly things and drawing affections toward God and the truth. The baptism is the means of receiving power to be sought continually through prayer, with workers gathering to ask God for special help and wisdom, missionaries pleading especially for a rich measure, so that the proclamation of truth has boldness and a power beyond worldly honor or glory.
Before beginning their mission they were to wait for this heavenly gift, which would confirm and assure their connection with Heaven, fit them for work, and bring courage, joy, and heavenly light helping them understand the fullness of God's love. Thus enabled, they were to proclaim repentance, pardon, forgiveness, and salvation through the merits of Christ's death and resurrection as the crucified and risen Christ, beginning in Jerusalem and widening outward. This qualification and endowment for ministry comes from God and not from any living man, imparted while men search the Scriptures and dig for truth as for hidden treasure, praying, believing, pleading for help, knowledge, power, wisdom and grace, and casting burden on the Lord, with no man stepping between the worker and Jesus the true Educator to be brains for him. Those who feel no burden to seek God for themselves and only repeat discourses made from another man's pen and brains are as dry as a chip and must wait until they receive this baptism, whereupon God works upon mind and heart as He put His Spirit upon men raised up in the Reformation and sent them to bear light to others.
The promised Spirit was the disciples' brightest hope and strongest consolation as Christ ascended, enlightening the apostles to distinguish truth from false theories, to give the people the Word of life, and to discern spiritual things rather than assume safety without that holy influence. Through this gift they came to remember and grasp His teachings, to understand Jesus' character and saving mission, the prophecies and miracles not understood before, recognizing the Lord of glory come from God in human form to save fallen humanity. In giving the Spirit God gives all gifts in one to enlighten, convert, and sanctify the soul, opening understanding to the Word, to Scripture and nature, to spiritual things, and in the last days to the truths of the third angel's message for believers of every country and speech who come into right relation to God, search the Scriptures, and walk humbly, receiving power to do an intelligent work among people of all languages with heaven cooperating in a mighty power at work in the world.
The baptism must be accepted and cherished as Christ's representative to renew and sanctify the entire being and make church members living, growing, and fruitful, for without it momentous truths entrusted to believers lose power on mind and character. The Lord has promised this baptism more frequently than anything else and nothing glorifies Him more than to bestow it, so it must be prayed for as never before because it is needed now more than ever. When partaken it brings the new birth, justification through confessing sin and receiving pardon, firm unwavering faith, perfection of life and character with Christ formed within as the hope of glory as each member opens the heart to invite Jesus to abide within, and the presence of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings so lost souls are found, brought back, and kept by God's power through faith unto salvation.
It brings believers into harmony and draws them together with fellow believers, enabling them to become of one mind and purpose, for nothing less can bring the church into such unity. This baptism produces healthful unity in laying and carrying out plans, especially in blending with publishing institutions, so all speak the same things and each serves with an eye single to God's glory, with Christ binding true followers together and God's peace ruling hearts in spiritual courage and fortitude. When so baptized they stop censuring and tearing one another down, sustain one another under heavy responsibility, and build up rather than weaken the work, while the Spirit comes into assemblies to infuse new life, bring new energy, run as a purifying tide, transform character, make hearts one with Christ in love, loyalty, and purity, and give efficiency when the soul is consecrated and God works with human effort.
The apostolic outpouring was the former rain and the latter rain will be more abundant, with thousands converted through power to save souls. The baptism is the gift of gifts, the most priceless treasure, sent by Christ the Life-giver after His departure, enthronement in His mediatorial kingdom, and taking His place in the heavenly courts with all power in heaven and earth, dispensing the Spirit with a whole heaven of rich blessings to all who love and receive Him. That outpouring is the evidence of Christ's enthronement and God's testimony to the great work of atonement in reconciling the world to Himself, qualifying the church with every endowment for mission and a true understanding of the kingdom Christ establishes, fitting it to proclaim Christ first in Jerusalem where the rightful King was dishonored and then to the uttermost parts. The promise had been fulfilled at Pentecost after crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, for which the Spirit had been waiting while for ten days the disciples prayed and Christ added His intercession in heaven, until at His ascension and inauguration, a jubilee in heaven, He claimed the gift to pour upon disciples, and it came with fullness and power as if restrained for ages, falling like a rushing mighty wind filling the house to be communicated to the world.
Christ baptizes His people with the Holy Spirit now without delay, under whose supervision all work is done, giving power and fitting them for service that blesses others by restoring spiritual and physical health. It purges unsanctified words and enables speech to be used as a most sacred entrusted gift, requiring decided consecration, getting out of self, abiding in Christ, and cleansing of soul and spirit before the Spirit can mold mind and character and control the whole man. When received in answer to united prayer it gives earnestness bearing sanctification, increases every good work, brings much more good to souls and bodies needing healing of infirmities and bodily disease so signs follow believers, and makes the healed glorify God with a loud voice, comforted, strong, rejoicing and triumphant.
The baptism is needed to seek the Lord with the whole heart intelligently and without mistake, to set forth in its greatness what God has done in giving His only begotten Son so believers should not perish but have everlasting life, and to fight the enemy and fight the battles of the Lord as overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony.
Fulfilled at Pentecost and Beyond
The promise was given by the risen Jesus when assembled with the disciples after His resurrection, during the forty days He spoke of the kingdom of God, commanding them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father for baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire not many days hence. It was fulfilled at Pentecost after His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, glorification, and heavenly enthronement and inauguration, when Christ claimed the gift to pour upon His disciples and added His intercession in heaven while the Spirit had been waiting to come with full efficacy to represent Him. They were all with one accord in one place, and the rushing mighty wind filled the whole house where they were assembled, falling with fullness and power as if restrained for ages to be communicated through the church to the world. Cloven tongues like fire sat upon each of them, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and devout men from every nation heard them speak the wonderful works of God each in his own language. Their strength for this witness was to be used in carrying the gospel beyond Jerusalem.
The fulfillment came after ten days of waiting in obedience to the command to remain in Jerusalem until empowered from on high. During that time they continued together in united earnest prayer and supplication, and the promise did not make prayer unnecessary but led them to pray more earnestly together in one faith and spirit without speculative theories about how the blessing would come. They repented of unbelief, remembered Christ's words more fully, searched hearts, confessed and put away sin and differences, and cultivated humility, dependence, and holy fellowship in answer to simple faith. In this united preparation their lives were permeated and their actions directed by the Spirit, resolving to bear witness with confidence and trusting God's Word and the Spirit's manifestation.
At the outpouring they proclaimed Christ crucified with life and power, bringing conviction of sin and uniting believers in sharing the gospel. Thousands were converted in a day, with three thousand as fruit of that outpouring and many joining the church. This apostolic outpouring was the former rain, and the latter rain will be more abundant for carrying the gospel and saving souls. Active service for others strengthened resistance to temptation, and persecution then scattered the believers to proclaim through Judea and Samaria to distant lands, sounding the gracious invitation to come and take the water of life freely throughout the world. The history of the early church during and immediately after that time gives refreshment of mind and instruction in truth, and the experiences of Paul and the other apostles recorded in Acts must be studied carefully because God's people must pass through similar experiences.
Peter recalled this same promise when the Holy Ghost fell upon Cornelius and the Gentiles gathered with him. He recognized their receiving the Spirit as the same gift given to the disciples at the beginning, fulfilling Jesus' word distinguishing John's water baptism from baptism with the Holy Ghost. This matching gift showed God had granted the Gentiles repentance, salvation, and acceptance without regard to circumcision or ethnic distinction. It showed God had welcomed them without distinction, so that Peter could not oppose what God had done.
Sought and Lived Today
The promise belongs to believers now, not only to some future time, and all people are to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit at this time. The church and members in every city are to lay hold upon the Lord with determined effort, earnest anxiety, and faith to receive it now, expecting its fullness. Satan places every obstacle in the way of those advancing to receive it, and those obstacles are too often regarded as insurmountable, yet each one is to be soundly and truly converted and then lay hold of the work intelligently and with faith.
Ministers need the baptism fitted up day by day before labor, and faithful messengers are to seek it through earnest prayer to meet the needs of a world perishing in sin. Workers, especially missionaries and workers in mission fields, should pray for a rich measure of it, and gathered groups should ask God for special help and heavenly wisdom to plan and carry out their work. Teachers and students need it to learn of Christ with prayer like the apostles, principals and teachers need it for their work, Sabbath-school workers need it, and managers and workers in publishing work and those in God's institutions and business need it even more because of greater responsibility. Receiving it places managers where they can be deeply impressed by the Spirit, gaining knowledge of God and Christ and holding all natural and acquired endowments as gifts under divine sanctifying control, for success more than in any secular business is proportioned to consecration and self-sacrifice.
It is sought by individual and united prayer, with workers seeking it daily and gathering to ask for special help and heavenly wisdom. The promise did not make prayer unnecessary, for the disciples prayed more earnestly and together while waiting, sharing one faith and spirit without speculative theories about how the blessing would come, and those preparing people for the Lord's coming are to continue in united prayer. Seeking requires wrestling with God, humbling self, dying to self, forsaking wicked ways and thoughts, abandoning bitterness, malice, and evil speaking, and contrite reliance that takes God at His Word.
Those who receive it are reconverted and reconsecrated to God's service, led and controlled by His will and brought under His control in trust toward the One who understands every human heart. Self is merged in Christ and buried with Him by a deep work of grace in the heart sought by most earnest prayer, and speech, spirit, and manner of labor then reveal the Spirit's guidance. They are drawn together in harmony with fellow believers, stop censuring and tearing one another down, sustain one another under heavy responsibility and build up rather than weaken the work, and go forth with a message from the Lord as a lamp that burns reaching to all parts of the world.
Desire for the baptism is shown by taking up God's work where one is and using gifts to help the work nearby and far away, including supporting workers among distant peoples and other religions through donations, reduced unnecessary expenses, and self-sacrifice. The waiting brings cooperation of heavenly intelligences and gives power and efficiency to missionary testimony so the invitation to take the water of life freely can sound throughout the world. It gives consecration and a faith that stands test and trial, with intelligence and confidence to trust the Saviour, remain at the post of duty, and not leave the work because something does not suit, and fits believers to take up Christ-like work after His example.
Ministers gathered at Battle Creek are to make it their Jerusalem and determine not to leave until they receive power from on high, which calls for earnest effort, new conversion fitting them for their fields, and faith to believe God will do as He said. The baptism is needed to recognize and carry out the work before them, otherwise important work will be overlooked, including purging commercialism from publishing offices and faithfully advancing the Lord's work. Children should be taught to seek it as a daily gift and privilege, and the Spirit's guidance is to be sought by earnest prayer before deciding what to do on solemn matters of principle.
The Father gives the gift after testing whether people can live without dishonoring Him and comply with His conditions, and great blessings depend on meeting those conditions. They must not assume they already have all needed spiritual help but, like James and John, learn meekness and lowliness day by day under the yoke before sharing glory. When needless hindrances are removed the Spirit flows richly to the soul and brings other blessings.
God's goodness gave the baptism before wading through deep waters to carry out salvation work, and Christ predicted great things for the church because of this endowment, which calls for sustained attention rather than occasional discussion. Those called to preach must tarry until baptized and imbued with wisdom from on high, an endowment from God and not from any man, given while searching Scripture as for hidden treasure with prayer, belief, and pleading, with no man stepping between the worker and Christ as brains for him. Without it workers are dry as a chip, narrow, self-sufficient, and overlooking work, and in the last days even work that might benefit people can become a decoy and curse without this safeguard.
At Minneapolis God offered this baptism that His people might become living channels of light in clear bright rays, but pride, rebellion, and a criticizing spirit against the message and messengers resisted His design. Piled evidence afterward will not help unless hearts are humbled and repentance follows rejection of mercy. Likewise jealousy and suspicion toward growing medical missionary work must be removed by the baptism, for without it people continue jealous whatever power God reveals, lose spiritual blessings, harden hearts, and bring divine judgments, since truth received is life and truth rejected hardens.
Jesus Himself gives the baptism in reviving plentitude without room to receive it, and nothing but this baptism can bring the church to its right position and prepare God's people for the fast-approaching conflict. The church is to seek it earnestly through prayer with faith and courage so believers may be truly converted and labor with zeal for perishing souls despite obstacles, and it is for all who draw apart from worldly customs and seek Him with the whole heart. With it He instructs the ignorant, anoints eyes with heavenly eyesalve to see work in lowly places and highways, opens ways before those walking in His footsteps, raises up agents of truth, and arouses energetic work as a lamp that burns.
The verse is applied in prayer that those with great light be filled with the Spirit to share it with those in darkness, that believers be baptized for increased faith, strength, and heavenly light in mind and heart, and in the call to believe God's Word and show faith by works in practical godliness, unity, and sanctification. Receiving it requires reliance on God and keeping close to His holy influences, without which spiritual things cannot be discerned, for it is an urgent need no one can safely consider unnecessary. Receiving it requires searching for truth as for hidden treasures with the key of knowledge in every hand, wanting none of self and all of Jesus, seeking Christ's righteousness, growing to full stature with truth abiding in the heart, and opening schools to Bible and nature lest minds misinterpret, bring confusion, and carry truth to extremes.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is to be wanted and sought in order to prepare to do God's remaining work intelligently.
Christ promised His disciples waiting in Jerusalem that in a few days they would be immersed in the Holy Spirit, in contrast to John's baptism with water. The promise was fulfilled at Pentecost after His resurrection, ascension and enthronement, when they were of one accord and were filled and spoke God's wonderful works in other languages. It is the Father's promised gift that makes them His witnesses, giving understanding, boldness and effective power for preaching, teaching and soul-saving. It renews and sanctifies the whole being to Christlikeness and binds believers in one mind, harmony and unity for service. The gift belongs to believers now and is to be received by determined, united prayer, humbling of self and putting away of sin, and is needed by ministers, missionaries, teachers and all workers before labor.
Words and Historical Setting
For John truly baptized with water, but the disciples were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. This was spoken by the risen Jesus when assembled with them after His resurrection, during the forty days He was seen by them and spoke of the kingdom of God. He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father which they had heard from Him. The same Spirit who dwelt in Christ would be given to them as the Father's promised gift, becoming the source of their understanding and power to continue Christ's work and bear witness to Him. Some hold the promise as baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire, fulfilled at Pentecost when, all with one accord in one place, the rushing mighty wind filled the house, cloven tongues like fire sat on each, all were filled, and devout men from every nation heard them speak the wonderful works of God in his own language.
The saying belongs to Christ's commission to the disciples and to the account of His ascension to heaven. It is joined to the message of the angels to the waiting disciples and to Jesus' promise to come again, and the promised coming of the Spirit together with that promise gave the disciples joy as they returned to Jerusalem. Linked with the call not to let the heart be troubled, it teaches the necessity of being educated to believe the Word of God and to show faith by works in practical godliness. It shows that inquisitiveness can keep people from feeling the importance of relying on living faith and on the promises of Scripture, that things greatly desired to be known are not given to be known, and that it is a privilege to walk by faith and take God at His word.
Jesus told them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise was fulfilled and forbade them to begin their mission or preach until empowered from on high. Their stay in Jerusalem was temporary, for their strength for service was to be used in carrying the gospel beyond Jerusalem. The baptism brought the power needed to witness for Christ, first in Jerusalem and then throughout Judea and Samaria to the whole earth and to distant lands. The promise was fulfilled after His ascension and heavenly enthronement, when after Christ was glorified the Spirit descended at Pentecost with full efficacy to represent Christ to His followers, and many joined the church. This heavenly gift would confirm their connection with Heaven, give them courage and joy, and enable them to understand and proclaim God's love and the truths entrusted to them, to preach repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through the merits of Christ's death and resurrection. Those who carry a message of truth should likewise be filled with the Spirit and let its transforming power be seen first in their own lives and homes, then in their neighborhood and farther afield, since active service for others strengthens resistance to temptation, and persecution scattered the believers so they proclaimed the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria and to distant lands.
Before they went forth with the power and glory of Pentecost, they met with Jesus in Galilee and witnessed His departure from Olivet. They waited for the gift during the ten days that followed, devoting themselves together in the upper room to prayer and praise and communion. Their gladness and confidence came from Christ's promise, and they waited in prayer for its fulfillment. While they waited and gathered in prayer, the Spirit directed the choice of Matthias to fill Judas's place among the apostles. Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a distinct experience from John's water baptism, illustrated as God's power in Brother Baker's experience, accompanied by healing and loud praise to God.
What Spirit Baptism Gives
The baptism is the Father's promised gift assured by the Son, to be received not many days after John's water baptism, when the disciples waited in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus' departure. It is the same Spirit who abode and dwelt in Christ given to His disciples as the source of their understanding and power to continue His work and bear witness to Him. This endowment was the essential evidence that they were His witnesses, preparing and empowering them as laborers with Christ for teaching and the salvation of people.
It is the special blessing for which they waited and prayed in Jerusalem, equipping them to preach the gospel with the Spirit's power for carrying the gospel and saving souls. The gift gives power and efficiency for spiritual work, including preaching that convicts and converts, and it is to be received by faith now rather than treated as reserved for some future time. The Spirit is the effective agent in proclaiming sacred truth, awakening the soul's ability to value heavenly things and drawing affections toward God and the truth. The baptism is the means of receiving power to be sought continually through prayer, with workers gathering to ask God for special help and wisdom, missionaries pleading especially for a rich measure, so that the proclamation of truth has boldness and a power beyond worldly honor or glory.
Before beginning their mission they were to wait for this heavenly gift, which would confirm and assure their connection with Heaven, fit them for work, and bring courage, joy, and heavenly light helping them understand the fullness of God's love. Thus enabled, they were to proclaim repentance, pardon, forgiveness, and salvation through the merits of Christ's death and resurrection as the crucified and risen Christ, beginning in Jerusalem and widening outward. This qualification and endowment for ministry comes from God and not from any living man, imparted while men search the Scriptures and dig for truth as for hidden treasure, praying, believing, pleading for help, knowledge, power, wisdom and grace, and casting burden on the Lord, with no man stepping between the worker and Jesus the true Educator to be brains for him. Those who feel no burden to seek God for themselves and only repeat discourses made from another man's pen and brains are as dry as a chip and must wait until they receive this baptism, whereupon God works upon mind and heart as He put His Spirit upon men raised up in the Reformation and sent them to bear light to others.
The promised Spirit was the disciples' brightest hope and strongest consolation as Christ ascended, enlightening the apostles to distinguish truth from false theories, to give the people the Word of life, and to discern spiritual things rather than assume safety without that holy influence. Through this gift they came to remember and grasp His teachings, to understand Jesus' character and saving mission, the prophecies and miracles not understood before, recognizing the Lord of glory come from God in human form to save fallen humanity. In giving the Spirit God gives all gifts in one to enlighten, convert, and sanctify the soul, opening understanding to the Word, to Scripture and nature, to spiritual things, and in the last days to the truths of the third angel's message for believers of every country and speech who come into right relation to God, search the Scriptures, and walk humbly, receiving power to do an intelligent work among people of all languages with heaven cooperating in a mighty power at work in the world.
The baptism must be accepted and cherished as Christ's representative to renew and sanctify the entire being and make church members living, growing, and fruitful, for without it momentous truths entrusted to believers lose power on mind and character. The Lord has promised this baptism more frequently than anything else and nothing glorifies Him more than to bestow it, so it must be prayed for as never before because it is needed now more than ever. When partaken it brings the new birth, justification through confessing sin and receiving pardon, firm unwavering faith, perfection of life and character with Christ formed within as the hope of glory as each member opens the heart to invite Jesus to abide within, and the presence of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings so lost souls are found, brought back, and kept by God's power through faith unto salvation.
It brings believers into harmony and draws them together with fellow believers, enabling them to become of one mind and purpose, for nothing less can bring the church into such unity. This baptism produces healthful unity in laying and carrying out plans, especially in blending with publishing institutions, so all speak the same things and each serves with an eye single to God's glory, with Christ binding true followers together and God's peace ruling hearts in spiritual courage and fortitude. When so baptized they stop censuring and tearing one another down, sustain one another under heavy responsibility, and build up rather than weaken the work, while the Spirit comes into assemblies to infuse new life, bring new energy, run as a purifying tide, transform character, make hearts one with Christ in love, loyalty, and purity, and give efficiency when the soul is consecrated and God works with human effort.
The apostolic outpouring was the former rain and the latter rain will be more abundant, with thousands converted through power to save souls. The baptism is the gift of gifts, the most priceless treasure, sent by Christ the Life-giver after His departure, enthronement in His mediatorial kingdom, and taking His place in the heavenly courts with all power in heaven and earth, dispensing the Spirit with a whole heaven of rich blessings to all who love and receive Him. That outpouring is the evidence of Christ's enthronement and God's testimony to the great work of atonement in reconciling the world to Himself, qualifying the church with every endowment for mission and a true understanding of the kingdom Christ establishes, fitting it to proclaim Christ first in Jerusalem where the rightful King was dishonored and then to the uttermost parts. The promise had been fulfilled at Pentecost after crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, for which the Spirit had been waiting while for ten days the disciples prayed and Christ added His intercession in heaven, until at His ascension and inauguration, a jubilee in heaven, He claimed the gift to pour upon disciples, and it came with fullness and power as if restrained for ages, falling like a rushing mighty wind filling the house to be communicated to the world.
Christ baptizes His people with the Holy Spirit now without delay, under whose supervision all work is done, giving power and fitting them for service that blesses others by restoring spiritual and physical health. It purges unsanctified words and enables speech to be used as a most sacred entrusted gift, requiring decided consecration, getting out of self, abiding in Christ, and cleansing of soul and spirit before the Spirit can mold mind and character and control the whole man. When received in answer to united prayer it gives earnestness bearing sanctification, increases every good work, brings much more good to souls and bodies needing healing of infirmities and bodily disease so signs follow believers, and makes the healed glorify God with a loud voice, comforted, strong, rejoicing and triumphant.
The baptism is needed to seek the Lord with the whole heart intelligently and without mistake, to set forth in its greatness what God has done in giving His only begotten Son so believers should not perish but have everlasting life, and to fight the enemy and fight the battles of the Lord as overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony.
Fulfilled at Pentecost and Beyond
The promise was given by the risen Jesus when assembled with the disciples after His resurrection, during the forty days He spoke of the kingdom of God, commanding them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father for baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire not many days hence. It was fulfilled at Pentecost after His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, glorification, and heavenly enthronement and inauguration, when Christ claimed the gift to pour upon His disciples and added His intercession in heaven while the Spirit had been waiting to come with full efficacy to represent Him. They were all with one accord in one place, and the rushing mighty wind filled the whole house where they were assembled, falling with fullness and power as if restrained for ages to be communicated through the church to the world. Cloven tongues like fire sat upon each of them, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and devout men from every nation heard them speak the wonderful works of God each in his own language. Their strength for this witness was to be used in carrying the gospel beyond Jerusalem.
The fulfillment came after ten days of waiting in obedience to the command to remain in Jerusalem until empowered from on high. During that time they continued together in united earnest prayer and supplication, and the promise did not make prayer unnecessary but led them to pray more earnestly together in one faith and spirit without speculative theories about how the blessing would come. They repented of unbelief, remembered Christ's words more fully, searched hearts, confessed and put away sin and differences, and cultivated humility, dependence, and holy fellowship in answer to simple faith. In this united preparation their lives were permeated and their actions directed by the Spirit, resolving to bear witness with confidence and trusting God's Word and the Spirit's manifestation.
At the outpouring they proclaimed Christ crucified with life and power, bringing conviction of sin and uniting believers in sharing the gospel. Thousands were converted in a day, with three thousand as fruit of that outpouring and many joining the church. This apostolic outpouring was the former rain, and the latter rain will be more abundant for carrying the gospel and saving souls. Active service for others strengthened resistance to temptation, and persecution then scattered the believers to proclaim through Judea and Samaria to distant lands, sounding the gracious invitation to come and take the water of life freely throughout the world. The history of the early church during and immediately after that time gives refreshment of mind and instruction in truth, and the experiences of Paul and the other apostles recorded in Acts must be studied carefully because God's people must pass through similar experiences.
Peter recalled this same promise when the Holy Ghost fell upon Cornelius and the Gentiles gathered with him. He recognized their receiving the Spirit as the same gift given to the disciples at the beginning, fulfilling Jesus' word distinguishing John's water baptism from baptism with the Holy Ghost. This matching gift showed God had granted the Gentiles repentance, salvation, and acceptance without regard to circumcision or ethnic distinction. It showed God had welcomed them without distinction, so that Peter could not oppose what God had done.
Sought and Lived Today
The promise belongs to believers now, not only to some future time, and all people are to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit at this time. The church and members in every city are to lay hold upon the Lord with determined effort, earnest anxiety, and faith to receive it now, expecting its fullness. Satan places every obstacle in the way of those advancing to receive it, and those obstacles are too often regarded as insurmountable, yet each one is to be soundly and truly converted and then lay hold of the work intelligently and with faith.
Ministers need the baptism fitted up day by day before labor, and faithful messengers are to seek it through earnest prayer to meet the needs of a world perishing in sin. Workers, especially missionaries and workers in mission fields, should pray for a rich measure of it, and gathered groups should ask God for special help and heavenly wisdom to plan and carry out their work. Teachers and students need it to learn of Christ with prayer like the apostles, principals and teachers need it for their work, Sabbath-school workers need it, and managers and workers in publishing work and those in God's institutions and business need it even more because of greater responsibility. Receiving it places managers where they can be deeply impressed by the Spirit, gaining knowledge of God and Christ and holding all natural and acquired endowments as gifts under divine sanctifying control, for success more than in any secular business is proportioned to consecration and self-sacrifice.
It is sought by individual and united prayer, with workers seeking it daily and gathering to ask for special help and heavenly wisdom. The promise did not make prayer unnecessary, for the disciples prayed more earnestly and together while waiting, sharing one faith and spirit without speculative theories about how the blessing would come, and those preparing people for the Lord's coming are to continue in united prayer. Seeking requires wrestling with God, humbling self, dying to self, forsaking wicked ways and thoughts, abandoning bitterness, malice, and evil speaking, and contrite reliance that takes God at His Word.
Those who receive it are reconverted and reconsecrated to God's service, led and controlled by His will and brought under His control in trust toward the One who understands every human heart. Self is merged in Christ and buried with Him by a deep work of grace in the heart sought by most earnest prayer, and speech, spirit, and manner of labor then reveal the Spirit's guidance. They are drawn together in harmony with fellow believers, stop censuring and tearing one another down, sustain one another under heavy responsibility and build up rather than weaken the work, and go forth with a message from the Lord as a lamp that burns reaching to all parts of the world.
Desire for the baptism is shown by taking up God's work where one is and using gifts to help the work nearby and far away, including supporting workers among distant peoples and other religions through donations, reduced unnecessary expenses, and self-sacrifice. The waiting brings cooperation of heavenly intelligences and gives power and efficiency to missionary testimony so the invitation to take the water of life freely can sound throughout the world. It gives consecration and a faith that stands test and trial, with intelligence and confidence to trust the Saviour, remain at the post of duty, and not leave the work because something does not suit, and fits believers to take up Christ-like work after His example.
Ministers gathered at Battle Creek are to make it their Jerusalem and determine not to leave until they receive power from on high, which calls for earnest effort, new conversion fitting them for their fields, and faith to believe God will do as He said. The baptism is needed to recognize and carry out the work before them, otherwise important work will be overlooked, including purging commercialism from publishing offices and faithfully advancing the Lord's work. Children should be taught to seek it as a daily gift and privilege, and the Spirit's guidance is to be sought by earnest prayer before deciding what to do on solemn matters of principle.
The Father gives the gift after testing whether people can live without dishonoring Him and comply with His conditions, and great blessings depend on meeting those conditions. They must not assume they already have all needed spiritual help but, like James and John, learn meekness and lowliness day by day under the yoke before sharing glory. When needless hindrances are removed the Spirit flows richly to the soul and brings other blessings.
God's goodness gave the baptism before wading through deep waters to carry out salvation work, and Christ predicted great things for the church because of this endowment, which calls for sustained attention rather than occasional discussion. Those called to preach must tarry until baptized and imbued with wisdom from on high, an endowment from God and not from any man, given while searching Scripture as for hidden treasure with prayer, belief, and pleading, with no man stepping between the worker and Christ as brains for him. Without it workers are dry as a chip, narrow, self-sufficient, and overlooking work, and in the last days even work that might benefit people can become a decoy and curse without this safeguard.
At Minneapolis God offered this baptism that His people might become living channels of light in clear bright rays, but pride, rebellion, and a criticizing spirit against the message and messengers resisted His design. Piled evidence afterward will not help unless hearts are humbled and repentance follows rejection of mercy. Likewise jealousy and suspicion toward growing medical missionary work must be removed by the baptism, for without it people continue jealous whatever power God reveals, lose spiritual blessings, harden hearts, and bring divine judgments, since truth received is life and truth rejected hardens.
Jesus Himself gives the baptism in reviving plentitude without room to receive it, and nothing but this baptism can bring the church to its right position and prepare God's people for the fast-approaching conflict. The church is to seek it earnestly through prayer with faith and courage so believers may be truly converted and labor with zeal for perishing souls despite obstacles, and it is for all who draw apart from worldly customs and seek Him with the whole heart. With it He instructs the ignorant, anoints eyes with heavenly eyesalve to see work in lowly places and highways, opens ways before those walking in His footsteps, raises up agents of truth, and arouses energetic work as a lamp that burns.
The verse is applied in prayer that those with great light be filled with the Spirit to share it with those in darkness, that believers be baptized for increased faith, strength, and heavenly light in mind and heart, and in the call to believe God's Word and show faith by works in practical godliness, unity, and sanctification. Receiving it requires reliance on God and keeping close to His holy influences, without which spiritual things cannot be discerned, for it is an urgent need no one can safely consider unnecessary. Receiving it requires searching for truth as for hidden treasures with the key of knowledge in every hand, wanting none of self and all of Jesus, seeking Christ's righteousness, growing to full stature with truth abiding in the heart, and opening schools to Bible and nature lest minds misinterpret, bring confusion, and carry truth to extremes.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is to be wanted and sought in order to prepare to do God's remaining work intelligently.