It is of the utmost moment to all the people of God to ascertain whether the Holy Ghost has returned to heaven since Pentecost, and has to be sent again on every fresh occasion of blessing, or whether He remained, and still remains on earth with us, since that great event. And such is the important subject now under our consideration.
More than eighteen -hundred years ago, a small company of the disciples of Jesus were accustomed to meet in an upper chamber for prayer and supplication, in expectation of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, according to the promise of their blessed Master, to be shortly accomplished (Acts 1). They were feeble and fearful (John 20:19,2019Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19‑20)), and quite unenlightened as to the purposes and counsels of God respecting the calling of the Gentiles and the Church, having still, for the most part, Jewish views and feelings (Acts 1:66When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)), with prejudices, which nothing but the action and direct authority of the Spirit of God afterward sufficed to overcome (Acts 10:45-47; 11:15-1845And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:45‑47)
15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16Then 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. 17Forasmuch 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? 18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:15‑18)). Besides this they had no power to preach or declare the Word of God, and were specially directed by the Lord Himself to wait until this was conferred on them, by the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4,5,84And, 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. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4‑5)
8But 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. (Acts 1:8)); nor could they, until that event took place, be formed into one body, the Church (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)), and its order, organization, and privileges, were unknown to them.
This state of things continued until the descent of the Holy Ghost, on the day of Pentecost, which is thus de-scribed:-" 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 " (Acts 2). Thus was fulfilled the promise of Christ, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16).)
The terms of this promise were that the Comforter should come to abide with them, in accordance with which we see, on the day of Pentecost, not only the " cloven tongues as of fire," resting upon each individual, emblematical of the gifts and powers which the Holy Ghost conferred, but His own personal presence in their midst, indicated by the sound as of a rushing mighty wind, which, coming from heaven, " filled all the house where they were sitting." Thus was the advent and presence of this Divine and Almighty Agent announced to them all, in an unmistakable way. Thus they knew that though the Son had returned to heaven, another Divine person of the blessed Trinity had descended to earth to remain with them, according to the promise of Christ, forever.
His presence changed the aspect of everything. Courage and confidence succeeded to fear; weakness was exchanged "for power; and boldness in public testimony for Christ for what had before been only in private; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. Besides which, the Church is now first spoken of as an existent body that could be added to (v. 47), the unity and love which characterized its members becoming conspicuous to all (44-46) whilst those who were enrolled, exhibited the living agency of the divine Spirit of truth in continuing steadfast in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers; four all-important things, which show distinct and instructed organization and spiritual power.
We have, in addition, the conversions which took place under the ministry of the Word by the Apostle Peter, on one day three thousand being brought in (Acts 2:4141Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)), and on another two thousand, after the healing of the impotent man (Acts 4:44Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)). But these conversions were not the out-pouring of the Spirit which had been previously exhibited in the apparent form as of a rushing mighty wind, and of tongues of fire which rested on the believers; but they were the blessed effects of the Holy Spirit's presence, making itself felt, subsequently, upon the hearts of sinners. These things ought not to be confused; the former was the coming or descent of the Holy Ghost, the latter is only one result of it, though a very blessed one. He comes to the disciples to dwell among them, and show His power. He acts when present in the Church, on the world out-side, and that by means of a testimony given by the lips of the apostles who were filled with the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 4 a scene presents itself of great importance in our present inquiry. An attempt is made by the leading authorities of the Jewish nation, to put a stop to this work of God, by threatening the apostles, and commanding them not to speak any more in the name of Jesus. This leads to prayer-prayer to God to carry on His work, to convert, and save, and bless, in the very way which Christians now desire to see it effected. It seems like the first great prayer-meeting of which we have any account, after the descent of the Holy Ghost, though held without any previous concert. But for what do they ask? not that the Holy Ghost may come, or be sent, for they know Him to 'be there with them; but that boldness may be given them to speak the Word of God in face of all opposition, and that the name of Jesus may be magnified by the display of its power Among men. The answer came at once. " And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness."
The presence of that divine Comforter who had come at Pentecost, and filled all the house where they were sitting is now sensibly felt by the house being shaken where they were assembled, and they are all filled with the Holy Ghost, and speak the Word with boldness. With great power the apostles give testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, great grace rests on all, with unity of heart and mind, and self-renunciation for the good of others who were in need, whilst believers are added to the Lord, multitudes, both of men and women (v. 14) and those who bring their lie into the presence of God the Holy Ghost, to whom Peter declared the lie to have been fold, are struck down by divine judgment. From this we may gather what our prayer should be, whether for ourselves, or for sinners around us.
If the Holy Ghost had returned to heaven, then should we indeed have to pray that He may be sent again, and that He should come down to us again; but to what a condition of weakness and desolation would the Church then be reduced! How could she then bear testimony to the world? How uphold the name of Christ, or the truth of God on earth? Without a Comforter, a divine person to sustain the people of God in the world, they would be indeed as the Lord said He would not leave His disciples, orphans or comfortless. But it is not so; our position is not that of the disciples when they were waiting for the Holy Ghost to come, with all the feebleness as we have seen that resulted from His not having yet been given (chap. 1) but rather that which is represented in chap. 4, and we may well take this prayer for our guidance at the present moment, and ask for the same things. That we may be filled with the Spirit, and speak the word of God with boldness, that grace may rest on us, that love may abound as then, and that the name of Jesus may be magnified in His being made known to many hearts that have never tasted His grace.
Blessed be God, the Holy Ghost is not gone back to heaven, that he needs be asked to come again; He dwells still in the Church, and in the heart of every believer.
That this is so, is evident from the promise of our blessed Lord, that as the result of His intercession that other Comforter should be given, who should " abide with them forever." These words, "forever," distinctly set aside every notion that would imply the Holy Ghost's ever leaving us. As long as the Church remains on earth, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, is her companion and support and guide. He is given to lead her into all truth, and to take of the things of Christ, and sinew them to her, and so to glorify Christ in the hearts of those that are His.
But besides this, in John 16. His action on the world-the subject we are now speaking of-is thus set before us in the words of our Lord, " 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 in 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." Here the coming of the Comforter is said to be the result of Jesus going on high, and He is said to be sent, not to the world, but to the disciples. " If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send Him unto you." But when He was come, and dwelling with the people of God, He would reprove the world of its condition in the sight of God-of sin in the rejection of Christ-of righteousness in Jesus alone who had left it and gone to the Father-and of its ultimate judgment.
Is not this what has been going on ever since Pentecost? Has it not been in consequence of the presence of the Spirit of truth here that this divine and gracious operation has been carried on, and souls have been converted and brought to believe on Christ as their righteousness before God? It was His presence here in the Church, our Lord tells us, that was to accomplish this, and the conversion of souls which has continued, and been going on more or less ever since, is therefore owing to the continuance of that blessed presence on the earth, and His consequent acting on the souls of men.
How, then, it may be asked, are the times of revival that have occurred at different periods in. the history of the Church to be accounted for?
To this the reply may be readily given from the passages we have referred to, that not only the existence of the Church itself, but all blessing that has come to the Church since Pentecost-all its guidance through the difficulties and dangers of the world, and its support against the power of Satan-all spiritual ministry (1 Cor. 12:7,8,117But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (1 Corinthians 12:7‑8)
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)) for the edification of the saints-all the spread of the gospel, and the maintenance of the truth of God on earth-all the testimony borne to the efficacy of the blood of Christ or the power of His name before God (John 15:2020Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20))-all tile revivals that have ever occurred-all the conversions which have taken place, whether few or many, whether suddenly or more gradually-all is due to the great fact of the presence of the Holy Ghost here on earth. Just as a reservoir in a town supplies all its different parts with water, so needful for the support of natural life, so does the Spirit of God here present maintain all the functions of spiritual life in the people of God, and afford an abundant and ever present supply for their necessities, and the wants of sinners, where there is dependance and the prayer of faith to draw it out.
Surely it ought to encourage us to know that we have this divine and blessed Person here with us as an abiding source of strength and consolation. He cannot fail in His care for the Church, and He has but to put forth His power, and the work is done. And it may well stimulate our souls to look to God, that as He has done so much for us in giving us this divine and almighty Comforter, so His power may be displayed for our blessing and the awakening of sinners.
All this, however, could not take place, as we know from John 7:37-3937In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37‑39), until Jesus was glorified. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)."
From this we learn that the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in individual believers, and be the source of their joy in the truth, and power in witnessing for Jesus, is the result of Christ having taken His place at the right hand of God, after having glorified God by His death in the putting away of sin (John 13:31, 32-17:4). The Spirit comes to be in the souls of believers the witness and seal of the efficacy of that blessed work which Jesus accomplished on the cross-His presence in each believer proves that sin has been blotted out by the blood of Christ—that it is now gone from us because it is gone from Him who for our sakes took it on Himself, and that we are now as clear of it in the sight of God as He is (Rom. 4:25.-viii. 34.-Col. 2:1010And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)). He could not have been raised again if it had not been completely and entirely put away; and His taking His place on the throne of God, is the triumphant clearance of every believer from every charge which could be laid against him, whilst it makes his acceptance as perfect as that of Christ Himself in the glory of that throne. The Spirit of God now unites him to Christ as part of His body, and therefore gives him to share in His position and privileges.-Eph. 1:6, 13, 19, 22, 236To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)
19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1:19)
22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23); 1 Cor. 6:17, 1917But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
19What? 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? (1 Corinthians 6:19); 2 Cor. 1:21, 2221Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21‑22).
Besides this the veil which the justice and holiness of God interposed between Himself and sinners-which hid God from man, prevented his approach to God, and hindered the outflow of divine love- has been rent by the death of Jesus. The Holy Ghost has come here to witness that that death has broken down every barrier which subsisted between God and man, and that the blood being carried into the holiest of all, the way in there is now manifest; and the Gospel and the coming of the Holy Ghost witness that God's love suffers nothing to stand between Himself and sinners, the blood of Christ being provided for their reconciliation to Him, and the veil of the temple rent " from the top to the bottom." Compare Mark 15:3838And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:38), and Heb. 9:8, 11, 128The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:11‑12).-10:19, 20. Thus the meaning of the words of Christ becomes apparent-" The Holy Spirit was not yet," so far as the blessing of man, and His presence with men was concerned, because that Jesus was not yet glorified; and again- " If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
This Scripture, however, shows us that this blessed Person acts as the agent of the Father and the Son, by whom He has been sent, and whose purposes of love He has undertaken to carry out; and so much is this the case, that of His communications it is said in the same passage, (v. 13) " He shall not speak of (or from) Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak;" and " He shall glorify Me;" for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
We have thus seen that the Scripture speaks of the presence of the Holy Ghost down here in a twofold way, as having taken up His residence in the Church collectively, and also in each individual believer; that being the second part of the promise of Christ to His disciples in John 14-" He shall be in you." This latter truth is not so much insisted on here, being more generally admitted, though the way in which His " influence" is often spoken of by Christians, makes it too evident that they but little enter into the reality of the truth that the body of the believer is "the temple of the Holy Ghost," (1 Cor. 6:1919What? 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? (1 Corinthians 6:19)).
It will be evident to every one how strengthening to faith and encouraging to prayer, and every other effort for the conversion of sinners, the sense of the abiding presence of the blessed Comforter must be; and how weakening, as well as erroneous is the supposition that the Holy Ghost has gone back to heaven, and has to be brought down again by prayer, whenever any fresh and extended blessing is desired. Nor can it be denied that the petitions which are constantly heard, for the Holy Spirit to " come," or " descend," are utterly inconsistent with the thought of His being here, and show that those who utter them are unconscious of His presence, or they certainly would not ask for it. The same might be said for the most part, of the frequent use of the word " outpouring," of the Spirit, inasmuch as it is generally used to express all that took place at Pentecost, which was far more than the conversion of sinners, though that, as we have seen, accompanied it.
From these things also we may believe, that when Christians are assembled like the disciples of old (Acts 4) to seek for blessing from God, and the extension of the work of God around them-in the name of Christ, and in dependence on the Spirit of God-His presence will be there to preside amongst them, and to guide them in their prayers, and show them what to do. And if His presence is looked for as a sovereign and divine person, it will lead us to leave things in His hands, to order and direct for the common profit, and for the glory of God.-1 Cor. 12:1111But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Besides this, the conviction of the indwelling' of the Holy Spirit in each believer will strengthen the soul in its supplication to God; for, says the Apostle, "we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." And it is in our hearts that He does this, as the next verse shows. " And He that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints, according to (the will of) God (Rom. 8:26,2726Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26‑27)).