(11) His Advent and Operations.
Luke 24:49-53; Acts 1:8-14; 2:1-21; 36-47.
THE last words of our Lord, as recorded by the inspired evangelist Luke, had reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit. The circumstances, as presented in these scriptures, are throbbing with interest. The Lord Jesus Christ had gained the greatest victory that had ever been achieved. In infinite grace He had gone into death. In, — divine power He had come forth from the grave having completely broken death’s power, and opened up the way of life for all who should believe in Him.
He had sought out “His own;” had made two hitherto sad hearts to burn; had dispelled the fears of all; and had so attached them to Himself that as He was taken from them their hearts were filled with joy; and for the first time a company of humble folk upon earth worshipped a glorified Man in heaven. They were further cheered by the heartening message that He who had just left them would so come in like manner.
But now let us consider His parting charge to them. Having given them their commissions and their message, He said: “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” (Acts 1:8.) Could we imagine some disciples asking, after He had gone, “Why should we wait?” They had been commissioned to carry a message which they might think would revolutionize the world. Like one of old, they were “full of matter.” (Job 32:18). Then, why wait? Simply because the Lord had said, “tarry ye until.” They had indeed received their commission and their message, but they lacked one essential and that was power.
We are well aware that the two verses to which we have drawn attention refer to the literal coming of the Holy Spirit; but we suggest that we may learn a lesson therefrom. We pray that these three words may be burned into our hearts:
“TARRY YE UNTIL.”
How much activity there is today, but, alas! how little power. Is it the case that we sometimes go to our Sunday School class because we have to go? That we go to preach because it has been announced that we will do so? That we engage in some service because we have promised? Yet we have been conscious of the absence of power. In these days of rush, in this exciting and excitable world, with our natural restlessness, we find it perhaps difficult to “Tarry until.” Oh that we could realize that no tarrying means no power; and that no power means no result.
The disciples tarried, “with one accord in one place.” They “continued in prayer and supplication.” The company included the women. There is no greater asset to a company of believers than prang sisters who, when able, are found with the brothers at the meeting for prayer.
They continued for ten days. “Some prayer that!” a reader may exclaim. Yes, and some result followed. Let us ponder it well, “Tarry ye until.” What will happen? “Ye shall receive power.” Put the two sentences together, “Tarry ye until ye shall receive power.” What shall we do? Pray, and continue in prayer. Shall we go in for it? The Holy Spirit came, filled the house, and filled each one in the house. “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:4). They not only received the Spirit but they were filled with the Spirit.
It is striking to remark in the early chapters of the Acts how much we read of this, and how it came into the minute details of assembly life. When it was a case of choosing seven men to distribute some money, they were to be “full of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 6:3.) It was normal Christian experience. Ananias told Saul that he had been sent to him that he might receive his sight and “be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 9:17). It meant such power in preaching that “about three thousand souls” were saved on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:41). It meant such power in prayer that “the place was shaken where they were assembled.” (Acts 4:31).
The world looked on and mocked as they saw the wonderful doings of this Spirit-filled company. There seemed to be that about them that gave the impression that they were intoxicated, but Peter put their mind at rest on that point. Look at him as he stood up; behind him one hundred and nineteen Spirit-filled men and women. They were there not to criticize the man, nor his matter, nor his methods, nor his mannerisms, but conscious that he was their mouthpiece, as indeed he was the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit of God. Listen to his preaching. He spoke not about himself nor his experience, but about Christ, and as he called attention to Him where He now is, the people were “pricked in their heart.” in their distress they called out. Convicted by divine power, they believed; were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. Here we have the inauguration of the Holy Spirit’s operations in the Christian era. The nucleus of the new company divinely equipped; the new testimony given; the Church formed as a vessel through which God might be known, and in which Christ would be expressed.
Do any inquire― can we have anything resembling that today? The reply is—we are still in the day of Pentecost inasmuch as this is the Spirit’s day, which will continue until the Church is raptured to Glory. The Holy Spirit is the same; the commission is the same; the message is the same; the power is the same. Are results the same? No. Why? Because, alas! we have not learned the secret to “Tarry until.” Because we are not “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and therefore we are not “endued with power from on high.” Every true believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, otherwise he would not be a believer; but every believer is not filled with the Spirit, otherwise we should not have the exhortation: “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18).
Why are we not filled? It may be because we are not emptied of self; or because we are not prepared to pay the price. It involves our letting go our own will; it meant our complete, unconditional surrender; it requires our being prepared to be usable in order that He may use us as, and when, and where, and how He pleases. It may mean the scrapping of our scheme of life; the cutting right across our cherished plan; it may make demands upon us such as we did not contemplate. Are we prepared for that? Are we ready to hand over the key of the citadel of our being in order that this blessed, divine, holy Indweller may have unreserved, uncontested, ungrudging possession. If so, then we believe blessing, joy, peace, spiritual prosperity, usefulness, await us, and that of such a kind that will surpass our highest thought.
What will be the result? The Holy Spirit will engage our hearts not with ourselves nor our experiences but with Christ. We will speak not of our experiences but of Christ. Those with whom we come in contact will be attracted not to us but to Christ. “The love of God will be shed abroad in our heart; the treasures of Christ will be displayed to us; the world to come will be opened to our wondering view; and our life, as Spirit-filled, will confirm the testimony we shall be enabled to give with our lips, whether privately or publicly, to Him, who is the chiefest among ten thousand the altogether lovely!
Say, dear fellow believer! Is it not worth our while to go in for this? Let us be done with a drab, colorless, useless existence; with that way of living that would not suit us in our ordinary work-a-day matters; and let us pray, and pray, and “continue in prayer and supplication,” that we may be here for the delight of the heart of God, for the glory of our adorable Lord and Saviour; and that the Holy Spirit may have His own way with us, so that we way be usable and that He may be able to use us to this end.
W. Bramwell Dick.
To follow. (D.V) THE HOLY SPIRIT. (3) The Seal. The Earnest. etc.