GOD'S MINISTRY
THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OF
NAZARETH
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Revs. Mr. and Mrs. H. Dean Daniels
E-mail: gods-ministry@hdd-gods-ministry.com
Web-site: http://www.hdd-gods-ministry.com/
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST - PART
I
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood subjects of the
Bible. The entire Christian world is divided on the subject of Spirit
baptism, and for that reason every thinking person should search the Scriptures
for themselves, being open to every biblical statement that throws any light
upon the subject. I invite your unbiased attention to the following facts found
in 1,200 Scriptures, which clearly state the whole truth about the baptism in
the Holy Spirit:
I. The Fact of a Holy Ghost
Baptism
The
fact of a Holy Ghost baptism in Scripture is very clear. John the Baptist said
to his followers concerning Christ, "He shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost and with fire" (Mt.
II. The Hoy Ghost (Spirit) Baptism
is for All Believers
1. John the Baptist said that it was
for all believers: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance;
but he [Christ] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Mt.
3:11; Jn. 1:31-34).
2. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to
all men who were children of God: "How much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him" (Lk.
Jesus promised that "If any
man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me . . . out
of his belly shall flow rivers of living water . . . 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"
(Jn. 7:37-39).
3. Peter promised at Pentecost that the
same baptism would be given to all who became Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God. He said, "Repent,
and be baptized . . . and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts
The
great outpouring of the Holy Ghost took place again in the last part of the
1800’eds in like manner as was explained by the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28) and Apostle
Peter (Acts 2:4) and is still continuing until today’s date at least (April 22
year of 2007), for I myself have experienced (received) this infilling of the
Holy Ghost outpouring, (receiving and experiencing all of the nine specified
gifts which are very evident in my life) with the marvelous manifestations of
the Holy Ghost speaking with the Unknown tongues of the Holy Ghost as The Holy
Ghost gives the utterance for the glory of God.
The
Latter day outpouring of the Holy Ghost (as is so specified in Joel 2:28 and Acts
2:4) became publicized world wide and became more famously known at Topeka and
Baxter Springs, Kansas USA. in 1901 and becoming more famously known as the
Azuza Street revival in California, USA.
Because
of these various outpourings (Manifestations) of the Holy Ghost, many
(unlimited numbers in the billions) have received Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Saviour and have received astounding unquestionable miracles of God in
their lives and all of the recipients give their praise and glory unto the Lord
Jesus Christ and The Heavenly Father and NOT man (or the medical doctors or
medicines).
Further,
various churches (mainly known as Pentecostal), organizations, denominations
and beliefs have materialized for one reason, purpose or another because of the
popularity and great love for God. Some of these Churches (denominations) are
the Apostolic Faith Movement (Charles Fox (Daddy) Parham) of Topeka and Baxter
Springs Kansas. And out of that movement spurned the Azuza Street Revival by a
former student (a Black Man) of Rev. Charles Parham’s named William (Bill) Seymour,
who later was led by the Holy Spirit to The State of Louisiana leading many
more souls to the Lord and they in turn formed and began the Assemblies of God
movement now headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.
Also,
The Full Gospel Evangelistic Association originated out of the Apostolic Faith
Movement (Charles F. (Daddy) Parham. Rev. Daddy Parham’s son Robert Parham and
His daughter-in-Law, Sister Pauline Parham with Rev. G. K. (Bittse) Reese and
Rev. Robert (Bob) Palmer of Webb City, Missouri, they began and established the
first, Full Gospel Church at Anchorage, Alaska with many others as well.
Upon
Sister Pauline Parham’s Husbands, (Rev. Robert Parham) demise, she with many of
the other Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ established the Midwest Bible
Institute located in Webb City, Missouri which later was moved to Tulsa,
Oklahoma with Rev. Charles H. Duncan of England (teacher, lecturer).
While
MBI was still located at Webb City, Missouri, Rev. Dick and Gloria Copeland
were graduates of this Bible School while they and many other of these
graduates went on to study at Rama Bible College!
As
far as I understand, the Oral Roberts Revival movement began out of Charles Fox
(Daddy) Parham’s movement and whom my brother-in-law A. H. (Hap) Watkins was
Br. Oral Robert’s only secretary when Br. Oral was first holding tent revivals,
Rev. A. H. (Hap) Watkins with His Father being Rev. A. A. Watkins of Texas and
of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
III. Various Terms Used of the
Spirit Baptism
Being
baptized in the Spirit is called a baptism (Mt. 20:20-23; Heb. 6:2), the
promise of my Father and the enduement of power from on high
(Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:33; Gal. 3:14), the Spirit without measure
(Jn. 3:34), rivers of living water flowing out of the innermost
being (Jn. 7:37-39), the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38-39; 5:32; 8:19-20;
10:44-48; 11:14-18; 15:7-11; Jn. 7:37-39; Lk. 11:13), the full anointing of the
Holy Ghost and power (Acts 10:38; Isa. 11:2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2; Lk.
4:16-21; 1 Jn. 2:27), and the fulness of God in the life of a believer (Eph.
3:19; Rom. 15:29; Jn. 1:16; 7:37-39; Eph. 5:18).
IV. Jesus Was the First to Receive
the Spirit Baptism (in fulness)
Jesus
was baptized in the Spirit after coming up out of the river
V. Jesus' Baptism Was a
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Such
a baptism in all the fulness of God was predicted for the coming Messiah (Isa.
11:2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2). That they were fulfilled in Jesus is clear from
quotations of these passages in Mt. 11:2-6;
VI. The Spirit Baptism Not Given
Before Pentecost
Men
in general were not baptized in the Spirit until the day of Pentecost and until
Jesus was glorified. This is clearly stated in Jn. 7:37-39: "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 glorified)."
Jesus
said to the disciples ten days before Pentecost, "Ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts
Thus
it is clear, that if "The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus
was not glorified" the baptism in the Holy Ghost was never given to men in
Old Testament days. If this be true, then no experience of any man before
Pentecost can he taken as the baptism in the Spirit.
VII. Spiritual Experiences of Old
Testament Saints
Although
men were not baptized in the Spirit before Pentecost, they did receive the Holy
Spirit in their lives in various ways and in permanent form in all ages up to
Pentecost. This is clear from the following facts in both the Old and the New
Testament:
1. Old Testament Saints Received
the Holy Spirit
The
Spirit was "in" believers in the Old Testament days (Gen. 41:38; Num.
27:18; Dan. 4:8-9, 18;
2. Old Testament Saints were
"Filled" with the Spirit
The
Spirit "filled" many in Old Testament days (Ex. 28:3; 31:3;
35:31; Deut. 34:9; Mic. 3:8). Zachariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna were all
"filled" with the Spirit about thirty-five years before
Pentecost (Lk.
3. Old Testament Saints had
"The Fruit of the Spirit"
The
fruit of the Spirit of Gal. 5:21-22 was fully in the lives of many Old
Testament saints. They had love (Ps. 18:1); joy (Neh.
4. Old Testament Saints had
"Gifts of the Spirit"
They
had all the nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:1-11, except the gifts of divers kinds of
tongues and the interpretation of tongues. They did speak as the Spirit
give them utterance, but it was their own language that was spoken. We read
that God "spake" by the mouths of the prophets since the world began
(Lk. 1:70; Acts
Other
gifts are recorded in the lives of many before Pentecost who never did receive
the Spirit baptism, so it is possible to have gifts, the fruit of the Spirit,
and fillings in various measures and not be baptized in the Spirit. The
following gifts of the Spirit were manifest in Old Testament days: the gifts of
the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1 Ki. 3:12; 4:29-34; Ex. 14:3;
Num. 24:16; Dan. 1:17); faith (Heb. 11); the gifts of healing (Gen. 20:7, 17; 2
Ki. 5:14; Ps. 105:37; 107:20); the working of miracles (Ex. 4-12; 17:6; 1 Ki.
17; 2 Ki. 13); prophecy (Acts 3:21; Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Pet. 1:21); and discerning of
Spirits (2 Ki. 5:25-27; 6:12; 2 Sam. 14:20). Of course some of these gifts were
also manifest in the lives of the disciples before they were baptized in the
Spirit at Pentecost, as we shall see in point 7 below.
5. Old Testament Saints had
Different Measures of the Spirit
It
is a matter of record that in Old Testament days many people had different
measures of the Spirit and did miracles according to the degree of their power
and anointing, and yet they were not baptized in the Spirit. It is thus clear
that men today can also receive different degrees or measures of anointing by
the Spirit and not receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Certain gifts and
anointings today are almost universally taken as proof that certain people have
the New Testament Spirit baptism. If men have any marked ability to win souls,
teach, preach, discern, heal, do miracles or exercise knowledge, wisdom or
faith in any degree, it is claimed by them and others that they must have the
baptism in the Spirit. This may not be the case at all, as we shall see. Any
ordinary and limited ability along any of these lines proves that such people
have only a measure and not the fulness of the Spirit.
In
Num. 11:16-25 we read that much of the one portion of the Spirit that was upon
Moses and enabled him to do the work of seventy-one men, was taken from him and
divided among seventy other men. This made one measure of the Spirit to become
seventy-one measures. Elisha received a "double portion" of the
Spirit that was upon Elijah. The record shows that he did twice as many
miracles which were twice as great (2 Ki. 2:9). Elijah did fifteen miracles
which are recorded and Elisha did thirty. Elijah shut the heavens three and
one-half years and Elisha seven (1 Ki. 17:1 - 2 Ki.
The
disciples had a great measure of the Spirit and power of Christ before
Pentecost. In fact, they received in a moment of time, power against unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease . . . to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead (Mt.
10:1-8, 16-20; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 10:1-20). They had this much power before Pentecost without the Spirit
baptism, when they had only the Spirit by measure, and it is certain
they had more than this after
they received the fulness of the Spirit on Pentecost (Lk. 24:49; Jn. 7:37-39;
14:12; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-39; etc.).
Jesus
had the Spirit by measure for thirty years (Lk 2:40, 52), but He received the
Spirit "without measure" when was baptized in the Spirit (Jn.
John
speaks of men receiving "of his Spirit" and "of his fulness"
(Jn.
6. Redemptive Blessings of Old
Testament Saints
Old
Testament saints had every redemptive blessing and spiritual experience that
Church saints can have, with the
exception of the Spirit baptism, or the fulness of God. The basis of
such blessings was by grace and faith in the coming Redeemer and the atonement
that was to be made by the Messiah when He would come. They looked forward to
the cross and by faith attained the full blessings of Christ, just as we look
back to the cross and get the same blessings by faith through grace. Christ
died on the cross to atone for the sins of all men, both before and after the
cross (Rom.
Old
Testament saints had: salvation (Ps. 51:12; 91:1-12); forgiveness (Ps. 25:18;
32:5); cleansing (Ps. 51:2; Isa. 1:18); covering (Ps. 32:1; Rom. 4:7); purging
(Isa. 6:7; Ps. 79:9); washing (Ps. 51:2; Isa. 1:16-18); and taking away of both
sin and sins (Isa. 6:7; Ps. 103:12); redemption (Job 19:25; Ps. 31:5; Heb.
9:15); bodily healing (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 91; 103:3; names written in heaven (Ex.
32:32-33; Ps. 69:25-28; Lk. 10:20); grace (Gen. 6:8; Ps. 84:11); conversion
(Ps. 19:7; 51:13); imputation of righteousness (Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4);
reconciliation with God (Lev. 8:15; Isa. 1:16-18); heirship (Rom. 4:13-14; Gal.
3:8-14); answers to prayer (Gen. 20:7, 17; Ps. 72:20); new birth (Deut. 32:18;
Ps. 82:6; Gal. 4:28-30); the gospel (Gal. 3:6-14; Heb. 4:2); spiritual
revelations (Acts. 3: 21; Heb. 1:1-2); hope of resurrection (Dan. 12:2; Heb.
11:40); justification by faith (Isa. 45:25; Rom. 4; Gal. 3:6-14); holiness
(Lev. 11:44-45; Acts 3:21; 2 Pet. 1:2l); clean hearts (Ps. 51:7-10; 73:1; Isa.
1:16-18); pure hearts (Ps. 18:26; 24:4; Pr. 15:26; 21:8); contrite and broken
hearts (Ps. 34:18; Isa. 57:15; 66:2); atonement (Lev. 17:11; Rom. 3:24; Heb.
9:15); sanctification (Ex. 29:42-44; 31:33; Lev. 20:8-23; 22:9-16; Ezek.
20:12); and many other blessings which many today take as proof of a New
Testament Spirit baptism.
7. Spiritual Blessings of the Disciples Before
Pentecost
The
disciples had many spiritual blessings before they received the Spirit baptism
at Pentecost, so we today cannot claim this baptism upon receiving any of those
blessings. These blessings are no more the baptism today than they were before
Pentecost.
The
disciples were saved, born again, and converted (Mt. 16:16 with 1 Jn. 5:1);
were endued with a great measure of power (Mt. 10:1-8) were filled with the
Spirit (Mt. 10:1, 20); were not of the world (Jn. 14:17; 15:19; 17:16); were
spiritually enlightened (Jn. 15:15; 17:6, 14); were sheep (Mt. 10:16); were of
one accord and one mind (Acts 1:12 - 2:1); were commissioned to world
evangelism (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Acts 1:4-8); were successful in
preaching and healing, (Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 10); were branches in Christ (Jn.
15:1-7); were true to God (Jn. 6:66-71); were true witnesses of personal
salvation (Mt. 16:16; Jn. 6:67-69); were given spiritual revelations (Mt.
11:25; 16:16-17; Jn. 15:15); were in possession of eternal life (Jn.
17:2-3;10:27-29); were true to the Word (Jn. 17:6); were baptizers of others
(Jn. 3:22; 4:2); and were "clean" and therefore were sanctified (Jn.
13:10-11; 15:3; 17:6, 14, 16).
8. Common Ministry of the Spirit
in All Ages
In
all ages, both before and after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been the agent
of God to bless men. Every child of God receives the Spirit in a measure at the
new birth and if he does not have the Spirit he does not belong to God (
Men
of all ages have had these benefits, more or less, but there is one thing that
men could not have before Pentecost
and before this age and that is the fulness of God or the Spirit baptism
(Jn. 7:37; Acts 2:33).
VIII. What the Spirit Baptism is
Not
It
is not any one of the many experiences of the Old Testament saints, or
of the disciples before Pentecost, listed in point VII above. It, therefore,
could not be a mere filling of the Spirit, one of the nine gifts of the
Spirit, some fruit of the Spirit, the new birth, sanctification, justification,
or some phase of salvation that many today claim is the Spirit baptism. For if
men had all these blessings before Pentecost, then it is scripturally settled
that they are not the Spirit baptism, which was not given until that time.
IX. The Words "Baptize"
and "Baptism" Defined
The
Greek word for "baptize" is baptidzo, from bapto,
meaning "to dip, plunge, immerse, or cover wholly with the element used in
baptism." It has the same meaning as the word "dip" in Lk.
16:24; Jn. 13:26; Rev. 19:13. Only two times is baptidzo
translated "wash" and in these cases it means to be wholly wet and
not merely sprinkled (Mk. 7:4; Lk. 11:38).
The
words "dip" and "immerse" mean "to bury, douse, duck,
immerge, plunge, sink, and submerge." Since the Greek word baptidzo,
translated "baptize" 60 times, means "to dip or immerse" it
is clear that baptism is by burial into the element used in baptism. In fact,
baptism is spoken of as a burial in Rom. 6:4 and Col. 2:12.
X. There are Seven Baptisms in
Scripture
Paul
taught the "doctrine of baptisms" (Heb. 6:2). There are five
different elements people have been baptized or immersed into. The seven
baptisms and the five different elements used in baptism are as follows:
1. The baptism "unto Moses in the
cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor. 10:2). This refers to the crossing of
the
2. John's baptism in water (Mt. 3;
Lk. 3; Acts 1:5; 19:3-4). This was immersion in water (Mt.
3. Christ's baptism in water (Jn.
3:22-23; 4:1-2). These last two baptisms were not continued, because they were
in the name of the Father only and not in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as Jesus authorized in Mt. 28:18-20. Both John and
Jesus did work in the name of the Father only (Jn.
4. Baptism of suffering (Lk.
5. Baptism "into Christ" and
into His body, the church (Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor.
If these Scriptures speak of
being "baptized into Christ" and "into one body" the body
of Christ, which is the church, then the element the believer is baptized into
is not water but Christ and His body. If we take these passages to refer to
water baptism we make Christ and His church mere water. Is Christ water? Is His
body water? If not, then Christ and His body are the elements believers are
baptized into and not water. We must not insert a meaning into any Scripture
that is not there, to teach something contrary to what is plainly written.
Water baptism does not bring one into Christ or into His body. Man has nothing
to do in this operation. It is solely an operation of God by the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, water baptism is not by God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, but
solely by man.
6. Christian water baptism (Mt.
28:19; Mk.
Water baptism does not remit
sins. This is a work of God and a gift through faith (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10;
Acts 15:8-9). It is faith in the blood of Christ that remits sins, not water
administered by man (Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 1 Jn. 1:7; 1 Pet.
1:18-23).
Men
have been and will yet be saved before and without water baptism. All Old
Testament saints before John the Baptist were saved before and without water
baptism. Many were saved from sin during the ministry of Christ before and without
water baptism (Mt. 9:1-8; Lk. 7:36-50; 18:9-14; 19:1-9;
The
"water" of the new birth of Jn. 3:5 does not refer to literal water,
but to spiritual water of the Word, as proven in Jn. 16:3; 17:17; Eph.
5:26; 1 Pet. 1:18-23; Rom. 1:16; Jas. 1:18. These passages state that the new
birth is by the Spirit and the Word of God. Water is used in a spiritual
sense in Jn.
7. Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Mt.
3:11-16; 20:20-23; Lk. 24:49; Jn. 1:31-34; 3:34; 7:37-39; 14:12-17; Acts 1:4-8;
2:1-4, 33, 38-39; 5:32; 8:14-22; 9:17; 10:38, 44-48; 11:14-18; 19:1-7; Rom.
15:29; Gal. 3:1-3, 14; Eph. 3:19; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 6:2; Isa. 11:2; 28:9-11;
42:1-7; 61:1; Joel 2:28-29; Hab. 1:5).
XI. Three Baptisms for Believers
There
are three baptisms for believers in Christ. They are the last three of
the seven mentioned above. The first four are not for Christians today
for they have been done away with, for reasons we have stated above. Note the
following facts concerning the three baptisms:
1. The Agents, Elements, and
Candidates
The
three agents who administer the three baptisms are: the Holy Spirit, Jesus
Christ, and the minister. The three elements are: Christ, the Holy Spirit, and
water. The candidates in all three baptisms are: the believers of the gospel.
The
Holy Spirit is the agent that baptizes the believer "into Christ" and
"into one body," the church, which is the body of Christ: "For
by one Spirit [the agent] are we all [believers] baptized into one body [the
element], whether we be Jews or Gentiles" (1 Cor.
Christ
is the agent that baptizes the believer into the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist
said, "He [Christ, the agent] shall baptize you [believers] with the Holy
Ghost" (the element, Mt. 3:11; Jn. 1:31-34).
Ministers
are the agents who baptize believers into water (Mt. 28:19). This kind of
baptism is solely a work of man, and not of God.
2. Scriptural Order of the Three
Baptisms
The
Holy Spirit baptism can take place both before and after water baptism, but
always after baptism into Christ and His body, the church. It is only for saved
men (Lk.
3. The Purpose of the Three
Baptisms
The
purpose of the baptism into Christ and into the body of Christ is to save the
soul. It is the only baptism essential to salvation. The purpose of baptism
into water is to witness to the reality of salvation and is essential only to
obedience and to testimony after one is truly saved.
The
sole purpose of the Spirit baptism is to endue men fully with power to do the
works of Christ, and even greater works than He did (Jn. 14:12; Lk. 24:49; Acts
1:4-8); to carry on the work that Jesus began "both to do and to teach"
(Acts 1:1-2, 4-8; Mt. 28:20); to confirm the Word of God among men (Mk.
16:15-20; Heb. 2:3-4); to give men the Spirit of God without measure and in all
fulness (Jn. 7:37-39; 14:12; Rom. 15:29; Eph. 3:19); to anoint men fully to
preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord
(Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:16-21); to cast out devils, to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease among the people, and to take God's salvation to the
ends of the Earth (Mt. 10:7-8; 11:2-6; 12:17-21; Mk. 16:15-20; Jn. 14:12; Acts
1:8); and the blessings enjoyed by men in Old Testament times who had the Holy
Spirit only by measure (2 Cor. 3:6-11; Heb. 8:6; Jn. 14:12; Rom. 15:29; 1 Cor.
1:7; 2:4-5; 4:18-21; 2 Cor. 10:3-11; Eph. 3:19; 6:10-18; 1 Thess. 1:5; Heb.
2:3-4; Mk. 16:15-20; Acts 1:4-8).
XII. What the Baptism of the
Spirit Really Is
It
is the immersion or burial of the believer in the Spirit at which time he
receives the Spirit in his life "without measure" and not just
"by measure" as men received before Pentecost. It is the full
anointing of the Spirit that Christ received and demonstrated on Earth (Isa.
11:1-2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2; Mt. 11:4-6; 12:18; Lk. 4:16-21; Jn. 3:34; 14:12; Acts
10:38).
It
is the Spirit coming in, upon, filling, overwhelming, infusing, anointing, and
enduing with full and complete power to do the works of God among men, and not
just a measure, as in Old Testament days. It is the Spirit taking full
possession of the believer to live, speak, and work through him in the same
degree that was manifested through Christ and the apostles. It is the fulness
of what men had in part before Pentecost. It is more than a mere
"filling." It is a baptism as well as a filling of the Spirit.
XIII. A "Filling" and a
"Baptism" Illustrated
The
difference between a "filling" and a "baptism" in the
Spirit, or the Spirit "by measure" and "without measure"
may be illustrated by a glass and a pitcher of water. Water may be poured into
a glass it is full of water to the brim. A person can pour more water into a
glass, but the glass will still hold or contain the same amount (different size
glasses, different amounts of water), as long as the glass wasn’t completely
full in the first place. Little by little water can be put into the glass until
it is full and can hold no more without running or spilling over (it overflows).
Different measures into it at different times, or it can be filled all at one
pouring. He can keep pouring until the glass is full and running over and still
it is not baptized (immerged). It is only full and running over. But if a
person takes the glass and immerses or buries it in the fulness of water it is
both filled and baptized. This explains how the disciples were all
"filled" (Acts 2:4) as well as "baptized" in the Spirit at
Pentecost (Acts 1:4-5). A filling always accompanies a baptism, but a baptism
does not always accompany a filling, infilling or refilling.
"Filled" and "baptized" remains
that way, for the minute he gets out of the "fulness" of the Holy
Spirit and lives in self, or lives as he lived before, he is no longer full of
The Holy Spirit but is partially of self (carnal, flesh). He is not baptized in
the Spirit any more than the glass would be baptized in water if taken out of
the water. Like the glass, it is possible to get un-baptized and still retain a
"measure" or be more or less "filled" with the Spirit as
before being baptized in the fulness of God. Christ kept himself full of the
Spirit of God by prayer and daily yielding (being obedient) to God for more
virtue and power to bless all who came to Him (Mt. 14:23; Lk. 5:16; 6:12; 9:18;
2nd Corinthians 4:16; Ephes. 4:23; Col. 3:10). The disciples also
lived in prayer and received new infillings and anointings from time to time
(Acts
XIV. The Biblical Doctrine of
Interpenetration
The
Bible does teach that the Holy Spirit, Christ, or Son of God comes into
and dwells in man (1st
Corinthians 6:9). This means that they always exist as separate persons
outside of man’s body but can
also come into him (in the Holy Spirit) and dwell depending upon the
person’s Righteousness and Holiness. They all have their own separate and
personal bodies, souls, and spirits, and will not come into an un-holy
temple or unclean vessel. They can only dwell in man in the sense of
union (full agreement) with him to a personal agreement of purpose in life.
They are all spoken of in Scripture as dwelling in man, but the thought is that
of union become one in life and holiness, working together to accomplish a mutual
purpose of God’s Holy plan (John 14:23-24; Romans 8:9-11).
Men
are spoken of as being "in Christ" and Christ being in them (2 Cor.
The
word "inter-penetrate," or dwelling in each other, could not possibly
mean physically getting on the inside of each other bodily. It means "to penetrate (spiritually) within or
between;" "to permeate;" "to penetrate each other
mentally." It is a word used to describe the union of two persons spiritually,
so that they are considered as being in and dwelling in each other. Since the
idea could not be that of physical bodies like physical flesh and bones, getting
on the inside of each other, it means the union of spirits, natures, wills,
ideals, purposes, plans, acts, thoughts, and desires. It means the blending of
persons together who are consecrated to the same end in life (Eph.
It
is the same idea as when a man and woman become "one flesh" when
"joined together" (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:5); when thousands of people
become "one people" (Gen. 11:6); when many bodies become "one
body" (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:17; 12:12-28); when many minds become
"one mind" (Rom. 15:6; Phil. 2:2); when many spirits become "one
spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17; Phil. 1:27); and when many men become "one
man" (Eph. 2:14-15; 4:13).
No person loses his own personal physical
body, soul, and spirit in order to become "one" with, or to be
"in" the other person’s body unless
he is possessed with or by familiar spirits (demonically possessed).
Being "in" each other does not depend on bodily contact, neither is it
made ineffective by distance. Two or more spirits such as two or more thoughts
can live in each other and the union may be complete regardless of bodily
contact or distance from each other. Paul said of the Philippians, "I have
you in my heart" (Phil. 1:7). (which is a figure of speech, an expression)
and said of the Corinthians, "ye are in our hearts to die and live with
you" (2 Cor. 7:3). Are we to understand such to mean that all the
Philippians and Corinthians were in Paul bodily? If we understand what
dwelling in each other means in connection with man, let us understand the same
truth when it speaks of Satan, the Holy Spirit, Christ, and God as being
in man.
Men
control each other to the extent of oneness with each other, or consecration to
the same end in life. So it is with man and God, or man and Satan who control
men to the extent of union with them to the same end in life.
Thus
it becomes clear how the Holy Spirit dwells in man, and how one can have God in
a measure or in all fulness. To the extent a man is consecrated to God and is
one with God (unity), to that extent he is filled with the Spirit. To the
extent one is filled with the Spirit stating, he is in union with the Holy
Spirit, and the Spirit dwells in him. Thus if one has only a measure of
the Spirit then he is not fully controlled by the Spirit (as a slave,
indentured servant without the power of free choice) or baptized in all the
fulness of God. When one is baptized in The Holy Spirit the person is in union
and oneness with God are in complete agreement working in harmony. The whole
life of such a man is wholly surrendered and yielded to God and totally
consecrated to do the whole will of God. He is fully sanctified (set apart unto
God) and prepared unto every good work (2 Tim.
XV. Bible Evidences of the Spirit
Baptism
In the Life of Christ
The
evidences of the Spirit baptism are very clear from prophecy, promise, and
history. First, we will sum up the entire body of evidence by recognizing
them in full as they existed in the life of Christ, the first to be baptized in
the fulness of God. Since Christ is our example in all things, we should not
ignore the biblical evidences of the Spirit baptism in His life if we really
want to understand them. We should accept His Spirit baptism and all its
evidences as the true biblical pattern for all men who seek to be baptized in
the Holy Ghost.
As
human beings, it is natural to hide our failures and lack of power behind the
fact that Christ was God manifest in the flesh. It is argued that He naturally
had more power with God than any “normal” human being could ever have. We are
prone to attribute all Christ's anointing and power to the fact that He
was a member of the Divine Trinity.
1. Christ laid
aside His God-form, including the natural and all-powerful attributes of God
and all the glory He had with the Father before the world was created, and
limited Himself by taking human-form and all its limitations during the days of
His flesh (Phil.
2:5-11); He was made of a woman (Gal. 4:4), in the likeness of sinful flesh
(Rom. 8:3), and became God's Son. His Sonship always refers to humanity (Luke.
1:32-35; Jn. 1:14; Mt. 1:18-25; Ps. 2:7, 12; Heb. 1:5-7; 5:5-10; 10:5-14). He
was made lower than the angels and took on Him the full nature of
man. "In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren," to live like they should live, and be anointed with the Holy
Spirit like they should be, so as to prove to all men that by the same means of
grace and anointing of the Spirit they could live like Him and do His works
(Heb. 2:9-18; 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 2:21).
2. Jesus
was born with no more power, wisdom, knowledge, or divine power than any other
newborn baby. He was virgin-born and grew in knowledge and wisdom and in every way as
any other child (Isa. 7:14-16; 11:1; 50:4-11; 53:1-12; Ps. 119:97-104; Lk.
2:40, 52; Heb. 1:5-7; 2:9-18; 5:8-9).
3. He was still
limited in knowledge when a grown man (Mk. 13:32). It was not until after His exaltation that
He had His original glory restored to Him and received the Revelation to give
to us (Jn. 17:5; Rev. 1:1). He received all power from God only after His
resurrection (Mt. 28:18).
4. Jesus claimed
no personal divine attributes or powers while in the days of his flesh. All He claimed was that He had
the full anointing of the Spirit to do His miraculous works (Mt. 12:28; Lk.
4:16-21). This is all that the apostles claimed for Him (Jn. 3:34; Acts
10:38). The prophets predicted this would be the source of His power (Isa.
11:2; 42:1-7; 48:16; 61:1). History records that He received the Holy Spirit
and exercised the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit in all fulness (Mt.
3:16-17; 12:22-32; 20:22; Lk. 4:16-21; Jn. 3:34; Acts 10:38; Rev. 5:6).
5. Jesus did no
miracle until His anointing with the Holy Spirit and power when he was thirty
years old (Jn.
2:11; Lk. 4:16-21; Acts 10:38). God "gave" Him the Holy Spirit
"without measure" and made Him responsible to do the will of God (Jn.
3:34-35). God committed all judgment to Him (Jn. 5:22), gave Him self-existent
life (Jn. 5:26-27), and power over all flesh (Jn. 17:2). He did all His works in His Father's name or by the authority of
God, and not by His own authority (Jn. 5:43; 10:25; 17:6-8, 26). He
said that He was not as great as His Father (Jn. 10:29; 14:28; Compare 1 Cor.
11:3). He said that He was sent by God and did not come of Himself (Jn.
3:14-18, 34; 4:34; 5:17, 30, 36; 6:29, 38-40, 57; 7:16, 28; 8:16, 28-29, 42;
10:36; 12:44-45; 17:4, 8).
1.
Jesus claimed that His works were
not of Himself, but were of the Father (Jn. 5:17, 19; 10:32; 14:10); that He could do nothing of
Himself (Jn. 5:19, 30); that He did nothing of Himself (Jn. 5:28), that His
doctrine was not His own (Jn. 5:20; 7:16; 8:26, 28; 10:18; 14:31; 15:15); that
He did not speak of Himself (Jn. 8:38, 40; 12:49; 14:1); that He sought God's
glory and not His own (Jn. 8:50); that He was a servant of God and perfectly
obedient to Him (Jn. 8:35); that His works were proof enough that God
was with Him and was doing the works by the Spirit, and therefore they
were not works of His own divine natural attributes and powers (Jn. 3:2;
5:31-36; 9:4; 10:25, 38; 11:42; 14:10; Compare Acts 10:38); and that He was
simply using the same means of grace by prayer, faith, and yieldedness to the
Spirit that all believers after Him must use if they wanted to do His
works (Lk. 11:1-13; 24:49; Mk. 11:22-24; Acts 1:1-2, 4-8; 10:38; Jn. 14:12-15).
2.
Not only did Jesus make the above
claims concerning His own life, but He repeatedly taught His disciples that
neither He nor they could do anything of themselves (Jn. 15:1-7; Mk. 9:23; 11:22-24; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-8).
Jesus made it clear to His disciples that He was sending them into the world to
confirm the gospel and continue what He "began both to do and to
teach" and that this was to be the New Testament program throughout this
age (Jn. 17:18; Mk. 16:15-20; Mt. 28.19-20; Acts 1:1-2, 4-8). This was the
program with which His disciples were sent out when He first called them (Mt.
10:1-20; Lk. 10:1-20; Mk. 6:7-11). This is the kind of program the disciples
carried out after Pentecost (Mk. 16:15-20; Heb. 2:3-4; Acts 2:43; 3:6; 5:15-16;
6:3-8; 8:1-22; 9:32-43; 10:44-48; 15:12; 16:14-20; 19:11-12; 20:9-10). This is
the kind of ministry Jesus promised every believer, not only preachers, but
also all laymen: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father"
(Jn. 14:12-15). "These signs shall follow them that believe" (Mk.
16:15-20).
We
conclude, therefore, that the true biblical evidence of the Spirit baptism is
to do the works of Christ, as He promised, and as He demonstrated among men;
that anything short of this would not be a demonstration of the fulness of God;
and that a demonstration of only a measure of the power that He had
proves one has only a measure of the Spirit, as Old Testament saints and
the disciples had, before the giving of the fulness of God at Pentecost. This
we will prove more fully in the next two points.
The New Testament Program for the Modern Church
The
program for the church has always been the same throughout this age of grace.
The modern program should be exactly like the original one that made the church
known throughout the Roman world in just a few years. The New Testament program
has not changed. Rather, it is the church that has changed, and it will always
be true when there is any change at all. The program for the church is clearly
stated in Scripture, and it was powerfully and supernaturally demonstrated in
the lives of the early believers, as recorded in history. Anyone can discover
the truth by reading the record in the New Testament.
This
record is one of carrying on the work that Christ Himself started. Many are the
Scriptures that reveal the power and success of the early church. The following
brief study of these Scriptures will make clear to any honest-hearted believer
what the New Testament program was in the early church and also how it should
be continued today in the modern church.
I. The New Testament Program for
the
This
program is not a complicated or intricate one. It is made up of two main
points: first, to preach the
gospel, and second, to
confirm the gospel. This is very clearly stated in the following
Scriptures: "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that
Jesus began both to do and to teach" (Acts 1:1-2); "Jesus went about
all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of
the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease among the people" (Mt. 4:23-24); "Go and shew John again the
things which ye do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and
the poor have the gospel preached unto them" (Mt. 11:1-6); "He
healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils . . .
And he preached in their synagogues" (Mk. 1:34-39); "The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; he hath sent me to heal . . . to set at liberty them that are bruised, to
preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Lk. 4:16-19).
Preaching and healing constituted the
great work of Christ in starting the New Testament program and this was the
work that He commanded the apostles to carry on both before and after the
crucifixion. Note the following passages (which occurred before the
crucifixion) which prove that the
disciples began their ministry by preaching and healing: "He called
unto him his twelve disciples [Judas included], he gave them power against
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease . . . These twelve [Judas included] Jesus sent forth and
commanded them . . . as ye go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye
have received, freely give" (Mt. 10:1-8); "He ordained twelve [Judas
included], that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to
preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils" (Mk.
3:13-15); "And they [the twelve, Judas included] went out, and preached
that men should repent. And cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many
that were sick and healed them" (Mk. 6:7-13); "He sent them [the
twelve, Judas included] to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick . .
. and they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and
healing every where" (Lk. 9:1-6).
Not
only did the twelve, including Judas, receive power from the Holy Spirit to
preach and to heal, but Christ ordained seventy others whom He sent out two by
two to do the same work that He and the twelve were doing. He said to the
seventy, "Into whatsoever city ye enter . . . heal the sick that are
therein, and say [preach] unto them, The
When
the Lord was ready to be taken up to Heaven again He specifically commanded the
early believers to carry on the work which He "began both to do and to
teach" (Acts 1:1-2). He told them that "All power [authority] is
given unto me in heaven and in earth." He commissioned them, "Go
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world" (age, Mt. 28:18-20). Christ further commanded them,
"but tarry ye in the city of
Not
only did He promise that they would be endued with power from on high, but He
said, "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up
serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mk. 16:15-18); "Ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence . . . Ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me. . . . unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts
1:4-8); "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it . . .
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you . . . I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you" (Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7, 16).
These
and hundreds of promises were made to believers. There are limitations and
qualifications stated in the promises of God. They are all limited to the born
again repentant believer in Jesus Christ so that "all things are possible
to him that believeth" (Mk.
The
following passages prove that God continued the church program through the
early believers by confirming what was preached: "They cast out many
devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them" (Mk.
6:7-13); "They departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel,
and healing everywhere" (Lk. 9:1-6); "And the seventy returned again
with joy, saying, Lord, even devils are subject unto us through thy name"
(Lk. 10:17); "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" (Mk.
16:19-20); "And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles . . .
such as I have give I unto thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise
up and walk . . . and immediately his feet and ankle bones received
strength" (Acts 2:43; 3:6-11); "And when they had prayed the place
was shaken . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . . and by the
hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people . .
. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on
beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow
some of them. There came also a multitude . . . bringing sick folks, and them
that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one"
(Acts
It
is argued by many, even entire denominations, that only the twelve apostles received
the baptism in the Spirit and had power to confirm the Word of God. However,
this is a false teaching as proven by the following Scriptures which record the
same miraculous works performed by followers of Christ who were not apostles.
In Acts 6 we read that seven men were chosen from among the laymen because they
were "full of the Holy Ghost." One of these men, Stephen, who was
"full of the Holy Ghost and power, did great wonders and miracles among
the people" (Acts 6:3, 5-10). Philip, another of these business elders,
led a great revival and did great miracles among the people in
There
are a number of men mentioned as being apostles and as doing great miracles who
were not of the twelve apostles who followed Jesus. Ananias was filled with the
Holy Ghost and had power enough to lay hands on Paul and baptize him in the
Spirit and heal him of blindness (Acts
The
New Testament program of preaching and confirming the Word is plainly
established for the church of modern times if believers desire at all to have
such experiences. Men throughout this age were to be commanded to observe all
that Jesus commanded His disciples (Mt. 28:20). The same baptism in the Spirit
is promised everyone who believes on Christ (Mt. 3:11; Jn. 7:38-39; Acts
It
is clear from the above facts that Christ began this program. The disciples
were commanded to carry on the same program. They were promised power to make a
success of this program. And they did make a success of it and commanded men
through this age to continue such a program and contend for the faith once
delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
II. The Power Every Believer in Christ Should
Exercise
According to the promise of Jesus every
believer should have power to do the works of Christ and greater works than He
did (Jn.
I
have seen for years the apostasy in our churches, and I am zealous for them to
come back to the old truths. Millions of people are turning away from our
Christian churches and going into false religions because the program of modern
churches holds nothing for them. False religions are demonstrating more power
and are better at meeting people’s needs physically, materially, and
spiritually than the average modern church. That they are turning to the
religions that offer them something in the way of tangible benefits is no
surprise. I am against these false
religions. I am for the churches and want to help all of them see how
they can obtain anew the old type of Christianity and attract these people back
into the fold.
People
are hungry for the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, demonstrating the power of
God to heal when they need it. They want answers to prayers. They want material
help. They want freedom from sin and failure. If they cannot get it from one
source they will accept it from another. If they cannot get the real that the
gospel offers, then they will accept the substitute that Satan offers. Satan
knows that he can deceive men by his counterfeit of real power, and he is
winning millions that should be in Christian churches (and would be if
ministers would awaken to their responsibility and permit God back into the
churches and in God’s Anointed Miraculous way, then they would witness God’s
signs wonders and mighty deeds that His name be glorified and sinners would
fall to their knees under the convicting power of The Holy Ghost!).
III. Christian Doctrines and
Experiences Seldom Seen in Modern Churches
A
number of years ago I became greatly awakened to the fact that God was not
doing for modern believers what I read about in the New Testament. Being a man
of sincerity, honesty, and at least ordinary intelligence, I decided to find
out what was wrong. I had enough sense to know that when a machine will not
run, or something fails to carry out its creative purpose, there is something
wrong which needs to be corrected before the machine will work normally. I
applied this common sense to spiritual things. I had read the New Testament
enough to see a vast difference between the modern church and the early one.
I
fell upon a plan of investigating and experimenting with spiritual truths as
taught in the New Testament. I was pastor of a church whose members were nearly
all honest and open to all the teachings of the Bible. I said to the church,
"Let us gather night after night and read the New Testament through to
find out what it teaches that we are not doing and what kind of spiritual
experiences it teaches that we have not yet received. Let us bring pencils and
paper and jot down everything we find that we are not doing as a church and
every blessing and experience that early believers had that we do not have
today." We gathered on Monday night and read as far as Mt. 10. We
discovered that first night why we did not have the power that the early
disciples had. Christ "gave them power" and said, heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received,
freely give" (Mt. 10:1-8). I stopped and made the comment that we had
found out what we wanted on the very first night. The reason we cannot freely
give is that we have not freely received.
A
preacher jumped up in the back of the church and said that he knew we had
the power of God and all that goes with the Spirit baptism for he had received
it twenty-three years ago. I said, "Brother, there is a blind woman over
on
To
make a long story short, when we got through reading the New
Testament, listing everything we had found that we were not practicing as a
church and every experience that was not normal in our lives, I had 160 points
on my list. I could hardly believe my eyes, and yet I had a chapter and verse
for every point. I had sense enough to know that we were not doing all these
things and that we did not have all these experiences as Christians today
because they were never manifest in our church.
The
truth is that Jn. 14:12
states the divine limitations to every believer. Until a believer can do the
works of Christ he is not a normal New Testament Christian. He may have many
other blessings from God, but if he does not have power like that of Christ he
is coming short of his privileges, and there is nothing to be gained by denying
this fact. This fact does not mean he is not saved and is not going to Heaven.
It simply means that he is not up to the New Testament standard of power
with God. Anything short of this power proves a human limitation to the
promises, and anything beyond this will be a divine limitation. The New
Testament standard of normal power for every believer is clear, and we can have
it if we want it and if we will obey the entire New Testament to the letter.
These
and scores of New Testament teachings and practices are more or less foreign to
the average church member. Even the average preacher knows little about these
things. Is it any wonder that the modern church is powerless? Is it any wonder
that multitudes are going after the counterfeit power and outward refinement in
some false religions? Many hundreds and thousands of people in local churches
are following men who even deny that New Testament doctrines and experiences,
as we have mentioned above, are for us today. Until the modern church again
believes in the faith once delivered to the saints it cannot contend for that
faith; so it will continue in helplessness and defeat. It will continue in
worldliness and formality, and there will continue to be an exodus from
the churches of people who are seriously searching for the Manifestations of
God.
In
spite of this condition in thousands of churches, there is a revival of
New Testament Christianity in many other churches. The power of God is being
manifest today again in many places. People are again being healed by the
hundreds of thousands. Miracles are being wrought in the name of Jesus Christ.
Demons are being cast out. Men are being transformed from powerless weaklings
to sons of God with power and boldness. The gifts of the Spirit are
again being manifest in some measure. Faith is on the increase, and men in all
walks of life are preaching that nothing is impossible to the believer. False
religions and demonic powers and damnable doctrines are being defeated and
souls are being rescued from fallacies of all kinds. Men are coming to know the
truth and it is again setting them free.
The
modern church must awaken to its responsibilities and privileges in the gospel,
or millions more will be lost to false religions and demonic powers. Time is
short, and what the church must do it must do quickly. Let every one who names
the name of Christ depart from iniquity and contend for the fulness of power
and faith that is promised to those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, the
only begotten Son of God. God will back us up by the power of the Holy Ghost
and all the hosts of Heaven. The Devil is already a defeated foe, and his power
has been broken. He has already been proven in the Court of Heaven as a usurper
and an intruder into man's dominion, holding men in his power only as they
consent to it. All that needs to be done is to carry out the execution of the
sentence against Him. This will be done at the second coming of Christ.
Believers now can defeat Satan and all his works in their personal lives and
enjoy the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Let all who read
these lessons unite to pray and work for New Testament power in all of our
churches.
IV. Questions the
These
and other questions must be answered by modern believers, and it is clear to
each one by now what the answers are. If such a program was for the early
church it is still for the church today, for the apostles were commanded to
teach all nations to observe all things Christ had commanded them (Mt.
29:19-20). Jesus Christ is the same today as ever (Heb. 13:8). In no Scripture
did God say this program was to be changed when the apostles died or
that it was to be only for a certain period. On the contrary, Christ has
promised to be with the church even until the end of the age (Mt. 28:20). Paul
said that all the promises of God were "yea and Amen" to them that
believe (2 Cor.
The
only reason God does not carry on this program more today is the failure of the
church to cooperate with God. There is no question that such a program is
needed to bless men according to their needs and that God needs it to attract
multitudes to His gospel. God works only through men who will have faith
and who will permit Him to work in their lives. This has always been true
and always will be (Rom.
Demon-inspired
religions are being evidenced and confirmed by the manifestation of the
supernatural power of the Devil, and the need of God's greater power is very
evident to prove that Christianity promises and gives to everyone all
they need in this life and in the life to come. The contest is on between the
power of the gospel and that of false religions. The ungodly and believing
world has been made to believe in supernatural powers, and the multitudes are
being attracted wherever there is a real manifestation of the supernatural,
whether it be the Devil's power or God’s.
The
church stands today on the threshold of great and mighty achievements if it
will awaken and wage an aggressive fight against Satan and his demonic forces.
The church can again prove to the world that the power of God is greater than
that of Satan. There are sick and demon-possessed people in nearly every home
who would willingly turn to God and be healed and saved from sin if the
churches would quit fighting each other and begin to teach the people how to
obtain the benefits promised by God.
Jesus
died that this program might be carried on throughout this age. The Holy Spirit
was sent to carry it on. The Word of God was given to teach men of this program
and how to obtain the full benefits that are needed on every hand. The program
began on the right foot, as demonstrated by Christ and the early church, and it
can be revived fully again by the church if men will accept the truth. God has
always been ready to defeat Satan and his works in the lives of His children,
and when the church gets really anxious to see God work, then their desires
will be granted. God said to Jeremiah that if men would call upon Him, he would
show them great and mighty things (Jer. 33:3). Jesus and others promised that
these things would be done in the lives of every believer, so there is no
excuse except for hardness of heart and the sin of unbelief in the lives of
modern Christians.
We
are receiving new light, and God expects men to walk in it (1 Jn. 1:7). The
honest hearts are going to accept the truths of these lessons and seek God for
a manifestation of His power. There will be many preachers and laymen alike who
will reject this kind of teaching, but this rejection will only demonstrate
which master they are serving. If they reject the truths of the Bible, then
those who are honest and want to go further with God can come out from among
the unbelievers and obtain the promised benefits. It is the ministers of the
churches who are responsible, and it is their duty to bring to the people the
truths that they need. When they fail, they should be considered outside of the
program of God and workers against God, serving the wrong master (2 Cor.
If
any minister is honest and wants to see the blessings of God in the lives of
his people, he will desire for them the best, and he will cooperate with them
to obtain these benefits. No minister who is honest with his people will want
to fight God or His Word and keep his people from getting all that God has for
them. There is no excuse for him not to know these things when he can these lessons and study the truth.
If
the church would wake up and get this program into operation, the results would
be beyond all expectations. Every church would be full of people, and men and
women of all walks of life would be saved from all sin, cleansed from their
filthy habits, healed of all bodily diseases, made healthy and strong, become
full of zeal and knowledge to help others, be successful in business, and be
happy and victorious over all the world, the flesh, and the Devil. There would
be no need to constantly plead for money to carry on the work of God. Everyone
would be blessed and prosperous, and the churches would have all that they need
to carry on the work of God in the Earth. Revivals would break out in every
church in every community, and there would not be the bitter envying and strife
over petty things. Denominational barriers would be broken down, and Christians
would become united Jesus Christ prayer for in Jn. 17. Differences in doctrines
would vanish, and all would accept the whole Bible as the basis of life and
conduct. Missionaries by the thousands would go forth into heathen lands to
heal and deliver men from pagan superstition and demon-darkness.
This
might sound impossible and like an idle dream, but just as surely as God is in
Heaven and the Word of God be true, these changes and many others will
literally come to the divided and worldly Christendom of today if every church
would adopt the program of the New Testament. You who read this book join with
us in prayer and get these truths out to others as quickly as possible.
Personally get this program into full operation in your lives as an actual
demonstration that the Bible is true, and God will confirm His Word today as
ever. Let us not be satisfied to preach only, but to confirm what is preached,
and we will turn the world upside down again like the disciples of old.
Commands to Get the Power of God
It
is a definite command for all believers to get the power of God in their lives
in order to be equipped to witness for Christ. In Acts 1:4-5 the disciples, not
only the apostles, were commanded not to depart from Jerusalem until they had
received the baptism in the Spirit: "And 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, for John truly
baptized with water; but Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence." Being baptized with the Holy Ghost and receiving power are the
same; that is, when one is baptized in the Spirit in all fulness he receives
power: "But ye shall receive, power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye hall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the
earth" (Acts 1:8). In Lk. 24:49 Christ commanded them saying,
"Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of
That
all believers throughout this age are commanded also to tarry until they are
endued with power from on high is clear from the following passage: "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world" (Mt. 28:19-20). Jesus further taught that men should ask
for the Holy Spirit from God: "If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him" (Lk.
How to Get the Power of God
Men
(people, sinners) have to repent, denounce their oaths to Satan, false
religions, fraternities, denominations, organizations and what they have to party
with, drink, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and rededicate themselves
unto God and receiving The Holy Ghost baptism: "In 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, 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 Jesus was not yet
glorified.)" This passage (Jn. 7:37-39) could refer only to the fulness
of the Holy Spirit as received on the day of Pentecost, for in Acts 2:33
we read of Jesus being glorified and of Him shedding forth the Holy
Spirit upon the church in baptismal measure.
Men Must Still Tarry (pray earnestly and fervently)
for the Holy Spirit Baptism
The
theory that men do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit today because He
has already come and that all one has to do is to receive Him is only part
truth. One must receive Him, but anyone knows that until He is given to the
individual, that one does not have Him, and until He is received and fills the
innermost being, one has to wait until it is done. It is not something
that one can accept merely by faith. This is necessary all right, but to be
satisfied without Him after one accepts by faith is to have an empty
life without Him. It is impossible to receive such a mighty enduement of
power and have rivers of living water flowing out of one without his
knowing it.
Why Must Men Tarry for the Spirit Baptism?
All
the terms used above as hunger, thirst, tarry, and wait prove a time element of
at least a few moments. If one was given before he hungered or thirsted he could
not have these passions. If one were given before he received there would be no
faith to hope for that we see not and therefore there would be no expectancy at
all. It is true men do not have to wait for the day to come when the Holy
Spirit was given, for that is past, but individually everyone must learn about
the Spirit and exercise faith for it and therefore must wait and tarry until it
becomes a personal reality in his life. One must wait, not because the Spirit
is not here, but to enable the individual to get ready for Him to anoint
him. It is all right to accept something by faith, but until it
becomes a reality this faith must be continually exercised without any
doubt or wavering. The idea of accepting something mentally and calling it
faith and then being satisfied without ever receiving it, or being
satisfied that a mental acceptance of it is the reality of the thing
itself, is all wrong.
What Does it Mean to Fully Believe?
We
cannot overemphasize the fact that we must believe these things before we can
see the results we desire to see. This is why we are going into repeated detail
so that the fact can finally dawn upon us all that God means what He says and
says what He means with respect to power from God, just as He does concerning
forgiveness.
We
can all get into the New Testament program if we will go at it as the early
church did. We know what they did, for the record is clear. We know that we do
not have this program in full operation today in our churches. We also know
that we are not getting this program by not doing what the early church did; so
why not change our methods and do what the early church did and see what can be
done? We will have the same power and manifestation of God that we read about in
the New Testament, and then we will know that we have received the same power
and that the New Testament program is again is full operation.
I bring this to you in the Name of Almighty God The
Heavenly Father and in the Name of Jesus Christ The only Begotten Son of God
and by the power of the Holy Ghost!
Revs. Mr. and Mrs. H. Dean Daniels Sui Juris