(P, C)br...
Illustration
(P, C)
The first thing Acts says that was a condition to receiving the Spirit was that those in the Upper Room had committed their lives to Jesus Christ. The Spirit is received only by those who have already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit never came to the Essenes at Qumran or to the monks at some Buddhist monastery in China. He only came to those who had already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. These 120 persons who had gathered in the Upper Room had already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. In fact, before they gathered, Jesus said to them, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." And they had already gone and been witnesses before they received the Holy Spirit.
Many people tell me, "Well, pastor, if I could just get that feeling in my life; if I could just find that power, I would go out and commit my life and be a witness." But it does not work that way. The Holy Spirit comes only to those who have already comm itted themselves. Jesus suggested that to him who is faithful over little, he will give him much. For example, why should I give you a set of Harvard Classics if you cannot read? It would be a waste of time if you had not demonstrated at least some interest in learning how to read. And so the Holy Spirit has traditionally been received only by persons who have already first committed their lives. The Bible says that they committed their lives and went and were his witnesses; then they gathered in the Upper Room and received the Holy Spirit.
- Bailey
The first thing Acts says that was a condition to receiving the Spirit was that those in the Upper Room had committed their lives to Jesus Christ. The Spirit is received only by those who have already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit never came to the Essenes at Qumran or to the monks at some Buddhist monastery in China. He only came to those who had already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. These 120 persons who had gathered in the Upper Room had already committed their lives to Jesus Christ. In fact, before they gathered, Jesus said to them, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." And they had already gone and been witnesses before they received the Holy Spirit.
Many people tell me, "Well, pastor, if I could just get that feeling in my life; if I could just find that power, I would go out and commit my life and be a witness." But it does not work that way. The Holy Spirit comes only to those who have already comm itted themselves. Jesus suggested that to him who is faithful over little, he will give him much. For example, why should I give you a set of Harvard Classics if you cannot read? It would be a waste of time if you had not demonstrated at least some interest in learning how to read. And so the Holy Spirit has traditionally been received only by persons who have already first committed their lives. The Bible says that they committed their lives and went and were his witnesses; then they gathered in the Upper Room and received the Holy Spirit.
- Bailey
