The Believer’s Delight
Reverend William Davis — September 5th, 2004
“Those who are alive to God in Christ delight in being commanded by their Lord.”
“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” (Acts 1:4-5).
Those who are alive to God in Christ delight in being commanded by their Lord.
Just before his ascension into heaven, Jesus said to his faithful followers, in fact, commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father (verse 4). Notice that the command is not to receive a promise but the promise, the great mountain peak promise which towers above all the rest of the Father’s promises, following the fulfillment of the promised Messiah.
This being the case, let us formulate the Bible teaching concerning this most productive command and promise of our Heavenly Father, that all can comprehend and apprehend.
Jesus was very concerned that all believers receive the Holy Spirit baptism, the divine comforter. He said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you” (John 16:7).
Many professing Christians speak lightly of the promised Comforter - the Holy Ghost. This is an insult to the Holy Ghost and to Jesus who gave his life to procure for us the right and privilege to receive the Holy Ghost like the early church believers received him.
Sinners need a Savior and believers need a comforter — the Holy Ghost. One died for us, the other provides life for us and glorifies Jesus in us and through us.
In the second chapter of Acts, we find the first account of this most precious and vital promised gift being received, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
This is also the case in Acts 10:44-48 and in Acts 19:1-6. In these scriptures, we are told they all received the gift of the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.
Paul spoke of his experience of speaking in tongues as the result of receiving the Holy Ghost, “I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18).
Peter testified that those who delight in obeying their Lord can and will receive the promised gift of the Holy Ghost, “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32).
This promised gift is available to all true believers who delight in the commands of Jesus. Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” (John 14:21).
Jesus promised he would return for a people who love him, and delight in his commandments. Therefore, it is vital that all believers respond to the command of Jesus to receive “the promise of the Father” — the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Anything less is lukewarmness and indifference to the commands of Jesus, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
Jesus is coming after a people who are born of the spirit (John 3:5); filled with the spirit (Acts 2:4); and led of the spirit (Romans 8:14).
Come to Overshadowed Ministries and receive the promised Holy Ghost baptism.