The Baptism in the Holy Spirit,
Available for Us Today
In this chapter we shall seek to show that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is
available for all Christians.
In the words of R. A. Torrey:
Nevertheless, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the birthright of every believer.
It was purchased for us by the atoning death of Christ, and when He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He received the promise of the Father and shed Him forth upon the church, and if anyone today has not the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a personal experience it is because he has not claimed his birthright.
The Baptism. . . For Us Today
Jonathan Goforth also declares:
The scriptures convey no other meaning to me than that the Lord Jesus planned that the Holy Spirit should continue among us in as mighty manifestation as at Pentecost.
The efficacy of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire dies down in any soul only
when that soul willfully quenches it.
If The Old Testament Saints…
Why Not We?
We have already noted the scriptures which tell us concerning Joseph, Moses, Bezaleel, Joshua, the seventy elders, Othniel, Gideon, Jephthah, Saul, David, Nathan, Gad, Samson, Amasai, Azariah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Haggai, Zephaniah, Zechariah the Second, Malachi, John the Baptist, Zacharias, Elisabeth, and Simeon, who were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Of most of them it is recorded that they spoke out in prophecy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These lived under the law, a different dispensation from the Christians of apostolic days, and the first named lived about sixteen hundred years previous to the day of Pentecost. Is it reasonable to think that we, who live in New Testament days, under the dispensation of grace in which the Apostles lived, when the Holy Spirit was so generously outpoured and hardly further away in point of time than certain ones in Old Testament times who received this blessing, should not be allowed to receive the same Holy Spirit in the same wonderful way as they?
God is no respecter of persons. Romans 2:11.
Why should we be denied this blessing and privilege just because we, by the accident of birth, find ourselves living nineteen hundred years after the Day of Pentecost?
Predictions of General Outpouring included All
The prediction concerning the general outpouring of the Spirit given by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Joel, as already cited, all set no restriction or limitation upon that outpouring. Upon all flesh: sons, daughters, old men, young men, servants, handmaidens, Jews, and Gentiles. Why should we, and how can we, exempt ourselves from this universal blessing?
Outpouring to come in these Latter Days
Joel specifically declared that this general diffusion of the Holy Spirit was to come in the latter days (or last days, the meaning of the Hebrew word “acherith,” as shown by the more accurate translation of the passage when quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost). To confirm the time identification of the outpouring, Joel goes on to say, “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned in to darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:30-31. This is a reference to the grat tribulation spoken of by the Lord Himself and described fully in the book of Revelation. The tribulation is to come at the end of the church age. Therefore this is especially the time when the outpouring of the Spirit prophesized by Joel is to come to pass. It is coming to pass, on schedule. It is here, available for us today.
The latter rain that shall precede the coming spiritual harvest will probably be another Pentecost-like effusion of the Holy Ghost.
A Quotation From Robert C. McQuilkin
Peter said that the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was in fulfillment of that prophecy of Joel: “And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour of My Spirit upon all flesh.”
Now it is evident that this prophecy was not completely fulfilled at Pentecost, nor has it been fulfilled in any day since.
There still remain these wonders in heaven above and on the earth beneath that shall precede the great and terrible “day of the Lord”; we still await that day when the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. Acts 2:17–21.
But if the prophecy still awaits a further and more complete fulfillment, shall we say that the Spirit of God may not again be poured out in mighty power and in supernatural demonstrations?
There seems to be trustworthy evidence that these supernatural manifestations have occurred from time to time through the ages, in individual cases.
There is nothing in Scripture to make such working of God impossible; rather we might expect that they should occur. And is it not reasonable to expect that in connection with the culminating judgments of this age and the ushering in of a new age there should be a mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God?
It is this expectation of a special “latter rain” outpouring that has led many earnest Christians into the Pentecostal movement.
The Baptism in the Spirit for the Whole Church Age
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is particularly identified with the church age, for it became general at the ushering in of this age. It is God’s method whereby the Holy Spirit may possess men completely and be able to control them and operate through them in the accomplishment of His own purpose.
Has the Church age ended? Has the Holy Spirit been taken out of this world? Has God’s plan changed? If so, where and how has He indicated the change? There is no Scriptural intimation (made known) of a change in God’s plan during the church age or before He comes to take His bride home.
Why should we merely assume there has been a change in God’s plan? Why not rather believe that His promises are yea and amen, and available for us today as well for those who lived closer to the time when they were uttered?
Testimony of A. J. Gordon and A. Mahan
We must withhold our consent from the inconsistent exegesis (interpret) which would make the water baptism of the apostolic times still rigidly binding, but would relegate the Baptism in the Spirit to a bygone dispensation (God’s division of time).
We hold indeed, that Pentecost was once for all, but equally that the appropriation (belonging) of the Spirit by believers is always for all, and that the shutting up of certain great blessings of the Holy Ghost within that ideal realm called “the apostolic age,” however convenient it may be as an escape from fancied difficulties, may be the means of robbing believers of some of their most precious covenant rights.
The promise of the Spirit does not pertain merely to the Apostles, the primitive church, or a favored few in subsequent ages. It is, on the other hand, the common gift to all who believe in Christ, the least as well as the greatest, to the end of time . . . . Neither is there any gift He is more willing to bestow upon believers than this Divine Baptism. . . .
This Baptism is the noblest blessing of Christianity, and no other can fill its place.
Sign Value of the Gifts
Concerning the gifts of the Spirit, it is true that there is an element of a sign value in them. The miracles, which Moses and Aaron wrought in Egypt were a sign to Pharaoh, as well as a punishment to him and his people.
The miracles, which Moses worked before the Children of Israel as they traveled through the wilderness on their way to Canaan were proof that Moses was God’s man, as well as a means of providing them with food and deliverance.
The miracles of Christ also were to be His credentials before a doubting multitude, as well as to express His power and His love and to give deliverance to hundreds of sufferers. “Believe me for the very work’s sake.” John 14:11.
These “signs” shall follow them that believe. Mark 16:17
And they that heard Him went out preaching, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.” Hebrews 2:4.
Signs are Needed Today
Have we no unbelieving Egyptians today? Are there no gainsaying Israelites today?
Is there no need today for credentials for the workers of God? Is there no need for the power of God to be manifested today?
There are sick today in need of healing. There have been physicians since Joseph was embalmed in Egypt, but this does not preclude the need of the working of the power of God. The very fact that the gifts of the Spirit are for signs is proof that they are needed today and therefore available for us today.
If the devil will be smart enough to use signs and wonders to deceive in the last
days (2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:13,14; Rev. 16:14) will God be any less wise and powerful?
Let us not limit God in His working, and let us not fail to be ready for new and great outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the closing days of this age. For the days are upon us when nothing will avail to break through the overwhelming power of the enemy except supernatural power beyond what most Christians have known anything about.
Gifts are for All Who Believe
When Jesus spoke of the coming of the Spirit and the accompanying gifts of power He did not limit them to His immediate successors.
“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.” John 7:38,39.
The receiving of the Spirit and the flowing of rivers of living water are promised by the Lord to THEM THAT BELIEVE. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.” John 14:12.
Again, those works, are said, to be done by HIM THAT BELIEVETH. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18.
Whom shall these signs follow? Them That Believe.
If these promises of Christ are not fulfilled in the lives of men today, it is evident that the simple and only reason is, THEY DO NOT BELIEVE.
Tongues Shall Cease When Jesus Comes
A verse in 1st Corinthians 13 is taken by some to mean that the gift of the Spirit has ceased and vanished away. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease: whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” v.8. The context of this verse must be read to understand it. “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
Tongues Shall Cease When Jesus Comes
(continue)
became man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly: but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” vv.9-12.
In these verses, 8 to 12, we have a comparison of love with the gifts of prophecy, tongues and the words of knowledge. Love is declared to be the greatest, since it will endure when the others shall have finished their purpose and shall have passed away.
It is stated that the time will come when these gifts of the Spirit will cease to operate. When is that time? When will that which is perfect come? When shall we see face to face? When shall I know even as also I am known?
It is apparent that all four of these questions have the same answer.
The answer is, When Jesus comes.
Then shall we all see face to face in heaven, there where knowledge shall be complete. Then and then only shall the gifts cease. Since Jesus and heaven have not yet come, this scripture proves that these gifts, and their parent, the Baptism in the Spirit, are available for us today.
The bounds set to the exercise of these gifts is “when that which is perfect is come,” which scholarship has generally held to mean, when the Lord Himself shall return to earth. The gift of tongues and of prophecy therefore do not seem to be confined within the first age of the church.
Home > Commentaries > Wesley's Explanatory Notes > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 13
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
on the Whole Bible
The Book of 1 Corinthians
Chapter 13
13:7
Love covereth all things - Whatever evil the lover of mankind sees, hears, or knows of any one, he mentions it to none; it never goes out of his lips, unless where absolute duty constrains to speak. Believeth all things - Puts the most favourable construction on everything, and is ever ready to believe whatever may tend to the advantage of any one character. And when it can no longer believe well, it hopes whatever may excuse or extenuate the fault which cannot be denied. Where it cannot even excuse, it hopes God will at length give repentance unto life. Meantime it endureth all things - Whatever the injustice, the malice, the cruelty of men can inflict. He can not only do, but likewise suffer, all things, through Christ who strengtheneth him.
13:8
Love never faileth - It accompanies to, and adorns us in, eternity; it prepares us for, and constitutes, heaven. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail - When all things are fulfilled, and God is all in all. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease - One language shall prevail among all the inhabitants of heaven, and the low and imperfect languages of earth be forgotten. The knowledge likewise which we now so eagerly pursue, shall then vanish away - As starlight is lost in that of the midday sun, so our present knowledge in the light of eternity.
13:9
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part - The wisest of men have here but short, narrow, imperfect conceptions, even of the things round about them, and much more of the deep things of God. And even the prophecies which men deliver from God are far from taking in the whole of future events, or of that wisdom and knowledge of God which is treasured up in the scripture revelation.
13:10
But when that which is perfect is come - At death and in the last day. That which is in part shall vanish away - Both that poor, low, imperfect, glimmering light, which is all the knowledge we now can attain to; and these slow and unsatisfactory methods of attaining, as well as of imparting it to others.
13:11
In our present state we are mere infants in point of knowledge, compared to what we shall be hereafter. I put away childish things - Of my own accord, willingly, without trouble.
13:12
Now we see - Even the things that surround us. But by means of a glass - Or mirror, which reflects only their imperfect forms, in a dim, faint, obscure manner; so that our thoughts about them are puzzling and intricate, and everything is a kind of riddle to us.
But then - We shall see, not a faint reflection, but the objects themselves.
Face to face - Distinctly.
Now I know in part - Even when God himself reveals things to me, great part of them is still kept under the veil.
But then I shall know even as also I am known - In a clear, full, comprehensive manner; in some measure like God, who penetrates the centre of every object, and sees at one glance through my soul and all things.
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams
2:18
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
