Sermon Tone Analysis

(NKJV)

49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.

Amen.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Many promises are given about the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New testaments.

Some of these promises apply to us today.

The Holy Spirit was sent by God to help men be better and stronger Christians.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Comforter who abides with God’s people.

I. THE PROMISES IN PROPHECY

A. Major prophet—.

This prophecy was given 712 years before Christ was born.

The prophet here is speaking about the forthcoming day of Pentecost ().

Stammering lips precedes speaking in tongues.

B. Minor prophet—, .

This prophecy was given 800 years before Christ’s birth.

This promise would come true on the day of Pentecost.

Peter confirms this in his sermon, after the Holy Spirit had descended (, ).

II.

THE PROMISES OF POWER

A. Power to wait—.

Seeking God almost always involves waiting.

The prophet Jeremiah tells how we will find God if we search for Him with all our hearts ().

Power is always available to those who take time to wait before God.

B. Promise to witness—.

The witness would be fourfold:

1. Jerusalem—home town

2. Judea—home state

3. Samaria—home country

4. Uttermost part of the earth—foreign missions

The Bible speaks of the four corners of the world ().

This could mean taking the gospel to the north, south, east, and west.

III.

THE PROMISE IN PREACHING—

A. Promise—vv.

17–18.

What this promised power would do:

1. Cast out devils.

Satan’s oppression, depression, and possession.

2. Speak with new tongues—.

3. Take up serpents (by mistake) and not be hurt.

4. Drink any poisonous liquids (by accident) and not be hurt.

5. Lay hands upon the sick, and the sick will recover.

B. Proof—vv.

19–20

1. Ascension—v.

19.

Christ ascends into heaven (cf.

).

2. Power—v.

20.

Christ’s followers go forward with power, performing the things He promised in vv.

17–18.

IV.

THE PROMISE AFTER PENTECOST—

A. The past.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was given to those who asked.

B. The present.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given today, to all who ask for it and who meet the requirements of God’s Word for receiving it.

Some try to explain away the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

Some say that it is not for today, and use Scriptures out of context to back their teaching.

However, even cults can use Scriptures in this way to prove their teachings.

V. CLAIMING THE PROMISE

If a person claims the promises of God, he will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was given so men could know and serve God in a better way.

God wants men to know how to:

A. Walk in the Spirit—

B. Witness in the Spirit—

C. Worship in the Spirit—

What the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is

(1) —“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Compare 2:4, 38—“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

4:8—“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and leaders of Israel.”

10:44–46—“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”

Compare 11:15–17—“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God?”

19:2–6—“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

—“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.”

, , —“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.…

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame

Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.…

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

—“And behold I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

FIRST PROPOSITION: A number of suggestive phrases—“Baptized with the Holy Spirit,” “Filled with the Holy Ghost,” “The Holy Ghost fell on them,” “The gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out,” “Receive the Holy Ghost,” “The Holy Ghost came on them,” “Gifts of the Holy Ghost,” “I send the promise of my Father upon you,” “Endued with power from on high,” are used in the New Testament to describe one and the same experience.

(2) , R. V.—“And he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed?

And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.”

SECOND PROPOSITION: The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite experience of which one may and ought to know whether he has received it or not.

(Compare , —“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

—“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”)

(3) —“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Here was a company of regenerated men pronounced so by Christ Himself.

(Compare —“Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” and —“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”)

And yet the baptism with the Spirit lay for them some days in the future.