The Baptism in the Holy Ghost BY R. E. Neighbour

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost or Before and After Pentecost

An Exegesis of Acts 1 and 2

by

R. E. Neighbour, D.D.

© 1930 by Union Gospel Press. Database © 2010 WORDsearch Corp.

To my beloved brother, W. B. Musselman of the Union Gospel Press and to His God-Given Staff who have made possible the publication of my Books and Booklets, this Book is Most Affectionately Dedicated.

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost: Or Before and After Pentecost.

Chapter I.

The Holy Ghost and Us

We begin this morning the messages which God seems to lay upon our heart concerning the early life and ministry of the Apostles of our Lord as recorded in the Book of Acts.

Yet, shall we say the "Life and Ministry of the Apostles"? for we are convinced that the Book of Acts is, in reality, marking out the acts of the Holy Spirit, in the days of the deeds of the Apostles.

Perhaps, it would be better still to say, the Book of Acts sets forth the activities of both the Holy Ghost and of the Apostles. This conclusion is established in the Book itself. Chapter 15, verse 28 of the Acts, reads: "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us".

How blessed is this truth. The Holy Ghost, yet, not the Holy Ghost alone, but "the Holy Ghost" and "us". "Us"? Yes, but yet not "us" alone, but the "Holy Ghost and us". What meaneth this? Are we shut up in all of our service to the Holy Ghost? We are. Is the Holy Ghost shut up in His service to us? He is. This leads us to our first consideration.

I. The Church Is "Shut Up" to the Holy Ghost

What we mean by this expression is, the Church can "be" nothing and can "do" nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

The Church of the twentieth century may vainly imagine that it can serve in its own strength and by its own resources, but it is deceived. What folly was the boast of a recent world-wide church movement when it claimed that with men, money and machinery it could save the world.

We heard an evangelist say that it took grace, grit and greenbacks to run his campaigns. For very shame—shall the Spirit of God be utterly ignored by one who would seek to win souls? Shall emphasis be placed twice upon human maneuvers, while God and grace are given but once a recognition?

It stirs the soul to study the Book of Acts and to observe the utter dependence of the early saints upon the Holy Spirit.

1. The Disciples Had Been Commanded to Await the Coming of the Spirit.

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

"And ye are witnesses of these things.

"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" (Luke 24:47-49).

The commission of Christ was plain—the ministry of the Church was to be one of preaching, of bearing witness. However, the testimony of the saints was not to begin until the Holy Ghost had come. Jesus Christ knew how impotent the word and the work of the saints would be apart from the Spirit.

The Church apart from the Holy Ghost would be powerless imbecility. The street car could as easily run without a trolley and without connection with the dynamo, as the disciples could preach apart from the enduement of power from on high.

The disciples apart from the Holy Spirit would remain the same helpless and defeated dupes of human frailities as they had been of old when they frankly confessed, "We could not cast them out".

It was because of this that the Lord commanded them to await the Spirit's coming. Christ promised: "Ye shall receive power, the Holy Ghost coming upon you" (Acts 1:8).

It is still the same. The Church has never learned to walk nor to work alone. The centuries have not led us to a matured perfection of self-service that makes the presence and power of the Spirit of God unnecessary.

2. The Disciples Obediently Awaited the Coming of the Spirit. In the "upper room" they tarried, and as they tarried, they fasted and they prayed. They never for a moment dared to attempt the inauguration of their testimony until their "anointing" had come. They waited in Jerusalem "for the promise of the Father", which they had heard of Christ.

The saints who followed immediately in the footprints of the first disciples, and the saints who live twenty centuries beyond the hour of their first testimony do not need to await the coming of the Spirit, for the Spirit came to abide for the age. He was the One ever present and ready to help in the days of the first successors of the Apostles, and He is still the One ever-present and ready to help in our day. All who have lived since the coming of the Spirit need His presence and power quite as much as the first disciples needed it. We may not tarry and pray for His coming, but we may tarry and pray for His mighty workings.

Our lot is to stand in these end times, recognizing Him in all of the might of His presence. Our lot is to yield to Him, to obey His voice and to work under His guiding hand.

3. The Disciples During the Days of the Church's Beginnings Always Maintained the Fellowship of the Spirit. As one runs through the Book of Acts he is struck by the way the Apostles and the Christians generally, gave recognition to the Holy Spirit.

(1) Peter's Words at Pentecost. On the very day that the Spirit came, as Peter and the rest preached and as the people under the burden of their conviction of sin cried out, "What shall we do"

"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.

"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 2:38, 39).

This Scripture is especially significant in that the first converts of a new dispensation were given promise that they should receive the Holy Ghost. Peter insisted that the promise of the Father which Christ had given and which had now been fulfilled was not alone for the ones upon whom the Holy Ghost had fallen. He had come for all who should be saved. Those afar off, even we, ourselves, were made partakers of the promise.

That is, the Spirit came as much for twentieth century saints as He came for first century saints.

Did not Christ, in relating the promise of the Father, say that the coming of the Spirit and His enduement would be for the witnessing of the saints, beginning in "Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8)?

Therefore the Spirit's enduement was not circumscribed to one age, nor to one locality. Until the last call of the Church is sounded and the Lord has taken her to be with Himself, she is to go forth with His message, clothed with His power.

(2) Lying to the Holy Ghost. So intimately was the Holy Spirit in fellowship with the early Church, that when Ananias and Sapphira intent to deceive the Apostles brought only a part of the price of their land, purporting to bring all, we read,—

"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

"Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:3, 4).

This Scripture is full of far-reaching significance. The Holy Ghost and His saints are so intimately joined that an act against them is an act against the Spirit of God. Even Christ said to Saul, the persecutor of saints, "Why persecutest thou Me?"

The commonly called "benediction," which we hear every Lord's Day in the Churches, concludes thus, "And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all". What is the intent of this word "fellowship"? The same word is found in Acts 2:44, "And all that believed were together, and had all things common". The expression "all things common" is the best meaning we know to the word "fellowship". Saints should hold all things common with the Holy Ghost.

This "fellowship" is so intimate, so indissoluble that none can divide between the One and the other. To touch the One is to touch the other; to antagonize the One is to antagonize the other.

(3) Looking for Spirit-Filled Men. When certain men were needed to take charge of certain exegencies that had arisen in the early Church, Peter said:

"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3).

The Apostles served in the Spirit, and they demanded Spirit-filled men to serve even the Churches' tables. How the work of God suffers, when men who know not the Spirit are asked to serve jointly with the Spirit. If the key to the Acts of the Apostles was "the Holy Ghost" and "us," and if the same key should guide the work of the Church of to-day, what havoc must follow when men are chosen to serve who know nothing of walking in the Spirit? Can the Holy Ghost serve with men who are carnal, and walking in their own lusts?

(4) Resisting the Holy Ghost. Stephen was a man filled with the Holy Ghost and power. Therefore when he gave his great address to the Jews, and they with all resentment withstood his words, Stephen plainly said:

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51).

Why could Stephen say that his persecutors were resisting the Holy Ghost? It was because he recognized that not he alone, but he and the Spirit of God proclaimed the Word. When Stephen was chosen, the saints recognized him as "full of the Holy Ghost". When Stephen died, witness was borne: "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God".

We do not say that all ministers are so filled with the Spirit of the Lord; we do say, however, that when a minister is so filled, then to resist him is to resist God.

(5) Praying for the Holy Ghost. When the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that, under the preaching of Philip, Samaria had received the Word of the Lord they sent unto them Peter and John. What was the purport of this embassage? Let the Word itself explain:

"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.)

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:15-17).

The promise of the Father had been inclusive of all believers. Thus the Apostles knowing the necessity of Holy Ghost infilling, sent Peter and John down to Samaria that they too might receive the Spirit.

Are saints ever delegated to-day to pray with other saints that they may be filled with the Spirit? Does the Church of to-day give the recognition that the Spirit should receive? We organize the church-es for every possible line of activity. There are Sunday School experts going through the land giving the latest data on "organized classes" and every other best method of how to conduct the School.

There are church experts in finance, traveling continually from church to church urging schemes and systems of money getting and of money giving; there are women delegated to travel in behalf of organized women's work; there are specialists sent out to stir up the young people and to aid them to perfect their distinctive Young People's societies, but who is delegated to ask, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed"?

Peter and John were sent down to pray that the saints might receive the Holy Ghost. Beloved, is their course not worthy of our consideration? Should we not go over the land urging upon the churches the need of the Spirit-filled life? Shall we not preach on the "Holy Ghost" and "us"? Shall we not press the need of walking in the Spirit?

(6) Sent Forth by the Spirit. We now come to a most vital vision of the Spirit's workings. Philip had been preaching in Samaria. Then the Lord commanded that he should go in the way to Gaza which was desert. Immediately Philip obeyed and went forth, not knowing whither he went. As he journeyed he approached a chariot in which was riding a man of Ethiopia, who was a great man under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

"And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest"? (Acts 8:29, 30).

We need not marvel at the blessed results of this mission. The eunuch believed and was baptized and went on his way rejoicing. Why was Philip's message so fruitful? It was because Philip wrought in the Spirit.

Once again we get an angle of the inner meanings of our first text, "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us". Once again we catch a glimpse of the deeper meanings of the hallowed relationship of the Spirit and the saints.

He is the Captain-general of our march. He tells us the way in which we should walk, the place in which we should serve.

This is seen time and again in the Acts of the Apostles. It is seen so plainly and forcefully that we have been led to call the Book of Acts not the Acts of the Apostles alone, but Acts of the Apostles and the Holy Spirit. Their acts were His. His acts were theirs.

When Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch in preaching and praying, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them". Later on, when Paul assayed to go into Bithynia, the Spirit suffered him not. Then again Paul was forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia.

In all of these things we see how definitely and positively the Holy Spirit took charge of the movements of the preachers of the early Church. No wonder they felt the impact of His presence. No wonder they wrought under the power of His might.

Do we, at this hour, need just as plain a leadership? Who is he who dare take the Spirit's place and seek to dictate to saints the way in which they should go, and the work that they should do? Let us not dethrone the Spirit's authority and enthrone the authority of denominational Boards and humanly-appointed committees.

(7) The Holy Ghost Fell on Them That Heard the Word. When the first great blessing of God came to the Gentiles in the conversion of Cornelius and his servants, the Holy Ghost fell on them. Let me quote the Scripture:

"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. Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days" (Acts 10:44-48).

We stand by in amazement. Think of the marvel of it all. Christ had said, "Go ye into all the world". "Every creature" was His command. Now Peter under the urge of the "net let down from Heaven" stands preaching the Word in the home of Cornelius a centurion of an Italian band, and the Holy Ghost falls upon them as they believe, even as He had fallen upon the Jerusalem saints at the beginning.

What joy! What benediction! The Gentiles are acclaimed members of the one body. They too are made partakers of the Holy Ghost? Has the Spirit ever repented that hour? Does He not still work through Gentile saints? Is it not with us as it was with the first Apostles,—"The Holy Ghost" and "us"?

What shall we say to these things? This. The Holy Spirit must be recognized, received, enthroned.

(8) In the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power. The story of the ministry of the Apostle Paul, and of his varied missionary journeys takes up the major portion of the Book of Acts. This ministry he sums up for us in a word written to the saints at Corinth. These words are found in I Corinthians 2:4, 5:

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Cor. 2:4, 5).

Paul preached not himself but Christ. Paul preached not in his own power, but in the Spirit's power. This was true in Corinth, it was also true in Ephesus and in Thessalonica. Hear his words to the Thessalonians:

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake" (I Thess. 1:5).

What have we to say to these things? Have we passed so far beyond the natural wisdom and eloquence of Paul the matchless preacher, that we no longer need enduement from on High? Can we say to the Spirit, Stand Thou there, or be Thou gone, while we proclaim the wisdom of twentieth century scholastic conceptions?

Alas, alas, that the church has grown so bold as to seek to pursue its course apart from any real anointing from the Spirit. The last days have surely come when professed Christians hold merely a form of doctrine but deny the power thereof.

II. The Holy Spirit Is Shut Up to the Church

How else can the Spirit work? He is dependent upon our lips, our feet, our hands. As the Church has failed to yield herself to the Spirit of God, and has refused to follow His dictates, the Spirit has Himself become circumscribed in His power to reach men.

The Church is impotent apart from the Spirit of God. So also is the Spirit helpless to work apart from the Church. He, the Holy Ghost came to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come. But how does the promise read? Hear it!

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of sin, because they believe not on me; "Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:7-11).

Mark the words—"I will send Him unto you". It is when He comes unto us, that He is to convict the world. It is not when He comes to the sinner. The Spirit of God works through the believers.

Let us watch the great Pentecostal refreshing. Acts 2:4 says, "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance".

They did not speak apart from the utterance which the Spirit gave; neither did the Spirit speak apart from the lips that they yielded to Him.

When Cornelius sought light, the Spirit of God needed Peter's lips to impart the light. When the Ethiopian eunuch sought salvation, the Holy Spirit called for the voice of Philip to teach him. The eunuch being asked of Philip if he understood what he read, said, "How can I except some man should guide me"? When the Macedonian held out his hands for help, it was Paul who saw the vision. God has so ordained that we are His witnesses. Yet, we are not witnesses apart from a greater Witness.

Hear the words of Acts 5:32: "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him". It is true—we are shut up to the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost is shut up to us.

The Spirit is all to us in our testimony; so also, weak as we are, and nothing as we are in ourselves, yet, so also are we vital to Him in His testimony.

This first message from the Acts has been given for the purpose of showing the vital relationship, the close fellowship between the saints and the Spirit. In our next message we will begin a detailed study of the Acts of the "Holy Ghost" and "Us".

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost: Or Before and After Pentecost.