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The Outpouring of the Spirit, November 22
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
.
The Christian church began its existence by praying for the Holy
Spirit. It was in its infancy, without the personal presence of Christ. Just
before His ascension Christ had commissioned the disciples to preach the
gospel to the world....
In obedience to the word of their Master the disciples returned to
Jerusalem, and for ten days they prayed for the fulfillment of God’s
promise. These ten days were days of deep heart searching. The disciples
put away all difference that had existed among them, and drew close
together in Christian fellowship.... At the end of the ten days the Lord
fulfilled His promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit. When they
were “all with one accord in one place” in prayer and supplication, the
promised blessing came....
What was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost? The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the utmost
bounds of the inhabited world. The hearts of the disciples were surcharged
with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far reaching, that it impelled them
to go to the ends of the earth.
By the grace of Christ the apostles were made what they were. It was
sincere devotion and humble, earnest prayer that brought them into close
communion with Him. They sat together with Him in heavenly places.
They realized the greatness of their debt to Him. By earnest, persevering
prayer they obtained the endowment of the Holy Spirit, and then they
went forth, weighted with the burden of saving souls, filled with zeal to
extend the triumphs of the cross....
Shall we be less earnest than were the apostles? Shall we not by living
faith claim the promises that moved them to the depths of their being to
call upon the Lord Jesus for the fulfillment of His word: “Ask, and ye
shall receive” (
John 16:24
)? Is not the Spirit of God to come today in
answer to earnest, persevering prayer, and fill men with power?
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