Chapter 5—The Gift of the Spirit
When Christ gave His disciples the promise of the Spirit, He was
nearing the close of His earthly ministry. He was standing in the
shadow of the cross, with a full realization of the load of guilt that was
to rest upon Him as the Sin Bearer. Before offering Himself as the
sacrificial victim, He instructed His disciples regarding a most essential
and complete gift which He was to bestow upon His followers—the
gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of
His grace. “I will pray the Father,” He said, “and He shall give you
another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit
of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not,
neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you.”
John 14:16, 17
. The Saviour was pointing forward
to the time when the Holy Spirit should come to do a mighty work as
His representative. The evil that had been accumulating for centuries
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was to be resisted by the divine power of the Holy Spirit.
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
uttermost parts of the inhabited world. As the disciples proclaimed the
message of redeeming grace, hearts yielded to the power of this mes-
sage. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions.
Backsliders were reconverted. Sinners united with believers in seeking
the pearl of great price. Some who had been the bitterest opponents
of the gospel became its champions. The prophecy was fulfilled, “He
that is feeble ... shall be as David; and the house of David ... as the
angel of the Lord.”
Zechariah 12:8
. Every Christian saw in his brother
a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed;
one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the
believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to labor
for the enlargement of His kingdom.
“With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
Acts 4:33
. Under
their labors were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the
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