CHAPTER VI
I wrote with great intensity of the horror, the pain and the terror of the experiences of Jesus from the Last Supper, through the Garden of Gethsemane, to the trial, sentencing and the crucifiction of Jesus. Followed by the glorious resurrection, in my book, “The Human Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane”, so I will not repeat it now. However we want to look at what Jesus built and left for us to teach and maintain.
It is interesting to note that although the Disciples had spent the last three years with Jesus, had seen His miracles and in fact had performed miracles themselves through the power of Jesus’ words as He instructed them, now that Jesus had died, been resurrected, showed Himself to them and had ascended into heaven while they watched Him leave, they were instructed by Jesus to return to Jerusalem and wait for the power of God to come upon them with the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. Too many people not only now, but down through history have been teaching that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in an unknown tongue stopped with the death of the last of the 12 Disciples. We can consider that belief to be 3 things: unlearned babble, stupid and of the Devil. Why would I be so unyielding in my opinion?
- Why would the giver of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit remove it after the first Disciples died? After all, Christ Jesus considered the empowerment of service to God and Him to be unattainable without the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:49 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.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 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.
We see in both the Gospel of Luke and in the letter Luke sent to Theophilus, a friend or acquaintance, that the Disciples who had spent the last 3 plus years deeply involved in Christ’s ministry, were not to begin their ministry until they had received power to do the work, and that power would come from God through the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was with them, He, Jesus had the power of the Holy Spirit operating at 100% in Him and His ministry. He could, and did use the power, but also had the ability to transfer the power to those He chose.
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Luke 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Luke 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
Luke 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
Luke 10:6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
Luke 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
Luke 10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
Luke 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Luke 10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
Luke 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Those who say the power of the Holy Spirit was only for the anointed 12 Disciples perhaps didn’t read this scripture. All who Jesus appointed and anointed received the power and could do, and did those supernatural things that Jesus did.
“Well, what about after the death of the last Disciple?”
There have been down through the centuries and even today believers who are performing miracles in the name of Jesus, why?
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus instructed all believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, use His name, and do as He did.
The conclusion is, either Jesus lied, or we are to continue doing the works of God in the name of Jesus until He comes to take us home. Hallelujah!
Some time ago I wrote an article when I heard of a denominational pastor was trying to start a new congregation here in southwest Omaha. I have reprinted it here.