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Before his ascension, Jesus told his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem till they had received the promise of the Father. "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence," he declared. "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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." {RH, November 11, 1902 par. 1} |
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"As I began to speak," he said, in relating his experience, "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?" {AA 141.3} |
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Christ's triumphant ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work without the visible presence of their beloved Teacher. While He was yet with them, He commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, "which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." {ST, May 17, 1899 par. 2} |
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A burden was upon my soul. I knew that the Lord would manifest his power. I was urged by the spirit of God to make strong appeals to my brethren who were to cross the Rocky Mountains to attend the general conference at Minneapolis. I urged them to humble themselves before God, and receive the assurance of his grace, to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, that they might be in a condition to impart light, and strength, and courage to those who should assemble in the conference, and that there might be a union between the east and the west. I knew that there must be a renewal of the grace of Christ; life and power must be infused into the work. Little did I think, when making these solemn appeals, that a letter had gone forth from one present at that meeting stating things he thought were true but were not true and which preceded us and built up a wall of difficulty, placing men prepared to fight everything those who crossed the Rocky Mountains should introduce. For long years prejudice had existed with those at Battle Creek without cause against the laborers on the Pacific coast and Satan used his influence to have that letter do a work which will prove to the loss of souls. God never prompted that letter. I was shown into the room where the letter was received. I stepped up and read the name distinctly and afterward asked Eld. Butler if Bro. [Healey] did not write to him certain things. He said he did. I asked if he would let me see the letter. I wanted to know what testimony was given to create such a state of things as we met at Minneapolis. He said he burned the letter, but the impress had made an indelible impression on his mind and on the minds of others which are still as if bed in the rock. At this period of time when the powers of darkness were moved from beneath to take the field, and in wily, crafty movements, to outgeneral the church to which God has committed sacred, holy trusts. Although through the voices and pens of many, the trumpet had given a certain sound, others of the watchmen were asleep, and knew not the time of their visitation. {1888 55.1} |
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For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:5 {ML 57.1}
It is not because of any restriction on God's part that the riches of His grace do not flow to men. His gift is godlike. He gave with a liberality that men do not appreciate because they do not love to receive. If all were willing to receive, all would be filled with the Spirit. . . . We are too easily satisfied with a ripple on the surface, when it is our privilege to expect the deep moving of the Spirit of God. {ML 57.2}
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"He shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 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 1:3-7). {1SM 185.1} |
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