WEBVTT 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:12.000 Welcome to the Preaching the Cross Radio Podcast, before the radio ministry of Pastor James W. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.800 Knox of the Bible Baptist Church of Global Florida. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:25.039 Our prayer is that one of our Bible study programs will bring the lost to a craving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and enable the grave to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.359 Now here's your host, Pastor James W. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.000 Knox. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:38.399 Well, that's my cue. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.759 It's time to get started once again. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:48.880 I'm Brother James, and I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, and I welcome you to the Preaching of the Cross radio broadcast. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:01:01.600 We are glad and happy that you've tuned into the program today and believe that you will be as well as we press ahead, and we really need to cover a lot of ground today, as we press ahead with our study on the simplicity of the spirit-filled life. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:27.200 We have spent three radio broadcasts already on this very great and vital subject, especially in these last days of carnality and indifference, and these last days when it is so convenient to be both worldly and a professing Christian, we certainly need to understand that those points we've already covered, that is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit and the believer, the gift and his gifts, the witness of the Spirit. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:30.799 And we come today, and we're going to get right into the material today. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:38.959 We come today, first of all, to this question, if I desire to be filled with the Spirit, must I tarry? 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:59.680 Now I'll never forget, I was out visiting one night not long after I'd been saved, going from house to house with a friend of mine, and we were in a particular housing project, and the woman there uh told me that asked her if she was saved, and and she said she hoped so, and said, Well, you can know so, and I said, uh, asked her, said uh if she'd been born again and if she's seeking Jesus, and she said, No, right now I'm tarrying. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.599 And she was uh tarrying for the Holy Ghost. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.920 And I I honestly I didn't know what she's talking about. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:10.879 I'd I'd just read my Bible, and having read the Bible, I'd never come across such a thing. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.120 The heart of God can never be satisfied until he fills us with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:19.439 Our hearts will never be satisfied except as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.960 Let's remember that it is the heart longing of God that we be filled. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.120 He is waiting to do this now. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:30.000 The very moment we let him fill us, he will fill us. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:36.879 Then is it necessary that anyone tarry for receiving and for a filling of the Spirit? 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:44.159 Now some good people, some good people tell us it is necessary to attend a tarrying meeting, and to tarry as did the disciples at Pentecost. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:49.280 Did the disciples tarrying cause the descent and filling of the Holy Spirit? 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.400 Was it anything the followers of Jesus did? 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:58.000 No, my friend, the Bible says in Acts chapter two and verse one, the Holy Spirit came on his appointed day. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:08.639 The Bible says, and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, the Holy Spirit, as the abiding presence of God in the believer, could have come on no other day. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:27.039 Just as Jesus could have been crucified on no other day than the Passover, and just as he could have risen at no other time than on the day of the offering of the sheaf of first fruits, so the feast of Pentecost was God's day on God's calendar for the descent of the Holy Spirit to abide in the believer. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:31.919 These men of the upper room were not tarrying that they might receive the filling of the Spirit. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:41.360 These men were tarry uh or because the spirit wouldn't be sent if they weren't tarrying, but they were told to wait there so they could be part of what God was going to do. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:47.919 Now the disciples were obedient, and because of that they were blessed. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:53.280 But it wasn't necessary for the disciples to tarry when they were filled the second time, as in Acts chapter 4. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:04:01.520 They prayed, they turned their eyes from men who threatened them to the Lord Jesus, where their eyes belonged, and the house was shaken and they were filled. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.000 When the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost, he came in his fullness. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:17.279 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he has shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, is the wording. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.160 I hope I get it just right from Titus 3, verses 5 and 6. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:24.800 For he giveth not the Spirit by measure, says John 3 and 34. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:33.439 The giving of the Holy Spirit was not a stinted, meager matter, but he was poured out abundantly. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:41.199 When God did to each of us his spirit, it was according to the riches of his grace, according to the wealth of his love for us. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:46.959 Is it necessary today, as in olden times, to have hands laid on one for the receiving of the Spirit? 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:48.240 That's another common idea. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:55.279 The Bible says in Acts eight, and let me find it so I can read it to you, about four verses we need to get, and I'm sure I wouldn't quote them right. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:59.199 Acts chapter eight, beginning at verse fourteen. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:12.959 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, 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. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:17.120 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:26.000 These Samaritans were descendants of the Jews who were left to the captivity, Jews who had mixed with the foreigners brought in by Nebuchadnezzar to tell the land. 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:28.639 They and some of those returning from the captivity had intermarried. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:37.680 When Nehemiah returned, you may remember from Old Testament scripture, he saw the laxity in the intermarriage and demanded that the Jews put away all their foreign and mixed blood wives and children. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:44.560 These expelled mixed bloods rebuilt Samaria, and the succeeding generations were despised by the leaders among the Jews. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:48.079 They kept the law and looked for the coming of the Messiah, as did the Jews. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:56.000 To these outcasts, the leaders came and laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:56.879 Why? 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:01.519 Was it necessary for the laying on of hands for someone to receive the Holy Spirit? 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:16.560 No, my friends, they, the Samaritans, would never have believed that they belonged to this one great body of Christ, had not the leaders of the New Testament Church, Peter and John, gone to them and laid their hands on them. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:26.560 Remember, remember, they had Jewish blood in them, but they were outcast and hated by the Jewish nation, so they needed a special confirmation, which God granted. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:34.480 Then there's a second occasion when there was a laying on of hands in connection with the Holy Spirit, and that took place at Ephesus. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:49.279 Reading from Acts chapter 19 and verse number one, it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast, came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, he said to them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:53.120 And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.759 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.839 And they said unto John's baptism. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:05.360 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.480 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:17.279 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied, and all the men were about twelve. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:27.040 Those whom Paul found at Ephesus were Jews, perhaps converts of Apollos, but they knew nothing but the teaching of John the Baptist. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:31.600 Apollos didn't, till Aquila and Priscilla taught him more perfectly later. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:33.680 They were John's disciples. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:44.959 As far as we know, John baptized only Jews, for when the Gentile soldiers came, he bade them to straighten up, clean up their lives in Luke 3.14, but we don't read of him baptizing them. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:54.399 These baptized Jews here in Ephesus evidently had not returned to Jerusalem since the time of their baptism by John years before. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.040 They were still looking for the Messiah to come. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:00.800 They did not know that Jesus had been crucified and raised again. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:03.759 They did not know that the promise of the Holy Spirit had been fulfilled. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.600 They were disciples of John, not Jesus. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:16.560 So Paul asked them, Received ye the Holy Ghost when ye believed, and uh Paul knew as did all the apostles that the Holy Spirit is given to each believer when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:26.639 So when he had taught them the truth of the gospel, um, and uh he prayed for them, Paul did, and laid his hands on them, and the Spirit came upon them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:30.000 Now remember, in this case also, they were Jews. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:40.960 Whenever a Jew came as a messenger from God, or claimed to be a messenger from God, those to whom he came looked for signs as his credentials. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.799 These Jews would not have believed Paul aside from a sign. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.600 For the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1 22 the Jews require a sign. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:55.039 So Paul laid his hands on them, and God worked this sign by the hand of Paul. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:11.919 Not because it's the only way a man can receive the Holy Spirit is by the laying on of hands through an apostolic succession, but because the Jews are not going to follow any new course, any new doctrine, any new, any new uh way, without a sign being given them. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.399 That's the the way their nation began, and that's the way their nation has operated all down through the history of their relationship to God. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:26.720 These are the only places, these two events are the only places where the receiving of the Holy Ghost is spoken of in connection with the laying out of hands. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:35.360 In each case, they were Jews or people who had Jewish blood in them and therefore required a special sign. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.399 Now there is a third instance of the laying on of hands in the case of Paul himself, but this was for another purpose. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:46.080 Uh, this was um Ananias being sent that Saul might receive sight. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:51.039 Uh evidently, that evidently was all that happened with the laying on of hands. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:58.399 And uh Paul, like all Christians, received the Holy Spirit upon believing the gospel. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:06.480 We find the Gentiles were filled only when they believed the preaching of Peter as in the house of Cornelius. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:12.159 Notice from Acts chapter 10, and I'm gonna start reading it verse 44, and you'll see a very different matter. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.080 Now, here's a Jewish apostle, Peter. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.720 He's gone to a Gentile house, Cornelius' house. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:21.919 And the Bible says in verse 44, while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.720 They of the circumcision which believed were astonished. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.440 Why? 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:27.679 Well, they didn't lay hands on him. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:33.120 As many as came with Peter, because then on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:43.360 So here we very clearly we see Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the moment they believed, without the laying on of the apostles' hands. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:46.320 When the gift was given to the Gentiles, there was no tarrying. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:50.960 Now they waited for the preacher to give them the gospel, but they didn't wait for the Holy Ghost after they believed the gospel. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:57.600 There was no man, it was an intermediary, laying uh no laying on of hands by man, not even a Jew praying for a Gentile. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:07.039 But when they believed the gospel that was preached unto them, the good tidings, they received the Holy Ghost and were filled at one and the same time. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:17.039 In fact, Peter later recounting the scene in the home of Cornelius said, uh, starting in verse 15 of Acts 11, as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:23.519 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that the how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but easily baptized with the Holy Ghost. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:30.720 For as much then as God gave them the light gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could withstand God? 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:37.039 Whatever may have happened to Jews, most of you listen to my voice or Gentiles. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:43.919 The only model God has given us is that of Cornelius, who was filled when he believed the good news brought to him by Peter. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:57.279 God makes no distinction today, for he has joined us, both Jew and Gentile, into one body, and each individual receives the Spirit, and can be filled with the Spirit in exactly the same way, by hearing and believing. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:06.480 In any case, if the laying on of hands is essential to either receiving or being filled with the Spirit, where are the apostles who can lay hands on men today? 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.799 You know, it was only the apostles who did this. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:14.639 Not even Philip or Aquila or Priscilla, evangelists and teachers and fellow workers and associates of the apostles, though they were. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:20.799 They could not take upon themselves the laying on of hands that men might receive and be filled with the Spirit. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:24.799 To Paul was revealed the special message to the Gentiles. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:33.360 No other one of the apostles had so clearly realized the place and the need of the Holy Ghost in the life of the believer, and the deep longing on God's part to fully possess us. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:37.679 In Romans 8 26 we read that the Spirit helpeth our infirmity. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.120 We know not how to pray as we ought. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:42.960 The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:45.840 He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:52.080 And beloved, will you not realize that God can never be satisfied until he fully possesses you? 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:56.799 Until you gladly let the Lord Jesus hold the rulership of your life. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:06.240 The Holy Spirit prays to God the Father, that He by circumstances and conditions will work upon your life until you gladly yield to Him your being. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:13.519 No, there's no need to tarry, for the Holy Spirit prays with groanings that cannot be uttered, that you may be filled. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:19.600 He is waiting for you to trustfully yield your being to the mastery of God. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:23.759 He just wants you to be willing. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:29.440 Anything else is a human invention and a doctrine of men at best. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.200 Now, what is the purpose? 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:36.639 Let's take a few moments now to consider the purpose of being filled. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:42.000 As we think of our great need of being filled with the Holy Spirit, there are two very comforting facts. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:50.559 First, Jesus prayed that the Father would give to us the Holy Spirit to abide in us. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.679 You can read that in John 14, verses 16 and 17. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:14:00.000 The Lord Jesus Himself, knowing our weakness, our helplessness, our hunger, and our need, heeded the prey. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.360 Thank God for that. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.159 Second, it is God's will that we be filled with his Spirit. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:08.879 In Ephesians 5, 17 and 18, in fact, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:19.360 Hence, our being filled with the Holy Spirit does not depend on our asking or our longing alone, but upon the longing of the triune God Himself. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:29.039 Will you not now begin to request that your life, your heart, your mind be brought into conformity with God's will? 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.759 We need to start looking at this thing from God's angle. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.600 Begin to realize that it is the heart of God that longs for us to be filled. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.679 Jesus prayed for another comforter, that is one just like himself. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:48.799 He's going back to the right hand of the Father, and he's uh doesn't want to leave his disciples without the comforting presence of Almighty God. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:52.320 Thank the Lord that Jesus saw our need and prayed for us. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:58.480 Now in the Gospel of John, Jesus Himself gives us a wonderful outline of the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.480 In the third chapter, he tells what the Holy Spirit does for us. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:06.320 In the fourth chapter, what he does in us. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:09.840 In the seventh chapter, what he does through us. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:14.879 In John 3, we are we are born of the Spirit. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:20.240 In John 4, we receive satisfaction through the Spirit. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:27.360 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.559 Jesus guarantees absolute satisfaction. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:35.279 We receive the Spirit first for life, and having life that we may be fully satisfied. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.960 There's business slogans. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:43.039 You know, ours are satisfied customers, we aim to satisfy satisfied customers or our desired, so on and so forth. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:47.919 But one of the main reasons for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is that we should be satisfied. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:51.039 That's what God wants. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:56.080 That's what God desires our happiness, our contentment, our satisfaction. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.080 Now, Jesus said, He that drinketh. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.440 He that drinketh. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:05.519 You took your first drink by believing. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:12.159 Then you stopped and lapsed in vital trusting, and your heart was disturbed, and you became thirsty for something better. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.360 This is where many people turn and walk away from the Lord, drop out of church, quit reading their Bible. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.240 They think, well, I tried that Jesus thing, but it didn't work. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:32.240 You let some sin come in and break your fellowship, brought the TV set back into the house, or started listening to that worldly music again, or started hanging out with those unsaved people again, spending your time with people that weren't believers instead of people that were. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:37.600 Why don't you just bow your head right now and confess your failure as sin and open the door of your being to God? 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.240 Don't hide your thirst from him and don't blame him for the fact that you're thirsty. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:49.279 The Bible says in 1 John 1 9, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:17:03.120 You see, the purpose for the longing in the heart of God to fill us with his spirit is not only that his children may be satisfied, that's the first point, but also that the outflow of their lives may satisfy him. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:11.920 He shows us what the nature of the outflow of our lives should be in the verses which immediately follow the one in which we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.839 First, God word. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:18.160 And I'm reading now from Ephesians chapter number five. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.799 We're told in verse in verse 18 to be filled with the Spirit. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.200 Why? 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:35.440 Verse 19, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:41.759 Notice first of all, first of all, being filled with the Spirit redounds unto God. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:46.400 Then, second, man word in our church life. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:51.599 In verse 21, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.400 And then in our family lives. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:59.839 We read in verse 22 about wives, verse 23, the husband, verse 25, husbands. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:05.279 So the filling of the Spirit, then forth, is Satan word, if you will. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.680 Or well, I tell you what, I'll even include. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:13.519 We've got children there, but then we have job word or our other relationships outside the church, outside the family. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:17.680 We've got servants in chapter 6, verse 5, and masters in chapter 6 and verse 5. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:23.599 And then number five would be Satan word, and that is putting on the whole armor of God and wrestling against the devil. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:31.920 So we see that at least a great part of God's purpose in commanding us to be filled with the Spirit is for our day-to-day living. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:38.640 Our living Godward, our living manward, our living toward our family, our living toward uh the devil himself. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:45.359 All of this requires that we be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:54.960 Now, a lot of people think that when there's been enough prayer, when there's been enough agony of soul, when there's been enough seeking after the Spirit, then finally one may be filled. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:00.960 We've all heard accounts of all-night prayers, long fasting, great self-examination, with finally a filling. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.640 Well, this is great. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:07.759 But was all of that necessary in order to be filled with the Spirit? 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:14.640 John chapter 7 and verses 37 to 39 speak this way. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:23.759 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:31.680 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, but this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:36.480 For the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.720 Now let's get before the picture. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:42.240 It's the last day of the feast, about the middle of the afternoon. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:53.279 The high priest had taken from its resting place a beautiful pitcher of gold, dressed in his ceremonial vesture, followed by the priests, the singers, the Levites, then by the crowd of worshippers who had come to the feast. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.599 He left the temple, holding high the pitcher of gold. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:03.200 He led the procession to the pool of Siloam, where stooping down he filled it brimming full of water, singing as they went, they were turned by another street. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:07.599 The high priest entered the temple, and there before the altar he poured out the water before God. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:12.000 The ironic benediction was pronounced, and the congregation was dismissed. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.640 At one side I see a man standing alone. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:21.680 As he rises, he lifts up his hand and he cries, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:28.960 Meaning that he himself was the fulfillment of all these types and ceremonies. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:33.200 If any man thirst, do you qualify as one to be filled? 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.359 He can fill only thirsty people. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.920 All heaven is waiting to slake the thirst of human hearts. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:49.519 Here again the calling cry of the Lord Jesus If any man thirst, the one qualification above all others is thirst. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.039 Thirsty one, come to me, said Jesus. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:56.960 Men set up many qualifications for being filled with the Spirit. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:00.000 Jesus set up one, thirst. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:16.000 If any man thirst, remember, it is not a matter of how good you are, how bad you are, not a matter of whether you are a seeker, whether you are one who is tarried, whether you are one who has fasted and prayed, but any man, regardless of who or where you are, any man, let him come unto me. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:20.000 Jesus gave his life that you might be filled. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:23.119 He laid aside his glory that you might be filled. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:25.359 He prayed that you might be filled. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:34.960 He ascended on high, he sits on the throne with all things under his feet, he has all authority, he has all things for you that you might be filled with his Holy Spirit. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:39.759 Present yourself with your great need before him. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.359 Let him come unto me. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:44.720 What a gracious and glorious invitation. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.640 And drink. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.599 To believe with a drink are exact equivalents. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.039 Do you believe he wants to fill you? 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.720 Do you believe he desires to satisfy you? 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:58.079 Then thank him that you want what he wants in your life, that you and he are agreed. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.519 Thank him that you know. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.160 That he longs to fill you with the Holy Spirit. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:07.920 Believe that he means what he says, as he calls to you, come and drink. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:16.319 He that believeth on me, Jesus said, out of his belly from within him shall flow rivers of living water. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.519 The well becomes a river when the conditions are met. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:25.920 And there is not only enough to satisfy one's own life, but rivers of blessing for others. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:31.680 The condition for the flowing river, the condition for the springing well are exactly the same, believing. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.960 The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey him. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:37.279 You cannot obey unless you trust him. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:41.119 Obedience follows hard after faith. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.119 Men make many conditions. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.400 Jesus only one, he that believeth. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:49.839 Will you thank him that as you come he fills you? 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:54.559 In his time you will see the result in the rivers. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.640 After all, that is his business. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.319 Behind his word is the authority of God, he will do it. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.960 All this was to transpire when Jesus was glorified. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:07.039 What was the act of glorification? 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:09.839 When God the Father seated him at his own right hand. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:23.039 When Jesus sat down upon the throne, then God poured forth the Holy Spirit as a testimony to the waiting ones on earth, that the work of the Lord Jesus was accepted, and that now we here on earth might have access unto the Father by one Spirit. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:30.880 This was the historic condition on God the Father's part for the outpouring of the Spirit, namely when Jesus was glorified. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:33.680 The practical need today, my friend, is the same. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:40.000 That you so trust the Lord Jesus that you give to him the throne of your life. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:44.720 If you do not trust him, you will not enthrone him by presenting your body to him. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:48.799 Giving him the throne is an expression of your faith in him. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:59.039 Do you so believe him that you can entrust your body, your future, as well as present, your plans, your hopes, your all into his hands? 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:07.519 Will you, as an expression of your faith in him, turn over your body, your soul, your spirit to the Lord Jesus to have and hold forever? 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.000 Hold nothing back, not one thing. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:17.519 Have not one mental reservation, make an entire abandonment to do his will forever. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:35.759 Romans twelve, one and two says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:39.119 Will you not sit down before the Lord? 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:55.279 Will you not kneel down before the Lord and put your faith not your faith and trust in Him to save your soul from hell fire, but your faith and trust in Him to completely control your life. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:03.519 You know what he'll do, He will strengthen you with power by His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:09.680 This is the work of the Spirit to enthrone Christ Jesus as Lord in your life. 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:15.759 You know, the moment you believed on Jesus Christ, God saved you, didn't he? 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.799 By his grace. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:27.440 And I'm telling you, my friend, the moment, the moment you will trust Jesus Christ to fill you with his spirit, he will do that very thing. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.640 Our time is gone. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.240 I've got to stop right now. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.480 This is the Preaching of the Cross Radio Broadcast. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:34.079 Until next time, I'm Brother James. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:37.519 May the Lord richly bless you and good day. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:44.240 Thanks for tuning in today. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:48.880 Join us every weekday for another episode of the Preaching of the Cross Radio Podcast. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:54.640 For hundreds of hours of in-depth expository Bible teaching, please visit our YouTube channel, James W. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:01.920 Knox Sermons, our sermon audio page, Bible Baptist the Land, or our website, Bible BaptisttheLand.com. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:06.720 Until next time and throughout eternity, may Jesus Christ be praised.