Message 15 - By Jerry D. Green
But
Wait
Introduction
This message is also concerning the great need of the church to
seek God as never before for one last true outpouring of His Spirit before the return
of Jesus. I pray that you will be stirred to join with me and other sincere men
and women of God who are earnestly seeking God for one last, great outpouring
of His Spirit, which we must have if we are ever to see the great harvest of
souls we desire to see before He comes. JDG
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But Wait
I’m sure all of us have seen the TV commercials where the
merchandise is shown, a suggested retail price is given, and then their special
low price is given. But wait, if you
order within the next few minutes, promise to tell X number of friends, etc.,
we’ll double your order, and/or, throw in free gifts, and so on. But wait is a big thing in TV sales
promotion these days, however, but wait
is not a new thing. These words were used almost two thousand years ago by a
man called Jesus, who was also the Christ of God. A man who had risen from the
dead and was about to ascend into heaven. But
wait was one of the most important things He told His disciples that last
day before He ascended to the Father (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4), yet, Matthew, Mark, and John
completely omit the account of this in their writings.
In Mark’s account of
those days, the church is given the great commission to “Go…into all the
world, and preach the GOSPEL to every creature. He that believeth (the true gospel
of Christ; Romans 1:16-17) and is BAPTIZED
shall be saved; but He that believeth not (the true gospel of Christ) shall be damned (Strong’s #2632; condemned; John 3:17-18; Strong’s #2919). And these signs shall follow them that
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it
shall not hurt them; (and) they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then, after
the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat
on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the
Lord working with them, and confirming the word (of the gospel of Christ) with signs
following…” (Mark 16:15-20).
So what can we derive from these scripture verses? He that believes the gospel of Jesus, the
Christ, and is BAPTIZED shall be saved from damnation (condemnation; the sentence
of death). But seeing that there are many baptisms mentioned in the scriptures,
which of these is he speaking of? This is not a complete list of the many baptisms which are spoken of in the
scriptures, but in my opinion are the better known, while at the same time are
the most misunderstood. Number one (#1) is water
baptism with certain words pronounced over us as we are submerged into, or
sprinkled with water. Number two (#2) is the baptism
of the Holy Ghost which (I believe) a person must have to see the “…confirming (of) the word (of the gospel) with signs following….” Number three (#3) is being
baptized “…into His death,” and Number four
(#4) is being baptized “…into Christ….”
I will begin by ruling out number one (#1), water baptism. Why? Because the
Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus took “…the handwriting of ordinances (which, simply put, were all of
those Old Testament ordinances of Moses’ law, of which, water baptism was and
still is just a carryover from the washings
of that law), that… (were) …against us (and) which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT (that law of
Moses, of which Peter said, ‘…neither our fathers nor we were able
to bear’; Acts 15:10) OUT OF THE WAY, nailing it to His cross” (Colossians 2:14). That Old Testament
law of Moses, which was so adverse to mankind, Jesus carried to the cross with
Him, taking “…it out of the way….”
Secondly I would rule out number two (#2), the baptism of
the Holy Ghost. How?, you ask could I do that, seeing that our great need for
the baptism of the Holy Ghost is the gist of this message. Well, I can say that
because, we’re speaking here of salvation
(being “…saved…”) and our
salvation is not by the baptism of
the Holy Ghost, but through the believing and the submitting of one’s self unto
Jesus Christ and His gospel; thereby, being
born again, or born anew of God, by the Holy Ghost (the Holy Spirit of
God). Our salvation is through our faith in Jesus and the shed blood and broken
body of His flesh (Colossians 1:21-23;
Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:10; Revelation
1:5).
Many mistakenly believe the Holy Ghost is given to clean up a
persons life from sin, but that is
not correct. The shed blood of Jesus was given for our salvation through
sanctification of our spirit. The Apostle Paul says in II Thessalonians 2:13, “…We are bound to give thanks alway(s) to God for you,
brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you
to salvation through sanctification of the spirit (the King James
Version has Spirit capitalized in
this verse as if to indicate that our sanctification is by the Spirit of God
[the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit] but please notice that it’s not BY the Spirit, it is OF the Spirit,
and I must tell you that it’s not God’s Spirit that is in need OF
sanctification, it is ours) and (through) belief of the truth” (belief of the truth concerning our sanctification which is by faith in the
broken body and shed blood of Jesus. This is a fundamental (foundational)
pillar of the true gospel of Jesus Christ; II
Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:10,
13:12).
The next two baptisms, number three (#3) and number four
(#4) are easy, because the apostle Paul is
saying, “Know ye not, that… (as) …many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (not water) were baptized into his death (not water)?” (Romans 6:3). And, Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ (not water) have put on Christ.” We should
understand that none of these baptisms (#2, #3, nor #4) have anything
whatsoever to do with water.
So which of these baptisms
would I deem to be the most important? Being baptized into Christ. For every promise we have as a child of God is IN Christ, and there is NO salvation OUTSIDE of HIM.
Of the four (so named) gospels (the four historic records of the
life and ministry of Jesus), only Luke
mentions the instructions Jesus gave His disciples after His resurrection, but
before the day of Pentecost. Matthew
gives the account of Jesus saying, “…All power (Strong’s #1849; right; authority; delegated influence) is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.” While Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:21, that Jesus is “Far above all principality (Strong’s #746; earthly jurisdiction),
and
power (Strong’s #1849;
authority), and might (Strong’s #1411; force), and dominion (Strong’s #2963; rulers), and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come;” Ephesians 1:21). All authority is given unto Jesus, both in heaven and in earth, and
He is the delegator of all authority
to us [Strong’s #1849]); John 1:11-13.) And He further says, “Go ye therefore,
and teach (instruct, preach His gospel; the true gospel of Christ, to) all nations, baptizing
them in the name (the authority and character) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:18-19).
This speaks of a literal immersion in the authority and character of God. And
for us, this promise is, and can only
be fulfilled “…IN Christ… For IN HIM dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily (that is to say, in one entity). And… (we) …are complete IN HIM, which is the
head of all principality and power” (Strong’s #1849; authority; Colossians
2:9-10).
I’m sure there has always been much controversy concerning the baptisms which are spoken of in these
two accounts, Mark 16:16 and Matthew 28:19. And even though I was
baptized in water, I do not believe
a person must be baptized in water
to be saved (e.g., the thief on the cross; Luke
23:43). Neither do I believe that a person cannot be saved without the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but must only believe
the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and therein, be truly born again of the Holy Spirit of God.
But what of the signs that would follow believers? I am totally
convinced the signs, wonders, and miracles can only follow believers who are truly baptized in the Holy Spirit of
God. (However, this is not to say that signs, wonders, and miracles are the
proof of the Spirit of God. The devil is always ready to work his deceiving
miracles through those who will yield their vessels to him [Revelation 16:13-16]). Jesus Himself
said, “Believest
thou not that I am IN the Father, and the Father IN me? the words that I speak
unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father (by His Holy
Spirit) that dwelleth IN
ME, HE DOETH THE WORKS” (John 14:10). “I CAN of mine own
self DO NOTHING…” (John 5:30). And again, He says unto us, “I am the vine, (and) ye are the
branches: He that abideth IN Me, and I IN him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: For without ME… (YOU) can do NOTHING” (John 15:5). The steps of salvation are
so simple. Hear and believe the gospel of Christ, which brings us to Christ,
who brings us to God.
Jesus Himself never worked one miracle on this earth until after He
was baptized with the Holy Spirit, which came upon Him after He was baptized of
John’s (water) baptism in the river Jordan. Don’t think for a moment, however,
that water baptism was, is, or ever will be, a prerequisite for the baptism of
the Holy Spirit, it is not. In this, Jesus was simply fulfilling one of the
many ordinances of that old covenant which were still in effect before Calvary
(Matthew 3:13-16; 5:17-18). I am not a strong advocate of
symbolism, that is to say, types, shadows, etc., because I see no need of a
type when a person can have the real. Water baptism, which Jesus submitted
Himself unto to fulfill the law which was still in effect at that time, was
only symbolic of the real cleansing which we can have through faith in His shed
blood. Thank God that we can now have the real because, under the New Covenant,
Jesus nailed all of those Old Testament laws and ordinances of Moses which were
against us, to His cross (Colossians
2:14). The ten commandment law of God, however, which was separate, and
very unlike the law of Moses, must yet be fulfilled. The ten commandment law,
which God delivered audibly, was rejected by the children of Israel in favor of
the law of Moses (Exodus 20:19).
Nevertheless, it can only be fulfilled by the new nature which is by the New
Covenant, and which is only in the
truly born again child of God (Matthew 5:17; Romans 13:8-10).
If Jesus couldn’t work the works of God (signs, wonders, and
miracles) without the Father (the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit of God), how could
we ever expect to? However, if we follow this logic, according to Mark, one
must believe the gospel and be baptized with the Holy Spirit to be saved, else
how could the signs, wonders, and miracles have followed. So what is the
correct answer? We can know by other Bible books, namely, Luke, John and the
book of Acts, that Matthew and Mark omit some important events as well as some
of the Lord’s instruction concerning those events. Because of this, it is
impossible to draw a concrete conclusion concerning this matter as Mark and
Matthew relate it. My only question would be, why would anyone dare take a
chance on their salvation by any baptism which man can do, when we have so
freely received the promise of the Holy Ghost baptism which is of the Father,
by Jesus Christ?
As mentioned earlier, the books of Matthew and Mark do not give a full account of these
events; so, as with all scripture, one must take into account any, and all
other scriptures pertaining to that subject. Let’s examine for a few minutes
some things Luke tells us in the book of
Acts, which Matthew and Mark
omit in their accounts.
ACTS 1:1-5
“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus,
of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Until the day in which He was
taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments (which included
the great commission) unto the apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also 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.”
It’s okay if you’ve been baptized in water just as long as you did
it ignorantly as many others, including myself have done, and just as long as
you put absolutely no faith whatsoever in that act as being, either all, or any
part of your salvation. But the Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of God, and His
Son, Jesus Christ is the Holy Ghost baptizer (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33).
This is the baptism we should all be earnestly seeking after.
Here, in the book of Acts, is something of great importance which
Matthew and Mark did not record; The waiting
for the promise of the Father. For anyone who may not yet know, the promise of
the Father was and is being baptized with the Holy Spirit of God. This promise
of the Father is not only something which the Father promised to do or give,
but God Himself is that which is promised, and which we receive. Likewise, the gift of God is not just
something which God gives us, but (in these cases; Acts 8:18-20; II Timothy 1:6)
God Himself is both the giver, and the gift (the Holy Ghost). Did everyone He
spoke to that day receive the promise of the Father at that first outpouring?
No! Less than one forth of all those who heard Him that day were baptized on
the day of Pentecost (approximately 120 of over 500; Acts 1:15; I Corinthians 15:6).
Did any or all of the others ever receive the baptism?, we have no way of
knowing; but one thing we can know, is that it is absolutely essential that we obey the Lord (Acts 5:32).
LUKE 24:46-53
“And (Jesus) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem (the great commission). And ye are witnesses
of (you saw) these things. And,
behold, I (will) send the promise of my Father (the Holy Ghost)
upon
you: BUT TARRY ye (sit down; stay put; do not leave; BUT WAIT) in the city of Jerusalem, UNTIL ye be ENDUED with POWER from
on high. And He led them out as far as to
Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, (that) while He blessed them (over 500 according to I
Corinthians 15:6), He was parted from them, and carried
up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great
joy: And (except for some 380 or more who had more important things
to do, they) were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”
The book of Luke gives more
detail of the promised outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and only the book of Luke
uses the word endued concerning that
outpouring. The Greek word for endued, Strong’s #1746, means “(in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest
with clothing (literally or figuratively),” and in the King James Version of
the Bible it is most often translated “put on,” or “to be clothed.” That is, to
be literally clothed with something. And in this case, it is the miraculous,
miracle working power of God. Also,
only in Luke and the book of Acts (both of which, Luke wrote) is the word power used concerning that first
outpouring. The Greek word in both cases is “dunamis,” Strong’s #1411, and means “force (literally or figuratively); especially,
miraculous power (and usually by implication, a miracle itself).” This is the power the early church went out in, and is the reason they “…turned the world upside down…” in just a few short years (Acts 17:6). This is also the power the last day church must once
again have if we are ever to make a significant impact on the lost world.
ACTS 1:6-14
“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 (Strong’s #1849; authority). But ye shall receive (the “dunamis”) POWER (of God;
Strong’s #1411), after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and (then) ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth (again, the great commission; and again, go ye, but this
time He says, go in power). And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up;
and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly
toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both
Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and
Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.”
ACTS 1:4
And, being assembled together with them, (He) 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.” This is the last
discourse Jesus would have with his disciples before He returned to the Father,
and He reminded them of “… the promise of the Father…,” which they had
heard of Him. And then He commanded them, saying, BUT WAIT, tarry, do not leave
Jerusalem, until you are endued with
that wondrous, miracle working, power of God. Not until you first know everything there is to know about the
Scriptures. Not until you have first
spent X amount of time in seminary studying theology. Not until you first have the means to sponsor your missionary trip.
The early church had none of these
things. “…BUT
TARRY ye (…BUT ‘WAIT…’) …UNTIL ye be
ENDUED with POWER from on high” (Luke 24:49). This is what the early church had,
and yes, He had commanded them to evangelize the world. Yes, He had
commissioned them to preach the gospel to every creature. Yes, lost souls were
dying, having never heard the gospel! But don’t get impatient. Don’t be over
zealous. BUT WAIT, tarry, pray, seek, intercede. Be of one mind, one passion, and
one accord (in one place) UNTIL ye
be ENDUED with POWER from on high. There is absolutely nothing more important to
our witness and to our ministry than to first be endued with the “…POWER FROM ON
HIGH.” For WITHOUT Jesus (without being truly born again of God) and WITHOUT the Holy Ghost power of God, we
can do absolutely nothing.
ACTS 2:1-4
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were
all with one accord (assembled together) in one place (which I believe was the temple where Jesus had taught so
many times; that is where the Jews from many different nations would have congregated
on the day of Pentecost). And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues (other
languages, at least fifteen different
languages; Acts 2:7-11), as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This speaking with other tongues
was a miraculous speaking, not just
something any and everyone can be taught to say or do. It is the utterance of
the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost).
Oh church of God, pastors and teachers, men and women of God,
brothers and sisters in Christ! There is still time for one last great harvest
of souls before Jesus returns. But it will not happen until there is first a
true and mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God such as has not been seen
in many generations. This we must have
to carry the glorious gospel of Jesus, the Christ to a lost and dead world. And that will not happen until we first
intercede before God to see it happen. I do believe that God will pour out His
Spirit one more time, but it will never be upon a lukewarm church or individual
who doesn’t care whether God ever moves again or not. But time is very short.
We must act quickly. We must seek God with a whole heart like we’ve never
sought Him before. We must humble
ourselves before God and call upon Him in true repentance for the sin of our lukewarmness and
unconcern. We must intercede in prayer for lost souls. For then and only then
will He once again pour out His Spirit and
power upon us as He has done for so many in times past. And then, and only then will we see that last great
in gathering of souls before Jesus returns (Joel 2:1-28, 32; Acts 2:16-17), and that with “…much tribulation….” (pressure;
trouble; Acts 14:22).
Message 15 - But Wait
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