previous Study posted 11-12-08

” 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. 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Welcome to those of you who recently came into this website from the country of Turkey!

I do a verse by verse Bible study in the book of John usually 2 times a week.

You can click on the Bible Study Archives icon to read the previous studies.

Let’s continue.

I have spent much time on John 7:37-39.

Let’s get down to where the rubber meets the road.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

So far I have discussed:

1.) Jesus is fully man

2.) Jesus is fully God

3.) the Holy Trinity is one God in 3 persons-

a. the Father

b. Jesus, though Himself God, yet at the same time the Son of God as a man… fully human

c. the Holy Spirit

4.) the Holy Spirit, since He is God…like Jesus, He never changes

Now I need to discuss among all the other things Jesus is to us as born again christians, as John the Baptist said, Jesus is our Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.

Just as we learned that Elisha requested and received a “double portion” of God’s Holy Spirit than that was on Elijah, so is there something more involving God’s Holy Spirit for the born again believer in Jesus than that which was received when we first became saved.

Jesus, as a man, fully human, was the first and only human being that God did not pour out His Holy Spirit with measure.

” For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. ” John 3:34

The Greek literally reads;

“…for not by measure He gives the Spirit.”

The words ” unto him. ” were added by the King James translators and the words “to him” were also added by the New International Version translators as per the line of thought and correctly so, since the previous statement of John the Baptist, “For whom sent God the words of God speaks” is clearly in reference to Jesus, of whom John the Baptist is telling the Jews about in response to their inquiry as to whether John the Baptist was “the Christ”.

The point here is that God did not pour out in limited portion His Holy Spirit on Jesus as He does with us when we are saved.

Just as Elijah had a lesser portion of God’s Holy Spirit than that which Elisha requested and received, so when anyone comes to salvation he or she does not receive the Holy Spirit unlimited, as Jesus did, who was the only human being that ever did at the initial outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon a human being, as is God’s custom.

In other words, there is clearly a relationship that we have with God’s Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation and at the moment we are born again into God’s family, that is different from what the Bible clearly refers to as;

1.) the baptism of the Holy Spirit

“And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ” John 1:33

2.) the Holy Spirit given

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ” John 7:39

- (the very verse we are presently studying)

3.) received the Holy Spirit since we believed

” And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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. ” Acts 19:1-7

4.) being filled with the Holy Spirit

” And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ” Ephesians 5:18

The Greek word ” plerousthe” translated ” filled ” means, to cram, to level up, to make replete - that is, to gorge, to be well - filled or plentiful supplied.

Remember, the word Biblical term “baptize” means not only to be fully wet, but also means to be overwhelmed, to be overpowered and this is definitely in reference to more than just the physical - that is, being dunked in water.

Now, all this is written to the born again christian - that is, those who are already saved, those who already have put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior of their soul.

This has nothing to do with whether a person is saved or not, since the “thief” on the cross undeniably was saved, who was not able to live long enough to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, this overwhelming, overpowering experience Jesus clearly told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for, but still made it to Heaven when he died just as Jesus promised him before He died.

When a person comes to the faith - that is, the one who believes in Jesus and everything Jesus said, that person becomes spiritually born, spiritually rebirthed into God’s family by, of and through the Holy Spirit of God. We become literally in the spiritual, a child of God, something we were not before this moment, since the moment of our physical birth the Bible clearly teaches that we were already eternally separated from God, being under God’s wrath which hovered over us but at the same time held back during our life to mercifully and patiently give us a chance to come to believe in God’s Son, Jesus unto salvation.

For those of you who are new to this Bible study and to those of you who are not born again, I’m discussing something about the Holy Spirit of God that is not even considered by most evangelical christians since the 15th century, particularly heavily ignored and rejected from the 1830’s to this day.

This denial and rejection of God’s Holy Spirit is either in total ignorance, unbelief, fear,

hate, confusion, jealousy, childish ridicule or possibly a misunderstanding of God’s word.

I have heard of stories where some church members who became “filled” with the Holy Spirit of God, some even speaking tongues, were brought into the pastor’s office and interrogated and then later discharged from the church because of this.

The experience these church members described was concluded by the church authorities to be the “works of satan”, and if the governing laws today were as they were back at the time of the Salem witch trials, these born again christians would have been burned at the stake by these church leaders.

Remember this my friend…

Jesus said clearly;

” Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. ” Matthew 12:31-32

Jesus addressed this statement to us as born again christians.

Why us?

Because for the simple fact the world - that is, the unsaved, while most of the world believes in God’s existence or the existence of some sort of higher power out there in the universe somewhere, do not even know of the Holy Spirit of God, let alone what His function is in the Holy Trinity and in God’s plan of salvation.

Jesus already told us that the world does not have a clue as to who He is;

” 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 14:17

It is not possible that the unsaved can blaspheme someone they know nothing of.

“whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: ”

It would be like blaming a 2 year old child for the condition of the economy we are in right now.

This is why Paul said that tongues are a sign.

“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: ” 1 Corinthians 14:22

Yes, it is a sign;

” to them that believe not: ”

It certainly grabbed the attention of the locals on the day of Pentecost.

So my friend, from an eternal perspective, let’s be careful what we think and say about the works of the Holy Spirit of God.

If it is a case of unbelief, then we should admit to it.

If it is a case of rejection because of hatred, ridicule of something that we simply think is embarrassingly silly in public or even private, then we will answer to God for this.

The world cannot blaspheme what it does not know about.

But we can.

I will for sure continue with this soon.

I will discuss the 5 century old argument against tongues in the life of the believer based on the famous verse used;

” Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ” 1 Corinthians 13:8

My friend, the works of the Holy Spirit are not meant to embarrass us, nor are they meant to make one christian a better christian than another.

No, one who speaks in tongues is not superior over a believer who does not.

And no, just because a born again christian does not speak in tongues does not mean he or she is not saved.

But what is interesting is that the 90% of evangelical churches who reject tongues and use this same verse about “love” being more important;

” Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ”

1 Corinthians 13:8

interestingly use this verse in a hateful nature that is contrary to the very word in the verse they use it against pentecostal churches to defend their own church doctrine.

A pastor publicly described a born again christian who speaks in tongues as -

“One barking in the aisle.”

The works of the Holy Spirit of God are not meant to be targeted with hateful remarks such as this but rather are meant to help us in our walk with the Lord.

With the present world economy, people losing their jobs, unemployment income running out for those who still cannot find work, giving tithes and offerings in church dropping to the point some churches could shut down, people without insurance, trouble on every hand, and unfortunately this involving even God’s own people - that is, those who do rest their faith in Jesus, just as the early church christians needed this special experience with the Holy Spirit of God in their life, in their walk with the Lord, so do we today.

Think about it.

Wayne Brown

Previous Study posted 11-10-08

previous Study posted 11-10-08

” 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. 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Let’s continue.

There is something I need to discuss further.

As I have said, we need to remember and understand the Trinity to understand the things Jesus says.

Not only this, we must remember and understand that Jesus is both God and man, fully.

This is exciting to know.

The Scripture reference I mentioned in the last Bible study;

” I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ” John 14:18

is most interesting.

Now listen up!

The Greek word “orphanous” translated “comfortless ” means bereaved, parentless, orphan, comfortless, fatherless.

Yes, Jesus was telling His disciples that He would not leave them fatherless.

Fatherless?

Certainly!

Always remember when Jesus said;

” I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

Jesus is many things to us as believers in Him.

And one thing He is to us in addition to everything else, He is a Father to us since He said;

” I will not leave you comfortless: ( or fatherless, orphans, ) I will come to you. ”

Yes, Jesus immediately then said;

” I will come to you. ”

He can say this since He let us know plainly;

” I and my Father are one.”

The point here is that even though the Trinity is talked of throughout Scripture as 3 persons they are still presented to us as all 3 being one and the same God.

Therefore, just as Jesus is said to be in Hebrews;

” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. ” Hebrews 13:8

so would be all 3 persons in the Trinity, the same yesterday, today and forever since they are all 3 one in the same God.

We know Jesus became man, flesh and blood and dwelt among us and died on the cross.

But we must also remember that He is God.

” Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ” Philippians 2:6

There is no contradiction throughout Scripture when Jesus referred to God as His Father but at the same time claimed to be the Father if we understand and believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Anyone who has trouble with this will doubt.

Bill O’Reilly said on television that he is not convinced Jesus is who He claims to be.

The Holy Spirit is also God as one of the 3 persons in the Trinity.

Everything I have discussed applies to Him as well.

As Jesus never changes, likewise the Holy Spirit never changes.

If you recall in our earlier study John the Baptist said this about Jesus;

” And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ” John 1:33

And John the Baptist also said about Jesus;

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ” Matthew 3:11

This is the experience that Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for.

And it happened.

Peter said;

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: ” Acts 2:16-20

Notice that the mention of the tongues that the townspeople were shocked at that each could hear their own native language, was included in the prophecy of Joel that included a time span that reaches even into our future;

” The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: ”

This is why I say that the “last days” started at this moment 2000 years ago and is continuing even today.

I will continue with this soon.

Wayne Brown

previous Study posted 11-09-08

” 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. 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

I couldn’t wait until Tuesday night to do the next study. This study has been on my mind all day.

Let’s continue.

As we have learned so far, anyone, any human being, ‘the one’ - that is, the person believing in Jesus as the Scripture has said, out of his or her innermost being will flow living water, the gospel of salvation that brings spiritual life to anyone who hears and believes, the way of salvation which is in Jesus alone.

We have learned that anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus unto salvation has the ability to lead other people to the Lord Jesus, since the “seventy” and the “Twelve” already were sent by Jesus to preach the gospel and to heal the sick and to cast demons out of people, even before the time Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high.

Now, until the time Jesus departed from His disciples and went up into Heaven, Jesus’ disciples were so used to having Him there with them in the physical.

Jesus was always there to bail them out of trouble.

Jesus was always there to defend them when the hypocritical Jews verbally attacked them.

Jesus was always there to even create money when they needed money such as the coin Peter found in the mouth of the fish, just as Jesus said.

Jesus was always there to take over when, because of their unbelief, His disciples failed to heal someone. Check this out.

“And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ” Matthew 17:16

” Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:… ” Matthew 17:19-20

Jesus was always there to save His disciples from a storm that commonly stirred up on Lake Galilee.

Jesus was always there for people who needed Him to heal someone important to them.

Check this out.

” Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. ” John 11:21

People greatly relied on Jesus.

Jesus was always there to uplift His disciples when they were discouraged.

Now, things were going to be a little different.

Jesus was no longer going to be there with them in the physical.

His disciples were going to have to start walking by faith, not by sight as they enjoyed doing for 3 years, watching Jesus perform miracles and listening to Him preach, clinging to His every word.

However, Jesus told them He would not leave them comfortless.

” I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ” John 14:18

In this chapter in the book of John, Jesus completely spells out the unity, the oneness, and the works of the Trinity.

In reality all 3 persons of the Trinity will dwell with and in those who believe in Jesus.

Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever as Hebrews says, and since Jesus and the Holy spirit and God the Father are all one and the same God, not 3 Gods, everything we study from henceforth must be understood in this light of Biblical truth.

We cannot extract one person from the other in the Trinity, nor can we extract any part from any one person and ignore the rest of His total person and existence, in the Trinity.

Jesus knew times would get rough for His disciples and anyone who chooses to follow Him.

Times are getting rough for us today.

If you do not think iniquity is increasing as Jesus said it would in the last days, just try driving the speed limit next time you are out in your car.

Just as the Egyptians forced the Jews to start making their own brick, so employers are not replacing employees who quit, and forcing those who remain, to do twice the work. While this is considered clever business, technically it is harassment and enslavement, both of which is against the law of our nation.

The list could go on and on.

While there is religious persecution today in many countries around the world, it could happen here in the USA.

If we are not anchored properly in the Lord when it should come to our country, we will have great difficulty standing firm. It will be most difficult for the evangelical christian here in the USA since we have been allowed to gripe and complain, fuss and fume, criticize and ridicule, threaten to boycott, and express all manner of hatred and bitterness and condemnation toward our government and people of political parties we disagree with, condemn the gay community, condemn abortion, etc.. etc… and at the same time live in a hypocritical lifestyle of our own.

These rough times of persecution ahead is what Jesus was concerned about for His disciples.

This is why He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem after He would ascend up into Heaven.

” 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. ” Acts 1:4-5

Since His disciples already had the Holy Spirit in them, being born again by God’s Holy Spirit into the new birth into God’s family, Jesus was referring to an experience that they had not yet enjoyed in their relationship with Him.

This is why the writer John said in these verses we are studying;

” (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Just as the Greek word ” hebaptisen” translated ” baptized ” in the phrase

” For John truly baptized with water; ”

so does the Greek word “baptisthesesthe ” translated in the phrase

” but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ”

means to make whelmed, to overpower, to overwhelm… not just to make fully wet.

Jesus’ idea of the usage of the word is to show us that this experience is as real in our spirit as it is when our bodies are dunked under water at a water baptismal service.

Remember.

This experience has nothing to do with our salvation since obviously we are already saved as were the disciples and those who Paul ran into when he said;

” …Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?… ”

Acts 19:2

and the thief on the cross who never got the chance to speak in tongues but was still saved because of his faith in Jesus.

This experience is something the Lord wants us to have in our walk with Him to help strengthen us in our relationship with Him and help us in keeping the faith to the end of life as Paul did and not growing cold and bitter as Jesus warned many of us will do.

When Paul said to examine ourselves to see if we are of the faith all this is part of the faith since Jesus wanted this for those who believe in Him.

We cannot claim to be in the faith and deny any part of what we will learn in the next study.

Wayne Brown

” 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. 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Welcome to those of you who are new to this Bible study.

I’ve been spending much time on this passage in the book of John.

There are some extremely important truths in what Jesus said here that I need to address.

You can get caught up with this study by clicking on the “Bible Study Archives” icon and always pay attention to the posted date that I place with each Bible study.

For those of you who regularly read these studies I apologize for sometimes getting away from my usual Tuesday night and Saturday night studies. This is one reason I date these studies so you can know if you missed one.

If you do not mind listening to my voice there are audios of recent Bible studies available.

There are also video clips of me discussing “Salvation” and “Bible Prophecy” and me picking my guitar and some where I actually sing along with my guitar picking.

All my life I have played guitar solo when I do play the guitar and never have tried to sing while I play until now… and it certainly sounds like it. LOL

Let’s continue.

” 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Jesus said in quoting the authoritative Scripture which He believed to be the final authority;

” He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ”

As I have already mentioned earlier, the Assemblies of God compare themselves to this

“rivers of living water ”

from a vision one of their early church founders said he had of a fountain of water rising out of Springfield, Missouri and reaching around the world.

Jesus was referring to anyone as He declared plainly;

” He that believeth on me, ”

or quite literally as the Greek says “Ho pisteuon” - that is, the one believing, and the Greek word “pisteuon” is in the present tense by the way, which means the one who stays in the faith literally, not a one time childhood experience down at the alter as is taught by 90% of evangelicals today and for the past 5 centuries since John Calvin, mainly though widely spread starting in the 1830’s.

The point here is that while the one who continues to believe “the faith” ( since many born again christians today are now changing what they once believed )

out of this person Jesus said;

” out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ”

In other words, out of the heart of the person believing in Jesus will flow the ability to share the gospel of salvation, which is this;

” rivers of living water. ”

This is also mentioned in Revelation, one of the writer John’s later books;

“…And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ” Revelation 22:17

And this;

” living water. ”

as we have learned in earlier studies is also used to describe the Holy Spirit since the writer John said;

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: ”

which includes the works of the Holy Spirit, which includes among many works done by Him, leading people to Jesus.

In other words, we as born again christians have the Holy Spirit in us at spiritual rebirth - that is, when we are born again into God’s family by the precious Holy Spirit of God and therefore have;

” rivers of living water. ”

in which we can now share the gospel of salvation to the world.

We can as born again christians now share the message of salvation because Jesus already sent His disciples out to preach the gospel even before the day of Pentecost.

” Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. ” Luke 9:1-2

” And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. ” Luke 10:17

And all this was before Pentecost!

This was before they spoke in tongues.

This is why the writer John also made a point here in these verses in saying;

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: ”

indicating to us that there was to come something more in the heart of the believer in that he continued to say;

“for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ”

John was not contradicting himself here. While they had the Holy Spirit in them John was indicating there was more to come in their relationship with the Lord and their walk in Him.

There was another person who believed in Jesus who was not even part of the initial “Twelve”.

” And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. ” Mark 9:38-40

And again, this was before Pentecost.

So, the point in all this is that a person does not have to speak in tongues to show proof that he or she is saved and born again.

Nor does a person have to speak in tongues to be able to lead others to Jesus.

So, while the writer John does not deny this truth, he is referring to something more to come in the life of the born again christian that was to come later.

Now, even though we can lead others to Jesus as born again christians, Jesus, knowing how difficult it was going to be for His disciples to remain in Him after He physically departs from them after His death and resurrection - that is, that they will not have Jesus there in the physical with them after He is gone but rather they will now have to live in the faith by their faith and not by their sight, which they have enjoyed doing for 3 years, Jesus was referring to something special that He wanted them to have that would come at a later time.

This is why Jesus told His disciples when He was about to leave them physically;

“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. ” Luke 24:49

My friend, Jesus was not teaching a doctrine here of a salvation by grace in 2 stages.

Salvation is done when we believe. It is not done in a 2 part process.

Even without the experience of being;

” endued with power from on high. ”

if these disciples of Jesus had died physically at this moment, they would have still gone to Heaven because of their faith in Jesus.

There is a special relationship with the Lord that He wants us to have.

Jesus said clearly;

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. ” Matthew 24:12-13

My friend, there is hope in not becoming hateful and bitter.

Since the election, I have heard the bitterness of church leaders. Some who for the first time in their christian walk, are now hoping the “rapture” will take place, something they never was interested in before because of enjoying their world treasures.

I will continue soon.

Wayne Brown

” 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. 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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ”

Let’s continue.

“for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ”

As we have learned, we receive the Holy Spirit of God when we come to believe in God’s Son Jesus unto salvation from the Biblical fact that when we come to believe in Jesus we are spiritually born of God’s Holy Spirit…

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ” John 3:5-6

” And I will pray the Father, 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

Yes, Jesus said He will be in us;

“and shall be in you. ”

The writer John of this book we are studying if you recall in an earlier study said;

” But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. ” John 1:12-13

Biblical proof that when we come to believe in Jesus we actually become sons and daughters of God and therefore since we are born “of God. ” we have God’s Holy Spirit living in us since we are now born of Him and in Him and He in us and since we cannot extract part of the Trinity from the rest of the Trinity we now have all 3 persons of the Holy Trinity in us since the Bible says they are all one in the same God which includes God the Father, Jesus the Son, and God the Holy Spirit… not 3 Gods but one God in 3 persons.

Paul said concerning this;

” To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ” Colossians 1:27

The fact that Jesus said to His disciples;

” but ye know him; ”

that is - that they already “know him; “, not will come to know Him but now

“know him; ” refers to the already indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit in them but in that Jesus also said;

” shall be in you. ”

refers to a special outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit that they had not received at that moment but will receive at a later time since the writer John said in this verse we are studying;

” for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ”

and also when Paul said to the born again christians;

” Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? ” Acts 19:2

referring to a special outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit that is to come to those who believe in Jesus as the writer John said here in this verse we are studying;

” which they that believe on him should receive: ”

So, since we are spirit of God’s Spirit now since we came to believe in God’s Son Jesus as Lord and Savior of our soul, we do not need to ask God to “fill me with your Spirit” as one pastor I know does just before he preaches.

Well, first of all, if we are saved we already have God’s Holy Spirit in us since we have become a born again child of God by spiritual birth of God’s Holy Spirit.

Remember this though, this is done only in response to our faith. If we never really believed then we were never born again of God’s Holy Spirit.

If we did believe, it is possible to say such a thing as “fill me with your Spirit” in ignorance. Afterall, Jesus did have to teach these things to His disciples so they would understand.

It is the right thing to do to request God to fill us with His Spirit but only in reference to that special experience that as for Jesus’ own disciples was to come later in that the writer John said;

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ”

and when Paul asked the born again christians;

” Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? ”

Now, let’s backtrack a bit.

Notice Jesus said in this verse we are studying;

“let him come unto me, and drink. ”

Yes, Jesus said;

” and drink. ”

This refers to a relationship with Him.

Jesus said;

” Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ” Matthew 5:6

A person with a working conscience will hunger and thirst to be saved from sin and to be cleansed from sin.

This applies to both the saved and the unsaved.

However, if a person thinks he has done nothing wrong, then this will not apply to him. He will remain in his sin that he denies doing.

If we struggle with an habitual sin in our life and get down on our knees and beg God for deliverance, then we for sure are thirsting for righteousness.

If we do not care and continue loving and enjoying our sin, then we are not thirsting for righteousness.

Do we love to hate? Sounds like a paradox I know but it is a fact of human nature that people enjoy hating others. This gives us some sort of feeling of satisfaction, perhaps superiority - much like a sadist… that is, one who delights in inflicting pain on someone. It is a perversion in the heart of man and if it is something a person loves doing and enjoys, then he or she will not ever be thirsting for righteousness. A born again christian even though born of God can become like this since our old nature still exists along with the new creation. By choice we can go back to the old nature or stay with the new.

This is one reason for the special experience the writer John is obviously referring to here in this verse we are studying.

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ”

as this was for personal edification and strengthening one’s relationship with the Lord.

Jesus never promised an easy row to hoe when He invited us to come to Him.

This is why Jesus said about us coming to Him;

” And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth ambassadors, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. ” Luke 14:27-33

Wow! Did Jesus really say this to us?

Kind of brings to shambles the John Calvin predestination and once saved, always saved doctrines and the liberal live like the devil church doctrines taught today, the popular liberal faithless grace poured out without faith doctrine and the new age movement of “for me, Jesus is the way to Heaven but for other people, well, God has alternative ways to Heaven that has nothing to do with His Son Jesus who went to the trouble to die for us.”

While salvation is open to everyone and the invitation is to all people, this is why there are people like Jesus described;

” They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ” Luke 8:3

Our relationship with the Lord and continuance in the faith has to do with our faith.

But there is help in our walk with the Lord that He provided for us… if we believe.

Don’t worry.

I’m getting there.

You’ll not want to miss the next study.

Wayne Brown