Theme Number 2 The Waiting for the Promised Holy Spirit in Acts.

Waiting for the Holy Spirit

Act 1:4  And when he had eaten bread with them, He instructed them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which (said He) ye have heard from me.
Act 1:5  For John baptized with water; but ye will be baptized with the Holy Spirit after not many days.


They were instructed not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Gift Promised of the Father. It is of Primary Importance that we receive the Promised Holy Spirit before we begin any endeavour for the Lord.


Wait for the Promise of the Father.
Joe 2:28  And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.
Joe 2:29  And  also I will pour out My Spirit on the slaves and on the slave women in those days.


The Promise of the Spirit for ALL PEOPLES - Jews and Gentiles, sons and daughters, old men and youth. Note that the Holy Spirit was to be POURED OUT by the Lord and there was to be dramatic results. The first great OUTPOURING was at Pentecost. Acts 2. Then subsequently on the Gentiles of Cornelius’ household then throughout the Acts. We will look more closely at these latter.

The Importance of Waiting for the Holy Spirit.
The timing for the Outpouring was very important and they waited in the Upper Room for ten days. In these days there needs to be more waiting on God in Prayer to receive the outpouring of the Holy spirit or the Infilling of the Spirit. Where are the waiting meetings and the tarrying meetings of yesteryear. When you are really hungry for the power of the Holy Spirit you will wait upon Him and for Him in prayer.
Barnes says, “I will pour out My Spirit;” as Paul says, “know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1Co_3:16. “Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” Rom_8:9-10. It is said indeed, “on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit,” but the gift of the Holy Spirit was the Holy Spirit Himself, as it had been just said, “the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word” .
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit
In a few days you will be Baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Baptised G907 Greek βαπτίζω (baptizō) Thayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm

So this Promised Gift of the Father was to submerge, immerse or overwhelm them with the Holy Spirit. If Water Baptism is the immersing in water by the Pastor, then the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Immersing (overwhelming) of the believer by the Lord with the Holy Spirit as happened on the day of Pentecost. Acts 1-4; 4:31 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spake the Word of God with boldness. Acts 10:44-46 The House of Cornelius Acts 19:1-6 Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? was Paul question the Ephesians.

Applications.
1.  Some say that you don’t need to wait for the Holy Spirit Baptism it just comes. But it comes on those who are gathered together and are waiting for the Holy Ghost.
2. May the Lord Himself overwhelm us with the Holy Spirit until it is no longer (I, me and mine) but the Spirit who is working in us and through us with power.