Introduction

"The Holy Ghost was not yet given" — the word "given" is added. The Holy Ghost "was not yet" means had not been poured out upon believers. This is the time of the Holy Spirit — the time when rivers of living waters flow out from believers.

The Holy Spirit today is moving in a way that was impossible among God's people in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was given in a limited way to only a small number of people like Moses, Elijah and Elisha.

New Testament Christianity is the power of the Holy Spirit moving through the body of Christ. The resource of the Holy Spirit has been given. We do not need to beg that God will pour out His Spirit. He has already made this possible. We need to come into the provision that God has made available.

This is the time of the Holy Spirit because:

1. Jesus has been glorified
2. The Holy Spirit has been outpoured
3. It is possible for all believers to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit

Main Points

1. Jesus Glorified

"But this spoke 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 Holy Spirit was not given to give the early church a boost. The Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.

a) The Ascension

When Jesus ascended He ascended as Man. He has been given the name above all names because He has been victorious over sin and death. He has always been at the right hand of the Father as the eternal Son of God. Now as Man He sat down at the right hand of the Father — it was a completed work.

Represented His people:

• He inherited as Man everything that had always been His
• He inherited the Holy Spirit for His people
• Crucified with Christ
• Risen with Christ
• Ascended with Christ

b) Inheritance

Jesus glorified — His people ascended with Him. Where Jesus is, that is where His people are already. Right now we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ. Everything that belongs to Him belongs to His people.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost because of inheritance. The 120 believers were joined to Christ — the body of Christ. They were waiting for the Holy Spirit. They desired the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit came, He took control:

• Control of their worship
• Control of their daily lives
• Control of their circumstances

On the day of Pentecost there came a sound like a mighty rushing wind. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as He had come upon Jesus in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit was not given to give the Church a boost. The Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.

2. The Holy Spirit Outpoured

"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." — John 7:37

We need to:

1. Be thirsty for Christ — love for Christ
2. Believe His Word — love for His Word
3. Act according to the Scriptures — obedience to His Word

"If any man thirst let Him come to Me and drink." Desire spiritual gifts — gifts flow automatically (1 Corinthians 12-14).

Deception of the Enemy

Deceptive teaching claims that the Holy Spirit is no longer being poured out upon believers as in the day of the early church.

This cannot be a right interpretation:

1. Not the context of the verse
2. Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified, not because the Church was waiting for the New Testament scriptures
3. Gifts have been known to operate even among those who teach that they have ceased
4. Jesus said rivers of living water will flow out of believers if they are thirsty and drink from Him — this is a promise
5. Scripture was not in the hands of ordinary people until after the Reformation

The Church has been deceived into laying aside the power of God.

Why were the gifts not evident throughout the history of the Church?

1. Unbelief
2. Wrong teaching
3. Carnality (Revelation 3)
4. People had no desire for them

3. Believers Ministering in the Power of the Holy Spirit

This is the time of the Holy Spirit. The rivers of living water flow out of believers.

The Holy Spirit moves when the body of Christ desires to move in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A revival begins when people are thirsty for Jesus. Desire Him:

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." — Psalm 27:4

Revivals do not happen until people want the presence of the Lord more than anything else. If we desire the power of the Holy Spirit we must find thirsty believers. It is no good being where people are not thirsty. Believers must have fellowship with people who are thirsty.

A move of the Holy Spirit will be hindered by the desire to promote ourselves. Self-respect will stop the move of the Spirit. "The Lord has chosen the foolish things of the world" (1 Corinthians 1:27).

All believers need to move in the power of the Holy Spirit:

• All believers are priests
• All believers are called to ministry
• All believers should desire spiritual gifts