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"ON EAGLES' WINGS MINISTRIES"

When the day of Pentecost comes to mind, or is introduced into our midweek bible study, the vision of the birth of the "Apostolic Church" comes to mind. Scores upon scores of books have been written about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day. Multitudes of ministers of the gospel "both men and women" extol the promised Holy Ghost as the tool necessary to give us "power for service." As we suggested in a previous letter, many doctrines and religious organizations can trace their roots back to the events that transpired on the day, more than two thousand years ago. For the most part, the man Christ Jesus is not mentioned by any preacher or teacher of scriptures, as being personally involved in all that occurred in the upper room that over whelmed the hundred and twenty souls who were waiting there for ten days to receive the promise of the Father as instructed by Jesus himself before he ascended into heaven.

Before I proceed to observe more about the involvement of the man Christ Jesus with the events of Pentecost, I must explain a few details that will shed some light as to why I sound the way I do, and teach the way I do. In April 1968, the late Morris Cerullo from San Diego, California, brought his Deeper Life Crusade to London, UK. The wee long meetings were held at Spurgeon Tabernacle in Elephant and Castle in SW London on the river Thames. That week of meetings turned me upside down, and started a fire within that drove me to my knees in seeking God. I suddenly saw clearly that there was so much more for me to know and to receive. I spent hours on my knees crying out to God for more of his blessings. At one point I said to God: "Bless me or kill me! I do not want to be a fruitless tree."

Along the way, a breakthrough came and the Lord said to me. Don’t be a copy cat preacher. Don’t repeat everything you hear. Check the source of the information, and if the source is wrong, throw it all out for all of the rest is also wrong. When you read the bible, read slowly and watch every word; for words have meanings. One word taken out of context can throw the entire verse or lesson away from the intended truth. So in my monthly writings, or preaching to a live congregation, I stay closely to the written word; If I determine to insert my own opinion, I make it clear that is my own thought. When I preach from the Word of God, I sometimes say: If you don’t believe me, you are likely to believe the written word of God, so if I share the word correctly and sincerely, there is no need for me to apologize even if some hearers are offended or would rather hear something else.

At this juncture we are going to bring Jesus into our discussion and let him speak his words of instruction his thought about Pentecost. The second coming of the Lord has been molded and cast into a picture that by now has been accepted and has become the template for all lessons on the subject. The second coming of Christ has been written about in scores of books, made into movies, drawn up into colorful charts that are being used by the ministry of multitudes of ministers to teach the seven dispensations of man. The team of organizers producing the "Left behind series" and movies that subscribe to that particular form of doctrine concerning the second coming of Christ, have managed to captivate multitudes to their way of thinking. But the second coming of Christ have been used to convince many even from the first century after Christ, that his return was imminent.

Paul was so convinced of the soon return of Christ that he wrote to the Hebrews saying: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:24,25. Paul wrote again saying, if you have a wife, don’t let her go. If you don’t have a wife, don’t seek one. "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none." 1^st Corinthians 7:29. That was written well within the first century after Christ. From our vantage point of 2022, preachers and religious experts are still saying time is short. Some say boldly; "I am getting ready to get out of here." Let us listen to Jesus Christ our Lord concerning his intention to visit to Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

As Jesus gathered with his disciples, knowing that he had about a week or so left in his earthly ministry, he must have become overwhelmed in a rather pensive mood. The cross and death were only days away and at this pivotal point in time, he had to find that which would comfort the disciples. Pay keen attention to every word that Jesus spoke in what could be deemed as his parting exhortation. "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; he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:16-18.

The general interpretation of this passage of scripture among the rank and file of Christendom is that Jesus was actually referring to his second coming. That idea is partially true because Jesus did say, I will come to you. The forgotten truth, or the ignored truth in Christ’s statement is the fact before Pentecost, as the Spirit of truth he was with them, with the promise that in the near future he as the Holy Spirit would fill the upper room and all hundred and fifty souls who were waiting for the promise of the Father as instructed by Jesus himself, that they should not depart Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father.

Let us spend some time to revisit the words of exhortation and comfort given to the disciples by the Lord. We should take every word at face value and digest the truth contained therein. Let us read slowly and keep every word in its proper perspective. The Lord was specific in saying that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it does not see him: but then he contrast that with the fact that the disciples knew him, for he dwells with them, and shall be IN THEM WHEN THE HOLY GHOST IS GIVEN AT PENTECOST. That scenario completes the rendering of the truth that said, "But ye know him (speaking of himself as the Spirit of truth) for he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN YOU. I like to repeat the words of Christ for emphasis and for his endorsement. Here, he speaks in plain language in a form that is easily understood. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18.Without prejudice or covert intentions, Jesus explained in clear and understandable terms that he would return to be with the disciples then present, alive and well. This he did when he returned on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Ghost—the Spirit of truth.

To be quite honest, in biblical terms, we would be correct to call this event, the second coming of Christ. And to apply this concept in fairness across the board, every time a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, it is Christ coming again. We have a number of promises from Christ himself that he would return and indwell the believers—both he and his Father. See John 14: 23 & 2^nd Corinthians 6:16.

But believing that Christ returned as the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost to indwell the disciples should not be thought of as an "out of the world, impossible event". Christ himself made mention of a truth that properly subscribe to this concept. Hear it from his own lips! "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23. The idea conveyed in this statement is that both the Father and the Son will make the believer their dwelling place. Remember that before the day of Pentecost it could not be said Christ IN YOU the hope of glory; because before the pouring out of the Holy Ghost (The Christ coming in that form) it could not be said, Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. In fact, the Holy Ghost could not be given to anyone before Pentecost because Christ was not yet glorified.

Here is another candid witness to this concept. "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 he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him shall receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39. This underscores the truth of the link between the man Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus took time to clarify that truth so that there would be no misunderstanding.

He was very specific in his explanation! "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient "more profitable" for you that I go away: for it is go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: (because he is the one returning as the Comforter) but if I depart, I will send him unto you." John 16:7. Allow me to interject a thought that is helpful for us in our quest to gain the truth of scripture and to understand their long-lasting effectiveness. To treat the scriptures from a historical point of view is to miss the spiritual truths hidden within the confines of its pages. God spoke thousands of years ago: for instance, he spoke of the seed of the woman that would bruise the head of the serpent, but that seed did not arrive on the scene until more than seven thousand years later. Many generations were born, lived and died who never heard much (or anything) about the seed of the woman. But Paul noted (When the fulness of time was come.) Gal.4:4.

In spite of the length of time and the enormous number of years that continue to elapse, we are exhorted by the Apostle Paul, saying, "While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your not your hearts, as in the day of provocation." Hebrews 3:15. What can we deduce from that statement by the Apostle? We can reasonably infer that God speaks every day. Jesus suggested that we should ask for God’s daily bread. So then, God speaks continually, and he daily provides our bread.

Laying aside the notion that the scriptures are not meant to be taken merely as historical documents only to be utilized in Sunday Worship and Mid-week bible study, how can we apply the actual reality that God, through the Holy Spirit means for us to acquire? My personal practice is to place myself in the center of the action.

When I place myself in that center of reality, when I read; "I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that health thee." Exodus 15: 26.

This is God’s reality that holds true down through the corridor of time. Every time you read that, acknowledge it is the word of God being spoken to you right then and there. Here is another powerful word from the Lord. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43: 2. This means that every time you read these truths, be assured that God is speaking to you—(in the present tense) make it his personal message to you. Read these truths aloud to yourself; but assume that it is God speaking to you. Let his word be lifted off the page of scripture, and be placed in your innermost being. Do as the Psalmist said: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11. Does God offer a guarantee behind his word? Is there a firm foundation for our faith? Here is his guarantee! "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.:" Isaiah 55:10,11. Jesus, as the Noble Man who went into a far country to receives for himself a kingdom and to return, did return on the day of Pentecost (having received the kingdom) but he did not bring the kingdom with him, because the kingdom was already here, and he simply went into the heavens to receive the title of possession, to which he could say most assuredly: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18

Paul added his understanding of the kingdom of God and wrote: "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1^st Corinthians 4:20.

Thus, it should be understood that beyond the indument of power to preach the gospel, as is commonly believed and practiced across Christendom, the Holy Ghost baptism imparts to the receiver much, much more of the very essence of God’s divine attributes: in so much that it can be said of us—indeed like us—as Jesus IS, so are we in this world. No in the sweat by and by—BUT RIGHT NOW as we are. 1^st John 4:17. We can say boastfully if we wish, that in coming to indwell us from the day of Pentecost to this our day, Jesus Christ has brought to our very doorstep all that God is. The Holy Spirit who serves as God’s motivator and inspirational agent, and as the official agent who brings us into the very throne-room of the heavenly Father.

Yes, as the Comforter, Jesus came on the day of Pentecost to indwell us for as long as we remain in this terrestrial frame. But even so we have obtained a great promise that we currently possess. Listen to our present position in Christ! "For in him dwelleth ALL the fulness of the Godhead -bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:9,10.