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Acts 1:4, 5
by Don Costello Acts 1:4, 5 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. 1. "commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father" a. Jesus on more than a few times referred to the Holy Ghost as the "promise" of the Father. 1). John 14:15-17 "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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." 2). Acts 14:26 "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." b. The disciples were commanded not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were not to start their ministry until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus himself did not begin his ministry until after he was filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus during his ministry did not operate as God even though he was God, he ministered as a man filled with the Holy Ghost. 1). Acts 10:38 "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." 2). Luke 4:16-21 "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." c. Jesus emptied himself of his abilities as God, i.e., His omipotentence, omniscience, omnipresence. 1). But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: a). "But made himself of no reputation," b). Amplified Bible: "But stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity" c). madeof no reputation (2758 * keno) to empty, make empty. (Romans 4:14, "make void"; 1 Corinthians 1:17, "make of none effect"; 1 Corinthians 9:15, "make void"; 2 Corinthians 9:3, "be in vain".) d). When Jesus became a man He made Himself of none effect as far as the characteristics of Deity are concerned. d. The importance of being filled with the Holy Ghost is this: it is the only way that the Body of Christ can fulfill the Great Commission. My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children. My e-mail address is [email protected] I have a blog located at: www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |