The Promise of the Spirit
(An excerpt from Pastor Caram's upcoming book...)

As we have previously considered, the initiation of the New Covenant took place through the sacrificial death of Christ. Yet, that was only the inauguration of the covenant. Christ also arose to guarantee the provisions of this covenant, one of which was the promise of the Spirit. (The promise of the Spirit would not take place until after the ascension of Christ.)

Ezekiel 36:27 "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk…"

Although Jeremiah is the only prophet, that actually used the word "New Covenant," there are other Old Testament allusions to the same promised covenant. For example, Ezekiel chapter 36:26-28. Ezekiel's version concludes in the same manner as Jeremiah: "And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." (cf. Jer. 31:33.)

Ezekiel adds another dimension to this promised covenant when he speaks of the empowering of the Spirit – this is not in reference to our salvation. Although we receive God’s Spirit when we are saved, this is not the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise of the Spirit. (Some people confuse the two experiences.) We receive the Spirit of God at salvation. Paul makes that very clear in Romans 8:9; "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." When a man is born again, the Spirit of God is birthed within his soul. Yet, there is a further experience.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, the disciples believed on Him. He then breathed on them, and said: "Receive ye the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). The disciples had just experienced salvation! But, was this the promise of the Father? No – because forty days later; just before His ascension, He charges His disciples to go into Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father:

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. Vs. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

What took place in Acts chapter two, is not what happens when people accept the Lord as their Savior. The seekers were suddenly baptized with fire from heaven. They spoke in other tongues, they prophesied, they had visions, and they preached with power. The Lord had promised them power to fulfill their commission – to be witnesses unto the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

This was a totally different experience from that of John 20, where Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into them. Had John 20, been the extent of the "promised" Spirit – then I seriously doubt that there would have been a book of Acts! In the order of the feasts of Israel, the Passover and the feast of Pentecost were two totally different celebrations, and they speak of two totally different experiences.

Let us consider a few descriptions of this baptism and some of the signs that followed:

• Likened unto a thresher separating the chaff from the grain
• Likened unto a baptism of fire
• Accompanied by great conviction and repentance
• Likened unto a rest or a refreshing
• Evidenced by speaking in other tongues
• Evidenced by supernatural gifts, such as healing and prophecy etc.
• Evidenced by authority over demons
• Evidenced by a new power to witness
• Evidenced by a greater understanding and comprehension of the mysteries of God

When the apostle Paul came through Ephesus in Acts 19, he found certain believers there, to whom he asked this question: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? There response is quite interesting: "And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost" (Acts 19:2). Apparently, these believers had not been instructed in the ways of the Lord. They had never even been baptized into Christ, and they had never heard about the promised Holy Spirit.

After being baptized, the apostle Paul laid hands on them, and imparted the Holy Spirit. It was evidenced by speaking in tongues and prophecy. Does this sound like a salvation experience?

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Please allow me to reiterate a comment that the famed Evan Roberts made: "You don’t have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit to make it to heaven, but you will miss a lot along the way if you don’t!" The theme that we have been trying to promote throughout this study is "salvation to the uttermost." We can never know the fullness of that promise if we neglect a basic principle of the gospel such as the baptism in the Spirit.

We can only be perfect as we fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives. The "earthly" perfection that is demanded from us is relative to growth. We can be perfect as long as we appropriate the present truth. (Cf. Phil. 3:12-15.) Suppose that Paul had said, "I don’t need the baptism in the Holy Spirit." If Paul had said that, there would never have been the "apostle" Paul. Maybe a saved Paul, but that is all. If we reject the means necessary to fulfill our course, we shall stand ashamed when we see Christ. By the way, I have had Christians tell me just that: "I don’t need it!"

Listen to what the apostle said to the Hebrew believers: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment" (Heb 6:1-2). Paul lists the doctrine of baptisms as being fundamental. If we want to see this building (personal temple) come to completeness; Then we must appropriate the foundational doctrines. We cannot go on to perfection if we neglect some of the provisions that our Author and Provider has made available to us! Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

Personally, I had been saved for a few years before I was brought to grips with the need for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In my case, I had to pray for months before I received; and even my initial experience was not as dynamic as I had hoped. I spoke in tongues; I did not feel any lightning bolts, or anything terribly unusual. However, what I did experience over the next few months was quite dramatic. My whole life changed. I had a spiritual awakening that has affected me until this day.

It was as though I was ushered onto another path for my life. I found myself being led into a sort of training camp that I could not have conjured up. I have since come to realize that the baptism in the Spirit not only opens us up to the spiritual realm, but it sets us on a course whereby God deals with us upon many issues. John the Baptist likened the baptism to a thresher separating the wheat from the chaff (Mat. 3:11-12). When the Spirit came upon Christ, He was immediately driven into the wilderness to be tempted. The type is painfully obvious. The baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, is the means by which God purifies our temple. Salvation justifies us because of the Blood of Jesus, but then there is a nature to be reckoned with. We cannot know the full redemption plan unless we experience this baptism. Even the apostle Paul disappeared from the scene for about ten years after his conversion/baptism experience. Where was he? He was in his training camp, he was being taught the ways of the Spirit – he was in his private wilderness.

There are extraordinary features that are associated with the giving of the Spirit: There is a supernatural empowering, there are the nine spiritual gifts, mentioned in First Corinthians 12:8-10). Christians that do not embrace the baptism in the Spirit do not function in these beautiful gifts. The promised Spirit brings refreshing to our soul. The promised Spirit is called "the rest" in Isaiah 28:11-12. Praying in tongues brings relief to the soul – it touches the things for which we do not know how to "rationally" pray. Yet, in spite of all of the wonderful things associated with this experience, the reality of being led into the path that is necessary to perfect our faith is the most important of all.

In Second Corinthians 3:6-18, St. Paul contrasts the giving of the law (the Old Covenant) with the giving of the Spirit. Let’s consider a few verses:

2 Cor. 3:6-8 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new (covenant); not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Vs. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: Vs. 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? Vs. 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Actually, this sounds like the kind of teaching that might be needed by the Hebrew believers; but in truth, Paul was really addressing a segment within the Corinthian church that was being seduced by some Hebrew (pseudo) apostles. These "Hebrew" apostles were trying to bring the Gentiles under the law of Moses. (See 2 Cor. 10-12, and especially 11:22.)

What really was the point that Paul wanted to impress? Paul wanted to show the Corinthians that the law written upon stone was death. The little phrase: "The letter killeth," is in reference to the Old Covenant. This "letter" is also called the ministration of death, and it is called the ministration of condemnation. Why was it death? It was death because the purpose of the law was to expose sin. The law could show you your sin, it could condemn you, but it could not give you victory over the sin! There was no power (grace) in this covenant to triumph over sin! Therefore, At the giving of the law 3000 people died (Ex. 32:28).

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them (Eze. 36:27).

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious (2 Cor. 3:8)? The word "ministration" means assistant, or servant. The purpose of the Spirit is to help us or enable us. The apostle is trying to show (those being seduced) how much greater this New Covenant is. He hath made us able ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. The Spirit giveth life! At the giving of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, 3000 were made alive – 3000 were converted (Acts 2:41).

The ministration of the Spirit is also called the "ministry of righteousness." Whereas the law could only condemn you, those who walk in the Spirit can have victory over sin. This is affirmed in Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The New Covenant promise is that the law would be kept: "And ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Cf. Romans 8:4.)

The ministration of the Spirit is declared to be of a greater glory than that of Moses at Sinai. At the giving of the law there was a visible glory upon Moses. However, at the giving of the Spirit in Acts chapter two, there were 120 saints aglow with the Spirit. History records that the saints of the early church had an aura about their faces. Yet, I believe that the final church shall even possess a greater glory – a remaining glory!

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Volumes could be written on the promised Holy Spirit. However, our intention in presenting these few pages is to encourage those who are thirsty, and long for greater spiritual reality in their lives. The promise is to those who thirst, as Jesus said: "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) – John 7:37.

In Scripture, we find two ways that people generally received the Holy Spirit:

A. Waiting upon the Lord is often the best way. The disciples in the upper room were praying, fasting, and seeking for the fulfillment of the promise. There is something done in our spirit as we wait upon the Lord. Faith is developed, motives are often checked, and often times there are areas in our life that God wants us to bring into obedience! (God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

(Luke 11:13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

B. The laying on of hands by the ministry is another way people receive this gift. The Apostle Paul himself was baptized in the Holy Spirit by a disciple who laid his hands upon him (Acts 9:17). Later, Paul imparts this gift by the laying on of hands. "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:6).

There are other instances where there was revival, and God just poured out His Spirit upon them all: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word… For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46). We must not limit God to some formula. Some would say that we must be holy before we can receive the gift. The Corinthian Church disproves that. We have known other instances, where Christians happened into a service and were filled with the Spirit, in spite of their (previous) unbelief.

Speaking in tongues is most assuredly the sign that accompanies the baptism of the Holy Spirit! In Scripture, every place where men were filled with the Spirit they spoke in tongues! During the dark ages, the gift of the Holy Spirit had almost been pushed into extinction – although not entirely. However, during the early part of the twentieth century, there came a revival of the Holy Spirit. In the country of Wales, there was a tremendous Pentecostal revival – they spoke in tongues, there were miracles, and the gifts began to function again. The effect of that revival not only transformed Wales, but it had an affect upon the whole century.

Most ministers that teach against the baptism in the Holy Spirit – evidenced by tongues, have rejected the gift and have never been filled themselves. A few years ago, I was preaching in a church in South America. They had been taught that you can be filled with the Spirit without speaking in tongues – the church was dead. I spoke on receiving the Spirit, and the need to speak in tongues. When I gave an invitation to be filled, most of the people came down because they knew they were not filled with the Spirit.

It may be helpful if I made a distinction between the gift of tongues, and tongues as a personal witness and prayer language. When I was baptized in the Spirit I spoke in tongues. I still speak in tongues every day. I pray in tongues. I worship in tongues. In fact, our whole Church often worships the Lord in other tongues during the worship service, and often, we all pray in the Spirit together, and there is no interpretation! Oh, is not that out of order? Not at all – because our prayer is unto God, and our worship is unto God, and no interpretation is necessary (I Cor. 14:2).

The gift of tongues is different. It is a gift to edify the Body of Christ. I have been very privileged to see some that genuinely possessed this gift. Let me share one example: There was a convention, and one of the ministers that came down for prayer was an Indian. There was another minister there, who began to pray for him in a most embarrassing tongue. However, when the prayer ended, the Indian brother said; "You not only prayed for me in my language, but in my unique dialect. In the case where there is a message in tongues to the Church, then there needs to be an interpretation. That was one of the abuses of the gifts in Corinth; there was one tongue after another without any interpretation. Paul said; let it be checked at three, or until there is an interpretation before proceeding (1 Cor. 14:27-28).

The best way to be convinced in your own heart is to sincerely ask. Begin to set aside a time to seek for this gift, or better yet, seek the One who promises to baptize with His Spirit! Everyone that asketh shall surely receive! Do not be afraid that you may receive something that is evil. Jesus said, "…If he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent" (Luke 11:11)? God does not allow people to receive an evil spirit when they are seeking Him for His Holy Spirit!

As we have previously mentioned, thirst is the key to receiving the Spirit: "If any man thirst…" If we don’t have a spiritual thirst for the Living God, then the Lord is certainly not going to pour His Spirit upon us. (However, we can pray for a thirst.) The prophet Isaiah prophetically declared, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring" (Isa. 44:3).

These are wonderful truths, and yet our purpose in relating these things is to draw our attention to the New Covenant. These are all provisions of the New Covenant. The shed blood of Christ washes away our sin. The shed blood allows us to come through the door of salvation – but let us go on to know Christ as our "Baptizer." Let’s go on to know the empowering of the Spirit, that we might be His witnesses unto the ends of the earth. Amen!