6. Holy Spirit and Miraculous Gifts

HOLY SPIRIT AND MIRACULOUS GIFTS

Your presence is duly appreciated by us all. An area-wide meeting like this for the purpose of studying the subject of THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK should be a blessing to all here assembled, and to the various congregations from whence you have come.

We want tonight to prayerfully study the "Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit." There are two miraculous measures of the Spirit which had to do with the establishment of the church and of Christianity. While they served the divine purpose for them, and were done away, we are Christians tonight as a result of their work--as we shall see in our study.

One night we hope to study the 'Ordinary' gift of the Holy Spirit--the only measure of the Spirit for us today. The subject then will be: "The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit," which, as we shall see, is a non-miraculous measure of the Spirit given unto all true Christians at conversion.

Measures of the Spirit Given

1. Christ had the Holy Spirit without "measure," as stated in John 3:34.

2. The apostles of Christ, and the household of Cornelius, were "baptized" with the Holy Spirit, as stated in Acts 1, 2, 10, , 11.

3. Those on whom the apostles laid their hands received a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit, as is seen in Acts 8:18; Acts 19:6.

4. Then there is, as we have stated, the "ordinary" gift of the Spirit which bestowed no miraculous power, which is for all the children of God.

The Personality of the Spirit

I would like to remind us that the Holy Spirit is one of the Godhead. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9.) He is mentioned eight times in two verses (John 16:13-14) in the mas-culine gender. The Holy Spirit is a divine person. He is as invisible as God and Christ, or as air, electricity, gravity, the infinity of space, mind, or a thought--or even as is the human spirit in man--and other like things in the world of the unseen.

The Holy Spirit Is Intelligent (1) The Holy Spirit "knows." (1 Corinthians 2:11.) (2) The Holy Spirit can "strive" with man--is interested in man. (Genesis 6:1-5.) (3) The Holy Spirit could be "vexed." (Isaiah 63:10.) (4) The Holy Spirit could be "resisted." (Acts 7:51-53; Nehemiah 9:30.) (5) He could be "lied" against, or "lied" to. (Acts 5:1-14.) (6) He could be "blasphemed" or "spoken against." (Matthew 12:32-33; Mark 3:27-30; Luke 12:10.) (7) The Spirit could "guide." (John 16:13.) (8) He could "teach" and "instruct." (Nehemiah 9:20; John 14:26.)

(9) He could "speak" by men. (2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; Hebrews 3:7-11 with Psalms 95:7-11; Acts 28:25 with Isaiah 6:9; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Acts 20:23; 1 Timothy 4:1-3.)

(10) The Spirit could "witness" through men. (Hebrews 10:15-17 with Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 15:26; Acts 20:23; Romans 8:16.) (11) He could move men--inspired men-- to "speak." (2 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13.) (12) He "inspired" the scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.) (13) He "testified against" the wicked by the prophets. (Nehemiah 9:30.) (14) And the "words" of inspired men were the "Spirit's" words. (2 Samuel 23:2.)

Holy Spirit's Part in Creation The Holy Spirit had a part in the creation of this world, and of the universe. God created it by Christ. (Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:13-18.) But the Holy Spirit also had a part in it. (Genesis 1:1-2.) "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth." (Psalms 104:30.) "By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent." (Job 26:13.) "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." (Job 33:4; cf. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7.)

The Work of Creation Finished The Godhead performed all the miracles of creation in the first chapters of the Bible for our benefit now, as well as for the early peoples of the earth. He has not kept on creating the heavens and the earth, over and over, just to show his power. He has made no more people of the dust as he did Adam, nor of a rib, as he made Eve. Oh, yes: God has as much power as he ever had. It never was his purpose to keep on creating people as he did the first pair. There is no need for it. The vegetable kingdom also was miraculously created; but God does not keep on doing this work over and over. Instead of continued miracles of the sort, he gave us the seed. It would be absurd for the farm-er to go into the fields and pray for a miraculous harvest like the first, and ignore the seed. The man of faith plants the seed, while doubters and cranks may expect a miracu-lous harvest without seed. It seems that the Holy Spirit was God's organizer and law-giver in creation--that he gave laws by which created things are to be governed and perpetuated.

The Patriarchal Age Began In Miracle

All the miracles of creation were to originate and plan for the perpetual operation of things created. The Patriarchal Age was ushered in by all the miracles of creation. No other miracles were wrought of God except as needed, such as at Noah's flood. (Genesis 6.) God respected and honored his own laws of nature, and man prospered as he also honored them.

When man sinned and fell, it seems that God headed for Pentecost (of Acts 2), and the establishment of Chris-tianity. (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 49:10.) His purpose was made known in his promise to bless and save the world through Abraham and his seed, "which is Jesus Christ." (Genesis 12; Genesis 18; Genesis 26; Galatians 3.)

After about twenty-five hundred years, the Patriarchal Age ended with God still honoring his laws, and keeping the miraculous at a minimum.

The Jewish Age Came In By Miracles

Then the Jewish Age (or Mosaic Dispensation) was ushered in by all the stupendous miracles of Mount Sinai. (Exodus 20.) But instead of proposing to make man holy and righteous by miraculous power wrought directly upon man, God gave his great law--and again kept miracles to the minimum for more than a thousand years. When that re-ligion was completely revealed, and the Old Covenant finished or fully made known, God said no more directly to man, nor wrought any more miracles, for about four hun-dred years before the coming of Christ.

The Christian Age Came In By Power

Just as all things originated in miracles, so all the marvelous miracles in the early part of the New Testament ushered in Christianity--the greatest religion of all ages, and the final system of religion for man on earth. Like the former two, this dispensation also was created in miraculous power. The virgin birth of Christ, his life, and miracles of power were to establish Christianity for all time to come.

Again, God honored and respected his laws of nature, and kept miracles to a minimum. God has always purposed to rule over man by reason and revealed truth, by moral and persuasive power, rather than by miraculous power wrought upon man.

A New Covenant Promised

God had promised that in the establishment of Christianity, he would make a new covenant, and give us the perfect law of the gospel. (Jeremiah 31:31-34.) He had promised to set up the kingdom of Christ. (Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 2:1-3.) This would call for the greatest miracles of all time, and this power also was promised. (Joel 2:28-32.)

The Forerunner Sent To Prepare

John the Baptizer was to come and prepare the way for the acceptance of the Lord Jesus. (Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 3:1-3.) Although John was "filled with the Holy Ghost" (Luke 1:15), he "did no miracle." (John 10:41.) Being the last prophet of the Old Covenant, his main mission was to get men back to God, whom they had forsaken in the period between the Testaments.

Finally The Messenger Came

Finally-- Christ--the messenger of the New Covenant came. He wrought many great and mighty miracles for the purpose of establishing his claim to be the Son of God. (John 20:30-31.) He died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and God raised him from the dead the third day. (Romans 1:1-4.) He had the Spirit without "measure." (John 3:34.) He cast out devils "by the Spirit of God." (Matthew 12:28.) He spoke by the power of Holy Spirit, and "through the Holy Ghost" he gave "commandments" to his chosen apostles. (Acts 1:2.)

Would Go Away, And Send The Spirit Looking forward to his leaving, Christ had chosen the twelve men whom he named "Apostles," into whose hands he would leave the task of the great commission, and the affairs of his kingdom which was about to be established. (Luke 12:32.) They needed more supernatural power than any other group of men in the history of the world. The church was to be built upon the death of Christ for man's sins, his burial, and his resurrection the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:4; Matthew 16:13-19; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:11.)

Needed Revelation And Confirmation

What God had planned for four thousand years, and promised in the Old Testament, and what Christ had come to execute--the Holy Spirit was to come, reveal and con-firm in mighty power, which would shake and shape future history for all time to come. The great commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47) was given unto these ordinary men. They were to go and teach all nations, preach the gospel to every creature in all the world, and cause the people to believe and obey this gospel. This was, and is, the world's most colossal program.

"Power From On High" Promised

1. As his apostles, they were commanded, under the great commission, to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until endued with "power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49; Matthew 28:19-20.)

2. God, through John had promised them that they would "be baptized with the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 3:11.) The "fire" baptism of this verse was for Judas, who fell away and was lost. (John 17:12.)

3. Just before he ascended to heaven, Christ applied this promise of Holy Ghost "baptism" to his apostles. (Acts 1:1-5.)

4. He said, "Ye shall receive power, after that" (ASV: "when") "the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8.)

5. It was to be "not many days hence." (Acts 1:5.) This was about ten days before it was fulfilled on Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4.)

6. This miraculous power would make these apostles "able ministers of the new testament" (2 Corinthians 3:6)—enable them to give unto us the New Testament, with its glorious gospel of Christ.

7. The Spirit would come in baptismal "measure" to "guide" them into all truth. (John 16:7-13; Acts 1:1-8.)

8. He would bring to their memory (John 14:26) all things which Christ had taught them during three and one-half years of association under the limited commission. (Matthew 10.)

9. They would also be comforted by the teaching and revelation of the Spirit through them. (John 14:1-6; John 14:26; Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:18.)

10. Christ promised them that the Spirit would "teach" them "all things." (John 14:26.)

11. The Spirit would also "show" them "things to come," such as the foretelling of a coming apostasy. (John 16:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2.)

12. The Spirit would speak in, and through, the apostles. (Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 2:4.)

13. There was a language barrier in the way: they were to preach to "every creature;" but they knew only one language or tongue. They needed to use all languages. (Acts 2:1-11; Mark 16:14-18.)

14. They needed such miracle-working power as would enable them to "confirm" their preaching. This need was met. (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4.)

15. They needed to preach the gospel "with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven." (1 Peter 1:12; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Acts 2.)

16. They needed power to "remit" and "retain" sins, by binding the conditions of remission of sins. (John 20:20-23; Acts 2:38.)

17. The apostles were to "bind" and "loose" for God on earth as he would bind and loose in heaven. (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18.)

18. As witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, and of his life and miracles, as well as of his teaching, they needed supernatural power to enable them to infallibly testify. (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:5-8; Acts 2:32; Acts 10:39.)

19. It would take great power to bring in and establish the kingdom of Christ. This need was met. (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4.)

20. They needed power to write the New Testament Scriptures, and confirm them by signs and wonders. (John 20:30-31; 1 John 2:1; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; Ephesians 3:2-6.)

21. The apostles needed supernatural power to make them "ambassadors" for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21.)

22. They needed such power as would establish Christianity and secure the future of the church, so we can have a firm foundation on which to build to the end of time. (Ephesians 2:11-22; Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26.)

23. They needed to be able to do "greater works" than Christ did. (John 14:12; Hebrews 2:3-4; Acts 14:1-3.)

24. They needed great divine power with which to make their gospel preaching effective so as to "convict the world of sin." (John 16:7-13.)

Apostles Received This Power

Let us remember that Jesus promised that his kingdom would come with power --the power of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 9:1; Luke 12:32; Luke 22:29-30.) The promise of the Spirit was made to the apostles. (John 14, 15, 16.) He "showed himself alive," after his resurrection, and gave commandments "unto the apostles, whom he had chosen." (Acts 1:1-3.) Unto them he said, "John truly baptized with water; but ye"--ye apostles--"shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:5.) The last words of the chapter are that Matthias was "numbered with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:26.) In the next verses we read that "they"--the apostles--"were all filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:1-4.) The apostles were then qualified to reveal and confirm the gospel, to preach it "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." (1 Peter 1:12.)

This is called "the beginning." (Acts 11:15.) It was the beginning of the church or kingdom. (Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:18. It was the beginning of the great commission. (Matthew 28 Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; Acts 1.) The New Testament had just gone into force. (Hebrews 9:14-17.) The apostles had just received "the keys of the kingdom" (Matt. 16:1849), and were ready to make known the way of salvation through Christ. The multitude came together (Acts 2:6), and the apostles began to speak to every man "in his own tongue." (v. 8.) They could understand the message, for they said, "We do hear them speak in our tongues the won-derful works of God." (v. 11.)

Peter Stood Up With The Eleven

"Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words." (Acts 2:14.) He then began to preach the gospel, as commanded in the great commission. (Mark 16:15-16.) He had a great "multitude" (v. 6)--perhaps hundreds of thousands--for his audience.

The Spirit To Convict The World

We remember that Jesus had promised that when the Spirit should thus come, he would "teach" them all things, "guide" them "into all truth" (John 14:26; John 16:13), and that he would "reprove the world of sin," or "convict" the world of sin, as he (through the apostles) would preach the gospel. The Spirit came to the apostles--not upon the multitude--to do this. Jesus had said of the Spirit, "whom the world cannot receive." (John 14:17.)

What The Multitude Needed The multitude there assembled needed the gospel--needed to hear about Jesus. Peter's subject was "Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 2:22), "approved of God" by "miracles, wonders, and signs" done among them.

1. The Holy Spirit through the apostle Peter "reproved" or "convicted" them of the sin of having murdered the Son of God (v. 23), and declared the good news, however, that God had raised him from the dead. (v. 24.)

2. Paul said the gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." (Romans 1:16.) They believed the gospel. (Acts 2:36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.) They asked what to do, as they, by the Spirit, through the preaching of the inspired apostles, were convicted of their sins. (Acts 2:37.)

3. They received their faith by the preaching of the gospel--not by a direct operation of the Spirit upon them. (Acts 2:36-37; Romans 10:17; Acts 15:7.)

4. They were to be "begotten" by the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15), or word of truth (James 1:18), and not by a miracle wrought on them. They were to be "born again by the word of God." (1 Peter 1:22-23.)

Three Thousand Converted By The Spirit When many of the multitude believed the gospel which Peter had just preached, were convicted of sin thereby, and asked, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:22-37), Peter said: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.) "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (v. 41.) The Holy Spirit had converted them by the gospel which he preached by the apostles.

Word Was Confirmed By Signs And Miracles After his resurrection, Christ had promised his apostles that, if they would believe on him, signs would follow them to confirm the word. (Mark 16:14-20.) So we read in Acts 2:43 that "many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." And, perhaps two years later, we read, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people." (Acts 5:12.) "They brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed everyone." (Acts 5:15-16.) Christ had promised the apostles this very power. It was to con-firm, or prove, the word--their preaching. (Hebrews 2:1-4.)

God Worked With Them

Wherever the apostles went preaching the word, the Lord was indeed "working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." (Mark 16:20.) They were establishing Christianity in the earth for all time to come. God broke down one barrier after another to this end.

A Great Problem Solved But for several years the apostles had continued to preach only to the Jews--their own people. In giving the great commission, Jesus had said, "Teach all nations," and "preach the gospel to every creature" in "all the world." (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15.) But a great wall had been built up between Jews and Gentiles; and the apostles were stay-ing with the idea of the limited commission, previously given, before the cross. (Matthew 10.) This they continued to do for several years since Pentecost.

This was a great crisis in the .history of the newly-established church. God determined, to solve the problem, and get the gospel unto Gentiles also. The "middle wall" had been broken down in God's sight at the cross. (Ephesians 2:11-16.) The Lord's church was not to be a Jewish church, but is for all nations.

Cornelius A Test Case

There was a Gentile by the name of Cornelius, who was a devout and religious man in error, who needed to hear the gospel and be saved. (Acts 10:1-3; Acts 10:22; Acts 11:1-18.) God by an angel directed him to send for Peter, one of the in-spired apostles. (Acts 11:13-14.)

Knowing that Peter, who was at Joppa, was prejudiced against preaching to Gentiles, the Lord first of all con-vinced him--by a miracle--that he should go and preach to Cornelius. Aware that among the Jews this was thought a thing unlawful, Peter took six Jewish brethren with him, somewhat in self-defense, and to be witnesses of what might occur. (Acts 11:12-14.) Cornelius sent for Peter, and four days later he arrived. Cornelius had invited his kin and near friends. (Acts 10:24.) He introduced the preacher and said, "Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." (Acts 10:33.)

Holy Ghost Baptism Again As Peter "began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them" as on the apostles "at the beginning"--on Pentecost. (Acts 11:15.) This was another case (the only other recorded one) of the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit--a "baptism" of the Holy Ghost. It fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:44.) This astonished the six Jews who came with Peter, "because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." (Acts 10:45-46.) This established and confirmed the fact for all time to come that God "is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34-35.) It proved to all men for all future history that "God hath put no difference between us"--Jews--"and them"--Gentiles. (Acts 15:7-9.) This was the purpose of Holy Ghost baptism and the miraculous "tongues" on this occasion.

Holy Ghost baptism (in Acts 10) was God's way of confirming the truth that the gospel is for Gentiles, as well as for Jews. Peter later said, "God . . . bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:8-9.)

Holy Ghost Baptism Ceased This was the last recorded case of Holy Spirit baptism in the New Testament. It had to do with revealing and confirming New Testament truth. It finished fulfilling a part of the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28-30) where "all flesh" included Gentiles.

There was--and is--no more a need for another case of Holy Ghost baptism. This was also another instance of God's bearing witness to the apostles that their message is true. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord " in the great commission, Mark 16:15-16 --"and was con-firmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Hebrews 2:3-4.)

Was Paul Baptized With The Spirit?

While the record does not say that the apostle Paul was also baptized with the Holy Spirit, it does seem that he was. He certainly needed all the miraculous powers received by the other apostles. (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:5-8.) Later Paul said, "For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles." (2 Corinthians 11:5.) (I also "suppose" he was not!) Again he said: "For in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles." (2 Corinthians 12:11.) Paul was inspired (1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 14:37) like the other apostles. He said of his work, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." (2 Corinthians 12:12.) The "signs" of an apostle are men-tioned in Mark 16:14-20. Not one of these alone, but all of them, together, are "signs of an apostle." The church at Ephesus "tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and bast found them liars." (Revelation 2:2.) Hence there was a standard by which they could be tested or "tried."' "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be trans-formed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15.) Here is the certain doom of all men who claim to be in the class with the apostles!

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" When Paul wrote the Ephesians (A.D. 64) he said, "There is . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5.) This "one baptism" is the baptism of the great commission. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16.) There are only two cases which are "called" Holy Ghost baptism in the entire New Testament. Even if Paul were baptized with the Holy Spir-it, let it be remembered he was one of the apostles, wrote nearly half the books of the New Testament, and "turned the world upside down." (Acts 17:6.)

There Are "Measures" Of The Spirit

"For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34.) It is implied in this statement that the Spirit is given to some "by measure," or sparingly; but not so unto Christ. The context shows this refers to Christ.

The baptism of the Spirit at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10) is identified by Peter as "the like gift" of the Spirit to the gift received by the apostles on Pentecost. (Acts 11:17; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 1:5.) There is no reason to say it was the "like" gift unless there were other gifts "unlike" it. If all stars were exactly identical, one would not use superfluous words to say a certain star was a "like" star to another.

The apostles on Pentecost were "all filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:4.) Why say they were "filled" unless one could have, or may have had, less?

The record says Stephen was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 6:5.) Do all men have the same amount of faith? Stephen was "full of faith." Of course, there are degrees of faith. "Your faith groweth exceedingly." (2 Thessalonians 1:3.) Jesus said, "O ye of little faith." (Matthew 6:30.) Why not believe there are differing amounts of the Spirit to be possessed, when the record says "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," (Acts 6:5)? This may refer to a non-miraculous measure of the Spirit in Stephen's case at that time, for this was before the apostles laid hands on him. (v. 6.)

A Baptismal Measure The word "baptism" refers to an act which requires "much water." (John 3:23.) Jesus refers to his suffering and death as a "baptism" of suffering. (Matthew 20:20-23.) (Surely no Christian thinks our Lord meant only a little 'sprinkling' of suffering awaited him!) Similarly, when Jesus said unto his apostles, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), the very word "baptized" meant an overwhelming measure of the reception of the Spirit. He did not mean a little sprinkling of the Spirit.

Classic Greek In classical Greek literature, "BAPTIZO" (the Greek word for baptize) is used to describe one "baptized" in debt. This certainly refers to an overwhelming amount one might owe. We also read of one "baptized" (or drowned) with questions.

It is reckless to go to the New Testament and call every "gift" of the Spirit a "baptism" of the Spirit, and then con-clude that we either have all the inspired apostles had, or else we do not have the Spirit at all. If all who receive the Spirit in any sense receive the same amount, or meas-ure, of the Spirit, why did not the Bible writers uniformly say "the gift of the Holy Spirit"? Sometimes they said, "baptized with the Holy Ghost," "the gift of the Holy Ghost," and the "like gift" of the Spirit. Hence there were different "measures" (John 3:34) of the Spirit given in the New Testament.

Laying-On-Of -Hands Measure

Having spent all the time available in studying about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, let us now consider those cases where the Holy Spirit was bestowed by the laying on of the apostles' hands.

Let us remember that only Christ was the administrator of Holy Ghost baptism. (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33.) But there was a "measure" of the Spirit which the apostles could ad-minister, and it also was a miraculous measure. But it is never called in the Bible the "baptism" of the Spirit.

The Case of the Samaritans The "Samaritans" were expressly excluded from the limited commission. (Matthew 10:5-7.) Of course, the great commission includes them. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16.)

The evangelist Philip was one of the seven chosen to serve tables in the Jerusalem church. (Acts 6:1-5.) On him the apostles had laid their hands. (v. 6.) He "went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." (Acts 8:5.) Philip also confirmed his preaching by working miracles among them. (vs. 6-8.)

"But there was a certain man, called Simon, which be-foretime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries." (Acts 8:9-11.)

Simon was a deceiver, and had never performed a genuine miracle of any sort. He, like thousands today, was a deceiver of the people. Simon "bewitched" the people "with sorceries." He made high-sounding claims, and they all "gave heed" to him, and said, "This man is the great power of God" while in fact he was a child of the devil instead.

Such deceivers will no doubt curse the world as long as it stands. Some people prefer a high-sounding deception, rather than the plain truth. They will go off after false doctrines, grabbing at straws.

Simon, and all modern pretended "healers"--fake healers--remind us of Solomon's warning against all such: "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain." (Proverbs 25:14.)

But The Samaritans Were Converted But be it said to the credit of the Samaritans, they could see the difference between the real "miracles" Philip did, and the pretentious of Simon. The Devil is a copy-cat! As sure as there is a genuine dollar, there is also counterfeit money. But we should know the difference! There are also counterfeit "miracles." Simon was a "counterfeiter."

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12.) They were then saved. (Mark 16:16.)

However, you should note that the Samaritans were not converted by any sort of miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. Four verses later we read of the Holy Spirit that "as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (v. 16.)

It follows therefore that one can become a believer with-out the Spirit "falling" upon him in any miraculous way. They had also been baptized, "both men and women." (v. 12.) So the sinner can become fit for baptism without the Spirit falling upon him to make him fit.

Spirit By His Word

What had converted these people? what had made them believers? what gave them faith? what brought about their repentance, which is implied in the fact that they wanted to obey the Lord in baptism? It was the preaching of Phil-ip. "It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21.) "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17.)

Sinners are not converted by a miracle. The miracles of healing, and such like, were miracles wrought on the sick (and others) to confirm the word. A miracle wrought on the body would not necessarily have anything to do with the salvation of one's soul. The Scriptures plainly say that the Spirit "as yet . . . was fallen upon none of them." (Acts 8:16), although they had been baptized. (v. 12.) Sinners are converted by the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), not by the Spirit falling on them. The Spirit converts by his word, not by falling on the sinner. "The law of the Lord is perfect, con-verting the soul." (Psalms 19:7.) The gospel, preached "by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven" (1 Peter 1:12) on Pente-cost, is now "the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16.)

But Simon also was converted! Deceivers, and the de-ceived, alike, can be converted by the true gospel. The gos-pel is for sinners--all of them. "Then Simon himself be-lieved also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." (Acts 8:13.) He was then saved (Mark 16:16), just as the Samaritans who had done the same thing. (Acts 8:12.)

Spirit By Laying On Of Apostles Hands

Although Philip worked miracles among the Samaritans, and preached the gospel to them, causing them to believe and be baptized (Acts 8:5-13), he could not lay hands on them and give them the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. Only the apostles could do that.

By Apostles

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John"--two apostles--"who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost"--the miraculous measure--"For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they"--the apostles, Peter and John--"their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw"--it was a visible miracle, one that could be seen "that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." (Acts 8:14-23.)

Apostles' Hands

Note that "through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given." (v. 18.) It was so miraculous that Simon "saw" this. He could see that it was done, and "how" it was done--that it was through the "laying on of the apostles' hands." After the apostles had laid their hands on Philip (Acts 6:5-6), he could work miracles; but he could not himself pass this power on to anyone else by the laying on of his hands--for only an apostle could do this. It is obvious, then, that when all the apostles died, and all died on whom they had laid hands, this miraculous "measure" or "gift" of the Spirit ceased. But by the close of the first century they had the complete New Testament written and confirmed by miracles, and this "laying-on-of-hands" measure ceased.

The Twelve At Ephesus

Paul baptized about twelve disciples at Ephesus, then the record says, "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.) Here are two miracu-lous gifts of the Spirit bestowed by the laying on of the apostle Paul's hands: (1) "They spake with tongues," and (2) "prophesied."

These are two of the nine "gifts of the Spirit" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. We have just seen that such gifts were bestowed by the "laying on of the apostles' hands." (Acts 8:18; Acts 19:6.)

Nine Miraculous Gifts Of The Spirit By Laying On Of Apostles' Hands

We have showed that the apostles were miraculously endowed with spiritual gifts by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But they were only twelve in number, and could not be in thousands of places all over the world at the same time, and there was miraculous work needing to be done for which they themselves would not have the time and opportunity necessary to do all that was needed. Hence, the apostles had power to lay hands on others and give them some spiritual gifts. (Acts 8:13; Acts 19:6; Romans 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:5-6; Acts 6:6-8.) There were nine of these gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.) They were: (1) "For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; (2) to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (3) to another faith (miraculous) by the same Spirit; (4) to another the gifts of heal-ing by the same Spirit; (5) to another the working of mir-acles; (6) to another prophecy; (7) to another discerning of spirits; (8) to another divers kinds of tongues; (9) to another the interpretation of tongues." Let us consider the impor-tance of these gifts at that time, and before any of the New Testament was written or committed to record.

1. WORD OF WISDOM.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. After the infant church grew and was greatly enlarged, they needed more and more men who could speak words of wisdom in the church, and help to solve the problems that would arise.

2. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. There was also a great need for men who could speak the truth, and present gospel facts accurately, as revealed by the apostles, until the New Testament could be written.

3. MIRACULOUS FAITH.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. So much of this faith as a grain of mustard seed would enable one to move mountains. (1 Corinthians 13:2.) This was not the common faith which comes by hearing the word. (Romans 10:17; Titus 1:4.) The Corinthians already had gospel faith, and this miraculous faith was not for all, but just as is stated: "To another faith." (1 Corinthians 12:9.) No one of them had all nine of these gifts. Miraculous faith has now served the divine purpose for it and ceased, and we have the faith of the gospel. (Php 1:27; Jude 1:3; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5-6.)

4. GIFTS OF HEALING.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. They had some in the church who could miraculously heal the sick. Later, we learn that some elders were thus endowed. (James 5:14-15.) This was miraculous healing, and not such healing as now takes place in answer to prayer where the time element must be considered, as God, by means, heals, when death might have come without our prayers. Let us remember that Jesus says the sick need a physician. (Luke 5:31.) And in the days of these very gifts, Luke was a physician, even "the beloved physician." (Colossians 4:14.) Paul prescribed a physical remedy for Timothy when he was sick, and the water at Ephesus was not pure. (1 Timothy 5:23.) Even the great apostle Paul who was not lacking in any gift, left Trophimus at Miletum sick. (2 Timothy 4:20.) Miraculous healing would take place only when 'the word would thereby be confirmed. (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4.) One of my friends in debate with me boasted that he belonged to a healing church. I informed him that he only belonged to a pretending church, whereas the apostles belonged to a dead-raising church. They were told to: "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, RAISE THE DEAD, cast out devils." (Matthew 10:8.) And they did raise the dead, even after the church was established. (Acts 9; Acts 20.) Men have no such power as this today, for all miraculous gifts of the Spirit have passed away, having accomplished God's purpose for them. Of course, we still have false teachers today who remind us of Proverbs 25:14 which says, "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain." We still have those like Simon the sorcerer, who "used sorcery, and be-witched the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one; to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries." (Acts 8:9-11.) We have such deceivers today, and some of them make for-tunes off the poor and diseased of earth by means of their TV programs. Not one of them could miraculously and instantly heal a briar-scratch on the most faithful member they have. The apostles could raise the dead as easily as they could heal the sick. (Matthew 10:8; Acts 5:15-16.) The apostles had no failures. They "healed everyone."

5. WORKING OF MIRACLES.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Christ could still the raging storm with his word, walk upon the waters, turn water into wine, strike the barren fig tree with death by his marvelous power, and raise Lazarus, etc. (John 11.) His apostles could do the works he did. (John 14:12; Mark 16:14-20.) They were called "the signs of an apostle." (2 Corinthians 12:12.) Modern apostles are called "liars" and "false apost-les." (Revelation 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.) The apostles could lay hands on others and give them miraculous power. (Acts 19:6.) But when they died and all died that they had laid hands on, such gifts ceased. But by that time, the New Tes-tament was written, or revealed and confirmed by mir-acles and signs, and such were no longer needed, but were like ladders and scaffolding used in the building of a house--laid aside when the building was fully erected and finished. When the church was fully established, and all truth revealed and committed to record about the close of the first century, A. D., then the miraculous passed away. But during the writing of the New Testament, such helps and proofs of the truth were needed.

6. TO ANOTHER PROPHECY.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. The apostle could lay hands on disciples and enable them to prophesy. (Acts 19:6.) New Testament prophets were inspired, along with the apostles. (Ephesians 3:2-6; Ephesians 4:8; Ephesians 4:11-16.) Mark, Luke, Stephen, and Phillip were, no doubt, among the New Testament prophets. But the time was to come when the perfect New Testament would come into existence and prophets would fail from the church, as no longer needed. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13.)

7. DISCERNING OF SPIRITS.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Acts 5:1-14 gives an example of how Peter could discern that Ananias and Sapphira were lying. In those days they could not try lying teachers by the New Testament, for it was not at first written, and so they needed those who could discern spirits, or teachers claiming inspiration. Now, we are to try them by the written word. (1 John 4:1-6; Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:5-17.)

8. DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. When, Christ commissioned his apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, they could not, without divine help, carry out the commission received. The nations and peoples of the world did not all speak the same language. So Christ promised them that they would "speak with new tongues." (Mark 16:15-20.) The Lord did not want to wait forty or fifty years after Pentecost till the New Testament could be written, and have it translated into all languages before getting the gospel started to all nations in their own languages. The barrier in the way was over-come by the baptism of the Holy Spirit enabling the apostles to speak in other tongues or languages. (Acts 2:1-11.) Then the apostles could lay hands on others and enable them to speak with tongues. (Acts 19:6; Acts 8:18.) This would enable them to teach foreigners who might come into their assemblies. (1 Corinthians 14.) And if a foreign gospel teacher came into an assembly, they could use him, for they had interpreters.

9. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Not only would the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues be of great service in the congregation, as we have suggested, but such gifts would prove to all unbelieving men and sinners that God was back of the truth being taught. (1 Corinthians 14:21-25.) Furthermore, if a brother who was a foreigner came into an assembly and they knew not his language, and if there was no interpreter he had to hold his peace, and speak to himself and to God only--he was not to be permitted to address the audience. (1 Corinthians 14:26-28.) And this would be equally true of one having the gift of tongues. Now, all religious teachers alike in going to some foreign country of another language have to study the language, or use a natural interpreter. I preached to the Hebrews in Jerusalem, but Brother Ralph Henley had to interpret for me, for he knew their language. No one can do anything now but speak his own known language or languages. Those who claim to speak in other tongues today by the power of God, do nothing but jabber. I heard one of them saying "Glory, glory, glory," and finally he started muttering "Glo, glo, glo, glo." Those deceived by him said, "Now he is talking in tongues." But he was not, he was only trying to say "glory" without saying it, and was deceiving himself and "the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18.)

Brother Joe S. Warlick published in his paper, the Gospel Guide, an instance of such deception. One of such preachers arose and claimed to speak in a tongue, and had another to interpret. Then a gospel preacher arose and started quoting John 3:5 in the Bulgarian language, and asked them to interpret for him. They gave some strange and wild ideas about what he said. Then he rebuked them sharply for their trickery and told them he had quoted from the Bulgarian translation of the Bible, John 3:5.

"Spiritual Gifts" Have Ceased

There are no living apostles to lay hands on men and give them "s piritual gifts." Paul said such gifts would "fail . . . cease . . . vanish away . . . be done away--when that which is perfect is come." (1 Corinthians 13:8-13.) We have the perfect law of liberty. (James 1:21-25.) The New Testament, which was given a book at a time, was finally completed, or perfected, or became a perfect revelation, and "then" that which was "in part" was "done away." By that time the Spirit had guided inspired men "into all truth"--the complete New Testament truth--all truth the world will ever need--as Jesus promised would take place by the time the last apostle died. (John 16:13.)

These Three--Abide

After saying spiritual gifts would be done away when revelation was complete, the apostle said, faith, hope and charity, or love, would "abide." (1 Corinthians 13:8-13.) Neither one of the three is miraculous, but they are enough to save the souls of men. He did not say miracles abide.

Let Us Remember The work of revealing and confirming Christianity has been finished for nearly nineteen hundred years, and the ladders and scaffolding needed in its revelation and confirmation are removed--no longer needed. All things originated in miracle, and are carried on by divine law. The first man originated in miracle, but God is not making men that way today. Christ was born of a virgin, rose from the dead, baptized the apostles in the Holy Spirit, but he is not doing these things over and over today.

Great Need For It In the early church they had no part of the written New Testament for several years after the church was established on Pentecost day. (Acts 2.) They not only had no written copies of the new covenant, but also had no record of miracles, which was needed to confirm the oral teaching and preaching of the gospel.

They also needed more and more teachers; hence by the laying on of the apostles' hands some would be able to "prophesy" or teach. (1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 19:6.) These prophets were also inspired. (Ephesians 3:2-6.) This was needed in the infant church to safeguard the correctness of doctrine. Also a great effort was made to train uninspired teachers (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 2:2) in anticipation of the time when these miraculous gifts would cease.

To Establish the Cause

Paul wrote to the Romans, "I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established." (Romans 1:11.) This "spiritual gift" was not something which the apostle could send in his Roman epis-tle. He would have to "see" them, for (as we have seen) these spiritual gifts were bestowed by the "laying on of the apostles' hands." (Acts 8:18; Acts 19:6.)

Paul Imparted Some Gift To Timothy To Timothy Paul said, "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6.) The eldership also laid hands on Timothy, probably to formally set him apart to mission work: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with"--not "by"--"the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (1 Timothy 4:14.) But the "gift of God" was in Timothy "by" the laying on of Paul's hands--an apostle's hands!

Formal "Laying-on-of -Hands"

Hands of certain brethren were laid on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-4) to set them apart to their first missionary journey. But this was not to give them the Holy Spirit, for both Paul (2 Corinthians 11:5; 2 Corinthians 12:11) and Barnabas (Acts 11:24) were already "full" of the Holy Spirit. This laying-on-of-hands was a method of setting them apart to their work. (Acts 13:2.) Men like Philip could not bestow the gift of the Spirit by laying on of hands. (Acts 8:5-18.) Apostles alone could do that.

Miracles Were To Cease

Paul wrote, "Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge; it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10.) Of the nine "gifts" of the Spirit listed in the previous chapter (12:4-11), some are mentioned here as examples of spiritual gifts; and they were to "fail," "cease," "vanish away," and "be done away"--all "when that which is perfect is come," when the "perfect" (or complete) revelation is culminated in the written New Testament or gospel of Christ. Remember that it required nearly fifty years to get all the New Testament in writing, for it was given in installments, as it were.

But--"that which is perfect"--the finished revelation came into existence by the close of the first century. "Then"--not two thousand years later --but "then that which is in part"--the segments or portions of the whole (or complete) revelation--"then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:10.)

This occurred about the same time the other scriptures have logically pointed us to--when the apostles, and all they had laid hands on, died. From either point of view, miracles ceased after the days of the apostles.

Purpose Of Such Gifts Fulfilled

Paul says such gifts were, "for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of the ministry, unto the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:12-15.)

Last Till

"The unity of the faith" (v. 13) is the complete revelation of the faith for which we are to "earnestly contend." (Jude 1:3; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5.) It is the "faith of the gospel." (Php 1:27.) The miraculously-endowed teachers and "gifts" were to last "till"--yes, "till" the "part" of the faith not then revealed would be given and united with the "part" al-ready written. These gifts were to last only "till" that time. (v. 13.)

Till Completed New Testament

Paul further says these gifts were to last "till we all come in the unity . . . of the knowledge of the Son of God." (v. 13.) This (like the other) refers to the time all "knowledge" which would ever be given from the Son of God would be revealed. This was when the New Testament was finished.

He also says these things were to continue "till we all come . . . unto a perfect man." (v. 13.) The church then was in its infancy, and was called "one new man." (Ephesians 2:14-16.) When the New Testament was all revealed and confirmed, the church had matured, or become a "perfect" (full-grown) man.

Time Fulfilled

Remember, by the time the last apostle died, man had received all truth--a complete or "perfect" revelation. The Spirit guided the apostles "into all truth." (John 16:13.) As revelation increased, miracles decreased. When all the apostles died, and all died on whom they had laid their hands, these gifts naturally ceased. But we lost nothing: the message which was first in the inspired man, is now in the inspired Book--the written New Testament. The miracles which they witnessed are written that we might believe. (John 20:30-31.)

Remember that each of the Bible dispensations--the Patriarchal Age, the Jewish Age, and the Christian Age--began in great miracles--and, that God has always purposed to keep the miraculous at a minimum, and to respect his own laws, natural and spiritual, so we will honor them.

Please remember that everything began in miracle, but is perpetuated by the non-miraculous. The first crops were not from seed; the first oak was never an acorn; the first man and woman were never babies. But God did not keep on making people of the dust of the ground, as he did Adam. He did not keep on miraculously creating vegetables, as he did the first. If God were to begin now to inspire men, as he did the apostles, the Bible would soon be dis-carded. Man would rather be inspired than to study; but study is best for man. Sinners would rather be converted miraculously, than to learn and obey the truth. Man would rather pray and get well instantly, than to discipline him-self and obey the laws of nature, seeking to discover remedies, and let God's will be done.

Ladders And Scaffolding Not Needed The "house" of God has been built. (1 Peter 2:5.) On the divine side, it has been finished. We have all divine truth religious truth--which we shall ever need in this world. When a building is finished, we remove the ladders and scaffolding. Who would want Christ to come back and be born of a virgin again, just because he once did it? Who would want him to be crucified again, and be put to an open shame a second time? Who would contend for new apostles now? Who wants to renew the miracles of the New Testament period, which had to do with the establish-ment of Christianity, and have served their purpose, and passed away, as God said they would? Who would want God to continue in the future to do all he has ever done?

Christianity in all its grandeur and beauty remains. The gospel plan of salvation remains. The New Testament church remains. The worship remains. Prayer remains. God and Christ are the same. Heaven remains. Providence re-mains. God still answers prayer, and cares for us. But he does not raise the dead today, nor do any other miracles today.

Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 2, 10) has served its purpose, and has ceased. The miraculous measure of the Spirit, imparted by the laying on of the apostles' hands, -has served its purpose, and has ceased. But the ordinary "gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38) remains, and will be our study at another night. Suffice it now to say that this measure of the Spirit is for all who will "repent, and be baptized" in Jesus' name "for the remission of sins," for Peter promised: "and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question:What is meant by the phrase, "The Spirit does not operate separate and apart from the word of God" and "only through the word of God upon the sinner, or upon the children of God?"

Answer:It doesn't seem to me that the statement needs any further explanation. It is explained in the statement. A farmer produces his crop through seed, not separate and apart from seed. If a farmer produces his crop through seed, he does not produce the crop separate and apart from seed, by detouring around seed. That's as simple as can be, it seems to me. And yet the Bible says, "The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11.) And it says, "The sower soweth the word." (Mark 4:14.) "If anyone heareth the word of the kingdom." (Matthew 13:19.) "Receive with meekness the en-grafted"--the ASV says 'implanted'--"word which is able to save your soul." (James 1:21.) Now, if the word is able to do it like seed is able to produce a crop, then we can't pro-duce a crop without seed. Now if you think you can, you just get out here and try it sometime. Some of you city folks try to produce a wheat crop without using wheat seed. You will be showing disregard for God's law. When God made the first vegetable creation, it wasn't produced from seed. But it bore seed. And then, those seed are necessary for reproduction. A man who wants to produce an oak tree and plants an acorn, has a thousand-fold more faith in God, than the fellow who will get out here and pray for God to give the tree separate and apart from an acorn.

Every idea which God Almighty reveals for the human race is in the seed, the word of God. He does not want us to believe anything except what he has said to us, and taught us. (Romans 10:17.) And to preach that word is to sow that seed. If in the last hundred years, every preacher had preached nothing but the word of God, we would have no religious product except Christians. There wouldn't be a denomination on earth. You can't find denominations and factions, in the word of God approved. They are not a product of the seed. They are a product of human creeds, and human wisdom, and man's ideas, and man's imaginary revelation and human books of guidance and the like.

Question:Can God or Christ or the Holy Spirit help a Christian any other way than through the word?

Answer:Yes, but he doesn't work any miracle upon us in doing it. It's not miraculous. There is no miraculous rev-elation through any Christian and there is no miraculous something done to us. It's all done through the word of God, and through worship and service to God. Christian growth and development come through the word. "Desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2.) It is not by something else that is imaginary and yet miraculous and directly given. Every effort made to try to defend some other sort of revelation other than through God's word is just some sort of atheism and infidelity. It is just advertising unbelief in the all-sufficiency of the word of God as a revelation from God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17.)

Question:When the Christian prays for wisdom, James 1:5, how does the Godhead help in supplying this wisdom?

Answer:In the first place, James 1:5 says, "If any of you. LACK WISDOM." That's not knowledge, but wisdom. Wisdom is the skill and ability to properly use the tools of knowledge. Information is the tools, and we need to know how to use the tools. Just like a surgeon needs to know how and when to operate. That would be skill and wisdom and is given of God through experience and observation. Elders of the church need to WISELY govern and guide the church. First of all, people would have to have a great deal of wisdom before they should be chosen for service. We read in Acts 6, "Look ye out seven men full of the Holy Ghost and WISDOM." (v. 1-7.) They could have already had wisdom without the apostles' hands being laid upon them, because wisdom comes through observation and experience and wisely considering all the facts and trying to exercise and use mature, well-balanced judgment.

Yes, God helps us, but there is no miracle wrought on us. If so, a man who is silly and ridiculous in judgment and has no wisdom, would have to do nothing but just pray for wisdom and then he would be suddenly a great wise man. Why it is not so. That is not the way it's done. THERE IS NO MIRACLE CONNECTED WITH IT. (James 1:5-7.) What God does for us in living the Christian life involves no miracles on us. It's not a miraculous operation upon us.

Providence is not a present miracle. God's present operations are not upon man in a miraculous way.

Question:Do you think Romans 8 implies the Holy Spirit helps in providence? (Romans 8:26-28.) Does God provide only through the word?

Answer:The Holy Spirit helps, but how does he help? Does he help by working for us in some miraculous way? The passage says that he helps our infirmities by making intercession for us to God. Notice, he is interceding to God up in heaven. "Maketh intercession" to God. (Romans 8:25; Romans 8:27.) And so up in heaven he is working with God for us. And still again, I say I don't see how in the world any man can get the idea here the Spirit is operating ON US in some miraculous way, like he inspired the apostles. (1 Corinthians 2:13.)

Question:Should we pray to God to give a preacher a "ready recollection?" Is this providential, miraculous, or what?

Answer:That's all borrowed from the Apostles in John 14, where Jesus promised them that the Spirit would inspire them to reveal Christianity, to reveal the Gospel. He said, "He shall bring to your remembrance all things whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26.) Jesus did not want them to go out and preach without knowing exactly what he had taught, without any perversion whatsoever. He would not let them preach until they had received that power. In Luke 24:48, he said, "Ye are witnesses of these things." And then in v. 49, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high." It is error for a man to claim that same power tonight, when he is not even an apostle, not in the same class they were, when the world is not in the same condition. (Acts 1:8.) They had no New Testament at that time, not a line of it. And I say again, it is a pity for people to reason in circles and ignore the facts that make the difference.

Question:When did Paul receive the power to convey the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands?

Answer:The Bible doesn't tell us exactly when he received it. The gift of the Holy Spirit was received when he was baptized. Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized, every-one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.) One might have the ordinary gift of the Holy Spirit without having miraculous power. Take for instance, the Ephesians, in chapter one, verse 13: "After ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." They had the Holy Spirit. (1:13.) Then in 4:30, "Grieve not the Spirit of God whereby ye have been sealed until the day of redemption." So they had been sealed by the Holy Spirit. But in the next chapter (5:18-19) he said, "Be filled with the Spirit." That does not mean they did not have the Spirit at all. And so one could have the ordinary gift of the Holy Spirit, and be sealed by it, and still not have the Spirit in another sense.

Verse 18 is not miraculous power considered. "Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess." The heathen in their Bacchanalian feasts would drink wine, strong drink, and get intoxicated and then dance in a drunken fashion round about their idols. Paul said, "Don't get your excitement and religious enthusiasm from strong drink like that, but you be "FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT." In other words, drink in great draughts of the Holy Spirit. But that is the subject for tomorrow night, and I will further discuss those things at the appropriate time then. The Spirit by his word in us gets us excited about our religion.

Question:How can we be certain that the Holy Spirit given to the Samaritans by Peter and John was not the one promised in Acts 2:38. The one baptized is promised the Holy Spirit, but not told how soon it would come after baptism.

Answer:Of the laying on of hands, it does tell how soon. "When Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they SPAKE WITH TONGUES AND PROPHESIED." (Acts 19:6.) And in Acts 2:38, that belongs to tomorrow night, but I'll answer it now. There is no statement indicating they re-ceived miraculous power in Acts 2:38. It just says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." And there is not a word about their receiving any miraculous power. These are the people who obeyed the gospel and became Christians after the apostles had preached the gospel on that occasion. Not a word about their performing any miracles. But Acts 2:43, that same chapter, says, "Many signs and wonders were done by the apostles," and all those who had repented and been baptized and received remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost? No. A thousand times no--as if they were all in the same class. Some people scramble religion like vegetable soup. The first year or so, the apostles only wrought miracles. (Acts 5:12.)

Question:How many men had miraculous power by the laying on of hands?

Answer:I don't know, but there is no proof that all Christians had apostles' hands laid on them. (Romans 1:11.) Yet all Christians had the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:642.)

Question:Explain apostle and disciple.

Answer:The word disciple means "learner" and the word apostle means "one sent." The apostles were disciples, but not all disciples were apostles. The sheriff is a citizen, but not all citizens are sheriffs.

Question:You quoted a passage naming nine miraculous, special gifts. One of them was "miracles." (1 Corinthians 12:8-11.) Some one said this word could have been interpreted, "in-working of miracles." That is, that those not apostles could impart miraculous gifts by laying on of hands, as the apostles did. Please explain. If this were true, there could be a continuation of miracles.

Answer:Can you do this? Who can? Only Mormons claim to do this. Not a word of proof for it in the New Testament! The interpretation is fantastic. Acts 8:18 says, "Through the laying on of the APOSTLES' hands the Holy Ghost was given." Just any one could not do this. (Romans 1:11.)

Question:Last night you stated that the Holy Spirit has never appeared in the form of angels because angels are created beings. But he, the Holy Spirit, is eternal. The Father and Son are eternal beings. Does either or both of these appear in the form of an angel at any time. What about Genesis 18? Exodus 3?

Answer:I have already explained Genesis 18, and Hebrews 13:1, last night. The Holy Spirit and Angels are not identical. There are many angels, but "one Spirit." (Ephesians 4:4.)

Question: You said Tuesday (using 1 Peter 1:10-12), that the Holy Spirit was the one that revealed the prophecy in the words of the Old Testament. Would you explain who the person is, if possible, who appeared to Manoah and his wife, Judges 13:2-20, and told them of the future. Is this the Holy Spirit? If not, couldn't you somehow amend your lesson of Tuesday night?

Answer: The Bible says it was an angel of God. Why not be satisfied with that? Why quibble? There is only "one Spirit." (Ephesians 4:4.) But, there are many angels as all know. They are not identical, and God may speak by an angel as in Judges 13.

Question: Would it be wrong to think, or to consider the possibilities, of having a very early lesson about the God-head being three, presented to us in Genesis 18:1-19; Genesis 18:29. Sev-eral of these verses seem to state that the three are God. In Genesis 13:3, Abraham said, "My Lord" and in v. 9, they spoke together, and in chapter 19:12, Lot bowed to the two and called them Lord, and in 19:9, one is called a judge, and in 19:13, he said, "We will destroy," and in 19:29, God is described as bringing out Lot and destroying the city, yet the account says the two did it. If this reasoning is wrong, please explain why.

Answer: The Holy Spirit is not actually an angel. I quoted last night Hebrews 13:1, that it was an angel. It says: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Your interpretation is speculative and far-fetched. We need to stay with the plain passages of the Trinity, such as Matthew 28:19. God often spake by angels. (Acts 7:30-40.) But God is not an angel. The Holy Spirit may have spoken by angels, but the Spirit is not an angel. Angels were spirits, but the Holy Spirit is not an angel. Paul says, "There is one Spirit." (Ephesians 4:4.) Was there just one angel? No, but many angels. (Hebrews 1:13-14.)

Let us stay with things revealed. (Deuteronomy 29:29.)