"THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"

INTRODUCTION: The "Holy Spirit" was promised to the people of God. First, by God through his 
prophets.  Then by God through John the Baptizer.  Then Jesus came and promised the Holy 
Spirit to all believers.  The problem many religious people have is understanding just what 
God promised and how these promises are fulfilled.  There are many errors concerning the 
promise of the Holy Spirit.  In this lesson we would like to look at two of the promises and 
consider what was promised and how these promises were fulfilled.

I. The Promise of Holy Spirit Baptism.

   A. John the Baptizer gave the promise of Holy Spirit Baptism. (Mat 3:1-11)
      1. John was not promising the baptism of the Holy Spirit to everyone.
      2. The promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to be a sign of the coming Messiah
         who would follow after John and be greater than John.
      3. The greatness of the Messiah would be seen in his authority to baptize in the Holy 
         Spirit and to baptize with fire as punishment.
   B. Some men say that "you" in John's promise in (Mat 3:11) equals "all".
      1. Notice that the "you" who would be baptized with the Holy Spirit would be that same 
         "you" baptized by John with water.
      2. Who here was baptized by John with water?
      3. Not all "you" were baptized by John with water.  
         "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being
         not baptized of him."  (Luk 7:30)
      4. Not all "you" were baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:2-8) (Acts 1:26-2:4)
      5. "You" does not include all Christians today!  The promise was made to those John 
         baptized and Jesus specified who the "you" were.
   C. Men must limit "You".
      1. No one believes all that came to John were baptized of him! Therefore, the "you" 
         must be limited.
      2. Prophecy must be understood in the light of its fulfillment. For example:
         a. Seed of Woman (Gen 3:15) .. Was this ALL of woman? ... No
         b. Seed of Abraham (Gen 12:1-4) .. Was this ALL of Abraham? ... No
         c. Seed of David (Sam 7; Psl 89) .. Was this ALL of David? ... No
         d. Seed of Mary (Luk 1:30-33) .. Fulfillment limits the prophecy.
      3. We must look to the fulfillment of John's prophecy to understand who "you" included.
      4. Jesus limited the "you" to the apostles in (Acts 1:4,5)

II.The Promise of the Baptism of Fire.

   A. Some denominations, particularly the Pentecostals argue that the "fire" mentioned by 
      John is to accompany the Holy spirit baptism.
   B. Let me ask some questions on the Baptism of Fire.
      1. Is baptism with fire part of new birth as you say water and holy Spirit baptism are?
      2. What is the "initial evidence" of fire baptism?
      3. Since one may receive water and Holy Spirit baptism at separate times, may one also
         receive fire baptism at a separate time?
      4. May one be baptized in fire more than once?
      5. Doesn't this then make three baptisms?
   C. Let's look at the Baptism of Fire (Mat 3:10-12).
      1. The Baptism of Fire is  ...
         a. For the fruitless (v. 10) ... For the purged ... (v. 12) ...For the Chaff (v. 12)
         b. (Jhn 15:6) (2 Thes 1:7-9)
      2. Now lets look at the use of "Chaff" from the Bible.
         a. (Job 21:17-18) .. ".. wicked put out! ... destruction ... They are .. as chaff.."
         b. (Psl 1:4) .. "The ungodly .. are like the chaff .."
         c. (Psl 35:1-5) .. "as chaff .. let the angel of the Lord chase them.."
         d. (Isa 5:20-25) .. "the wicked .. fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame 
            consumeth the chaff .."
         e. God's Word = Wheat ... False words = Chaff (Jer 23:16-28)
         f. (Zec 1:14-2:3) .. Speaks of the Lord's wrath being near ... ".. the day pass as 
            the chaff .."

III.Jesus' Promised the Holy Spirit to Believers.

   A. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all believers. (Jhn 7:37-39)
      1. There are those who erroneously use this passage to argue that all believers are:
         a. Saved by the Holy Spirit.
         b. Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Some will argue that the "rivers of water" refer to 
            Holy Spirit baptism.)
         c. Have miraculous gifts by the Holy Spirit.
      2. There is no mention of:  Holy Spirit baptism ... Miraculous gifts ... nor that all 
         believers perform miracles as in the NT.
      3. There are conditions to receiving the Holy Spirit:
         a. Come ..... Drink ..... Believe.
      4. The Holy Spirit is a promise following salvation, it is not a means of salvation.
         a. Jesus promised those who meet the conditions that they would ... Receive the Holy
            Spirit and the abundant blessings of salvation.
         b. Jesus made a similar promise to the woman of Samaria: (Jhn 4:10-14)
            (1).The living water here describes a complete spiritual satisfaction .. 
                refreshment and fulfillment.
            (2)."Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they 
                shall be filled." (Mat 5:6).
         c. This complete spiritual fulfillment is only found in Christ. (Eph 1:3)
   B. Of course .. all believers receive the Holy Spirit!
      1. The Holy Spirit is received "because ye are sons" (Gal 4:6) ... not to become sons!
      2. The Holy Spirit does not come upon one to save him .. but comes as a promised 
         blessing to those who have been saved.
      3. The Holy Spirit leads sons by "the law of the Spirit" (Rom 8:1-14) .. producing the
         "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:16-25).
      4. The Holy Spirit will resurrect the sons of God. (Rom 8:11-25)
      5. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God
         (Rom 8:14-17).
      6. The Holy Spirit intercedes for sons (Rom 8:26,27).
      7. The Holy Spirit leads :into everlasting life" (Jhn 4:14).
      8. Having the Holy Spirit does not mean a believer can perform miracles.
   C. Evidence of the holy Spirit in Believers ... the Fruit of the Spirit... not Miracles!
      1. "He that abideth in me, and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit .. If ye 
         abide in me, and my words abide in you ... ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my 
         disciples ..." (Jhn 15:1-14).
      2. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, 
         goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that 
         are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in 
         the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25).
      3. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Mat 7:20)

CONCLUSION:  Yes ... Jesus promised all believers would receive the Holy Spirit. No ... 
believers are not promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit or the miraculous gifts of the 
Holy Spirit.   We should not deny the great promise we have and the great spiritual 
blessings that follow from that promise.