Promise of the Holy Ghost

Promise of The Father Fulfilled At Pentecost

Jesus promised his disciples immediately, before his ascension into heaven, “I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high,” Luke 24:49.

After Christ left for heaven he sent his Spirit as he had promised by his many prophets and as he had personally promised his disciples, (Acts 1:4-5). This Promise of The Father came to Believers who were waiting for it. They were waiting a Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost.

Before Pentecost, only certain anointed persons were eligible to have a “come upon” experience with the Spirit of God. The Spirit of Christ never lived in people, but came occasional “upon” them, as the Lord chose. However, at Pentecost this changed, the Promise of the Father was realized. At Pentecost, the Promise, which is the Holy Ghost, came to reside permanently in the Believers waiting for Him.

When the prophet Joel, said, “all flesh”, he explained what that meant. If it meant “everyone”, why only one hundred twenty Believers initially received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost? (Acts 1:15). It means, not every person but every Believer, including prophets and kings but not limited to them.
At Pentecost, Persons eligible for the Holy Ghost included:

Sons
Daughters
Old men
Young men
Servants and
Handmaids

Changes at Pentecost – Women Received Promise

Before the Promise of the Father was fulfilled at Pentecost, no woman had a “come upon” experience. However, when the Promise of the Father came on the Believers at Pentecost this changed. Women for the first time experience the Spirit of the Lord. At Pentecost, women, sons, daughters, old men, servants and handmaids were waiting for the promise of the Comforter, and they all received Him (Acts 1:14, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-18). Subsequently, the Spirit of the Lord no longer “come upon” anyone for He lives in us now.

Today you can have the same fire which came of the Believers at Pentecost

Today, water baptism, calling on the name of Jesus Christ therefore, puts Believers in the same position as the early church (at Pentecost) to receive the Promise of the Father. Baptism in Jesus Name satisfies the Lord’s requirements to receive His promise. This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost. However, today, you can receive this promise if you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is only fulfilled by calling the name of Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus is the name of the Father; Jesus is the name of the Son and Jesus is the name of the Holy Ghost because Jesus came in the name of his Father. Baptism in the name of Jesus is the only name, which guarantees you will receive the Promise of the Holy Ghost, because Jesus is the only person who promised his Spirit to us. It is for that reason the Apostle Paul asked the Corinthians Brethren, “were you baptized in the name of Paul?”, 1 Corinthians 1:13. The baptism of John was from God, Matthew 21:25, but it did not bring salvation because his baptism was “unto Repentance” Mark 1:4. But when you are baptized in Jesus name you are baptized “unto the Promise of the Father”, that is unto salvation Acts 4:12.

The disciples were waiting at Pentecost – are you waiting for the Holy Ghost?

The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip the same question Acts 8:36-37. Now speaking of adults, all things being equal, unbelief is the only hindrance to water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. Philip’s reply is sound advice, If you believe with all your heart that Jesus is the Son of God then go ahead and be baptized. This is the decisive factor, then and only then, should you be baptized, not before. Failure in this area will delay the coming of the Comforter in your life because Christ is not going to give you his Spirit, if you do not believe he has all power to do so. That is why Paul asked the Ephesians, unto what then were you baptized? Were you baptized “unto the promise?”

Have you Received the Promise of the Holy Ghost Since you Believed?

In closing, Paul realized that unbelief was not the Ephesians problem because John the Baptist baptized them. John baptized the people telling them to believe on Christ therefore they repented. His baptism was called “Baptism unto Repentance”, Luke 3:3. That also mean they already believed Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ. Nevertheless, they were NOT told of the Promise of the Father because John never promised anyone his spirit. In other words, they were not baptized in the name of Jesus. Paul, therefore, re-baptized all of them in the name of Jesus THEN they received the Holy Ghost, the Promise of the Father Acts 19:3-7.

Have you received the promise of the Holy Ghost since you believed? Have you received the promise of The Father since you were baptized? Get under that promise today. At Pentecost, Peter said it best: “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. For the promise (of the Father) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call,” (Acts 2:38-39).

Additional readings on the promise fulfilled at Pentecost: