How to Bring Men to Christ (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1893. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. There is one condition of success in bringing men to Christ that is of such cardinal importance, and so little understood, that it demands a separate chapter. I refer to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Acts i. 5, Luke xxiv.49 (comp. Acts i. 8), and Acts ii.4, we have three expressions; "baptized with the Holy Spirit," "endured with power from on high" and "filled with the Holy Spirit," By a careful comparison of these and related passages we will find that these various expressions refer to one and the same experience. This experience we shall see as we proceed in the study of this subject is an absolutely necessary condition of acceptable and effective service for Christ. 1. What Is The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit? 1. It is a definite and distinct operation of the Holy Spirit of which one may know whether it has been wrought in him or not. This is evident from the fact that Jesus bade His disciples tarry in Jerusalem until they had received this enduement, (Luke xxiv.49, comp. Acts i. 8), and if it was not a definite and distinct operation of which they might know whether they had received it or not, of course, they would not know when this command of Christ had been complied with and when they were ready to begin their witnessing. 2. It is an operation of The Holy Spirit separate from His regenerating work. This appears from Acts i. 5, where the disciples are told "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence." But from Jno. xv. 3; xiii: 10 we learn that the disciples were already regenerated. It appears also from Acts viii; 15. 16 where we are told of certain who had already believed and were baptized with water, but upon whom the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen. The same thing is shown by Acts xix. 1-6, where we are...