Promises of God Session 4: The Promise of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is our Helper who pours out upon us, fills us, springs up in us, and empowers us!

Description: In Session 4 of the “promises of God” series, Tricia Gunn covers many passages about the glorious promise upon which all the other promises rest. Before Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, Jesus told the people to wait for the Promise of the Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby who pours out upon us, fills us, springs up in us, and empowers us!

Transcript of the teaching:

The topic for this message is the most glorious promise that all the other promises come through: the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we wouldn’t even have breath. I keep hearing this simple word: “If you just talk about Me, I will manifest.” So I’m excited to share what has been on my heart. Almost everything in these notes tonight is from the last couple of years of prayer and meditation. So I will be sharing with you some of my own prayers and declarations that came spontaneously as I mediated on the scriptures.

Believe it or not, I have removed several sections of notes that I have planned:

• Scripture about the Holy Spirit dwelling within 
• How the Holy Spirit pours forth RICHLY upon us
• Romans 15 – the power of miraculous signs and wonders
• Being washed, sanctified, justified By the Spirit
• Transformed by the Spirit
• The gifts of the Spirit

Perhaps they will fit somewhere else in another teaching.

Agreement in the Ekklēsia 

Much of what I am going to do is simply read the word of God concerning the Holy Spirit without much commentary. Why read the scriptures without much commentary? Why not just email you a scripture list and encourage you to do it on your own? Because by simply reading these scriptures while the Ekklesia is together will create agreement, and we will be of one heart and mind. Then we will ask for anything from the Father, and He will give it to us. Jesus said – 

Matthew 18:19-20, NASB -“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

Who are the “two” who are agreeing? If we cross-reference this with Matthew 16, a similar passage, we see that He is talking about the “ekklēsia” –  the church. Can you see from Matthew 18 that the church can be represented by as few as two? 

The Greek word “ekklēsia” generally refers to a gathering of citizens (as small as two) who represent a nation or group. “The Church” of Jesus Christ is a group of heavenly citizens on earth. We are in the world, but not of it. Philippians 3:20: “…our citizenship is in heaven…” 

“The Church” can be anywhere. where two or three (or more) citizens of heaven gather, we are one. When we gather in the name of Jesus and agree about ANYTHING we ask, it will be done for us by our Father. These are the very words of Jesus! And where two or three are gathered, there Jesus is in our midst. How? By His Spirit. He is here now!

Meditate

Another reason to read scriptures without much commentary is because it becomes a catalyst for meditation. When we meditate on the Father, His Son Jesus Christ who is the Word of God, and His Spirit, we prosper. 

Psalm 1:1-3, NASB – How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. [meditates – hāḡâ – pronounced haw-gaw’ – to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, speak, to murmur; to ponder:—imagine, roar, study, talk. Today we meditate on the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, the law of Christ, the law of liberty, the royal law of love] 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Under the New Covenant, these promises are ours by inheritance through Jesus and His perfect righteousness given to us. Now we meditate on His grace and prosper in everything we do. So when I share this message and read the scriptures, I am fully trusting the Holy Spirit to speak personally to you and connect dots.

The Spirit rested on, anointed, alighted upon, remained on Jesus

To begin I want to talk about the Holy Spirit and Jesus during His ministry on the earth. From my prayer journal on December 2, 2021 I wrote this as I was awakened by the Lord: 

Jesus Christ embodied everything good and wonderful about God. The Father demonstrated how much He loves us by sending Jesus – before we had a thought for Him, before we knew Him or loved Him – it was while we were yet sinners. Jesus is the substance of God, the nature of God. Jesus is the manifestation of God. He showed us what God is like. Full of compassion. He has the hugest heart. He does not want us to suffer. He wants to help us. Jesus is the will of God. Jesus is the plan of God. What is God’s plan for us? Jesus.

Back to today: Jesus identified with us so that we could identify with Him. There is nothing that Jesus experienced as a man that we don’t experience as well – all except death. He paid the wages of sin – death – by becoming sin for us that we might become righteous in Him. In the great exchange, we received the Holy Spirit. But first, the Spirit rested on, anointed, alighted upon, and remained on Jesus Himself when He walked the earth. 

Isaiah prophesied about the coming Savior who would be born as the God-man from David’s line.

Isaiah 11:1-3, NIV – A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; [Jesse was David’s father; Jesus is from the line of David] from his roots a Branch [Jesus] will bear fruit. [what fruit? Eternal life. Resurrection life by the Spirit. The everlasting fruit of the Spirit] 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him [Hebrew word nûaḥ – to rest, settle down and remain, to cause to rest, give rest to]—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord…

Isaiah also prophesied the anointing of Jesus by the Holy Spirit:

Isaiah 61:1-2, TLB – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me [Hebrew word māšaḥ – it means to smear with a liquid; to rub with oil- by implication to consecrate – oil in the Old Testament was a symbol of the Holy Spirit was empowered by the Holy Spirit – ] to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come… [this is the passage that Jesus read in the temple when He began His earthy ministry]

The Spirit alighted on Jesus; remained on Jesus:

Matthew 3:16-17, NIV – As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting [erchomai – to come from one place to another, come forth, show itself; lighting upon, resting upon] on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

John 1:32 – And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.”

Remained is the Greek word menō, which means remain, abide, sojourn, tarry, not to depart, continue to be present, held and kept continually, endure, to continue to be, to last, not to perish, to survive, remain as one, not to become another or different, wait for, await one

1 John 4:17 – As Jesus is so are we in this world. 

Key passages from the night that Jesus was betrayed

The following are key passages about the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke to His disciples on the night He was betrayed. His last night with them. I’m going to read several passages in the AMPC or the newer AMP for clarification. As I read these passages and you ponder what the Spirit does or how we respond to what the Spirit does, think also about how the Spirit comes to us. This is specific – the means by which He comes to us and the method by which He is distributed to us. I call it “The administration of the Holy Spirit.” The reason this is on my mind is so that I know better how to pray. If I know how God works, I can pray for that work to be done in my life and the lives of those I love. 

Jesus said – 

John 14:16-17, AMPC – And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), [Notice that Jesus asks and the Father gives. The words “gives – didōmi – give, grant, bestow a gift, profuse, supply, endue] that He may remain with you forever [“menō” again – that He may remain, abide, sojourn, tarry, not to depart, continue to be present, held and kept continually, endure, to continue to be, to last, not to perish, to survive, remain as one, not to become another or different, wait for, await one] 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. [Lives with you constantly – menō – again, “and will be in you.” – speaking about the indwelling presence of the Spirit after Pentecost]

In that same chapter of John – 

John 14:26-27, AMP – But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], [Notice – the Father “sends” – pempō – to bid a thing to be carried to one; to send (thrust or insert) a thing into another] He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

In the next chapter of John, Jesus says –

John 15:26, AMP – “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes [NKJV said “proceeds”] from the Father, [Notice here that Jesus “sends” the Spirit who “proceeds” from the Father – ekporeuomai – to go forth, go out, depart, to flow forth; to project, from the mouth of one, to spread abroad]  He will testify and bear witness about Me.

What does the Spirit testify to us about Jesus? Part of it is in Hebrews 10 – 

Hebrews 10:15-17, NASB – And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, 17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

In the next chapter of John, Jesus says –

John 16:7, 12-14, AMPC – However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; [Greek word is erchomai – to come from one place to another, come forth, show itself; lighting upon, resting upon] but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]… 12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

On August 4, 2022, I was studying these passage and wrote the following prayer:

Lord, Holy Spirit, You are our Helper. You are our Comforter. When anxieties come, You comfort us. Teach us to lean on You when our soul is not at peace. You are our Advocate, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. When we fail, we have an Advocate before the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. When the enemy comes to accuse, condemn, and bring shame, we have an Advocate to remind us that we are the righteousness of God in Christ. 

Lord, You are our Intercessor. You stood in the gap for us, taking the guilt, condemnation, shame, and punishment that we deserved. You became sin that we might become righteous with Your righteousness. You ever live to intercede for us before the Father. When we doesn’t know how to pray, You make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. You make intercession for us according to Your will, and everything that is happening in our lives and everything that has happened will turn out for our good because You love us so much.

Lord, You are our Counselor. You are our Wisdom. You will guide us into all truth because You are the Truth. You will show us the way, the path of peace. Because of Your Spirit who has never left us and never forsaken us, we have within our redeemed spirit the mind of Jesus Christ. The enemy sometimes attempts to put a veil over our hearts in an attempt to kill, steal, and destroy our lives, but no one can snatch us from Your hand. You uphold us by Your righteous right hand. You protect us under Your wings. We continue to look into the face of Jesus with no veil, and the Light of the Gospel shines on us and continually reveals more of Your love and grace.

Lord, You are our Strengthener. The enemy attempts to discourage us and weaken us, but You are our strength. When we are weak, You are strong. Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. Out of our brokenness will come Your power to save, deliver, heal, and restore. What the enemy means for evil, You will turn to good. Whatever wounds we carry will be healed, and the cars are always stronger than the skin that was broken. After every trial we are stronger on the other side. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Lord, You are our Standby. You were our Substitute before the Father and represented us on the cross. You demonstrated You love for us. You gave Your life, Your best, and You will certainly give us the rest. You are everything we will ever need. You are our Standby every day of our lives. We rely on You regularly for guidance in all circumstances. You are always “on ready” for us. You are our Source of happiness, truth, and life.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Throughout the scriptures, it was prophesied that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the deaf, the blind, the unbelieving, the lost, the dying, the captive. It was prophesied that the Spirit would restore all that was lost or stolen.

In the following passage in Isaiah 32, it is referring to the captivity of God’s people in Babylon which represents captivity and spiritual blindness and spiritual oppression throughout the ages.

God’s answer to it was the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 32:13-14, NLT – For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers. Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone. 14 The palace and the city will be deserted, and busy towns will be empty. Wild donkeys will frolic and flocks will graze in the empty forts and watchtowers until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. 

Cambridge commentary: when the Spirit is poured out, it is “the power by which the will of God is made to prevail”… The Spirit “descended upon (from heaven) and permeated the human world.”

This was done in a real and experiential way in ancient Israel when they returned from Babylon, when God, by His Spirit, moved Cyrus to release them to return to Jerusalem so they could rebuild the city and the temple, and receive their families back from captivity. But this “pouring out of the Holy Spirit” was symbolic of what God would do completely and eternally through the New Covenant.  This “pouring out of the Holy Spirit” would clearly and fully accomplished in the days of Jesus when God’s Spirit rested on Him and anointed Him to reveal the Father in every way, and when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers at Pentecost with all sorts of glorious manifestations of power that could be seen and heard.

Isaiah 32 goes on to show us the will of God – and if this was the will of God for the Old Covenant believer, we can be sure it is much more under the New Covenant:

Isaiah 32:15-20, NLT – [when at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven – ] Then the wilderness will become a fertile field,  and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. 16 Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. 17 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest. 19 Even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down, 20 the Lord will greatly bless his people. Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up. Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely.

This is the will of God!!! That means we can ask for every bit of it. 

1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence [parresia] that we have in Him, [Jesus] that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

This was also predicted in Joel – first the problem, the God’s answer:

Joel 1:4; 2:23-29 – “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.” 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, [the word of God] And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. [Holy Spirit] 25 “So I will restore [shalam – to be at peace, to make peace with, to cause to be at peace, to live in peace, to be complete, be sound, be finished, be ended, be uninjured, to make safe, to make whole or good, restore, make compensation, to make good, pay, recompense, reward, to be repaid, be requited, to complete, perform, to make an end of] to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. 28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit [pour out – to expend (for ex. life, soul, money.); intensively, to sprawl out:—cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed out)] on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

Holy Spirit: Jesus breathed

In John 14:17, Jesus prophesied to His disciples that the Spirit would soon be “in them.” After the resurrection, Jesus walked through the walls of the place where they were hiding from the Jews in fear, and said, 

John 20:19-22 – “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. [When He showed them His hands and His side, He was showing them the receipts of the payment for their sins. He was showing them why they should “let not their hearts be trouble nor let them be afraid – proof that God was for them – If God was for them, who could be against them?] Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, [emphysaō – to blow or breathe upon] and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

“Receive” is the Greek word lambanō, which means to seize, take hold of, claim for oneself, to make one’s own, receive what is offered, not to reject or refuse, to gain. So when He commissioned them “as the Father has sent Me,” He blew the Holy Spirit on them. This is another place where we can say, 

1 John 4:17 – As Jesus is so are we in this world.

Read the Gospels and see what the ministry of Jesus included. Receive the Holy Spirit and be empowered to live a life where you only say what You hear the Father say and do what You see the Father doing. You see and hear what’s happening in heavenly places by the Spirit.

Acts 1, Acts 2 – Pentecost

At the beginning of the book of Acts, after Jesus was resurrected, Luke wrote that Jesus remained for 40 more days, giving instructions “through the Holy Spirit,” and telling them about the kingdom of God. He also gave several infallible proofs of His resurrection, and Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time. Right before He was ascended to heaven, Jesus told His followers to wait for the Promise of the Father: the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5, NASB –  Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

What was the promise? To be baptized with the Holy Spirit – 

“Baptized” is the Greek word baptizō, which means to immerse, submerge, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe

In verse 8 – Jesus said to them – 

Acts 1:8, NASB – “…you will receive [lambanō again- to seize, take hold of, claim for oneself, to make one’s own, receive what is offered, not to reject or refuse, to gain] power [dynamis – from which we get our word dynamite – it means power for performing miracles; the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth; moral power and excellence of soul; miraculous power; ability, abundance, might] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; [eperchomai – arrive, overtake, supervene, operate in a person] and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

After Jesus was ascended to heaven, 120 gathered in the upper room and waited. So how long did they wait in the upper room for what the Father had promised? 

Acts 1:12 – Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, [the Mount of Olives is where Jesus was ascended] which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

Most commentaries say this is referring to 2,000 paces – the Jewish meaning of “a Sabbath’s Day journey” – not quite one mile. It takes a normal person about 15-20 minutes to walk a mile. So not really far. So I would say they were in the upper room waiting for about 10 days – Pentecost is 50 from the resurrection, then Jesus stayed for 40 more days, and then they waited about 10 days. 

Acts 2:2-4, 17-18, 32-33 – And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [So the Holy Spirit can fill a house! We can pray for that!] 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit [Greek word pimplēmi – we’ll talk more about that in a minute – but what happened when they were “filled” on the inside with the Holy Spirit?] and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues [what were they speaking?] the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” [They weren’t full of wine, they were filled with the Holy Spirit] 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit [pour out – Greek word ekcheō – definition later in the sessinon] on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; [ekcheō] And they shall prophesy.”… 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, [Hebrews 1:3 – haven purged our sins!] and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out [ekcheō] this which you now see and hear… 

When Jesus sat down at the right hand of God having finished the work for our redemption, He received the Promise of the Holy Spirit for us and He poured out the Spirit on us! 

Jesus said, “If I won’t go, the Holy Spirit can’t come.” But first, Jesus had to go and sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat. He had to sit down. The work had to be finished. If Jesus didn’t ascend to heaven, we’re not redeemed. He had to be the first fruits. And if the firstfuit is holy, then the lump is holy. We’re holy now. We had to be holy before the Spirit of God could come into us. So that’s why it had to happen that way. 

Acts 2:36-39 – “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” [We don’t make Jesus Lord and Savior. God did that!] 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Who is the promise to? You and your children, and to those far away. ALL who have been called by the Lord our God.

Was the baptism of the Holy Spirit only for Pentecost? 

Did the Holy Spirit fall at Pentecost and never “fall” from heaven again? No. He fell on people after Pentecost. He still falls on people. 

In Acts 11, Peter went to Jerusalem to the apostles and other believers and retells his dream about the Lord telling him to eat unclean animals and his visit to Cornelius’s house (which was in Acts 10). At Cornelius’s house, Peter preached – 

Acts 11:7-15, NASB – And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them [epipiptō – definition to come later in the session] just as He did upon us at the beginning. [Speaking of Pentecost. It began at Pentecost, and it is still happening. The Holy Spirit is still epipiptō-ing people] 

What was Peter speaking when the Holy Spirit fell on them?

Acts 10:43-46 – ‘To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon [epipiptō] all those who heard [akouō – definition to come] the word. [logos – spoken teaching] 45 And those of the circumcision [Jewish people to whom the gospel was first shared] who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on [ekcheō] the Gentiles also. [How did they know it was the same gift of the Holy Spirit they had lambanō’d?’] 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. 

That tells me they speaking in tongues and magnifying God openly is certainly a part of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Put me on a deserted Island with a Bible, and I would come to that conclusion. And I did – about 25 years ago – and it became a part of my own personal experience with the Holy Spirit.

When they received the Good News – however you received the Lord Jesus, so walk in that. We receive the Lord Jesus by grace through faith. That’s how we walk it out. At the moment that you receive the Lord Jesus, there is faith to believe that He has washed all of your sins away. There is faith to believe that you are holy in that moment. That’s how we walk it out. We have to walk by faith, not by sight. When you hear and receive the Word that your sins are washed away and that you have been forgiven of all your sins, you are in a position to receive the Holy Spirit because you do believe at the moment of a faith in the mercy and grace of God. Your emotions may be feeling like, “Why would He see me as holy?!” But then your response it overwhelming gratefulness for His grace.

So the Holy Spirit “fell” on the people, verse 44. That is the Greek word “epipiptō.” Epipiptō means to fall upon, to rush or press upon; to lie upon one; to fall into one’s embrace; to fall back upon; to seize, take possession of. The same word is used when the prodigal son came home and the father “fell on his neck” and kissed him:

Luke 15:20 – “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck [epipiptō] and kissed him.’

Just like the father embraced his son with unconditional love when he came home, in Acts 10, the Holy Spirit fell into an embrace with the people when they heard that their sins were forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.

In Verse 45 of Acts 10 it says “the gift of the Holy Spirit” had been “poured out on the Gentiles also.” “Poured out” is the Greek word ekcheō – just like at Pentecost. It means pour out everything, pour forth, shed forth, gush out, bestow or distribute largely, run greedily out, shed abroad, shed forth, spill.  It means to give everything you’ve got to reach a goal – like when athletes compete to win, they will pour everything they have onto the field. They completely spend themselves and hold nothing back. That’s what God did at Pentecost. That’s what He is still doing. Our God is a giver. 

In the feeding fo the 5000, when Jesus broke the bread, He did it once – representing the cross. When He gave it to the disciples to give to the 5000, the verb tense is “continuous giving.” Everlasting giving. An endless well of gifts – representing the Holy Spirit.

When was the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out? When they “heard” the word that “whoever believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins.” “Heard” is the Greek word “akouō” which means to hear, to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to perceive by the ear what is announced in one’s presence; to get by hearing; learn; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend, to understand. 

In other words, the Gospel was preached, and they understood it and received it.

1 Corinthians 1:21 – …it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. [people are sozo’d – saved, healed, delivered, prospered – by something as simple as a person speaking the truth over them.]

The Holy Spirit is poured forth because the desire of God is to give all He has for mankind. This is what He did by giving His Son. This is what He is still doing by pouring forth His Spirit. This is why we share the Gospel – so people will hear the word that “whoever believes in Jesus will receive the forgiveness of their sin. And this is why we pour forth all we have in prayer and agreement for those we love without giving up or giving in.

In answer to our prayers, the Holy Spirit will pour forth on the current generation. This is what He has been doing since Pentecost. And we will be right in the middle of the tsunami. 

Back to Acts 11 and Peter’s retelling his story about Cornelius’s house – 

Acts 11:16-17, NASB – And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ [baptizō – just like at Pentecost – immerse, submerge, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe] 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

What is God’s way? To immerse us in His Spirit. To pour out His Spirit on us. To fill us with His Spirit.

Another place where we see the Holy Spirit “epipiptō-ing” – falling into an embrace – with the people is in Acts 8 – 

Acts 8:14-17 – Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received [dechomai – to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one’s own, approve, not to reject] the word [logos] of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive [lambanō – to seize, take hold of, claim for oneself, to make one’s own, receive what is offered, not to reject or refuse, to gain] the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon [epipiptō] none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [They had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit] 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received [lambanō] the Holy Spirit.

We lambanō the Holy Spirit. We seize, take hold of, claim for ourselves, make our own, receive what is offered, do not reject or refuse, but gain the Holy Spirit.

One more place where they heard, believed, and the Holy Spirit came on them:

Acts 19:1-6 -…Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” [What did they believe? See verse 4] So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard [akouō] this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [They were baptized in water to represent their spiritual death and resurrection Jesus] 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came [erchomai] upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

The Holy Spirit “came” – erchomai – which means to come from one place to another, make one’s appearance, come before the public; to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself

More ways the Spirit works:

Now I’m just going to rapid fire some of the ways the Holy Spirit works:

We’re filled with the Holy Spirit – After Peter and John were let out of jail for healing the lame beggar, it says in Acts 4 – 

Acts 4:29-31 – Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness [parresia] they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, [pimplēmi] and they spoke the word of God with boldness. [parresia]

The Greek word for “filled” is pimplēmi – literally or figuratively – imbue, influence, supply; accomplish, furnish; make full – on the inside!! 

The Spirit is like fire, and we are baptized in fire: John the Baptist said – 

Matthew 3:11 – I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you [baptizō – just like at Pentecost – immerse, submerge, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe] with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit? Jesus! 

What does it mean to be baptized in fire? The image that comes to my mind is the bronze altar – where Jesus took the fire for us. 

I love the bronze altar because it depicts every role that Jesus has taken to ensure our eternal redemption. 

• He is the altar itself, made of wood – symbolizing Jesus’ humanity – the incorruptible perfect Man – able to withstand the fires of judgment against sin. 
• He is the priest who makes the offering. 
• He is the lamb for the offering.

When Jesus hung on that bronze altar, He absorbed all the effects of sin and the curse of the law so we could receive every blessing of heaven through the promised Holy Spirit. We have been purified by the fire that burned up all of our diseases, the curse, our shame, and our sin in the body of Jesus. So now I see the baptism of the Holy Spirit’s fire to be the burning desire on the inside for the world to know Jesus in His amazing grace.

The Spirit is given without measure:

John 3:34, AMP – God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]!

Without “measure” is without “metron” which means without limits on the portion; without even an instrument for measuring; without a measure of the benefits which one confers on others. In other words, God gives us every benefit of the Spirit without holding back.

The Spirit gushes up; springs up:

John 4:14, AMPC – But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

“Welling up” is the Greek word hallomai, which means to leap, to spring up, gush up: of water – just like the lame beggar – 

Acts 3:8, NASB – With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping [hallomai] and praising God.

The Spirit flows like water in a river. Jesus said – 

John 7:37-38, NASB – He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow [rheō] rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

So, again, He had to be glorified, ascend to heaven and sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat in heaven before the Holy Spirit could be given.

“Flow” is the Greek word rheō, which means to run as water

Ezekiel 47:9 – everything will live wherever the river goes.

His River of Life flows inside of us. Everywhere the River flows, it heals. It’s the River of eternal and abundant life.

Conclusion: Revival

To end, I want to read a few entires into my prayer journal over the last couple of years:

August 1, 2022 – The day is coming when the Spirit of Grace will be poured out on this generation and bubble up from their inmost being, and they will weep because of the Grace of God. They will see their own sin punished in the body of Jesus and washed away forever. They will look into the mirror of the laver and see who they have become because of Jesus, and it will be the most pivotal moment of their lives. They will see the unfairness of it, and will be undone. They will then see the smile of Jesus and know that they have been loved the whole time. They have never been rejected. Eternal gratefulness will become their new mindset. They will then ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do for You”? And the Lord will tell them to rest and to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him for He is gentle and lowly of heart. They will find rest for their souls. They will learn the unforced rhythms of Grace from the One who is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Lord, by Your Spirit this generation will be set free. By Your Spirit they will be awakened. By Your Spirit they will come to life again. By Your Spirit they will be washed, sanctified, and justified. By Your Spirit they will be led back to You. By Your Spirit they will be led back to their families. It is Your Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that You speak to this generation are Spirit, and they are life.

February 15, 2021 – I pray that this generation will hear Your voice. I pray that whatever is obstructing Your voice would be removed. I pray that You would speak to this generation and they would hear Your words of love, truth, and grace. I pray for the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit for this generation. I pray for the Spirit of joy to come over them. I pray for the Spirit of life to spring forth within them. I pray for the rivers of living water to flow from their innermost being.

June 22, 2021 – In the middle of the night on June 22, 2021, I was praying for the baptism of the Spirit and the baptism of fire for this generation. A flood of light. An immersion in love. A tsunami of grace. A great awakening. No one will need to tell them to have Bible studies or go to church. It will be spontaneous combustion. They will gather by the thousands, by the hundreds, by the tens. They will sing, worship, prophesy, have dreams and visions, heal, do miracles. The older generations will see it and weep. This younger generation may not have seen the towers fall, but they will see glorious light arise.  There will be a great boomerang on the enemy for what he has done to our families and in our country and world. We do not need to be discouraged.

As God said to Abraham:

Genesis 13:17 – “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

They will arise and take back the ground that has been stolen from them.

Isaiah 60:1 – Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

August 3, 2022 – Lord, I am asking for the greatest and most and best for this generation. “Sky’s the limit.” “I’m shooting for the moon.” You said, “Ask, and You shall receive.” Lord, will You shake this generation in a good way. Shake out all that is man-made and fruitless. Shake out all that is demonic. Shake out all that can be shaken so that only that which can’t be shaken remains. Baptize them with the fire of Your Spirit so that only Truth will remain in their hearts. Peace will remain. Love will remain. Humility and the fear of the Lord will remain. Lord, You give the Spirit without measure. Pour out Your superabundant grace on their lives. I pray that Your Spirit would spring up in them and satisfy their thirst for life. I pray that Your Spirit would flow to every part of their souls and bodies to heal, restore, and refresh. Lord, I pray that You hold back nothing from this generation. Fill them to overflowing with the Spirit of peace, joy, and truth.

August 3, 2022  – As we read through some more scriptures about the Holy Spirit, we begin to desire the greatest and highest for this generation. We hold back nothing in our prayers for them. Whatever we think we know about God, may they know more. Whatever we have experienced with God, may they experience exponentially more. May they receive more grace, more love, more power, more peace, more joy, more revelation and truth than anything we could ever ask, think, or imagine. 

Isaiah 12:3-5, NLT – With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! 4 In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! 5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world.

Revelation 21:6 – And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” 

Revelation 22:17, NLT – The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

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