ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE OF GOD? (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 26)

When the Church Began 

Some people have said, "The Church began on the Day of Pentecost." But the Bible doesn't teach that. The Church actually began when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22). This is when the Holy Spirit indwelt the disciples and did His work of recreating their spirits and making them new creatures on the inside (2 Cor. 5:17). Before Jesus breathed on His disciples, the disciples had a promissory note on salvation (John 14:16,17,23), but they weren't born again. Until Jesus breathed on the disciples, the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to bring people into the new-birth experience, because Jesus had not yet redeemed mankind through His death, burial, and resurrection (John 7:39). 

But then in John 20:22, the resurrected Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, ..."Receive ye the Holy Ghost." As you study the Scriptures it becomes evident that something transpired within the disciples at that time. The disciples had just watched their Master die on a cross and they had buried Him. They were a confused, mystified group of people. But after meeting with the risen Christ and having the Holy Spirit imparted to them in the work of the new birth, the disciples were changed. We know that something happened to the disciples when Jesus breathed on them because after Jesus ascended, even before the Day of Pentecost, the Bible says that the disciples returned to Jerusalem with " . . .GREAT JOY: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:52,53). 

They were a changed group of people because they had been born again. Therefore, John 20:22 records the beginning of the Church, for that is when the disciples were born again. 

Born Again, but Waiting for the Outpouring 

These same men that received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them were all there in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, along with the rest of the 120 mentioned (Acts 1:13- 15). These same disciples were waiting in the Upper Room to receive the outpouring of the Holy Ghost; to be baptized with the Holy Ghost; to be endued with power by the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49). These are all describing the same New Testament experience — the infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

There Is More To Receive of the Holy Spirit After the New Birth 

If the disciples had heard some of these modern-day theologians and preachers who say that a believer receives all of the Holy Spirit at the new birth, then the disciples never would have gone to wait in the Upper Room for the promise of the Holy Spirit and the enduement of power from on High. They would have said, "Jesus breathed on me and I received the Holy Ghost, so I've got Him! Therefore, I've got all of the Holy Spirit there is to get. That's all there is to it, period!" But as we will see, that isn't all there is to it, praise God!

 'Are You Hungry for More of God?' 

A number of years ago, I was speaking at a Full Gospel Businessmen's Convention. One of the other speakers, a Spirit-filled Episcopal priest, related an experience he had with a denominational minister who believed that a person receives all of the Holy Spirit there is to receive in the new-birth experience. This Episcopal priest was speaking at a meeting about this experience of being baptized with the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues. In the middle of the sermon, the denominational minister jumped up and ran down the aisle to where the priest stood. The denominational minister said to the priest, "I want you to know that I'm just as much filled and baptized with the Holy Ghost as you are, and I don't speak with tongues. I don't plan to ever speak in tongues either!" 

The Episcopal priest smiled and said kindly, "Well, fine, Brother. If you're satisfied with your Christian walk, then I'm satisfied. But may I ask you a question?" The denominational minister said yes and the priest said, "On the inside of you, do you have all of God you could ever want to have? Do you have all you need? Are you hungry for any more of God?" The minister said, "Well, yes, I'm hungry for more of God." The Episcopal priest said, "If you will just kneel down right here, I will lay my hand on you and pray that God will satisfy your hunger." The denominational minister knelt down and the priest laid his hand on him and said, "God, satisfy his hunger." And the minister immediately began speaking in tongues! Hallelujah! There is more of God to receive through the baptism of the Holy Spirit! 

FFT: There is more of God to receive through the baptism of the Holy Spirit! 

ACTION POINT: Launch into the deep!

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