COME AND DRINK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 34)

 The Ephesian Disciples 

The following incident occurred at Ephesus. ACTS 19 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then in Acts 19:6 we read, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." 

These folks at Ephesus had not heard about being filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues. But as soon as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues. Every one of them was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance — without waiting, agonizing, struggling, or tarrying. We have read from the New Testament every instance where people received the Holy Ghost over a twenty-year period, and there has been absolutely nothing at all in the Scriptures that even resemble what we call "a tarrying meeting" in order to be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

In every single instance where a company of believers sought the Holy Spirit, everyone received right away. Not one went away disappointed because of failing to receive the Holy Spirit. If we taught this to our people today, they would receive the Holy Spirit in the same way — the Acts of the Apostles way — the New Testament way. I have had the baptism of the Holy Ghost more than fifty-five years, and I have never told anyone to wait or to tarry to receive the Holy Spirit. I have always told people, "Come and receive the Holy Ghost." And I have seen people receive Him everywhere I go to minister. 

Come and Drink of the Holy Spirit 

In John chapter 7, Jesus talks about receiving the Holy Ghost. JOHN 7:37-39 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Jesus was not talking here about salvation, because He said speaking of salvation to the woman of Samaria in John 4:14, ". . . the water that I shall give him shall be in him A WELL of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14 refers to a well, and John 7:39 refers to a river. 

What was the "river" Jesus was talking about in John 7:37-39? He was talking about receiving or being filled with the Holy Ghost. Also, notice Jesus said, "Come and drink" (John 7:37), not come and shout; not come and pray; not come and praise; not come and sing and then go away empty. No, Jesus said, "Come and drink and out of your belly will flow rivers of living water" ( John 7:37,38). We make a mistake a lot of times by not just taking Jesus at His Word. Jesus said, "Come and drink" (John 7:37). 

Also, how many people can drink and talk at the same time? Have you ever tried to drink water, for example, and talk at the same time? Or can you drink and sing, or drink and praise God at the same time? Of course, the Holy Ghost is present to give the utterance in other tongues. But you can't "come and drink" and speak your native language at the same time. When Jesus said, "Come and drink," that implies that you don't have to wait or tarry to drink. How long does it take you to drink? Jesus said it is just as easy to drink of the Spirit, that is, to be filled with the Spirit, as it is to drink water or to be filled with water. 

In other words, if you're saved, you don't have to wait at all! Notice another aspect of drinking water and being filled with water is that it is something that you do, not something the water does. Likewise, drinking of the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Holy Ghost is something you do, not something the Holy Ghost does. In other words, if you do your part — receive Him, the Holy Spirit will do His part — fill you up to overflowing, and you will speak in tongues. So quit talking and start drinking! Just drink in of the Holy Spirit. Drink until you get full. When you get full of the Holy Spirit, He will give you utterance in other tongues. Then you will speak in your new, heavenly prayer language! Someone might ask, "Do you mean to insinuate that there is no need to tarry anymore?" No, I don't mean to insinuate it. I mean to state it! There isn't any need to tarry anymore! "Do you mean to insinuate that there is no need to say, 'Oh, Lord, send the power right now'?" No, I don't mean to insinuate it. I mean to state it! There is no need to say, "Oh, Lord, send the power right now." Jesus said, "You come and drink." And when you drink of the Holy Spirit until you get full, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water— the Holy Spirit. 

And Jesus promises that we would receive power after we receive the Holy Spirit. ACTS 1:8 8 But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ACTS 1:8 (Amplified) 8 But you shall receive POWER — ABILITY, EFFICIENCY and MIGHT — when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends — the very bounds — of the earth. God doesn't need to send the power "right now." If you have received the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 1:8, the power is already resident within you. 

FFT: quit talking and start drinking!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit to overflowing!

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