Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jun 11/62

Contributor - Rev. Henry E. Franken

Title - The Holy Spirit Is Sent

Topic - Pentecost

Once each year the Christian church puts a great deal of emphasis on the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. There has been too little interest in the Holy Spirit in the past. That is undoubtedly the reason the Pentecostal churches have sprung up in the present century. The name reemphasizes a truth and has made others more aware of it.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He has taken on greater importance in the minds and lives of Christians since the day he was sent forth, which was seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, on that great Sunday. The Bible says that in the latter days He would play a greater role in the church.

The Old Testament in the book of Joel predicted and in the New Testament in the book of Acts says that it was then being fulfilled, that the Spirit would come to His own. What a demonstration that was on Pentecost, sitting like divided tongues of fire on those representatives of the church. And what power they received to set forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit came to apply the merits of Christ to men.

Speaking of salvation - we may repeat what one has said before - "The Father thought it (salvation); the Son wrought it; the Holy Spirit brought it; the devil fought it; have you got it?"

The Holy Spirit "brought it". John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me." These are Jesus' words.

He was sent forth from the Father through Jesus Christ 10 days after Jesus ascended to the Father. Jesus' going to heaven released, in a sense, the Spirit for the particular task of applying salvation to the hearts of men. Not that He did not do this before, but this was an open demonstration of an eternal truth.

God is desirous that men may be partakers of the Spirit. "If you who are evil know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13. The Spirit when He comes into our hearts upon our request will start a revolution there. He will tell us frankly that we are sinners who need God's mercy. The comfort the Comforter gives is that all our sins are forgiven us upon the basis of Christ's crucifixion. Was it not said "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

If our spirit and the Spirit of God have fellowship we have the assurance that we are God's children. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God." Romans 8:14. This takes away any doubt. Faith has come in and with it assurance. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for."

We are living in the day of grace, which is also the day of the Holy Spirit. These are the "last days" the scripture speaks of. We may therefore expect great demonstrations of the Spirit of Truth. The father of lies, Satan, will also do and is doing his utmost against God's kingdom. When Jesus was to enter His public ministry He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. We may therefore expect that before His coming again, the Spirit of Truth will demonstrate His supremacy over the spirit of error.

The spirit of error is raising his head and showing his fangs by the vehement denials made in high place, that Jesus is the Christ. He does not want men to believe in Christ as the Saviour of men. And this is the spirit of error. Read I John 4.

May the Spirit of God inspire our hearts to proclaim more boldly that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The gates of hell will not prevail against that. If Pentecost makes us more bold to preach Christ and Him crucified, then it is well. A blessed Pentecost to one and all.

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