N. Anderson.
There are nine references to the Holy Spirit in the gospel of John — from John 1 to John 7. It is not until we reach John 14 that we see clearly the distinct Personality of the Spirit.
See the following Scriptures as to:
The Truth of His Person.
Gen. 1:2; Isa. 48:16; Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7-8, 13-15; Acts 5:3, 9; Acts 13:2; Acts 15:28; 1 Cor. 12:13; 2 Cor. 13:14.
The Witness of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26; Acts 5:32; Rom. 8:16; Heb. 10:15; 1 John 5:6-12.
The Spirit as Seal, Earnest, Anointing.
Luke 11:13; Acts 19:2-6; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30.
Type of Anointing.
King: 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13.
Prophet: 1 Kings 19:16.
Priest: Exodus 28:7; Exodus 28:21.
OWNERSHIP is connected with SEALING.
POWER is connected with ANOINTING also KNOWLEDGE (1 John 2:27).
PLEDGE OF COMING GLORY is connected with EARNEST.
WASHING relates to NEW BIRTH.
BLOOD SPRINKLING relates to REDEMPTION.
OIL relates particularly to THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SEALING follows BELIEVING, NOT knowledge nor experience. These are the fruit of the Spirit's work in the believer.
The work of the Spirit —
1) In bringing about NEW BIRTH is distinct from and precedes His INDWELLING.
2) SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT is unto THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING AND THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST (1 Peter 1:3).
3) Through the Spirit alone can the deeds of the flesh be mortified (Col. 3:5).
SEALING — when does it occur?
We repeat that it occurs on believing the gospel of your salvation (Eph. 1:13). In Acts we have an example of this (Acts 19:1-7).
SHOULD WE PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT? NO!
All approach to God, whether for prayer or worship is BY the Spirit.
It would be nonsensical to speak of praying IN the Holy Spirit TO the Holy Spirit. Scripture speaks of worship BY the Spirit of God (Phil. 3:3 N. Trans.). It also speaks of praying IN the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). Thus Scripture never speaks of worship or prayer TO the Spirit.
SHOULD WE ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY? NO!
The word in Luke 11:13 was spoken by the Lord to His disciples before He had died, risen again, and had been glorified. See in connection with this, John 7:38-39. Perhaps while the 120 were meeting during the ten days between our Lord's ascension and the descent of the Spirit, many prayers may have arisen from their hearts asking God for the promised Comforter. But NOW HE HAS COME!
ARE THERE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY?
WOULD ACTS 19 SUGGEST THAT ALL BELIEVERS DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT?
The answer to these two questions is definitely — NO! The disciples in Acts 19 whom Paul found were not Christian believers. They had received the testimony of John the Baptist — they knew only John's baptism! They were on the ground of the godly remnant of Israel which had believed the testimony of John Baptist — they were looking and were ready for the coming of Christ! But He had already come! Paul instructed them as to this blessed fact and put them on Christian ground by baptism — new ground for them, and there and then they received the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that Scripture most definitely teaches that, "… by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). This took place on the day of Pentecost as detailed to us in Acts 2.
SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST (MATT. 12:31) — CAN WE COMMIT THIS SIN TODAY? NO!
For this was committed by the Jews in attributing the power by which our Lord performed His miracles in exorcising demons to the prince of devils (demons?) — Beelzebub. Christ is not on earth today, nor is He directly performing these works today. Hence it is impossible to commit this sin against the Holy Ghost. It has been suggested that the Jews committed this sin in stoning Stephen, Acts 7. The Scripture said, "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did so do ye" (Acts 7:51).
The testimony of God did not specifically turn from the Jews in Acts 7. Paul said in Acts 13, "It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). There is no word here about blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
While such a sin is impossible today we are none-the-less exhorted to "… grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). Also, "Quench not the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19). The first of these exhortations would apply to us individually, while this second would apply to us collectively. Let us see to it that we live our lives in subjection to the Spirit and that Assemblywise we accept the teaching, for instance, of 1 Cor. 14:29 — as to the order of the Assembly meeting. Where the Spirit presides and where liberty is afforded Him for the ordering of the gathering according to divine teaching, to the honour of our God, and consequently to the edification, and exhortation, and comfort, of the gathered saints.
Please read, prayerfully, the fifth chapter of Galatians in regard to the individual recognition of the Spirit's indwelling and activity, also the fourteenth of 1 Corinthians as to the recognition of His indwelling the Assembly, and the consequent order of such a gathering when saints meet together to the Name of our Lord.