Signs and Wonders God Wrought in the Ministry for Forty Years/Chapter 33
CHAPTER XXXIII
SERMON—GIFTS FOR MEN
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; we for the rebellious also, that the Lord might dwell among them.” Psalms 68.18.
After all the life of Jesus, after all his mighty signs, and wonders, and miracles, “Behold the Man!” “He spake as never man spake, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds, and the sea obey him?”
If he had stopped short at Calvary, or at going down into the cold grave, his work would have been a failure. Many people look only at the dead Saviour. They have only a dead religion: of form; and of works. They have no life, or power. Remember Jesus brought life, and immortality to light, to us, through the Resurrection. No, the grave could not hold him, though all hell was up in arms to hold him cold in death. A hundred or more armed soldiers stood around his grave, for fear that his disciples would steal his lifeless body away. They also sealed the sepulchre with the governor’s seal, and it was death to break that seal.
A mighty battle was fought. All the armies of heaven were engaged with the hosts of hell, in fierce array around the rock casket, or tomb, where the mangled body of Jesus, our crucified Lord, lay cold in death. Hear the demons, “We have got him, and we will hold him captive. Where is your prince? Where is your King?” But hark, listen! The battle turns, victory is near, help is coming. The Lord God Almighty is coming himself, with his great Angel, that rolls back the stone from the sepulchre and sits upon it. His countenance was like lightning, his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did quake. They fell, and lay as dead men.
God, with his mighty presence, sent a great earthquake, and with a great shout over death, and hell, and the grave, we see the Conquerer come forth, holding the keys to unlock the prison house of the dead.
We see the women last at the cross, the first at the grave. The angel said, “Fear not, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified, he is not here for he has risen. Come and see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly, and tell his disciples that the Lord is risen.”
As they went with great joy, Jesus met them, saying, “Fear not, but go and tell my brethren that I will meet them in Galilee.”
The women were commanded by the angels, and later by the Lord himself, to preach the first news of the Resurrection.
No, He is not dead. The Lord is risen indeed. Oh! praise God for a living Christ, a living Church, aad our Soon Coming King and Lord.
The graves were opened and many of the bodies of the saints, that slept in their graves, arose and came out after his Resurrection, and went into the city, and appeared to many,
The Jewish church had forsaken the Lord, and he had taken his Spirit from her. For about four hundred years she was in darkness. There were no prophets, no priests, and no communication from heaven, until the birth of John the Baptist, and Christ’s birth were announced.
It says “Many of the Saints,” many would mean thousands or more, and we have every reason to believe that most of those saints were the prophets, and priests. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; and those holy men of old, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, including John the Baptist, who had lately been murdered for Jesus’ sake.
Oh! Praise God for the resurrection of these mighty men of old. Their bodies came up, and their spirits were united to them. They were living men, breathing, and walking, and their bodies were free from corruption. See them going through the streets of Jerusalem, going from one place to another, and making themselves known.
Oh! Praise God for the resurrection of our bodies, and that we shall know each other.
Yes, the devil held their bodies captive for hundreds of years in the grave. But see the mighty Conquerer break the chains, take them captive from the devil, and from the power of the grave, and leading captivity captive, take them away to some other world, where no doubt God is using them in some great way, for his glory.
He did not take them heaven when he went, for no one had ascended to heaven. Those who are raised at His coming will be the first fruits of the resurrection. No one has ever gone to heaven yet. The spirit of the saints since Pentecost, have gone to be with Christ. Paul says, I know, and am confident that when I am absent from the body I shall be present with the Lord.
He ascended on high and gave gifts to men. Yea, to the rebels also. Jesus did not have all power until after God raised him from the dead. No one could have the gift of God, Eternal Life, until after he was born of the spirit.
Jesus has all power. He was raised up with all power. The Holy Ghost was with the disciples, but Jesus said, “He shall be in you.” When they were all together, Jesus met with them, and He opened their spiritual minds. He breathed on them, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” They received him, and became partakers of the divine nature. They received the gift of God, were enlightened, and cried out “My Lord and my God.” No one ever had that experience before that time. They were sons of God by the new birth. It was the gift of God, Eternal Life, “Yea, for the rebellious also.” This is the most important of all gifts. For without this gift you can never get inside the Pearly Gates.
When the sinner stops his rebellion, and repents, God gives him faith to accept Christ. God gives him power to become a son of God, who are born, not of man nor of the will of men, nor of flesh and blood, but by the power of God. He is then no longer a rebel, but a son, for he has received the gift of God, and has been born of the spiritual family of God. His name has been written in the family record, by the finger of God, and it has been said “This man was born in Zion.” He has the finished work on Calvary for sin, and uncleanness, and he is now a child of God, ready for any or all of the gifts of the Pentecostal baptism, and power. He is God’s man.
Jesus received gifts for men. When Jesus was giving his last blessing, on the mountain, before going up to heaven, he said to them, “Tarry at Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from come upon you. Ye shall then be witnesses of me. All power is on high. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. These signs shall follow them that believe; (all that believe on me) These are some of the gifts that I will give to men, “in my name they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison it shall not ne them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”
These were the last words our Saviour spake on earth, before He was taken up in a visible manner out of their sight. After that they got the promised baptism and greatest gift, they went forth preaching the word everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming the word with the signs following.
They could not see the Lord in person like in days past, but saw the visible signs of His invisible presence.
These signs and gifts could be seen and. heard with the natural eye and ear. Jesus was with them, with all gifts and signs, and miracles, and divers operations of the Spirit. With these he confirmed, and put his seal on the truth, and on their preaching,
At Pentecost he sent the promise of the Father. The Holy Ghost came as a rushing wind, and sat on all their heads, as cloven tongues of fire. These cloven tongues were a sign of the new tongues; they were tongues of fire, and of the Spirit. For they were all filled with the Spirit, and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It was the time of the great Jewish feast, and all the Jewish nations under heaven were gathered there, and they saw and heard the wonderful display of the Holy Ghost, and the gifts, and the glory of God.
They were amazed, saying “What meaneth this, and how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?” Jesus had sent gifts down for men and women. The Holy Ghost had come to stay. He was given now without measure.
God sent Peter down to Caesarea to hold a revival amongst the Gentiles; and while he was preaching the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word, for they spake with tongues, and magnified God.
The Holy Ghost was poured out with all the gifts on the Gentile nations, just the same as at Pentecost on the Jews. “For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Oh! Praise God, beloved brethren, that takes in you and me.
Jesus sent these gifts, with all the Pentecostal power and glory. Our bodies are God’s Power House, they are the channels for the Holy Ghost to flow out of like rivers of living water. “He spake of the Holy Ghost.” “That the Lord might dwell amongst them.” This is the sign to the lost world, that God is with us, the signs of His invisible presence. We are a people to be wondered at. “Here Father am I, and the children that thou hast given.” We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, that dwells in Zion—down here, not in heaven.
“He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. * * * He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4. 8, and 11. These imply, and include all the gifts, and workings of the Holy Ghost.
Why did he send this power and gifts to men, to his brethren, and to the church? He says for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ. To make the saints, God’s men, perfect; to lead them in the same Pentecostal power and gifts.
The ministers need it, and they must have the seal of the Holy Ghost, with all these signs, and gifts, to encourage them. They are the visible signs to the world, and seals to them, that God is with them, working together with them, confirming the word, with visible signs.
When the disciples were put into prison and their lives were threatened, on account of the great power with them, in healing, and miracles, they were forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus; for they saw the power came through His name.
They came together, and they knew it was the power of God that caused all their persecution. They knew if they had a form of religion, and denied the power, that they would have no more trouble. But, beloved, they said, “We will be true to God. We will preach the word if we die.” Then they prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant to thy servants, boldness to preach thy word, by stretching forth thy hand to heal, and grant that signs and wonders may be done in the name of the Holy Child Jesus.”
You see these ministers needed power to give them boldness to stand up for Jesus, to preach all the words of this life.
When they preached they knew they must see the signs in the meeting of the presence of the invisible Christ, who will ‘be present to confirm the word, and their message. Jesus had said, “I will be with you all the way even to the end of the age.” Then like Peter they could say to those present, “This that you see and hear and feel, it is the promise of the Father, it is the Holy Ghost.”
The Son was pleased with their prayer, and with their faith and courage, and the place was shaken—the building where they were assembled—and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word with boldness.
Beloved, see, this was a greater baptism. They needed it to prepare them for the work they had to do. After this they had greater success. God did mighty signs and wonders at the hands of the apostles; great fear fell on all the church, and on all that heard, and saw, these things. Multitudes of men and women came flocking to Christ, and were added to the Lord.
Multitudes means thousands. They came from Jerusalem, and all the cities round about, bringing their sick folk in beds, and cots; placing them along the streets, that the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow them. You see that the power went forth from their bodies, like as when Paul laid handkerchiefs on his body, and sent them to the sick, and the devils or disease went out, and they were healed.
Oh! Praise God, I am a witness to these things. We see the same thing today, some of the greatest miracles of healing, and salvation I have ever seen, have been done in the same way, hundreds of miles away. He gave gifts to men.
Read carefully the twelfth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians. Paul shows that the church is in possession of all the gifts, power, and calling and work of the Holy Ghost. That they are in the Body of Christ, His Church.
Oh! beloved, we ought to come up to this, in all places in these last days, when the Bride is making herself ready. He says he does not want us to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts: “Covet earnestly the best gifts,” “Follow after charity,” or love. “Desire spiritual gifts,” for God has set them in the church.
Gifts for the rebellious also. Thank God, the sinner need no longer be rebellious, but fall at His feet, and settle the old account. He says He has a gift for you. Oh, “The Gift of God is Eternal Life,” and then you are God’s man. No longer a stranger or foreigner, but have been brought near by the Blood of Christ. Through him we will have access by one Spirit unto the Father. You are a citizen with the saints, and of the Household of God; you are lively stones in the building that is being fitly framed together; an holy temple in the Lord.
Brother, you are a son, and an heir to all the Pentecostal | blessings, gifts, and power. Press your claims at the Court of Heaven.
Seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and power. You can be a pillar in the temple of God, in, to go out no more. Be among the wise, that shall know of the Lord’s coming. Among the wise that shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.
Let all that read this sermon take warning. “He that knoweth My will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes.”
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
I have already come;
Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.