Pentecost: The Pouring Out of the Spirit

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus had ushered in a new era: the “last days.” This new period of time was the last dispensation of the administration of the covenant of grace. What Joel had prophesied so many years ago, “…it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh,” took place on the Day of Pentecost. There will be no more dispensations after this one, for then the stream of time will empty itself into the ocean of eternity. The work of creation is finished. We read in Genesis 2:1: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” When God rested on the seventh day, He ended His work of creation, and no more worlds will ever be created. The mediatorial work of the Son is also finished in His one offering on the cross, where He cried with a loud voice: “It is finished.” And even if many will say, “Lo, here is Christ or there,” believe it not; it is a lie. There will never come another Savior.

The work of the Spirit is not finished yet, for all those who, from eternity, were given by the Father to the Son, must be added to the church such as should be saved. That work of grace still continues in the hearts of sinners. The “last days” are the days of the period of time wherein the Spirit continues to complete His work, but that work also will come to an end. The last day of the “last days” is approaching, and then the Spirit will cry, “It is finished!” Until that moment the Holy Spirit is still going forth in this world, as a strong and mighty torrent, quickening and renewing. The administration of the “last days” will end in a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Dear readers, has that heart renewing work already manifested itself in your hearts, or do you still live on in the bonds of sin and death? Is your heart still being allured by the things of this world? Are you still busy building up your self-righteousness from the works of the law? Are you still ensnared in a spirit of bondage? I want to warn you earnestly, that there is not much time left because the Lord is coming, as He has promised. Are you looking forward to that time of His coming? Is it your daily cry, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly”? Heed and observe the signs of the times! Not only the world is asleep, but the church is asleep also, and she is so divided that it looks “as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.” The church shows a picture of love that waxes cold, and it evidences dissentions and the maintaining of man’s own opinions. It is close to midnight already, and the Bridegroom cometh! The last day of the “last days” is close at hand.

The Spirit has been poured out. How gloriously was that promise fulfilled! The middle wall of partition was broken down, and Jew and Gentile alike were and are redeemed and washed in the blood of Christ. From all kindreds and peoples and nations there are added to the church such as should be saved. The Jews have no advantage and there are no hindrances for the Gentiles, because there is no respect of persons in the Spirit: they all are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Spirit was poured out on “all flesh.” Three thousand people were converted on the Day of Pentecost, and later on we read that “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The closer we come to the last day, the more the Spirit of God will be grieved, resisted and quenched, which will be revealed in the rejection of Christ and in resistance against the gospel of free grace. It is the work of the Spirit to glorify Christ, and His gathering work continues.

How glorious, majestic and rich is God’s grace! “All flesh” have corrupted their ways before the Lord, and we in evil have gone astray, and sinful is our race. We came into the world without Christ, having no hope and without God, and we remain dry, barren and unfruitful in ourselves. But the Lord will send salvation, and He will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. The Spirit uses His book, the Word of God, for that purpose, and everything that is not according to that Word will not prosper. The Spirit sends His preachers out with the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, and they must preach that only Name given under heaven over the whole world. Woe to those preachers who are silent about that Name and place man in the center, for the Spirit has no work to do then, and no fruits of repentance and faith will be seen. Where the water of the Spirit touches us, death will depart. The Spirit’s work is heart-renewing, irresistible, and regenerating, quickening the dead sinner. The Spirit’s excellent and rich fruits will then be manifested: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Where the Spirit works, place will be made for the only Savior through a discovering work that removes all other grounds. The Holy Spirit brings us to the end of our own strength, worthiness and capability. But that is not all; He also brings us to Christ, and declares and applies His mediatorial work to our hearts. The Spirit gives us liberty and faith to embrace that “only Way” and to love Him above all else. He restores the broken communion with the Lord, and beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. He grants us confidence toward God because He is the Spirit of prayer, and He makes intercession for God’s children with groanings which cannot be uttered. The Spirit will guide into all truth, which is Jesus Christ, for He is the Truth. All life, from the beginning to the end, is from the Spirit alone.

I would like to lay a question before you to seriously consider. Do you live from that fountainhead? Do you live in Jesus Christ by this Spirit? There can only be life when we are touched by the flowing stream of the Spirit. And that alone is true life. There is so much life nowadays that seems to be life, but which, in reality, is not life. Many have a name that they live, and … are dead. Examine your heart whether you live in Jesus Christ by the Spirit. How dark are the times when we look at the fruits of the Spirit! Now, today, it is more necessary than ever to struggle for the Spirit in the hearts of us and of our children. His force is not abated and the river of God is full of water.

Do we have work for the Spirit? Is there a need and a want in our heart for the only power that can truly make us alive? So few children are born in Zion, and there is so much standing still and backsliding in the life of faith. How much spiritual barrenness and fruitlessness is manifested in our lives! Are there stirrings in our soul when we hear that word: “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh”? No, we do not expect a repeat of the wonder of Pentecost, but we do look forward to the south wind and the north wind to blow upon the dry garden of God’s church. May the pleasant fruits of faith, repentance and renewing be seen, and may the rich and full stream of God’s grace quicken those who are dead in sin and trespasses in our churches and families. May we be made loose from the bonds of sin and death, so that the church may blossom and bud in unity of spirit and love.

Dear readers, it is a most urgent time, but … it is not yet too late. When the Bridegroom comes, the door will be shut, and only they that are ready will go in with Him to the marriage feast. The door is still open! For how long? I do not know that, but today may be the last day.

Ascension

“I go to prepare a place for you.” — John 14:2b

With these words the Lord Jesus has given prophetical instruction of His ascension. Besides all the instruction which the disciples have received, this is for them so very necessary, especially for their life of faith, because a time would come for them that they did no longer have to live by beholding, but by faith. So it was when Christ would go to prepare a place in heaven, when He would depart from them with His bodily presence at the ascension.

Thus these words are truly an answer to the many questions with which they were occupied during the last days. The disciples were so shocked by the events that had taken place. The ascending way has now become a dark way. Full of riddles, they walked about in the world. How necessary it is to notice this, for it is also the way and leading which the Lord keeps with His own.

The heart of Jesus’ disciples was affected. Therefore He speaks to them, “Let not your heart be troubled.” It is a proof of the new life, because death knows no concerns and has no acquaintance with standing outside, and a dying life. The renewed heart is acquainted with being moved.

Here it regards the going away of Christ. The meetings with a revealed Jesus were coming to an end. There is a people who do not only come to know a coming but also a departing Christ. The way which is traveled is a way in which the Lord shall lead them to His divine goal and purpose. And that is to the glorification and adornment of the praises of God and the salvation of a child of Adam. Man, if it shall be well for eternity, has to be restored into communion with God. To that end the price for sin has to be paid and reconciliation wrought; and through that, the way of life disclosed and heaven opened, that way which we have closed by our fall and do daily close by our sins. Hence Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

Beloved reader, how necessary it is that we learn that on account of our sin and deep fall we have no place with God anymore — separated from God and therefore also from His communion. For that reason the Lord discovers to His people their breach and lost state. If this is not experienced, how then can there be a true desire after God and His communion? We have to be brought back into God’s communion.

“I go to prepare a place for you.” Therefore, Christ is not only the guilt-assuming Surety and the punishment-bearing Surety, but also the communion-restoring Surety. His work as Mediator is taking the place but also preparing the place. Through His paying the price on Golgotha, through the glory of His resurrection, He shall ascend to heaven, in order to glorify His work from the place of honor at the right hand of His Father. The heavens must receive Him. The Father has given testimony in the state of Christ’s exaltation where Christ’s work receives its fulfilment.

If it shall be well with us on the way to eternity, we have to partake of Christ. This remains true, even if we like to hear it differently and think that it also can be done differently. There are some who talk about Jesus, but do not know He becomes the property of the sinner and the sinner becomes the property of Christ. How many are being lulled to sleep by such an Arminian spirit, presently to awaken with a lie in their right hand! Christ points His disciples to the necessity of His ascension, His going away to the Father. And to that end He must be revealed unto us and become necessary for us.

May the Lord give no rest where no rest is found and cause the instruction of Christ to His own to be understood.

— Rev. M. Heerschap

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed congregation of Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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