‘”And we are his witnesses of these things: and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:32. Here arises the question of a possible controversy with God. If there is any measure of rebellion against Him, that issue will have to be settled with a perfect surrender to Him. It is only as we walk in the light that we have fellowship with God and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.
Rejectors Are Not Obedient.
Here we might ask, How can His children walk in the light and be obedient, when they have not received the Holy Spirit? He told His disciples to go and make other disciples and teach them to observe all things that He had commanded them. Matt. 28:20. He had commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem until they had been filled with power from on high. Luke 24:49. This command was to be passed on to their converts, the new disciples. His command then comes also to us. It is stated in Ephesians 5:18: “Be filled with the Spirit.” Can we be obedient children and disobey that command? If the five hundred brethren by whom He was seen after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6) heard His command to tarry in the city of Jerusalem, and only 12à obeyed and received the Spirit, then 380 of them did not obey, and, not obeying, did not receive. They did not tarry as He commanded. Hence, they did not qualify to receive. No wonder that thousands do not receive the Baptism in the Spirit today. They do not obey the command to tarry until they receive.’
Source: Ralph M. Riggs; The Spirit Himself (1949); The Baptism in the Holy Spirit, How to Receive It; We Must Obey; p. 102-103.
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