(i) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." (Acts 2:4). It is inconceivable that God will require us to give Him three -fourths of our lives and leave one -fourth to other gods. He has redeemed us with the precious blood of the cross and He is worthy that we give Him all. He gave all for our sakes, and He demands all from us. It is a normal Christian life to be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time we are born again.

This means that we should never compromise with the old nature and never allow any room for it in our daily activities, like giving in to a little grumbling, a little quarrelling, a little bad temper, a little unclean friendship, a little defiling thought, and so on. We should resist the old nature at every step. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). We should pray fervently with the longing to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with Christ, to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, with joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal. 5:22,23).

On the Day of Pentecost Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, but when he went to Antioch (Gal. 2:11), he withdrew from eating with believers who were once Gentiles. He feared the Jews and dissembled (Gal.2: 12, 13). There is no doubt that at that moment he was not filled with the Holy Spirit. Once filled does not mean always filled. So we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit again and again, and also endeavor to be like Stephen who was always filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).

(ii). "...by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt.7:20). Please remember that the shaking of the body, feeling an electric shock passing through your body, and your lips moving in an uncontrollable way, are not called the fruit of the Spirit. When you are filled with the Spirit, you will be filled with Christ and with the fruit of the Spirit. When you are born again, as a vessel your capacity will be small. Yet you must be filled with the Spirit. When you grow spiritually your capacity will increase, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit will have a greater meaning for you, and implies greater obedience in proportion to what you have received from the Lord.

(8) THE PROPHECY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET JOEL WAS FULFILLED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your son's and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:16-18). Here we have a prophecy that the Holy Spirit will be poured out, not just sprinkled; and this word "poured out" signifies generous giving to all, sons and daughters, young and old, even men servants and women - servants. This has been fulfilled from Pentecost onwards, and will continue till the Rapture. Note the words, "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved"(v.21). This is the subject of many Old Testament prophecies. This prophecy in Joel is only an example.

Conclusion:

The door of salvation was opened wide to all nations on the Day of Pentecost.

Thus we have seen what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Firstly, certain features accompanied the outpouring of the Spirit which are of symbolic significance; happened on that day, as on other important occasions, like the giving of the laws to Moses and the children of Israel, the birth of Christ, His baptism, His death upon the cross, and His Resurrection. These features do not have to be repeated in our experience today; however, their spiritual significance is true for us also.

Secondly, on the Day of Pentecost (1) the disciples received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, (2) were anointed and endued with power from on high, and (3) were baptized of the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, which is the Church. All this happens to us also when we repent and believe and are born again.

On that Day the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, but they had to be filled again and again. We also need to be exercised in the spirit to be filled. Whereas there is no exhortation to the believers to wait in prayer to receive the Holy Spirit, or the Baptism or the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, there is an exhortation to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph.5: 18). However, we have to remember that to be filled with the Holy Spirit is not a physical experience on some particular day, but it means to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5: 22). It means revealing the nature of Christ even during times of great temptation or spiritual strain.

Thirdly, all Scriptural prophecies concerning this great salvation, which God has prepared for us through
His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, were fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost and are continuing to be fulfilled in our experience also.

We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph.1: 3). May the Lord help us to appropriate all these blessings by faith, and thus enjoy our spiritual inheritance to bring glory and honor to His Name. Amen.

SECRET OF A HAPPY HOME-3-BAKHT SINGH

Scripture Reading: Eph. 5: 22,28; 6:17 1 Pet. 3: 1-7

The fourth Condition for a happy home is given in Eph.5:21. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God". Maintain divine order in your home. Those who should be respected must be respected. Those who should be honoured must be honoured. Elders must be honoured. That is God's order. If you do not respect elders, you will not enjoy divine favour. Wife should be in subjection to her husband. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Eph.5: 22). It is a simple thing but many wives find it hard to obey their husbands. We cannot change God's order. Your husband may be P.U.C. failed or B.A. failed, yet he is your husband. You must obey him, whether he is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, you must obey him in the Lord. You cannot go against the Word of God. But if the husband asks you to go with him to cinema you should not obey him. Obedience is only in the Lord. This is a simple lesson to learn. We cannot twist the Word of God. Some wives change God's order and His Word. That is why, they are unhappy in their married lives. "Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing"(Eph.5:24). Wives, be in subjection. Divine order must be maintained. In some homes wives earn As.700/- while the husband earns only As.120/-. So the wife may say, "You have to obey me, because you are earning only As.120/-. You wash the baby's napkins and I will go to the office". That is not divine order. Husband must be given the right place. He is responsible for the family. He must bear the family burden as a man. In these days many young men marry workingwomen for the sake of money. They want to be in the house to wash vessels and napkins. That is not divine order, it is man's order. They change God's order. Husband must bear the burden of the family. Then, there will be subjection and divine order.

The fifth condition is, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph.5: 25). This is a very very important principle for a happy home. It is repeated four times in these few verses (Eph.5:25,28,33). God knows beforehand that many husbands are selfish. They want good food, every comfort, every convenience and especially they want obedience from the wife but no love. They say, "You must obey, you must obey". That is all they want. They are hard-hearted husbands. They only demand certain things. Again and again Scripture says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church". How did He love us? Not because we deserved it. We had no virtue in us. We were totally ruined by sin and defilement, yet He loved us. By grace we are saved. As we came to Him, He loved us. When we humbled ourselves, He forgave all our sins and goes on loving us. His love will never change as it says in Jer.31: 3. "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee". Many husbands regard lust as love. They call it love. Do not be deceived. Do not let your lustful desires deceive you. God wants pure love coming from heaven. It does not depend upon physical beauty or qualification or position or property. It is the gift of God. The Lord Jesus Christ loved me and gave Himself for me. I can feel His presence. When I go to Him He receives me. Such a love is necessary. But I am sad to say; very few husbands have such a love. They regard lust as love. They live for lustful pleasures. That is why they do not know the meaning of companionship and friendship. "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies"(Eph.5: 28). We take much care of our bodies, especially when we are sick or have some pain in the body. Also we spend much time and take much care to keep the body clean and healthy. Even so, husband must be equally concerned about his wife. Then there will be oneness.

The sixth condition is, "For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones" (Eph.5: 30). Do all things with one mind. True spiritual oneness must be maintained by the husband and wife to enjoy divine favor in married life. There is no need to argue about anything. By praying together, you can come to one mind for all family problems. No need to waste your time in arguments for hours together. Go upon your knees and find God's will for all your family matters and problems.

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church"(v.26). The Lord Jesus Christ sought us and saved us, to make us glorious like Himself. We were ruined by sin with no virtue in us. But by coming to Him and receiving Him, we receive His life for eternity. One day we shall be like Him, having glorious, immortal and heavenly bodies. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself transfers all His virtues into us. His glory and beauty will be given to us, in the same way; in married life you can transfer all your virtues to your life -partner. By such a fellowship you can come to one mind