4. "Pouring Forth."
"I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts ii. 17). See also
Acts ii. 18, Joel ii. 28, 29, Isaiah xliv. 3, Acts ii. 33, Acts x. 45.
From this expression we may learn still more clearly the copiousness of
the blessing.
5. "The gift."
"And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts ii. 38). See also Acts viii. 20, Acts x. 45, Acts xi. 17. From this expression may we not learn the freeness of the blessing? In this connection ponder carefully the "how much more" of Luke xi. 13.
6. "Receiving."
"And they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts viii. 17). See also, "Ye shall receive power" (Acts i. 8); "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts xix. 2); Acts viii. 15, John xx. 22, Gal. iii. 14. Floods of light will be thrown upon the whole subject if we grasp clearly the full force of this expression, "receive." "Receiving" is the correlative of "The Gift." A gift will not profit one until it is received. It is just here, at the appropriating, that we have come short. God has not failed in His "giving," but we have failed in our taking, in "receiving." "Receiving" is a distinct, definite act on our part. Have we "received"? If not, why not? God is "giving."
7. "Falling."
"For as yet he was fallen upon none of them" (Acts viii. 16). See also Acts x. 44, Acts xi. 15. From this expression may we not learn the "suddenness" with which the blessing sometimes comes, and comes consciously, too? Compare Acts ii. 2, "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound."
8. "Coming."
"The Holy Ghost came on them" (Acts xix. 6). See also Acts i. 8, John xv. 26. John xvi. 7, 8, 13. From this expression may we not learn the personality of the Holy Ghost? "Christ Jesus came into the world," and "the Holy Ghost came on them," are two parallel expressions. If Christ is here a person, why should the Holy Ghost be a mere influence?