Unde I can remember the wonderful leathery .. smell of my Uncle Michael’s Ford Model 1C <ie rp To casua j observer it looked like a
vintage car, but to me it was a time machine, a vehicle that transported me to the places I had read about in the Bible. As a young boy growing up in Israel in the early sixties, exploring the West Bank and the Old City of Jerusalem with Uncle Michael in his Model T was absolutely the greatest adventure I had ever known.
“Are those really skulls?” I asked, my eyes wide as saucers. Before me were row upon row of little skulls. The Greek Orthodox monastery that was the repository of these skulls maintained that they were the skulls of the precious infants killed by Herod in his mad attempt to snuff out He who was born King of the Jews. “Oh yes,” Uncle Michael replied, and then went on to tell me the terrible story of that dark night of slaughter, of the mournful cries of desolate women who would have gladly exchanged their lives for the lives of their sons. I could picture myself as one of those children, my sob-
bing mother hurled out of the way by the centurions as they came toward me with swords drawn. “Never forget from this, Benny,” my Uncle Michael said, “that though man do his worst, God’s purposes will not fail.”
I only got to see Uncle Michael and the rest of my mother’s family a few days each year. You see, we lived in Israel while Uncle Michael and the rest of my mother’s family lived in the West Bank city of Ramalah, a city under Jordanian rule before 1967. My family lived in Israel, and while we were just a few miles away from each other, we only got to see each other once a year for a few days at Christmas when travel to the West Bank was permitted. Depending on the day of the week that Christmas fell on, we had anywhere from two to four days.
The Armenians, Catholics, and Orthodox communities often celebrated Christmas on different dates. I’m a little embarrassed to tell you this, but depending on whichever date gave us the most time in Ramalah, my father (unsaved at the time) told the border guards we were either Armenian, Catholic, or Orthodox! And I must confess that I’m glad the border guards looked the other way at this.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the times with Uncle Michael. I used to dream about it months in advance. Even today I can describe his car far better than his house because our trips to Uncle Michael’s were one constant road trip.
In the early sixties when the television show “Mission Impossible” was popular in America, Uncle Michael had his own real-life “mission impossible”: cram as many relatives into the Model-T as possible (and then some) and visit as many sites in the West Bank as possible in the few days we had together.
Uncle Michael took both parts of his mission very seriously. As a result, into the Model T went Uncle Michael, my mother, my brothers Chris and Willy, my sister Rose, my three cousins—and me. Seatbeltless, airbagless, “crumple-zone-less,” careening off together through the Judean hills, an accident waiting to happen. We sang together, gossiped (in several languages at once), fought for space, grabbed for food, and yelled instructions to Uncle Michael—all at the same time. It was marvelous.
And the places we went! You see, Uncle Michael didn’t consult a travel guide to pick the places we went; he consulted the Bible. We went to Jericho, Absalom’s tomb, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha (both traditional sites), the old city of Jerusalem, and the markets. Truthfully, we explored every nook and cranny of that great and historic city. We visited Bethlehem, and not just the manger—out-of-the-way places that few people get to see. We went to all these places and more in record time, and with so much warmth and love. These memories are sacred to me.
And at every spot, Uncle Michael told us the stories in the Bible that related to the place we were visiting. Oh, it added so much depth and richness to the stories. My sense of the context for the stories of the Bible came not from a book, a map, or a chart—it came from places I had actually seen and experienced.
Through Uncle Michael, the field trips we took in school, and just living in the land of Bible, I was able to gain at a very young age an understanding of the places where the events recorded in the Bible actually happened which remains imprinted in my memory even today.
From the moment my father put me in preschool, the nuns and monks taught me the catechism lessons of the Catholic Church from the New Testament in French.
In my middle school years we studied the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament in Hebrew at the College de Frere in my hometown of Jaffa, Israel. Living in Israel, we were taught the Old Testament much the same way American history might be taught to our children. The Old Testament contained the history of our nation. This training gave me the framework on which to hang the great unfolding drama of redemption.
The School of After over a decade of Bible instruction, a
lifetime of living in the Holy Land, and my marvelous journeys with Uncle Michael, I had assimilated more knowledge of God’s Word than I realized. You could say I had mastered the Bible—but the Bible hadn’t mastered me. It was not until I was born again in Toronto that everything I had learned began to take on new meaning and significance.
Then, when the Holy Spirit burst upon the scene, the Word became like a fire that burned within me. The Bible suddenly abounded with clarity and conviction, wonder and power. I hungered to learn more than the history and geography of the prophets—I yearned to know what was in the prophets’ hearts. I could finally identify with the prophet Isaiah when he cried, “With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early” (Isa. 26:9).
As the Lord began to reveal His Word to me, I discovered that just as the coming of the Lord Jesus to
The College de Frere
earth had been predicted by the prophets, so was the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Preparing I n the Old Testament God’s Spirit rested - on specific individuals who were appointed
' to carry out the Lord’s special mission.
Some were common ordinary people and others were kings and priests. Moses knew what it was to feel God’s presence and he prayed, “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” (Num. 11:29).
The cry of his heart would one day be answered when God would send His Holy Spirit upon His people, which took place on the day of Pentecost. God began to speak in Old Testament times through His servants the prophets about this great visitation that would surely come. The Lord promised, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28, emphasis added). Then He told Isaiah, “I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring” (Isa. 44:3, emphasis added).
And through the prophet Ezekiel, who ministered later, God said: “/ will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezek. 36:27, emphasis added).
Ezekiel described an unusual vision. He saw a valley that was filled with dry bones. The Lord asked him to “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!”’ (Ezek. 37:4).
Here is what God promised. He said that He would put breath into the bones and they would once again come alive. It happened. While Ezekiel was prophesying there was a noise—a rattling sound. The bones came together. Tendons and flesh appeared and they were covered with skin. And “breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (v. 10).
Ezekiel’s vision portrayed a future event. God said, “/ will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live” (Ezek. 37:14, emphasis added).
This great event of prophecy was promised by the Lord in Proverbs 1:23: “Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you” (Prov. 1:23 Kjv, emphasis added). Note that the Hebrew word for “spirit” here, “ruach” can and in my opinion should be translated as “Spirit.”
The mighty visitation that transformed my life was also spoken of long ago by God’s Old Testament servants including Isaiah, Ezekiel and Joel. And He told Zecha- riah, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).
How would God’s word to the prophets be fulfilled? When would He send His Spirit to the world?
JeSlIS Made Regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit,
a Promise
the Lord Jesus at several key times in His
ministry told His disciples to get ready for an outpouring from above.
First, He told the disciples that His return to heaven was in their best interest. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do
not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).
There is a great reason the Lord left the earth when He did. As long as Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, was here in the flesh, He was limited in this way: only a few could know Him, hear Him, and have fellowship with Him. There were twelve apostles, but only three of them developed a close personal relationship with the Lord Jesus—Peter, James, and John. The Lord Jesus was limited by His earthly body.
The Savior also said, “There is so much that I want to tell you and show you, but I can’t.” Further, He had so much to teach them, but apart from the work of the Holy Spirit to help them understand and apply what the Lord Jesus taught, they could only learn so much.
They couldn’t bear all he could have taught them while on earth (John 16:12). He gently declared, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15).
Nothing could replace the wonderful times the disciples had with the Lord—witnessing the miracles and listening to the Master’s voice. Yet He said, “It is better for you that I go away.” Then He made this promise: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (a Comforter), that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16).
There was so much the Lord wanted to impart, but
they were not ready to receive it yet, for He said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).
I’m glad the Lord added the word, “now” Nested in this is the tremendous promise that there would come a time when they would be able to understand the transforming truths He wanted to impart to them, which took place after the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost.
When the Lord Jesus was on earth, so much of what He taught wasn’t fully grasped by His followers. There were times when He had to rebuke His listeners and say, “Why are you of such little faith? Can’t you see it? Can’t you understand it?”
The natural mind has great difficulty truly receiving the things of God. That is one of the reasons why the Lord Jesus often spoke in parables.
The Lord Jesus knew that when the Holy Spirit made His entrance, the disciples would discover more about the Master than when He walked with them on earth. The Holy Spirit would reveal the Lord Jesus to their hearts. And as a result of this, they at last would be able to receive truth, retain it, and live with the abundance of life that the Savior had for them.
Jesus our Lord made this promise: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13).
Now that the Holy Spirit has come, you and I can receive truth that many diligently sought in ancient times yet could not attain. But because of the coming of
Speaking to the “Inner Man”
the Holy Spirit, God’s truth is available to every hungry and seeking believer, truth that will fill our hearts, not just our minds.
YblI ? Ve Been When I became a Christian, my earthly . j father and I became estranged. At that
u r L * time, he could not even comprehend—let alone condone—my faith.
During those years of conflict in our home, I had only one place to turn. Through the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit my heavenly Father became real to me, abundantly providing the warmth and intimacy so lacking at home. Many times, the moment I would say the word “Father,” I would begin to weep. Through the Holy Spirit I had a growing fellowship with Him, and oh the comfort this brought me!
Even more important, I was adopted into the family of God. I began to understand what the Lord Jesus meant when He said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).
It is the Holy Spirit who changes our status from orphans to children of God with all of its rights and privileges. When He comes we begin to understand the Father’s love and His grace. Paul said, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).
Our adoption begins at salvation. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). And as a child of God I rejoice every day that I have been forgiven, reconciled, and made one of His own, for the Bible says, “he predestined us to be adopted
as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Eph. 1:5 Niv, emphasis added).
And remember, it is the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for every believer to be welcomed into the family of God.
“I Want It! It is impossible to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ unless the Holy Spirit imparts truth. The Scripture says, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:14 Niv). Lifting up the name of the Lord Jesus is not just saying, “I am glorifying You,” or, “I am praising You.” It is more than that. It happens with our actions—with every word and every deed as we live the rest of our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit, living in His truth daily. When that occurs, the world is then reproved of sin, and people come under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit because of the way they live.
The Lord Jesus also said that when the Holy Spirit comes “He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).
My friend Jim Poynter used to tell me about the great evangelists of earlier years, John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Dwight L. Moody. They carried the presence of the Lord with them in such a way that it is reported that on many occasions these men would simply walk to the platform and people in the audience would sense the piercing power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jonathan Edwards delivered his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” those listening would cry aloud, “Oh, God, deliver me!” They would literally fall to their knees begging for mercy. 1
A Burning Flame
You may feel like an insignificant candle in a giant world. But the darker the world, the brighter your light will seem, piercing the night with the truth of God’s Spirit.
John 1:5 says: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it,” (emphasis added). Now the word “comprehend” in Greek means “to seize, to grasp, to overcome, to grasp with the mind, to understand.” The idea here is darkness can neither understand the light, nor quench it. 2 The people around you in darkness will not understand you, but their darkness can never quench your light. The light has power—and you have the light.
Take heart and be very courageous: if you are the only light, people will follow you and beg, “Show me the way out.” You can lead them with authority by saying, “His name is Jesus.”
Remember, you are not carrying a candle. You are the candle. The Lord Jesus is living in you, and through the Holy Spirit there’s a brightness shining out of you.
According to my light meter, the world is becoming darker and we are getting brighter, and the Holy Spirit is the power that keeps our flame ablaze.
Someone may come to you and say, “You’ve got something I don’t have. And whatever it is, I want it!”
Rejoice—the truth is, you have Someone, not something! That’s the power of the Holy Spirit at work.
Everything the Father has, He has given to the Lord Jesus, and everything the Lord Jesus has, He wants you to have. And the only way you’ll receive it is through the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said, “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).
The Lord Jesus in this verse was telling us that we could receive nothing from Him without the Holy Spirit enabling us.
And it is because of the Third Person of the Trinity we are able to pray, “Holy Spirit, tell me more about the Lord Jesus. Show me more. Impart things I don’t yet know.”
People often wonder, “What makes the Christian life so exciting?” I believe it is because the Holy Spirit is always revealing something unique and original. It is certainly never dull or monotonous.
When the Lord Jesus was about to return to the Father, He told the disciples not to be sorrowful because of the wonderful benefits of the Spirit-filled life they were about to receive. “But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:6, 7 kjv).
The Day the Spirit Came
After the dramatic ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven, 120 of his followers gathered together in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15). They were obeying the words of the Lord Jesus when He commanded them “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).
Who were these believers? The Bible lists some of their names in Acts 1:14.
• Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus was there.
She had sensed the power of God come upon
her when Jesus was conceived, but she was about to experience the Holy Spirit in a different way now.
• The Lord Jesus’ brothers, who now believed on Him, were also there.
• Simon Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, was there, and he was about to receive the Promise of the Father.
• John, the son of thunder, the beloved apostle was there.
• Matthew, the tax collector who left his work to follow the Lord Jesus, was also there.
Who were the others in that fervent group of 120? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but I believe certain people may very well have been there.
• How could Jairus stay away? His little girl had been raised from the dead (Luke 8:41-56).
• How about Zacchaeus, the publican with whom the Lord Jesus lodged in Jericho (Luke 19:1 — 10 )?
• And Mary Magdalene who had been delivered from demonic power (Luke 8:1-3).
• And Bartimaeus, whose blind eyes were opened. How could he have stayed away?
• And so many others whom the Master had touched and healed. How could they stay away?
For ten days they waited and prayed for the promise.
Then, while they were in one place in one accord, the Holy Spirit made His entrance. It was mighty and powerful. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). Oh what a moment that must have been.
Immediately there appeared what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and sat upon each of them (Acts 2:3). “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (v. 4).
The Spirit of the Lord was poured out in full measure that day. He swept in the midst of that room like a heavenly tornado—not to destroy but to build. And the “fire” that began to descend out of that circle of wind fell upon the heads of each person and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
God joined wind and fire—the invisible and the visible—just as was promised. The Lord described the Holy Spirit as being like the wind (John 3:8) and said that the One coming after Him will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11).
Oh how I wish I could have been there to see the expressions on the faces of James, Andrew, Philip, and Thomas when that powerful wind began to blow and the fire rested over their heads. I can only imagine how they must have felt as their lives were transformed by a visitation of the Holy Spirit that day as they were gathered together.
When I reflect on the first time I was touched by the glorious presence and power of the Holy Spirit, I’m filled with such emotion for in those precious hours my destiny was changed! What an incredible experience it must have been to be gathered in the Upper Room with the 120 when the wind of the Holy Spirit began to blow and they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Author John Rea states: “Pentecost marked a new
Wind and Fire
beginning of the work of the Spirit in two ways: His coming was universal, and it was permanent.” 3
The power of the resurrection began to flow out of their innermost being like a river. They lifted their hands and voices to God and began to praise Him with other tongues. So great and mighty was the sound of that wind and the praise that followed it that all Jerusalem heard (Acts 2:5, 6).
WTiat is Pentecost happened during the Feast of „ . ~ Weeks—the fourth of four great festivals
appenmg. held annually in Jerusalem (after Passover,
Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits). Historians tell us that these important events often attracted over 150,000 people from throughout the known world. They were there “from every nation under heaven,” united by their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Acts 2:5). 4
It is thought that as many as 120,000 were pilgrims who spoke another language as their native tongue. 5 “What is happening?” the people wondered as they came running toward the sound. They were amazed when they heard Spirit-filled believers “speak in [their] own language[s]” (v. 6).
Those from Parthia said, “They’re speaking Parthian.” Those from Pamphylia said, “They’re speaking Pamphylian.” And those from Rome said, “They’re speaking Latin.”
Until this glorious moment, many of Christ’s followers had paid a horrible price for their commitment. Their Leader was crucified and they were held in disdain by both the Roman civil government and the Jewish religious government. They had been thrown out of syn-
agogues, disavowed by family members, and filled with constant fear and anxiety. But when they walked out of the Upper Room they were transformed. They began to declare the gospel with power—world-shaking power.
Peter raised his voice and addressed the crowd. “For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:15-16).
He quoted the Old Testament prophet: “ ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days,’ says God, ‘That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy’ ” (Acts 2:17-18).
Pentecost not only came after the Ascension, it was dependent on it for the Holy Spirit could not come until the Lord Jesus had ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven!
Without question, the followers of Christ greatly missed Him after His Ascension, but the Holy Spirit was everything the Lord Jesus had promised He would be. As the noted Christian leader A. J. Gordon said: “All the recognition and honor that the disciples paid to their Lord they now pay to the Holy Spirit, His true representative, His invisible Self present in the body of believers.” 6
One of the promises made by the Lord was most remarkable. He said one day, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the work that I do shall he do also;
Greater
Works?
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12 Kjv).
When the Lord says, ‘‘Verily, verily” we know He means, “Pay special attention. This is of utmost importance ”
The first thing that is of utmost importance is that the ministry of believers was to look like the ministry of the Lord Jesus. He said: “the work that I do shall he [the believer] do also.” The Lord Jesus was a man of action. He did things as He taught about them. The Word records “all that Jesus began both to do and teach ” (Acts 1:1).
The Lord Jesus taught the people and then demonstrated His authority as a teacher by the miracles He performed. It is remarkable to me that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day accepted His ability to heal but rejected His ability to forgive sin. Today it’s just the opposite: many believers who have no problem believing that Jesus forgives sin are absolutely resistant to the idea that He wants to heal His people. Yet the Bible declares that the Lord Jesus Christ is “the same, yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). And because He never changes, He is still saving, healing, and delivering His people today. For He is the God of miracles—not was the God of miracles, He still is, and because He is, miracles still happen.
The second thing that is of utmost importance is that as a result of the Lord Jesus going to the Father and sending the Holy Spirit, believers would be able to do greater works: “greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12 Kjv).
When some people read “greater works will you do” they have the mistaken notion that God is transferring
His spiritual power to them. But we do not have the ability to save, heal, or deliver. Instead, we are instruments in the hands of the Almighty and He performs the miracles.
Can I tell you something that offends and wounds me deeply? I greatly dislike it when people call me a “faith healer” or a “healer.” I want to be very clear on this point. There is only one healer, and His name isn't Benny Hinn—it’s the Lord Jesus. Regardless of whether it’s in a crusade, a service, on television, in a hospital, or even while reading this book, don’t focus on me. The Lord Jesus is the One who heals!
What “works” were done by Jesus Christ that would be superseded by His followers? Certainly it can’t be saving, healing, delivering, and setting the captives free. How could these things be done to a greater extent than the Lord Jesus did?
So since the Lord Jesus raised the dead, cast out demons, and caused a storm to cease, what is one thing Jesus Christ could not do that we can? He could not stand before a crowd and say, “Once I was lost and now I am found. Once I was blind and now I can see.”
Something Do you know what is greater than the heal- ? J) ing cancer ^ greater than command-
e an t O j n g leprosy to be cleansed? Or greater than
commanding the wind to be calm? The most pivotal miracle in God’s kingdom is the miracle of salvation. You can tell the world, “My sins are under the blood. I have been delivered.” When Peter preached this message on the day of Pentecost, “about three thousand souls” were added to the church (Acts 2:41).
The Lord Jesus could not testify of His own salva-
tion, for He did not get saved—He is the Savior. But you can testify about your salvation. You can stand and say, “Once I belonged to satan but now I belong to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
• The Lord Jesus was not lost—He was the Way.
• He was not blind—He was the light.
• He was not bound—He set the captives free.
• He did not belong to satan—He vanquished satan, for the Scripture declares, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8 Niv ). 7
And He has not chosen angels to declare the gospel; he has chosen you. Because of His sovereign choice to work through believers, God will not do it without us, and we cannot do it without Him.
The
Announce¬
ment
From the account of Pentecost we know that when the Holy Spirit arrives He announces His entry. But remember this: The Holy Spirit never announces His departure.
• Samson had great strength when he was anointed. But he disobeyed and “did not know that the Lord had departed from him” (Judg. 16:20). He lost God’s power.
• When the Lord rejected Saul as king, “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” and was replaced by an unclean spirit (1 Sam. 16:14).
• David sinned with Bathsheba and he knew the consequences. That’s why he prayed, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11).
The Scripture declares it is not God’s desire to take His Holy Spirit from us. His will is that His Spirit becomes a permanent part of our lives, and just as He transformed 120 believers in Jerusalem, He is ready to do a great work in you.