Free The Communion of the Holy Spirit by Watchman Nee Page B

our consideration together today we would like to inquire into four different passages of Scripture that have to do with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. From each one and from all of them together we can perhaps draw a few conclusions and derive some spiritual principles which can help us to better understand, appreciate and experience this aspect of our Christian walk.
    Acts 2.32-41 . In reading this section of Acts 2 we must pay special attention to verse 33: “he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.” On the day of Pentecost the Lord Jesus had poured forth the Holy Spirit. What is this pouring forth based upon? A careful reading of this entire passage will reveal that it is based on the exaltation of Jesus! It is not because of our clean heart or our earnest seeking and fervent prayer, but because of Christ having been highly exalted: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Jesus both Lord and Christ” (v.36). The outpouring of the Spirit did not occur to prove man’s goodness and sincerity but to prove to all the house of Israel that Jesus is Lord and Christ. How does God prove this? The “therefore” in verse 36 connects with verse
    33. What did they see and hear? It was the Holy Spirit being poured forth. The outpouring of the Spirit of God is the evidence of the Lordship of Jesus (cf. John 7.39).
    The Spirit has already been poured forth. This is the gospel. One day, after I had explained this truth to a person in Christ, he knelt down and prayed, “Lord Jesus, You have received from the Father two things: glory is for You yourself, and the Spirit is for me. You have already been glorified, but I have not yet had the Spirit.” Then he quickly corrected himself and said, “It is not possible for anyone to say that You have not been glorified. Likewise, it is also impossible to say that I have not had the Spirit.” Immediately the Holy Spirit came upon him.
    Forgiveness of sins is based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. The outpouring of the Spirit of Christ is based on His being on the throne. This is to say that the outpouring of His Spirit is based on His glorification (compare again John 7.39). The condition for the outpouring of the Spirit, therefore, is His glorification, and not my being and doing. I have not done anything to have my sins forgiven, so I need not do anything to receive the Spirit. Let us read verse 38 of Acts 2, which says: “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The condition for receiving that spiritual gift is the same condition for receiving the forgiveness of sins. By fulfilling the condition for the forgiveness of God, we also fulfill the condition for receiving the Spirit. If I go to the store, pay ten dollars for two books and take away only one book, need I- in going back for the other book-again pay ten dollars?
    Acts 8.14-17 . This passage relates how the Spirit fell upon the Samaritan believers. People may be saved individually, such as in the case of the robber on the cross. But the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the present case is not for the individual member; instead it is for the whole body of Christ. For the outpouring is given to unite all the scattered members into one Body. It is like cement that unites the separated stones into a single construction, “for in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body” (1 Cor.12.13a). In the case of the Samaritans, Philip had not gone out to Samaria as one sent out by the Church. If the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the Samaritans at the time of Philip’s preaching to them, the oneness of the body of Christ would have been lost. The apostles from Jerusalem therefore came and laid hands on them, a procedure thus demonstrating their unity with them. This expressed the oneness of the body of Christ, and so the Holy Spirit immediately fell upon the