Part one of a four-part series highlighting a selection of Sister Aimee’s famous messages:
Although there were but 12 apostles, Jesus had many disciples and followers. These disciples He commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel, but He bade them tarry first in Jerusalem until they should be endued with power from on high. Appearing to many after His resurrection, He reiterated His command: “Go, but tarry until you receive the Holy Spirit whom I shall send you from My Father above” (see Acts 1).
There were a faithful few, about 120, who were simple enough to believe the Lord implicitly, take Him at His word, and make haste to Jerusalem, there to tarry until the Comforter should come. Have you ever tried to picture that little company hurrying along the streets toward the upper room, filled with but one idea, one longing—to receive the Holy Spirit?
Can you not close your eyes and picture Peter hurrying around the corner, a light of expectancy and hope in his eyes? Someone may have stopped him and said, “Peter, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“I am on my way to the upper room to tarry until I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“Why, Peter, you don’t mean to say that you need the Holy Spirit! Have not great miracles been wrought at your hands? Did you not preach throughout the land for Jesus? Were not the sick brought unto you, and did not the demons go forth at your command? Surely you are mistaken. You do not need the Holy Spirit.”
“Oh, yes, I do. There is such a lack in my life. Did you not hear how I denied the Lord? Failed in the most crucial testing hour. I need the Holy Spirit.”
What a procession they must have made, that little 120! Yonder goes Mary Magdalene. From the other direction come James and John. But hark—again I hear voices and the tread of feet upon the pavement, and round the corner comes Mary, the mother of Jesus.
“Why, Mary, thou pure virgin, surely you do not need the Holy Spirit, you who were so consecrated and abandoned to the will of God. Do you really mean to say that you feel the need of this baptism of the Holy Spirit?”
“Yes, never did I feel the need of the Comforter as now that Jesus is gone unto His Father. But even outside of my feeling the need of the Spirit, the command of my Lord would be enough for me. He said that I needed the Spirit; and surely Jesus knows best.”
Believer, are you tarrying before the Lord for the promise of the Father today? Have you come to the end of yourself, empty, cleansed, humble, low under the precious blood of Jesus? Are you waiting with prayer and supplication as did those Bible saints of old? If so, the Lord will meet you quickly. God’s time is now. It is not His will that you should wait until some vague tomorrow for His Spirit.
Have you failed in the past? Have you at times denied your Lord just when you should have stood most true? Do you feel your need for strength and power? Does your soul cry out for a greater revelation of Jesus and His Word, for a greater vision and a broader horizon? Then tarry until you are endued with power from on high.
Have you been used mightily in the past in soul-winning? Have the sick been healed? Have you, like Mary of old, sat learning at the feet of Jesus? If so, thank God, but you, too, like Peter and John, Thomas and Bartholomew, with all the other apostles, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and the other women and their brethren, need the Holy Spirit. Oh, how you need Him.
Doors are opening just before you. The land of Canaan—a new land, a land of power and glory, lies just beyond. Jesus is coming soon. The message must be spread broadcast, and souls gathered in before His appearing.
He is calling you to go, preach the gospel, witness to all about you—go, but tarry until the Holy Spirit has come in to abide. Go, but tarry first in Jerusalem until you have been endued with power from on high.
Part one of a four-part series highlighting a selection of Sister Aimee’s famous messages:
