Before He left His disciples, Christ "breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." John 20:22. Again He said, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you." Luke 24:29. But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness. Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ. "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Eph. 4:8, 7. "Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ," the Spirit "dividing to every man severally as He will." 1 Cor. 12:11. The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God. 328

Før Kristus forlod sine disciple, åndede han på dem og sagde til dem: "Modtag Helligånden!" Og han sagde også: "Jeg vil sende over jer hvad min Fader har forjættet." Men denne gave modtog de ikke i helhedens fylde før efter Jesu himmelfart. Disciplene modtog ikke Åndens udgydelse i hele dens fylde, før de gennem tro og bøn havde overgivet sig helt til dens ledelse, men da fik Kristi efterfølgere på en særlig måde overdraget Himmelens rige gaver "Han steg op til det høje, bortførte fanger og gav menneskene gaver" "Men hver enkelt af os blev nåden givet, alt efter som Kristus har tilmålt ham sin gave, Gaverne hører allerede os til i Kristus, men det afhænger af vor modtagelse af Guds Ånd, om vi virkelig skal komme i besiddelse af dem.