“The Spirit of God was poured out upon Christ Himself, in answer to prayer (Luke 3:21–22):
‘Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove, upon him; and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.’
The Spirit descends on the church of Christ, the same way, in this respect, that it descended on the head of the church. The greatest effusion of the Spirit that ever yet has been, even that which was in the primitive times of the Christian church, which began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, was in answer to extraordinary prayer.
When the disciples were gathered together to their Lord, a little before His ascension, ‘he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which’ (saith he) ‘ye have heard of me,’ i.e., the promise of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4).
What they had their hearts upon was the restoration of the kingdom to Israel: ‘Lord,’ (say they) ‘wilt Thou, at this time, restore again the kingdom to Israel’ (Acts 1:6)? And according to Christ’s direction after His ascension, they returned to Jerusalem, and continued in united fervent prayer and supplication.
It seems they spent their time in it from day to day, without ceasing; till the Spirit came down in a wonderful manner upon them, and that work was begun which never ceased, till the world was turned upside down, and all the chief nations of it were converted to Christianity.
As there is so great and manifold reason from the Word of God, to think that if a spirit of earnest prayer for that great effusion of the Spirit of God which I am speaking of, prevailed in the Christian church, the mercy would be soon granted; so those that are engaged in such prayer might expect the first benefit.
God will come to those that are seeking him and waiting for him (Isa. 25:9 and 26:8). When Christ came in the flesh, he was first revealed to them who were ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel,’ and ‘looking for redemption in Jerusalem’ (Luke 2:25, 38).
And in that great outpouring of the Spirit that was in the days of the apostles, which was attended with such glorious effects among Jews and Gentiles, the Spirit came down first on those that were engaged in united earnest prayer for it (Acts 1:14).”
–Jonathan Edwards, Apocalyptic Writings: “Notes on the Apocalypse” An Humble Attempt, ed. John E. Smith and Stephen J. Stein, vol. 5, The Works of Jonathan Edwards (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1977), 5: 355-357.
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