"Are you seeking great things for yourself? "O Lord, baptize me with the Holy Ghost." If God does not, it is because you are not abandoned enough to Him, there is something you will not do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores the present perfection for the ultimate perfection. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy just now; He is working out His ultimate perfection all the time – "that they may be one even as We are."
We are called to do nothing but receive from Him!
Of course He will baptize us in the Holy Ghost!
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
Jesus gave His disciples the Holy Ghost even before they asked for it!
"He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22)
While Peter was ministering in the house of Cornelius the Roman, even while he was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening:
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Luke makes it very clear: "the gift of the Holy Ghost" It's a gift; therefore, all we have to do is ask, in that we simply receive!
Then what's the problem that Oswald Chambers is writing about?
The problem is a matter of belief.
If you have to ask for something, even though you already have it, then of course you will not receive it, because by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit you already have it!
Sounds confusing at first, but in reality it's all very simple. It's impossible to receive something that you ALREADY HAVE!
Therefore, it is a matter of faith, resting confidently in the word that He has expressed to us through the Word of God, communicated to us actively and constantly through the Holy Spirit.
This principle is made manifest in Mark's gospel:
"For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." (Mark 4:25)
We have it, by faith we appropriate it; if we do not believe that we have it, and therefore we "lose it", in the sense that we never use it.
"He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy just now; He is working out His ultimate perfection all the time – 'that they may be one even as We are.'"
We already are ONE with Him, in our spirit! It is our minds that need to be renewed to this reality on a daily basis! Our flesh therefore is discipline with meditating and receiving the Word of God in us, through the Holy Spirit.
Contrary to Chambers' assertion, God already has made us blessed and happy. We just have to "work it out" (cf Philippians 2:12-13). We do not create it, because all blessings already exist in the spirit realm. By faith are they made manifest to our senses.
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