The first thing
He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2
I was saved at a very young age, but it wasn’t until years later that I received the filling of the Holy Spirit. Sure, I received the indwelling of God’s Spirit at salvation. However, it wasn’t until much later in life that I became immersed in the power of the Spirit of God. I have talked about it some in the past, like when Jesus told the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait until they were filled with power from on high when He was about to ascend into heaven. (See Luke 24:49) Then, even though Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples after His resurrection (See John 20:22), it wasn’t until He sat down with His Father in heaven that He sent the Holy Spirit, the comforter into the world. (See John 14:16) That is when those in the upper room receive the power and filling of God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
In today’s reading, Paul found some believers as he traveled through Turkey and the first thing, he asked them was if they received the Holy Spirit since they believed. I know that a lot of Christians believe that the holy Spirit is given to us when we receive Jesus and it is true, but to receive the baptism of the Spirit of God you must invite Him in much like you did when you received His salvation. In todays reading, Paul laid hands on the Christians and they received the Holy Spirit’s filled up to the overflow. Now they had the power to be witnesses just like the first disciples did.
No, you do not need to receive the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to be a Christian. Nor do you need to be filled up to the overflow to get into God’s kingdom. This power of the Holy Spirit is for your life here in this world. To walk out your days and purpose in the power of God here in your day-to-day activities. You are going to face things in life, and you are going to meet people who need the power of God to show up for them in this world, not just after we leave here. Doesn’t it make sense to receive all that God made available for you in His redemptive plan? That is why Jesus said it was to our advantage that He go away so that the Holy Spirit could come in the fullness of the power of God! (see John 16:7)
Today I want to encourage you to answer the same question that Paul asked the believers in Ephesus. Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If you are unsure, then the chances are you have not. When you accept and receive the filling of God’s Spirit, there is no questions left about this issue. You know when you are carrying the power of God around with you. I want to encourage you today to receive His Spirit by inviting Him into your life and filling you up with His power. Then when you need that power for wisdom, strength and healing, you will have it with you wherever you go. Make God’s Spirit your priority in the new year and get filled up today. If you have never received God’s gift of Salvation, this is the place to start. Then invite His Spirit to fill you up just as He did the first New Testament Christians. I may not be able to lay my hands on you, but there were some cases in the bible where the Holy Spirit fell on people without the laying on of hands. (See Acts 2 and Acts 10) They simply believed and received. Pray this prayer from your heart and Jesus will come into your life and baptize you in His Spirit. Then you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you to be His witnesses.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I also invite your Your Holy Spirit to baptize me in Your power, to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 19:1-10
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
The Daily Dose 