SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:1-7
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2)
Were these disciples truly converted, or were they not yet born again?
How could they be called ‘disciples’ if they had not received the Spirit yet?
The point of these questions is to warn us against turning faith into a formula.
The Spirit of Jesus WAS present and at work in these disciples.
What they received was not salvation or regeneration – in my opinion – but manifestations of the Spirit.
The Spirit confirmed in them outwardly (prophesying in other languages) His inward presence.
Disciples in Samaria were baptized in Jesus’ Name, but had not yet received signs (Acts 8:14-17).
In Caesarea they received the sign of the Spirit before being baptized in Jesus’ Name (Acts 10:47-48).
“No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)
All of these disciples accepted the Lordship of Jesus because of the Spirit in them.
The baptism of the Spirit was an outward manifestation of an inward reality.
Should we all be seeking these outward signs?
Yes, so long as we don’t insist on what those signs have to be (ie it has to be ‘tongues’).
“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:29-31)
And in case you are wondering, the most excellent gift, or manifestation… is love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
Oh that the Spirit would baptize the church with an outpouring of love!!!
That would truly be a miracle!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, of all the signs we need as a church, we need an outpouring of love, Your kind of love. Pour out Your Spirit of love in such a way that people KNOW that we are Your disciples.