By Andrew Williams
Acts of the Apostles 8:17 NLT- Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Good morning fellow disciples.
After the death of Stephen, Phillip the evangelist went to Samaria and preached the gospel. He also performed many miracles and cast out many demons. After a while the people accepted the gospel.
Acts of the Apostles 8:12 NLT- But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
However, even though they believed, were baptized in water, and were being discipled by Phillip, they had not received the Holy Spirit.
Acts of the Apostles 8:15-17 NLT – As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Note that they asked God to give the new believers the Holy Spirit, then, when they touched them, they received the Holy Spirit!
In this account we see the believers in three phases of their discipleship walk:
1. Accepting the gospel and becoming believers,
2. Believers baptized in water, and finally
3. Receiving the Holy Spirit.
Which phase do you fall into?
If you have not received the Holy Spirit as yet or you are unsure if you have already received Him, let us ask God so that you can receive Him.
Prayer: Father God, we ask You to fill us with Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name. Pour out Your Spirit upon us, we are ready to receive Him. Amen.