S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #12 February 12, 2024 “Receiving the Holy Spirit For Power and Witnessing.”
S. Acts 19:1-6 (NIV) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
O. Paul encountered some disciples in Ephesus who had not heard that there was a Holy Spirit. They knew of John’s baptism. Perhaps they had not followed Jesus closely. It’s possible they believed in Him but had not walked closely to experience all of His teachings. I note that still happens today.
It is unclear (to me) if these disciples were baptized then by John only or if they were baptized again in Jesus’ name (I favor the re-baptism thought). But also – they received the Holy Spirit for empowered living and witnessing (as those did at Pentecost).
A.I recall receiving Christ early in my life. But I did not follow the Lord Jesus in baptism until years later. However, in between those two events, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit which has given me much more boldness, power and faith.
P. Thank you Lord for giving me the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to continue to advance the Kingdom of God with boldness and power. In Jesus’ name.
