“So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied … On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:3-6
Who exactly is the Holy Spirit and what happened to these disciples as Paul prayed for them? That’s today’s topic. If you’re like me, it was hard at one time to explain very much about the third person of the Trinity and the SIGNIFICANT role he plays in our lives. But make no mistake about it, the Holy Spirit’s importance is HUGE! That’s actually why I decided to do a new video series called “He Is Fire” that will help you understand him more. In fact, one thing many people don’t know is that there is a difference between the role the Holy Spirit plays in our being SAVED for eternity and our being FILLED for service in his kingdom. God Spirit actually does both. If you are a believer in Jesus, you have been “saved” or transformed in your heart by the Spirit. This is called being born again. It’s the reason we have faith in the first place. Did you know you can’t even have faith (which pleases God) without the help of the Spirit. In Romans 10:17, Paul explained a principle of Scripture that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” In other words, someone has to regenerate our spiritual ears. Someone has to make us alive in order to “hear” God’s message and believe. That’s why your salvation is such a miracle. It didn’t come from you. Not even a little bit. It came when God’s Word (the Gospel) hit your heart, made it alive and breathed faith into your spiritual lungs. This is always how people have been saved. In the Old Testament, Moses referred to this event as our “circumcision of heart.” (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Romans 2:29). However, in addition to this new nature God gives us a special privilege as believers who live AFTER the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2. From that moment on, he pours out his Spirit on everyone freely, not just on a select few priests and prophets like he did under the Old Covenant. That experiential filling and empowerment is what came upon the disciples as Paul prayed for them. It was a new thing that was distinct form their salvation. Have you ever experienced this kind of “filling?” God wants you to. And all you have to do is ask. When we’re filled with the Spirit like this we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and we demonstrate God’s character in our actions towards others. Yet we also literally “feel” the Spirit in our bones transforming us for ministry. When you receive this filling you may ever speak in other tongues or say something to God and people through prophecy. So ask God today and he will do it!
Application: Have you ever had an encounter with the Holy Spirit? Describe it.
After studying this topic, do you feel it’s important to be filled with God’s Spirit? Why?
If you have never done so, or even if you have, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you for life and ministry right now!
