TUESDAY March 28, 2023

Holy Spirit’s Power

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17

The apostles heard that a great work of God was happening in Samaria. They sent Peter and John to the area. Knowing there were new converts, the apostles recognized the need for these believers to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. How else could they combat Satan and their own sinful desires? The apostles prayed, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Through the laying on of hands, at the point of physical contact, there was evidence that something miraculous happened. The believers had an “upon” experience––the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

There are three prepositions in the Greek language for the Holy Spirit’s work. First the “with” experience. This is when the Holy Spirit comes alongside a person to convict them of sin. Jesus told His disciples that when He departed, the Holy Spirit would come. Notice His work:

...the Helper [the Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7-8).

Second, there is the “within” experience. When a person accepts Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit makes His home “within” them:

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23).

Third, the “upon” experience is when the Holy Spirit empowers a Christian to be a witness for Christ:

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Amazing, Amazing!

There is not a better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.
~D.L. Moody~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!