When does a believer get The Holy Spirit? Or does someone get The Holy Spirit before they become a believer? Does a believer get it when they are baptized? I wonder how many conversations have come to elevated vocal tones over these questions. I think about how many Churches have split because of differences in the views of this topic? I get upset thinking about how many Churches won't work together because they cannot agree on some of these much debates questions.
In Acts chapter 8, the mystery of the gospel is revealed and spoken to the people of Samaria. The people of Samaria heard the gospel, believed in Jesus and were baptized and yet Peter and John travel to see them so they could pray for them so that the people of Samaria
"might receive the Holy Spirit for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." v.15-16
After Peter and John lay hands on them the people receive the Holy Spirit. Later on in Acts 10 Peter gets a vision to go see a man named Cornelius. Peter goes to him and begins to teach all that the Holy Spirit was leading him to say,
"While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" v. 44-47
For me, the reality is I don't know when someone receives the Holy Spirit. I am also beginning to realize that for me it can become a fun debate of sorts but in the greater scope of things it almost doesn't matter. What truly matters is being able to tell if someone does or does not have it. It is quite amazing to me that Peter, through the Holy Spirit was able to decipher who did and did not have the Holy Spirit. I would argue that Peter and the disciples knew the Holy Spirit so intimately that they could recognize when it was not present in the lives of others. Let me try me absolute best to give you a metaphor that might explain my though slightly better.
I love my wife Hannah. I would tell you with all honesty that I know her better than any other human being on this earth. Yes, I have barely scratched the surface of who she is, but I do know her deeply. I can tell you when she is in a room. Her voice is captivating and I can recognize it in a crowd without any hesitation. Consider how much I know my wife....now if I was in a room full of people and I began talking about my wife, it would be a matter of moments before I could point out with precision accuracy who in that group of people knows my wife and who doesn't. I know my wife so intimately that I recognize the people who do not know her.
I want to know the Holy Spirit with a deep intimacy and dependance. The Holy Spirit was so active in prevalent in the lives of the people He inhabited that they witnessed signs and wonders everyday. Think about that...they saw signs and wonders! As I read those I began to ask myself when the last time I saw signs and wonders...not just once, but all the time. They saw them so much so that it almost seems as though it doesn't even amaze them, but on the contrary they are continually amazed. It makes me wonder the increasing wonders God did that methodically captured their hearts and souls.
I want to see God move so badly in this generation! I so deeply believe that the Church is God's agent for change in this culture and in the global scale, and my desperation to see The Holy Spirit consume the Church is growing faster and faster. I await the day I too can see signs and wonders to the glory of praise of Jesus Christ!
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