We are going to wade further into a topic today, picking up where I left off in yesterday’s message, and it's one of those subjects that can take off into so many directions. I would even hint that all the assorted teachings on this subject might resemble one of those ‘spaghetti models’ the weather people display when they want to show where a potential hurricane’s path might take.

So let’s make a deal- I won’t try to force any particular ‘angle’ or ‘doctrinal opinions’ on you if you will just be willing to look at and examine some  Bible verses I share with you here today...yourself. I’m quite confident that the Holy Spirit is better suited to ‘teach you all things’, and not only sort it all out, but also confirm to you what is truth, as it ‘bears witness with your spirit’. (Acts 17:11;John 14:26; 16:13). And we will begin in Acts 19.

It was a remarkable question Paul asked of those ‘disciples’ whom he first encountered upon his arrival in Ephesus. Talk about ‘cutting to the chase’- “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (2)

I say ‘remarkable’ because the very fact that Paul would even ask such a question should give us pause, since so many people are simply told that ‘when they believed’, or maybe as they were baptized in water...that was when they automatically 'received the Holy Spirit’. I would beg to differ. You don’t receive something just because someone else told you that you ‘got it’.

Does anyone else ever get annoyed when someone asks you for a receipt or some important document, or maybe your spouse needs the credit card they insist they ‘gave you’, and you look at them and inform them that you don’t have it because nobody gave you anything? It happens...at church too.

I think overzealous church workers would do well to hold off trying to 'convince' new converts they now ‘have it’, whether they are talking about receiving the Holy Spirit, or even ‘salvation’ for that matter. Who are we to tell someone they are ‘saved’ now because they ‘did such and such’. Why not leave that up to God to bear witness with their spirit confirming what they have or don’t have? That blind man in John 9 did not need public approval nor a deacon-board vote to confirm he had been healed by Jesus. He KNEW what happened to him, despite the skepticism among the religious crowd who eventually kicked him out of church (9:34).

So back to Paul’s meeting with those certain disciples in Ephesus, where after he asked them about whether they had ‘received’ the Holy Spirit or not...’when they believed’; and they answered him by saying they had not even ‘heard whether there is a Holy Spirit’. (Acts 19:2). Fair enough. It would seem that if something that significant had taken place, they’d known without a doubt and would have assured Paul they had indeed 'received it'. So Paul then inquired about their water baptism (3) to which they mention having been baptized by John (the Baptist).

We’re told there was about a dozen men with whom Paul was speaking to (7) and Paul wants to bring them up to speed on needing water baptism 

'2.0' that a believer in Jesus should undergo. Notice here that Paul does not shame them or belittle them for what they may be lacking. Nor do we read where they resisted him because ‘that’s not the way they were taught’. Any true disciple of Jesus will ‘walk in the light’ they have...until they are given more light (1 John 1:7; John 16:12-13; 3:21). And remember...none of us have it all figured out yet.

So...“when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (5-6). Interesting account there, is it not? So let’s turn back to Acts 8 now.

We read how a ‘great persecution arose against the church’ and many were scattered out of town with some ending up in the regions of Judea and a deacon named Phillip went down to Samaria ‘preaching everywhere’ (Acts 8:1,4-5). I love the contrast here where we just read they get run out of town due to persecution (not wanting to hear their message so they are attacked)...to now “the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip...” (6). It’s always nice to speak to a receptive crowd, trust me on that one. :- )

Now take a look at what is happening in the midst of these folks- numerous miracles are taking place, unclean spirits, some crying with a loud voice, are coming out of people who were possessed (by demons)...many who were paralyzed and lame were healed, and there was great joy in that city” (7-8). Almost sounds like a ‘revival’ of sorts, but clearly...the Spirit of God was working among the people there, would you not agree? And for those who were schooled that ‘only the 12 Apostles did works like those’, it would seem that deacon Phil did not get that memo.

Now here’s the important part we need to see and acknowledge. We are told in vs. 14-17 that when some of the apostles back in Jerusalem heard what was happening in Samaria, they sent Peter and John down to them and they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He has fallen upon none of them for they had only been baptized (in water) in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then, they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Friends...it is quite evident that the Spirit of God was working among the people there in Samaria. We can’t even come to God unless His Spirit draws us (John 6:44; Acts 16:44) which that in itself... can be problematic for skeptics who'd rather argue about such things. And while there were healings taking place, demons being cast out of people, and an abundance of joy was being experienced among the people, not to mention many being baptized in water...did you catch that part where the Holy Spirit had not yet ‘fallen upon any of them’ (16)? How could this be? Sounds to me like there was something...’more’ to be experienced or ‘received’? Let’s finish up with some words Jesus spoke back in John 14:15-18.

Jesus told His followers...”if you love Me, keep my commandments...and the Father will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world can’t receive Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells WITH you...and WILL BE IN you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” 

 Oh, one last thing- what did Jesus tell them to do before they went out and started to share the gospel? It was one of the last things He spoke to them before He ascended back into heaven. Go read for yourself in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:5,8). I’ll meet you back there tomorrow, Lord willing.