{"id":32036,"date":"2024-07-30T22:00:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T05:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/acts-8_1-13-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-07-16T00:05:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T07:05:12","slug":"acts-8_14-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/acts-8_14-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Filled With The Holy Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 8:14-25\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a08:14-25.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

On verses 14-17:\u00a0 At THRIVE and the great majority of Christian churches, it is routinely taught that the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in us from the moment that we believe and trust Jesus as our Saviour.\u00a0 So why is it that in Acts 8:14-17, the Samaritan Christians already believed in Jesus and had already been baptized, but that \u201cthe Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them\u201d (v16)?<\/p>\n

One possible explanation is that verse 16 is not referring to the\u00a0indwelling<\/em>\u00a0of the Holy Spirit, but the\u00a0filling<\/em>\u00a0of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 What is the difference?\u00a0 The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the idea that when a person receives Jesus into their life, the Holy Spirit begins to live inside that person\u2019s heart, whether that person feels anything or not (1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19).\u00a0 In contrast, the filling of the Holy Spirit is an experience where the Spirit of God fills you with His power in a way that can be felt (Acts 1:8).\u00a0 As Christians we were made to have the Holy Spirit not just dwell in us, but to continually fill us (Ephesians 5:18).\u00a0 So\u00a0one possible explanation of Acts 8:14-17 is that these Samaritan Christians already had the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, but Acts 8:17 is when they first experience the filling of the Holy Spirit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Another possible explanation has to do with church history.\u00a0 Keep in mind that what is happening in Acts 8:14 is a watershed moment in the history of the church.\u00a0 Acts 2 was when, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the church, which at that time consisted entirely of Jewish Christians who already believed in Jesus and who already were baptized.\u00a0 Here in Acts 8:15-17 is when the Holy Spirit comes upon Samaritan Christians, who were part Jewish and part Gentile (non-Jewish).\u00a0 That is why some scholars call this moment in Acts 8:15-17 the \u201cSamaritan Pentecost\u201d.\u00a0 It\u2019s because\u00a0Acts 8:15-17 marks a historically significant moment when for the first time Samaritans are filled with the Holy Spirit and the apostles are there to witness it for themselves.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Later in Acts 10, we will see a third similarly significant moment when Peter witnesses the Holy Spirit coming upon Gentile (completely non-Jewish) Christians, which in a way you could say was the \u201cGentile Pentecost\u201d.\u00a0 So for the young church whose members were going to be Jesus\u2019 witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), it was appropriate and important that on three separate occasions \u2013 first for Jewish Christians, then for Samaritan Christians, and finally for Gentile Christians \u2013 the Holy Spirit comes upon each group and Peter, the leader of the church, is there to witness it.\u00a0 It goes to show that God was intentional in how He wanted to introduce the Holy Spirit to Jewish, Samaritan and Gentile people.\u00a0 It also goes to show that\u00a0the Holy Spirit does not discriminate based on race or ethnicity.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit is willing to fill every person who trusts in Jesus Christ, regardless of their background or the skin they\u2019re in.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 8:18-23 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”<\/p>\n

On verses 14-23:\u00a0 These verses are a reminder that\u00a0the Holy Spirit is not a power that you receive by paying money, but a gift you receive by faith<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Also, I\u2019m struck by Peter\u2019s words in verse 22: \u201cRepent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.\u00a0Perhaps<\/em>\u00a0he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.\u201d\u00a0 Why \u201cperhaps\u201d?\u00a0 Was Peter not sure if God would forgive Simon the sorcerer?\u00a0 Maybe Peter doubted whether Simon\u2019s previous declaration of faith and baptism were genuine.\u00a0 Through his saying \u201cperhaps\u201d Peter was possibly trying to lead Simon to a genuine faith in Jesus.<\/p>\n

Here’s another reason why Peter was harsh with Simon:\u00a0 Remember that Peter\u2019s legal name was Simon.\u00a0 So when Peter saw this Simon and rebuked him, it could be that Peter felt in a way like he was speaking to a younger version of himself, a guy who was prone to exalting himself and speaking too soon, and yet one who also had great potential to be used by God.\u00a0 Perhaps Peter was harsh with Simon because he saw the potential that Simon had and didn\u2019t want him to waste it or take it for granted.<\/p>\n

Also, if Simon was a new genuine believer who had just been baptized (Acts 8:13), this gives us one more truth to glean from this passage, which is that\u00a0being forgiven of your sins and being spiritually mature in Christ are two different things<\/strong>.\u00a0 When you first trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are forgiven of all your sins immediately, but you are not spiritually mature immediately.\u00a0 In fact, Jesus likens every new believer to someone who has just been born again, i.e. a spiritual baby.\u00a0 Being forgiven is thus the beginning of a lifelong journey of growing in your relationship with God and becoming more like Jesus.<\/p>\n

As with any child\u2019s physical maturity,\u00a0spiritual maturity does not happen overnight.\u00a0 Rather, spiritual maturity happens over time as we continue to follow Jesus, drinking in the milk of God\u2019s Word, that is, getting to know and trying to apply God\u2019s Word to our lives with the help of His Holy Spirit and His church<\/strong>.\u00a0 That\u2019s why 1 Peter 2:2 says, \u201cLike newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation\u201d<\/p>\n

Acts 8:24 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”<\/p>\n

On verse 24:\u00a0 The fact that Simon responds to Peter\u2019s rebuke by asking for prayer shows that Peter\u2019s rebuke had its intended effect on Simon.\u00a0 Simon responds with humility and teachability.\u00a0\u00a0Like Simon,<\/strong>\u00a0may we be humble and teachable in those times when people give us feedback that is not easy to hear<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Acts 8:25 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n25\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.<\/p>\n

On verse 25:\u00a0 Peter and John are so impacted by what they saw God do among the Samaritans that they go back to Jerusalem and preach to the Samaritan villages there.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s one of the great benefits of seeing God work powerfully in other places around the world; it can change your faith about what God can do in your own backyard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Holy Spirit, thank You that You are willing to fill all who are thirsty for You, regardless of our background.\u00a0 Holy Spirit, I need You so much today.\u00a0 I can\u2019t do anything good without You.\u00a0 Please come and fill me today with Your power, that I would love courageously and effectively for Your glory.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Acts\u00a08:14-25.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)
\n14\u00a0\u00a0When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
\n15\u00a0\u00a0When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
\n16\u00a0\u00a0because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
\n17\u00a0\u00a0Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
\n\u00a0
\nOn verses 14-17:\u00a0 At THRIVE and the great majority of Christian churches, it is routinely taught that the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in us from the moment that we believe and trust Jesus as our Saviour.\u00a0 So why is it that in Acts 8:14-17, the Samaritan Christians already believed in Jesus and had already been baptized, but that \u201cthe Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them\u201d (v16)?\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32036"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32039,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32036\/revisions\/32039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}