Acts 19:1-2
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Imagine if you can how you would feel if you just found out that many years ago you had inherited several million dollars but never knew about it. That would be alarming, right? But it would feel even worse to discover that I knew about your inheritance all this time, yet I didn’t say anything about it to you. If you’re anything like me, you’d be furious, and would definitely want to know why didn’t I say anything. Why would someone withhold such valuable information from a friend, acquaintance, fellow believer or anyone for that matter?
Well, I have a confession to make this morning. I don’t have information regarding any inheritance or lottery proceeds coming to you, but I do have information about something much more valuable; and I haven’t been as forthcoming as I should have been. I have important information regarding your spiritual redemption and divine adoption. I have information regarding untold riches laid up for you right now. I have, and for a long while have had, vital information concerning eternal life through Jesus Christ that I’ve not shared in its totality. I’m not proud of my failure, and seek your forgiveness. But I will rectify my error today if you will allow me.
It’s not that I don’t preach the Gospel. I preach and teach it every week. It’s not that you haven’t been getting a full serving of Christian training from me and a host of other wonderful servants of the Lord. And it’s not like you are oblivious of the Word of God and His power, grace, kindness and love. We have all that together. However, what’s missing is that there are not enough witnesses sharing their testimony concerning the Holy Ghost. And I’m one of them. I gotta do better, because everybody doesn’t know.
This scripture in Acts 19 has always intrigued me. I was taught and believed that simply saying you believed in Jesus was the only requirement for salvation. Just say the words, and magically you are filled with the Spirit, no questions asked. But this group of disciples refutes that notion. That wasn’t their testimony. They not only didn’t acknowledge receiving the Holy Spirit, they didn’t even know He existed. That put a huge whole in my home-made theology. Let’s see if we can reconcile this.
There is a stark difference in believing in Christ and receiving from Christ. We believe by faith. But we receive through obedience. When we fail to act, that’s evidence we don’t fully believe. But when we move, without evidence, in faith and trust, we establish our belief and effectively become engaged in the Spirit. It is the engagement that makes the difference. But what if you never heard the story? Is all lost?
No. You have me, and millions of others to share our personal accounts and individual stories, just like the Apostles did. Acts 1:8 records the last instructions of Christ prior to his ascension into heaven where he declares, “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 Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. This divine decree set the stage for the globalization of the Gospel of Christ, and mandate for every Believer to truly become a witness. But many have been mysteriously silent. Let’s demystify this silent treatment.
There is often misunderstanding, misuse, misappropriation and misleading regarding the blessed Holy Spirit. Some are misled to believe that people that claim to have the Holy Ghost are strange, odd, crazy and extra. They are actors and zealots. We get spooked, but his Spirit is not spooky. His presence is empowering, calming, peaceful and exhilarating beyond description. And some Spirit filled folk like to believe they are superior or more spiritual than those that have not fully heard the glorious news. Neither is the case. The Holy Ghost is for everyone and anyone. Christ was clear. You must have his Spirit if you are going to claim to be one of his own.
Now here’s the tough part. There are countless versions of the infilling of the Spirit. Accounts range from the most charismatic to the serene and quiet. Theologians have debated this for centuries. Each denomination and sect has its own take. What’s a believer to do?
Dear Children of God, I can only offer my one solution. Let’s talk. Let me share with you what happened to me. Let me testify of how Christ came into my life. Better yet, how the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, the Presence of God impacted me. Perhaps my experience is unique. Perhaps all our experiences are. But failing to share is not okay. We gotta talk.
God Bless
