Receive

  

DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

RECEIVE

Acts 8:14-17

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

NIV

With the new Church based on the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, the stigma of Samaria disappeared. Although those stuck in the old ways still held contempt and even hatred toward the Samarians, Christ's followers exhibited love toward them. Philip had been there and preached the good news about Jesus. Perhaps some of them were witnessed to before by the woman who met Jesus at the well of Jacob, but the miracle of faith in Jesus was a result of the testimony of Philip, along with the miraculous signs God did through him, and many were freed from evil spirits and the crippled and paralytics were healed. Baptism was a natural result of their new birth, they're being born again, waiting to follow Jesus. It was a thrilling time in the new church, with so many new believers and when the Apostles heard the news of what was happening, they sent Peter and John to them. Here we see another natural experience that follows the new life in Christ. Both the baptism of water in the name of Jesus and the baptism in the Holy Spirit should follow when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is interesting that Luke makes this point that Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the people received the Holy Spirit. This may give us some clue as to whether this baptism or this receiving the Holy Spirit is an event altogether separate from accepting Jesus and being baptized in water. Receiving the Holy Spirit can only be done if one is offered the Holy Spirit. The very meaning of the word “receives”, which in Greek means to take hold of, to claim, along with a varied application of taking hold or claiming. However, in the truest sense of the word, we cannot take hold of something, or claim something as our own, if we are not offered it, for otherwise it might be seen as theft. We cannot steal the Holy Spirit, nor claim Him without being offered to receive Him. Peter and John offered those new believers the Holy Spirit, laying hands on them and at once the Spirit came upon or within them. They experienced something new, something more than faith in Jesus, but an actual inner firsthand knowledge of the presence of God within them. The power of God was now coursing through them and their new life was complete, although they still had much to learn and grow, now they had the power of God to work in and help them in their new life. Here we see receiving or being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not automatically done, just because we believe in Jesus. We must reach out and receive Him as He is offered to us. We sing that song, “Come Holy Spirit, fall on me now”, which certainly indicates we are seeking His presence in us after we accepted Jesus. He has come upon and within us and we are so thankful for his work in our lives, and how he manifests himself through us, yet have we availed ourselves of all His power? Have we given him permission to do mighty acts, signs, and wonders through us? Are we holding Him at bay, or holding Him back in any way? If so, it is time to let go and receive all He has to offer.