Spirit Baptised: Devotion 2

In Acts 8, we read that the persecution of the church in Jerusalem by Paul caused the believers to be scattered, but they continued to be witnesses of Christ wherever they went.

In Samaria, Phillip, not one of the 12 apostles, proclaimed the gospel and signs and wonders accompanied his preaching. Many believed the good news that Philip proclaimed and were baptised.

Reflection Questions

Q1a: Who is Philip? What was he tasked to do? (see: Acts 6:1-7)

Q1b: How was Philip transformed from one tasked with a mundane ordinary task to one that led a revival in Samaria with his preaching and the miracles that followed? 

Phillip’s success led to the apostles in Jerusalem to send Peter and John to Samaria. In verse 15, it is recorded “When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit” and when they laid on them, the Samaritan believers received the Holy Spirit.

Reflection Questions

Q2a: When we lead others to Christ, what do we usually do or say? Is praying for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit an important part of our practice? Why or why not?

Q2b: Peter and John prayed for the believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Do you think it is possible for believers not to have received or be baptised in the Holy Spirit?

One of the Samaritans who was baptised, and followed Philip everywhere, was Simon the Sorcerer, a man who amazed the people of Samaria with his magic. He must have seen Phillip perform many miracles, yet when he saw Peter and John laying hands and the Spirit was given, he offered them money to buy this ability. We can only presume that what occurred to the Samaritan believers when they received the Holy Spirit impressed him even more than his own miracles or what was done at Philip’s hands.

In the next few weeks, we will read about instances where people were baptised in the Holy Spirit. Do take note of how this was manifested.  

Reflection Questions

Q3a: When we pray for people to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, do we expect that they will have a supernatural encounter that will be amazing and life changing?

Q3b: Is it biblical to have such expectations?

Simon was willing to pay money so that others could receive the Holy Spirit when he laid hands on them. Peter rebuked him and pointed out that his heart (or his intentions) were wrong.

Reflection Questions

Q4a. What are our intentions when we seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit or to pray for others to receive the Holy Spirit? Pray that God will expose any desires within us that do not bring glory to him.