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Receiving the Holy Spirit!

Scripture reading for May 30th:  Acts 19, Psalm 108, Proverbs 15

Key Scriptures:  Acts 19:1-6 “. . .Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus.  there he found some disciples.  And he said to them,”Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?”  They said, “Into John’s baptism.”  And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”  On hearing this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.”  

Paul found twelve disciples at Ephesus who had only been baptized by John the Baptist.  They had not received or heard of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  As Paul shared how John pointed all to Jesus, they believed and were baptized in Jesus’ Name.  Paul laid his hands on them and prayed and the Holy Spirit filled them with the evidence that they spoke in tongues and prophesied.  This was about 20 years after the first Pentecost.

Faith Confession:  I believe in Jesus Christ and have been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.  I have also been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  I believe this gift is for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord.

Psalm 108:5 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!  Let Your glory be over all the earth!”