Well, Have You?
Acts 19.
The latter part of, Acts 18 and 19 is the document of Paul's three-year stay in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. Paul had visited Ephesus for a very short time at the end of his second missionary journey.
The apostle Paul entered the synagogue, as usual, and explained how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah as given in the Jewish Scriptures.
Paul knew fulfillment of prophecies pointed out by him from the Torah would back what God was doing in and through him and other apostles.
Remember what Peter stated in, Acts 2. Peter cried, “this is that…this is that…”, what the prophet Joel stated in, Joel 2.28.
In Acts 2, after the infilling, Peter shared testimonies, preached Jesus from the OT, All 12 disciples excluding Judas, but adding, Matheus were filled for service.
Are you filled for service? A Christian arrives in Heaven and meets the people of the OT scriptures
To Noah, he asks what it was like to be in the ark with all those animals. To Joseph, he asks what it was like to be understand dreams and be 2nd in command of all of Egypt. To Moses, he asks what it was like when the Red Sea parted. To David, he asks what it was like to take down Goliath. To Solomon, he asks what it was like to have such great wisdom. To Daniel, he asks what it was like to be in the Lions Den. As they each responded, they in return asked one question…
“What is it like to have the Spirit of God living in you?"
So now we read from Paul’s journey in, Acts 19:1-8NKJV “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all. 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.”
Upon first introduction to these 12, Why did Paul ask a question like this? Have you believed in the Holy Spirit since you believed? -Because it was that important.
Other than being saved, being filled and lead by the Holy Spirit, would be just as important.
* Paul understood that, The Holy Spirit will teach you all things, His sweet fellowship is a must for your daily life! P.H
* Paul understood that, Being filled with the Holy Spirit gives you the believer, insight, wisdom, authority, power over everything seen and unseen.
Paul preached in, Ephesians 5:18-19TPT “And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit. 19 And your hearts will overflow with a joyful song to the Lord. Keep speaking to each other with words of Scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit!”
* Paul understood that, The Holy Spirit gives ability to do the dynamic, do the powerful, walk in God, be anointed.
This I know, if you’re going to truly stay anointed, the Holy Spirit is a must.
* Paul understood that, The Holy Spirit gives power to witness.
Before I do something spiritual, I’ve all ready prayed in His power, and His persuasion.
* Paul understood that, The Holy Spirit will out last you.
What do I mean by that? As you trust the Holy Spirit, he will lead you even when you’re weak, sick, or on your deathbed.
The Holy Spirit is omnipotent-All powerful.
The Holy Spirit is omniscient. All Knowing.
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. All present!
What does that mean? He’s present for me 24-7 however, He present for you 24-7 too!
Back to the text, Acts 19.1 Notice, while Apollos ministered in, Corinth, Paul made his way to, Ephesus.
There, Paul found 12 followers of John the Baptist.
The very first thing Paul ask these 12 men is found in, Acts 19.2AMP “He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.””
Some folk believe the Holy Spirit is foreign, He adds no value, to some it just seems silly and even weird. Others laugh.
However the first means of communication from Paul to these 12 is….
“Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”
After the Ascension of Jesus, His disciples waited for the Holy Spirit for, 10 days in Jerusalem in an upper room.
It doesn’t get old to me. Acts 2:1-4KJV “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
This suddenly, changed the course of biblical history, and history in general.
This suddenly, bought with it, several spiritual truths.
1. This suddenly became the birth of the church.
Throughout history, upon any awakening of the church body the Holy Spirit is at the lead! PH
2. The Holy Spirit made weak folk strong.
Just take a look at Jesus’ 12 disciples before Pentecost, and the Acts of the apostles after the infilling!
3. The Holy Spirit amplifies and points onward to, Jesus Christ.
Acts of the Apostles 19:4 NLT “Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.””
Again, John the Baptist pointed his followers to Jesus!
He cried in, John 3.30NKJV “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
4. The Holy Spirit will become a greater force for atheist, and agnostics alike to deal with.
They might write Him off but somewhere in some season of their life, the Holy Spirit will deal with them.
5. The Holy Spirit is contagious.
Acts 19.6-7MSG “As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. 7 From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God’s actions. Altogether there were about twelve people there that day.”
“Don’t you know these former disciples of John would be a force to reckon with. They are now, Jesus agents!” P.H
6. The Holy Spirit points men and women, boys and girls to Jesus.
Colossians 1.15-20MSG We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so expansive, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.”
7. Gods word emphatically teaches His work on earth isn’t done.
Joel, and Luke the writer of, Acts state the same thing: Acts 2.19-21NKJV “I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’”
Near the end, as darkness increases, the Holy Spirit will too! PH
So what did Paul do next as he approached 12 followers of John?
Paul gave them further instruction in following Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit.
Benediction. So I’ll ask you that question again, Well, have you?
