In Whom Do You Believe?

Acts 19:1-7English Standard Version (ESV)

19 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland^[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ² 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.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” ⁴ 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.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in^[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19%3A1+-7&version=ESV)

The age-old question comes to mind as we search for answers to the work of the Holy Spirit.  Do you have to speak in tongues or prophesy in order to know that the Holy Spirit is within you?  Do you have to be baptized before you receive the Holy Spirit or to truly be Saved?  Many would use this passage to argue these points.  I, myself, do not want to get into such a debate and at first I struggled with what I should write in this blog.  Yet, I see a bigger picture here than one of debate.  One that I think everyone can agree upon, at least I hope so!

As I read this passage I began to recognize that these men were followers of John the Baptist, not followers of Jesus.  I believe that happens even today.  We have some pretty dynamic speakers who talk a good talk and it would be easy to follow after them.  I have to think of the mass murder that was performed by Jim Jones who persuaded people to follow him and drink the Kool-Aid laced with cyanide, believing it would not kill them. 

It is so easy to follow dynamic leaders because we can see them, hear them, and touch them.  Yet, it is through Christ that we gain access to the Father and it is the help of the Holy Spirit that we do so.  Whether it was a Billy Graham, an evangelist, a local pastor, or a friend that introduced us to Christ, we must not worship them but worship the One that Saved us.  We cannot come to the Father except through Christ.  We cannot receive the Holy Spirit unless we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  The acts of man will not bring us to the Father but rather the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ.

As you seek Him today, remember that it is through Christ that we come to the Father, man will always disappoint but Christ will always Save us.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila