God the Spirit

Acts 19:1–10 NASB95

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men. 8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Disciples

Acts 19:1 NASB95

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

Disciples: pupils, students, followers.

Matthew 28:19 NASB95

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

If you can make it....it’s not that special.

Get people to follow your teaching.

Lead people to repentance.

Example: They believe there is no God. You lead them from where they are to where you are.

Paul’s approach to the Jews was completely different than his approach to the gentiles in Athens.

Acts 19:2 NASB95

2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

God cannot ask a question to which he doesn’t know the answer.

Adam- Genesis 3:9 Where are you?

He needed Adam to realize positionally where he was with God.

Paul is not God.

Paul may have suspected, but didn’t know if they had received the Holy Spirit.

1 Samuel 16:6–7 NASB95

6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Paul asks

Acts 19:3 NASB95

3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Baptism: immersion

Immersion language training.

Paul was making a play on words.

Acts 19:4 NASB95

4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

John was changing peoples minds. Jesus was changing peoples hearts.

Acts 19:6–7 NASB95

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.

In research for this message I like to challenge what I think I know. I like to intellectually and spiritually test what I think I know.

One teachings I ran across used this text as a proof text for two, what I believe are false doctrines.

In order for us to receive the Holy Spirit a Overseer (Deacon) must lay hands on you.

This example

The Samaritans

If you haven’t received the Gift of Tongues, then you haven’t received the Holy Spirit

This example

Day of Pentecost.

Here is our tendency: especially with teaching we like:

We take the rare and make it normative. Example: In Matthew 8:8 a Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus healed him and commented on the Centurion’s faith. Therefore, if you have faith, then God will heal everyone you asked to be healed.

Acts 19:7 NASB95

7 There were in all about twelve men.

How do you know if you have received the Holy Spirit?

1. Tongues: It was an outward manifestation: It was a sign for others.

It is a miracle: A suspension of the natural laws.

It was a foreign language.

1: Promise

Ephesians 1:13 NASB95

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

2: Transformation:

Titus 3:4–6 NASB95

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

3: Increase in the Gifts of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

4: Leading of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:14 NASB95

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

There will be an outer mark

Revelation 7:3 NASB95

3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Revelation 14:1 NASB95

1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

John 20:29 NASB95

29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”