Acts 18:23-19:7 "Paul's Third Missionary Journey Begins"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 18. We are looking at Acts 18:23 - 19:7.

Last week we finished Paul’s Second Missionary Journey which ended in Acts 18:22.

The following verse… V23… where we pick up today starts Paul’s Third Missionary Journey.

I have a slide outlining Paul’s three Missionary Journeys…

Some consider his voyage to Rome as a prisoner a 4th missionary journey since Paul was always on mission.

For you note takers, we’ll leave this slide up for a minute as we recap last week.

Paul was in Corinth in the Roman region of Achaia (today Southern Greece)… where he went to preach Christ Crucified.

There he met the Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla and they became friends and colleagues with Paul in the tentmaking trade.

Once Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth, it seems Paul was able to devote himself to full-time ministry because Silas brought financial aid from Philippi.

It’s always a blessing when Christians support other Christians called to missions work or full-time ministry. And, that’s what Philippi did for Paul.

After some time, non-believing Jews in Corinth opposed and blasphemed the message of the Cross.

So, Paul shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads, I am clean. From now on I will go the the Gentiles.”

Paul’s job as a watchman was done. He let them know the truth, and they rejected it.

Which was a reminder to us that we hold a responsibility to tell people about Jesus. What they do with the Gospel… accepting or rejecting… is on them. Prayerfully they accept.

After Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and many Corinthians believed… the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision… to assuring Paul NOT to be afraid, and NOT to keep silent… “for I am with you.”

A message that God has reiterated to His people since the OT… and His presence in our lives has NEVER ceased… and NEVER will.

And even as Paul was brought before the Roman Governor… charged with teaching an illegal religion… God’s words were true… the case was dismissed… nothing to fear.

After 18 months at Corinth, Paul left briefly went to Ephesus… and they longed for him to stay longer, but Paul’s eyes were set on Jerusalem to keep the coming feast… perhaps Passover.

And, after Jerusalem, Paul returned to Antioch in Syria ending his Second Missionary Journey in Acts 18:22.

Paul’s third missions trip starts out right… with receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit… and there’s no better way to begin a missions trip then with the power to be a witness through the Holy Spirit.

Our title for today… “Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 18:23 “After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”

Let’s pull up a map of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey.

Paul had spent some time in Antioch in Syria… which became a headquarters for Christianity… along with Jerusalem.

No doubt Paul… upon returning to Antioch spent time there sharing the many testimonies from the 2nd Missionary Journey.

When my family returned on furlough from the Philippines… we visited various churches and our sending church… and they wanted to hear about the work God was doing in the Philippines.

And, sometimes they would ask, “Did you eat the Stinky Fruit?” Durian.

And, yes I did… Kyla and I loved it in fact.

Sometimes after church we would have 15 or more people in our SUV… no joke… and I’d stop by the market and sneak a Durian in the back…which Amanda noticed in seconds… she REALLY loved it when I did that as expressed by her saying, “Oh Marc!”

Well, after connecting with the saints at Antioch (A on the map)… Paul travelled north and would pass by his hometown of Tarsus in Cilicia.

We know he passed through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia on his was to Ephesus.

Paul would need to eat and rest, so he naturally would stop by cities… likely he would return to the same cities in Galatia where he planted churches on his first and second missions trip.

Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch… not just because this is logical, but also because at the end of V23 we read the focus of the missionary journey… “… strengthening all the disciples.”

On this Third Missionary Journey, Paul was not focused on planting new churches… he was focused on strengthening all the disciples.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, in Matt 28:19-20, He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

“Make disciples” is the imperative… the command… and the three participles “Go, baptize, and teach” describe HOW we make disciples.

This is exactly what Paul was doing… this was a Missions Trip focused on Discipleship… which Paul did by going to them… and teaching them about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit… which we will see shortly.

Making strong disciples has sadly taking a back seat in many churches, as many churches deny the power of the Holy Spirit.

The baptism in the Great Commission is not just about water… it’s about power to be witnesses. It’s about the Holy Spirit.

I don’t know how you make strong disciples without the Promise of the Father…

We will see this as we enter Acts 19… Paul obviously took this seriously, because his first order of business in Ephesus is Baptizing them with the Holy Spirit.

But, first… a little parenthetical on Apollos…

Acts 18:24-28 “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.”

Enter Apollos. What do we know about this man?

First, he is a Jew, so he is permitted to speak in synagogue, as we see in V26.

His name is of Gk. origin (after the Gk. diety Apollo) and the name means “destroyer.”

He is from Alexandria, which helps understand why he was eloquent and had a good grasp on scripture.

Alexandria was founded in 332 B.C. by Alexander the Great, and was one of the greatest cities of the Mediterranean world during this time.

Home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria… one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World… as it was one of the tallest manmade structures in the world with a height of approx. 330’.

Alexandria was a center for Greek scholarship, science, and free thinking… it formerly had one of the largest libraries in the world.

The Library of Alexandria held hundreds of thousands of scrolls… estimates range from 200,000 to 700,000 scrolls.

In 48 B.C. the Library was destroyed accidentally by fire during Julius Caesar’s civil war. Popular opinion blames the Romans… though some suspect either Christians or Muslims to be the culprit.

While the Library was gone during Apollos days in Alexandria… a research institute remained.

So, with this quick glimpse into Alexandria, hopefully you get a better picture where Apollos came from… a major scholarly city that no doubt influenced Apollos to be a serious scholar in the scriptures.

And, what a description of Apollos “...an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures...”

If you were to be known for something… it’s not too bad a thing to have a reputation for being well-versed in scripture and having the skill to articulate God’s word clearly to others.

Not that is was a good thing, but it’s not surprising that later in 1 Cor Paul mentions there were those in Corinth would would say, “I am of Apollos.”

He had a following… as did Peter, Paul… which Paul rebuked for following any man over Christ is carnal. I hope you’re not here for me. Don’t be.

Fortunately, Apollos encountered Aquila and Priscilla before he went to Corinth because they discipled him to the full picture of Messiah.

And, you get the sense of his strength and what Apollos was lacking as you look at V25.

Apollos “had been instructed in the way of the Lord...”

By whom we don’t know, but it’s always a strength to have someone in your life that will serve as a guide.

We read he was “fervent in spirit.”

Fervent lit. means “to be hot, to boil.” He was passionate or enthusiastic about the things of God and telling others what he knew.

Another strength. We should all be fervent in spirit regarding God’s word and telling others.

Apollos also “spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord...”

Certainly a strength. This is something that weighs on me each week and why I study God’s word before I teach God’s word.

In 2 Tim 2:15, Paul instructed Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It’s no small thing to handle the word of God… in fact James warns in James 3:1 “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

When I die, I fully expect to stand before the Lord to give an account for all of my teachings… all of the words I have said to represent God and his word.

I told a guy I went to church with that he would do a great job teaching and he said, “No way because of James 3:1.”

It’s serious. Any of you who desire to teach… Don’t overlook that verse.

A couple verses that don’t weigh too heavy on me are Acts 20:26-27 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Since we teach chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse… line upon line, precept upon precept… I know we will teach the whole counsel of God…

From Genesis to Revelation… I’m not sure we’ll finish before the Lord returns, but we’ll teach faithfully until that time.

Back to V25… everything was good about Apollos and his approach, except he was lacking or deficient in that “he only knew of the baptism of John.”

All that John the Baptist taught was all the information Apollos had.

Apollos preached about repentance… making a u-turn from the things of the world and turning to God.

John the Baptist said, “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’”

Get your life in order… get your heart prepared for the coming King.

A true message still today as Jesus is coming back.

John also made these statements, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” and “...this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’. .... “this is the Son of God.”

Apollos may have even believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, but he did not fully understand in fullness Jesus’ death, resurrection, or the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Apollos’ message about Jesus was incomplete.

And yet… that didn’t stop him from sharing what he knew. Even the partial truth about Jesus was too good for Apollos to keep to himself.

I love this about Apollos. He took what he knew and he shared it.

If you only have a few loaves and fish… just give it to God… He can use that.

Apollos shared what little he had, and he did so with enthusiasm and accurately… and God multiplied it.

This tell me that you don’t need an M.Div. to share your faith and the Gospel.

We learned last week, we are watchmen… we are responsible to tell people the truth of the Gospel…

Apollos was a good watchman.

That’s what we see in V26… in the synagogue… he spoke boldly about repentance and turning to Messiah.

Then, one day Aquila and Priscilla heard him… they recognized his message was lacking information about the ministry and promises of Jesus and so…

THEY PUBLICLY REBUKED HIM! No… they were respectful in their approach, “...took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

Apollos needed to be discipled and taught, so tactfully… some translations say Aquila and Priscilla “invite him to their home” to give him the full picture.

They had a good approach… and Apollos had a humble heart.

He wasn’t prideful, but received from Aquila and Priscilla.

There’s a lesson for us in how to approach people… and there’s a lesson for us in receiving correction when we are off doctrinally.

We also read of no issue of Apollos receiving from Priscilla… a woman. But, we also read that she went with her husband. Priscilla doesn’t approach Apollos alone.

They had good boundaries… spiritually teaching together.

And, physically protecting their marriage.

Boundaries are wise for married couples and single couples alike… you can find yourself in a bad place quick otherwise.

After receiving full instruction from Aquila and Priscilla… Apollos desired to cross from Ephesus to the region of Achaia to the city of Corinth… now with a complete knowledge of God.

He also left with a letter of recommendation and Apollos was used mightily in Corinth.

V27 beautifully states, “… he greatly helped those who had believed through grace...”

Apollos helped the people of Corinth… who first heard from Paul…

Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1 Cor 3:6)

Paul planted the church in Corinth and Apollos watered it.

And, Apollos planted the church in Ephesus, and Paul watered it.

Interesting, how the Lord uses His people.

Apollos “… helped those who had believed through grace...”

Does this mean Apollos helped through grace?… or the Ephesians believed through grace?

I like to think both… there was grace all around… in grace they believed… and in grace he instructed…

And he would need grace to teach in carnal Corinth.

And this is a reminder… How important is it for us to have love and grace for one another?

I promise you that we will fail one another.

I’m going to mess up. You’re going to mess up. So let’s be in good practice of exercising grace with one another.

And, as gracious as Apollos was to the church, V28 shows another side of Apollos, and in part how he greatly helped the believers… “for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.”

Apollos publically debated non-believing Jews and he did so vigorously or powerfully… no doubt he was now empowered by the Holy Spirit…

Acts 1:8 states, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I don’t know how Apollos could live out V28.

And probably similar to Paul… Apollos would demonstrate from the OT Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ… the Messiah.

This was a time of impact and blessing. I can’t wait to hear more in glory.

Now we come to Chapter 19… Apollos is at Corinth, and Paul arrives at Ephesus.

Acts 19:1-3 “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus.

This journey of Paul passing “through the upper regions” seems to indicate Paul travelled an inland route along mountainous terrain.

The first leg of the journey would have been through some mountains and valleys… it would naturally take Paul from Antioch in Syria… to Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch (as mentioned earlier)… re-visiting and strengthening the churches from his first 2 mission trips…

Then, the Second Leg of the Journey would take Paul through mountain passes on a continued inland route… this is probably what is meant by the “upper regions.”

And, along that route are a couple cities you should recognize… Colossae where Paul addressed his epistle to the Colossians. And, Laodicea… the lukewarm church in Revelation 3.

We don’t have record at this time that Paul spent time here or for certain that he even visited these cities at this time, but passing through would have been a logical route.

Finally, Paul arrives in Ephesus.

The city that Paul visited at the end of his second missionary journey in Acts 18:19. The city that asked him to stay longer after he reasoned with them… they were open minded… this was an open-door and they had open-hearts.

Paul said to the Ephesians, “I will return again to you, God willing.” And, God was willing.

Since all of Acts 19 focuses on event in Ephesus and since Paul spends 2-3 years here… let’s get to know Ephesus.

Ephesus was the most important Roman city of Asia Minor… Under Augustus in 27 B.C.it was made the capital of Western Asia… making it the seat of Government and a major commerce area…

Ephesus was situated on the Aegean Sea and had one of the busiest seaports in the Roman Empire… making Ephesus a wealthy city.

The Roman historian Strabo said this city was second in size only to Rome, with population estimates ranging from 60k to 200k people.

It’s history goes back to 10th Century B.C., but it’s Golden Age was very much during the Hellenistic and Roman Eras.

You can visit the ruins of this city still to this day, and see the temples to Julius, Domitian and Artemis, the Amphitheater designed to hold 24,000 people , stoas, the marketplace or Agora, the Library of Celsus, and so forth.

Ephesus was an advances city. It’s Aqueducts well-supplied the city with water.

Water was collected in cisterns and distributed throughout the city through clay pipes. Homes were supplied with water and there were public fountains and bath houses.

There was a massive Temple to Artemis or Diana which was another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World… we’ll talk more about this at the end of Acts 19 when Demetrius the Silversmith stirs up the city against Paul.

It’s here that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. Ephesus is where Timothy held his first Pastorate (according to 1 Tim 1:3).

And, tradition holds that John the Apostle moved to Ephesus with Mary the mother of Jesus before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

So, that’s a quick overview of Ephesus… an important and well populated Roman City… just the kind of place Paul liked to plant churches.

And, indeed Paul will be successful in planting a church, and they would grow and hold true to holiness, but they also would have a problem.

The church in Ephesus is called in Rev 2 “The Loveless Church.”

Jesus in Rev 2:2-5 addresses that church stating “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

This is a good lesson for any church… works, holiness, purity, perseverance, patience… all good things.

But what good are these if take our eyes off of Jesus… if our hearts… our love shifts from love for God to anything else.

Ephesus would eventually be guilty of leaving their first love.

Continuing on in Chapter 19… end of V1 to V3… Paul came to Ephesus…

“And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” [note that… they previously believed in Jesus Christ] 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.”

Paul encounter some disciples and he notices something is lacking in their life. They’re essentially in the same condition as Apollos… prior to Aquila and Priscilla explained “the way of God more accurately.” Acts 18:26

Maybe they were taught by Apollos… and only knew of John’s Baptism.

Luke, titles these people as “disciples” and Paul’s confirms they believe, yet…

They said they had not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.

They were DISCIPLES… enough to believe and be saved… but they did not know all Jesus did for us… died, buried, rose again… and especially His promise to send the Holy Spirit upon His ascension.

And, so Paul steps in. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to the dryness of their spiritual walk… He doesn’t say, “stinks to be them.”

He loves them enough to get up in their business and not leave them in their present state.

Paul asks, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

This should not be interpreted as Paul asking about their salvation… they are disciples… they believed.

And, any sinner who expresses faith in Jesus receives the in-dwelling Holy Spirit during the moment of Justification. You are the temple of God.

This is NOT Paul’s question. He is asking about receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

And, if we see someone suspect of lacking this baptism, we need to be in the habit of asking them this same question.

These first 6 verses in Acts 19 are difficult to interpret outside the scope of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

For a more in depth study on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, check out my Acts 1 Sermon entitled “The Baptism With The Holy Spirit” which you can listen to on our App.

Just so you are aware, depending on a scholars view on spiritual gifts and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit… there are several interpretations of this passage today.

This is a problem passage if you are a cessationalist or deny the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Even though the Baptism With The Holy Spirit is an experience Jesus CLEARLY discussed during His ministry (Jn 16:7)… titled by name in Acts 1:5… described in Acts 1:8… and that which the Apostles experienced at Pentecost in Acts 2.

But, what do we know?

Now, despite a variety of interpretations of VSS 1-6… fear not… today we are only presenting the correct interpretation.

Though, I’m a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinion… even if they’re wrong.

A quick review and reminder about the Baptism With the Holy Spirit… in various verses… there are 3 prepositions that describe where the Holy Spirit is in relation to people… depending on their position in Christ.

In Gk. these prepositions are para, en, and epi. In English, with, in, and upon.

The Holy Spirit is “with” unbelievers… doing His work of regeneration to point them to Jesus.

He dwells “in” believers (which seems to be the case in V2)… once that person expresses faith in Jesus.

And, He empowers believers for ministry, coming “upon” the believer… which is what the disciples in V2 are lacking.

Why does Jesus call this third experience a “baptism?”

Because in water baptism you are immersed, and come out of the water… shake off like a dog… and start hugging people. And, what happens? You get people wet with the substance you were baptized with… water.

When you are baptized with the Holy Spirit the same thing should happen. Anyone who comes in contact with you should “get wet” not with water, but with the overflow of the Holy Spirit.

So, in V3, Paul seeks clarity… if they were not Baptized with the Holy Spirit… “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

They understood Jesus was the Messiah and they had to turn to Him in repentance. They did this much in faith, just as Apollos had done…

In Mk 1:8 John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John’s baptism was with water addressing the issue of repentance.

In Acts 1:5 Jesus said, “...for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus’ baptism was with the Holy Spirit addressing the issue of power (Acts 1:8).

Believer’s must be empowered with the Holy Spirit… otherwise they are dry and powerless to be effective witnesses for Jesus.

Look at the order in Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The disciples could not be effective witnesses to Jesus until they had been Baptized with the Holy Spirit… until they had been empowered.

And, this is what Paul is driving at… this is what Paul knows the Ephesian disciples need.

Chuck Smith once equated the Jews wandering in the wilderness… the ones who died and never entered the Promised Land… to modern day Christians who never receive the Baptism With the Holy Spirit.

Which Jesus titles, “the Promise of the Father” in Acts 1:4.

How did Caleb and Joshua enter the Promised Land? By faith. Num 14:8

How does one receive the promise of the Father… the Baptism With The Holy Spirit?

By faith. Believe and ask. Matt 21:22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

In the Parable of the Good Father, Luke 11:13 Jesus concluded, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Ask Him… and in faith receive the Promise of the Father… your Christian walk does not need to be dry… you can enter the modern day promised land.

This is why Paul was pressing into these disciples… the question in V2 was important then… and it’s important today…

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

Well, now that Paul has diagnosed the problem… a lack of power… now he presses into the cure…

Acts 19:4 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.”

A reminder from Paul that when John baptized with the baptism of repentance, he also told the people to believe on the One whom he was the forerunner for… Jesus… the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

This is the only instance of one being re-baptized in the NT…

This is not baptism unto salvation… they were already disciples… yet they get baptized again which makes sense in the context… especially as we read V6.

This second baptism is not odd to me because this happened to me as well.

I was saved in 1998… full immersed baptized in 2006 only as a public declaration of my faith.

But, then in 2012 at a baptism… the Lord impressed upon me, “You need to put to death the old man and you need to get baptized again.”

I submitted… was re-baptized and was Baptized with the Holy Spirit.

And, that’s what happens to these disciples in Ephesus… look at V6…

Acts 19:6-7 “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.”

Just a beautiful beginning to Paul’s Third Missionary Journey… beginning with disciples being empowered to be Witnesses… making powerful disciples through the Holy Spirit’s baptism.

Which is clearly indicated by the preposition “upon” in V6.

Some observations before we close… some people say the in-dwelling and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit happens all at once, but this is not always so…

As seen in Act 8:14-17 “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

In that passage we see there is diversity in HOW the Holy Spirit operates.

Sometimes the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is subsequent to salvation… as in Acts 8 or here in Acts 19… and that’s fine. God works in diverse ways.

Also, in Acts 8, there is NO mention of sign gifts. But, here in Acts 19 they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Again, there is diversity in HOW the Holy Spirit operates as 1 Cor 12 teaches.

1 Cor 12:4 states, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

After listing the gifts, in 1 Cor 12:4 Paul states, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

In 1 Cor 12:29-31, Paul asks, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

Which leads into the famous “Love Chapter” because we must exercise love knowing the Holy Spirit has diversely gifted us.

1 Cor 13:4-5 states, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful...”

And, maybe as you look over that list, you realize your own lack… your own deficiencies, just as Paul recognized the lack and deficiencies of these disciples in Ephesus?

And, if you don’t love like this… if there is no expression of spiritual gifts in your life… no victory over sin… no power to be a witness for Jesus… no hunger for His word…

And if so, I must ask the same question as Paul, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

In Jn 7:37-38 Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Living water… torrents of water that flows from the Holy Spirit inside you out to the world around you.

Living water is water with a current… flowing water.

Is that the depiction of your Christian walk? Or, is your Christian Walk more like a stagnant pond?

No one want to drink from stagnant water.

In John 4:14 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

What a promise! And, some of you are half way there… you have the Holy Spirit in you… you’re saved.

Now you just need to let Him out of you. Be a fountain of water. Can other people come to you and drink of the Spirit?

If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of these things… do what the Ephesians did… and pray with me after we close to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Let’s Pray!

If you have never asked for this life changing gift of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit… stop walking in the desert…

Your Christian Walk does not need to be dry. I’m going to head to the back now, and you come see me… if you want to ask for the promise of the Father today.

God has good gifts for you… so ask in faith, and ‘ your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit’ to all of you who ask Him!

Come pray with me now.