Did You Receive?

Acts 19:1-2

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

It grieves me to know so many good brothers and sisters in Christ who have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.

I can’t help but think of when Paul was describing for Timothy what mankind would be like in the last days, he listed a long list of troubling characteristics, and ended it by referring to those who “have a form of godliness, but deny its power.” See 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Could Paul have been referring to a large segment of true believers who are saved for eternity, but not experiencing much of the abundant life available to them right now (see John 10:10) because they do not acknowledge the very power they need?

When we get saved, we are not expected to just hold on for the rest of this life on earth waiting for Heaven to fulfill us. No, eternal life began the day we gave our heart to Jesus, and we can receive the gift of empowerment by the Holy Spirit in order for us to be overcomers here and now, and continuing throughout all of eternity.

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Tell the Father you want to understand more about His Gift to you in the form of His Holy Spirit. Ask Him to empower you to be an overcomer today.

Dive Deeper: Study Acts 19; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; John 10:10.