It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 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.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 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.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were in all about twelve men. And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 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. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:1-10 NASB)
These ‘disciples’ knew a little about the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus, but they needed to know more. They also needed to receive the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There are people like that today. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives in different ways (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 14:1-33). ‘Speaking in tongues / other languages’ is only one of them. He also wants to bring love, joy, peace and many other good things into our lives (see Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13).
We need God’s Holy Spirit so that we can be strong followers of Jesus Christ, so that we can serve God, and so that we can build each other up in love. That is why we should never argue with people about the ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit. Just pray for each other, instead of arguing with each other.
Never argue with people about Jesus Christ if they do not want to hear about him. Show them God’s love in every way you can.
If you know people who want to receive God’s power, ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:9-13). Sometimes people start to ‘speak in tongues’, but it does not matter if they do not. The important thing is that they receive power to live a life that is good and holy and pleases God.
If you want to know more about the gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit, try to find a Christian leader in your city who can teach you. But make sure that he is a person who is full of the love of Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, and follows the teaching of the Bible. Do not choose a ‘big’ man who thinks he knows everything and thinks that he is very important.
These ‘disciples’ knew a little about the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus, but they needed to know more. They also needed to receive the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There are people like that today. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives in different ways (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 14:1-33). ‘Speaking in tongues / other languages’ is only one of them. He also wants to bring love, joy, peace and many other good things into our lives (see Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13).
We need God’s Holy Spirit so that we can be strong followers of Jesus Christ, so that we can serve God, and so that we can build each other up in love. That is why we should never argue with people about the ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit. Just pray for each other, instead of arguing with each other.
Never argue with people about Jesus Christ if they do not want to hear about him. Show them God’s love in every way you can.
If you know people who want to receive God’s power, ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:9-13). Sometimes people start to ‘speak in tongues’, but it does not matter if they do not. The important thing is that they receive power to live a life that is good and holy and pleases God.
If you want to know more about the gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit, try to find a Christian leader in your city who can teach you. But make sure that he is a person who is full of the love of Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, and follows the teaching of the Bible. Do not choose a ‘big’ man who thinks he knows everything and thinks that he is very important.
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