WEDNESDAY - August 19

Read. Acts 19:1-7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took a route through the interior and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you came to believe?”
They replied, “We’ve not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 Then he said, “What baptism did you receive, then?”
They answered, “John’s baptism.”

4 Paul explained, “John baptized with a baptism by which people showed they were changing their hearts and lives. It was a baptism that told people about the one who was coming after him. This is the one in whom they were to believe. This one is Jesus.” 5 After they listened to Paul, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in other languages and prophesying. 7 Altogether, there were about twelve people.
Reflect. Paul arrives again in Ephesus, this time he will stay for a while. When he arrives, he encounters some new disciples, and he asks them about the Holy Spirit. Evidently, they do not have an understanding of the Holy Spirit, and this seems similar to what Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos. These Christians knew about Jesus and God’s message of living differently; however, they didn’t yet receive the freedom and power that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

• When Paul baptizes them in the name of Jesus and lays hands on them, the Holy Spirit falls on them in much of the same way that the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers in Acts 2. 
• In William Barclay’s Daily Bible Study we read, “the incident shows one great truth—that without the Holy Spirit there can be no such thing as complete Christianity. Even when we see the error of our ways and repent and determine to change them we can never make the change without the help which the Spirit alone can give. (p.142)”
• Reflect on how the Holy Spirit has enabled you to follow the will of God more closely. In what ways are you faltering in living the path of Jesus. How do you need the Holy Spirit in your life today? 

Pray. Pray the prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.” Amen.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. John. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr. Smith family.