THE ACQUISITION OF THE HOLYTHE ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRITSPIRITTHE ACQUISITION OF THE HOLYTHE ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRITSPIRIT

THROUGH THE AGESTHROUGH THE AGESTHROUGH THE AGESTHROUGH THE AGES

Acts 8:14-19Acts 8:14-19

Miracles did occur.

To try to explain them away or minimize them is but infidelity.

Our real objective is to develop a better understanding of the Holy Spirit’s purpose, then miracles tend to make more sense.

Does anyone have that power today?

Some Initial Observations:

Joel prophesied that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28).

Peter declared that is what was happening on the day of Pentecost which was the fulfillment of the above promise (Acts 2:16-21).

Jesus told His apostles (Acts 1:2) to wait in Jerusalem to “receive power when the Spirit has come upon you...” (v.5).

On the Day of Pentecost “there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they (apostles) were filled with the Holy Spirit...” as Jesus promised (Acts 2: 2-4a).

The Role And Purpose Of Miracles:

1. They were used to confirm menconfirm men of God.

Visions to Abraham, Jacob & Moses (Gen. 15:17-20). Moses and the burning bush (Ex. 3). Aaron’s rod budding (Num. 17:8).

2. Used as a means of judgment and means of judgment and chastisementchastisement upon the wicked.

The plagues upon Egypt to release the Israelites (Ex. 8-12).

Falling of walls of Jericho when Israel was rejected entrance into the promised land (Josh. 6).

3. Miracles were used to deliver deliver individuals and groupsindividuals and groups of people.

Daniel and friends were preserved from the fiery furnace and lion’s den (Dan. 1-6).

4. Miracles of divine visions were used by God to reveal God’s willreveal God’s will and purposeand purpose for His people.

Occurred in Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7, and Isaiah 6.

5. Jesus used miracles to prove Hisprove His MessiahshipMessiahship.

He healed the blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and raised the dead to make John the baptizer aware that He was the “Coming One” (Lk. 7:18ff).

Signs were the sufficient proof that He was the Messiah, the Son of God.

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:30-31).

6. They were used to confirm the Wordconfirm the Word of God as being genuine and authentic.

Paul’s apostleship was confirmed through “signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Cor. 12:12).

Healing of the man at the temple gate gave credence to Peter, John, and the gospel (Acts 4:16, 22).

Phillip’s preaching to Samaritans was confirmed by healings (Acts 8:6, 13).

7. God used miracles as a means of caring for His peoplecaring for His people.

Paul and associates were saved from a shipwreck as well as from the viper’s bite (Acts 27-28).

"And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses” (Num. 27:22-23).

8. Conference of God’s powerConference of God’s power upon another to accomplish His cause.

Moses, as a priest, laid on hands to pass on what he already had.

GODGOD

“When he had been baptized,Jesus came up immediately from

the water; and behold, the heavenswere opened to Him, and He saw theSpirit of God descending like a doveand alighting upon Him” (Mt. 3:16).

Jesus Was Given The Spirit WithoutMeasure (Jn. 3:34).

Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:28-20).

He would be a child of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Highest (Lk. 1:35).

Jesus became “strong in spirit… and the grace of God was upon Him (Lk. 2:40).

Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Mt. 3:15).

He was baptized and the “Spirit of God” (Holy Spirit) descended upon Him like a dove (Mt. 3:16). “Then Jesus, being

filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...” (Lk. 4:1).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Lk. 4:17).

John said that Jesus would “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk. 3:16).

Two Forms Of Imparting The HolySpirit: Baptism Of Holy Spirit; Laying On Of Hands.

We will look at Holy Spirit Baptism in a future lesson.

Today, we will explore transference of the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands.

Miraculous Powers Of The Holy SpiritWere Imparted Through No Other WayThan Apostles’ Hands.

Since no one today has had apostles’ hands laid on them, miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit do not exist.

Note two examples that necessitated the presence of apostles:

Peter & John Sent To Samaria (Acts 8). Philip had been

preaching and doing a good job (v. 5).

Multitudes heeded the spoken word (v. 6a, 12).

“Hearing and seeing the miracles which he did (v. 6b).

He could do miracles, but could not impart them to those converts.

The apostles sent Peter and John from Jerusalem to pray for them “that they might receive the Holy Spirit...they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord ... then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (vs. 14b-17).

Simon wanted to buy the power “that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (v. 18-19).

The Laying On

Of

The Apostles’ Hands

Was The Means

Used For

Administering

The Holy Spirit

Keep in mind that first century converts had no written copy of the New Testament to equip them for preaching and public worship!

Converts At Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7) Paul came to Ephesus, finding

disciples, asked if they had yet received the Holy Spirit since they had believed.

They had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.

They had been baptized by John’s baptism unto repentance (v. 4).

They were rebaptized into the name of the Lord Jesus (v. 5).

Paul laid his hands on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied (v. 6).

There were about 12 of the men in all (v. 7).

Apollos was at Corinth but could not help with laying on of hands for he was not an apostle (v.1).

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” (1 Cor. 12:8-10).

The word of wisdom The word of knowledge Faith Gifts of healings Working of miracles Prophecy Discerning of spirit Different kinds of tongues Interpretation of tongues