Tuesday, April 28th

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Tuesday, April 28

Acts 19:1-10

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Several years ago a woman called me after church on a Sunday asking for an appointment. We set up a time to meet the very next day. She came into my office and sat down and almost immediately I saw tears glistening in her eyes.

She said, “I’ve been coming to your church for three weeks, and every time I walk into the sanctuary this happens. I start crying but I’m not sad. What’s happening to me?”

I asked her a couple of questions about her church and religious background then said, “I don’t want this to sound weird or scary to you, but I think what you are feeling is the Holy Spirit drawing you into a relationship with Jesus.”

Here eyes opened wide and she said, “That’s it! That’s what I want!” So we prayed together and her relationship with Jesus started that day.

Luke begins the chapter with Paul meeting some people who needed to know they could have a relationship with Jesus.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

So Paul moves into a new city and starts looking around for a place to start sharing the gospel. He finds “some disciples” who, we find out later, are disciples of John the Baptist. This means they are committed to repentance and righteousness, but that they know nothing about Jesus and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

These disciples of John might be considered the ancient equivalent of people who are “religious,” who may have gone to church much of their lives, but who have not understood what it is to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

I have heard it said, and often repeated, that Christianity, properly understood, is not a religion but rather a relationship. I also like to compare religion to a beautiful car that sits in a driveway or garage but has no gas. The car is nice to look at but it has no power to take me anywhere. The Holy Spirit is the gas in the tank of the car; the Holy Spirit transforms religion into relationship; and the Holy Spirit comes into our lives through faith in Jesus.

Some time later when Paul wrote a letter to the young church in Ephesus, he was sure to remind them of the power of the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul is teaching them, and us, that we begin a relationship with Jesus when we believe the message of the gospel; and that our relationship with him is sealed by the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in our hearts at the moment we believe.

Is there gas in your tank? Have you surrendered your heart in faith to Jesus and asked him to fill you with the presence and power of his Holy Spirit?

Have you moved from religion to relationship?

Pastor Brian Coffey