5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:5-8
Philip was one of the first deacons that were chosen to assist the disciples with duties that were pulling them away from “prayer and the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6). One of the criteria used for selecting deacons is that they were required to be full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3).
Many Christians believe they were “filled” with the Holy Spirit when they became a Christian. We have spent some time discussing the fact that there is a second experience beyond salvation. The book of Acts also shows us the need to continue being filled with the Holy Spirit even after the second experience.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14
Some people have been “baptized” in the Holy Spirit and then never once looked to Him again. They will stand and testify about their experience that happened ten, twenty, or thirty years ago but have no fruit to show any evidence of their being filled with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit joined us in our salvation experience. He then empowered us with His anointing when He came upon us in the experience Jesus described to His disciples in the first chapter of Acts. We need to learn to walk with Him and to develop a dependence on Him in our daily lives. We can become so dependent on Him that we look to Him before making any decision.
Most of us are moved more by what we hear through the daily newscast and social media than by the Holy Spirit. The first place He will always speak to us is in the Word. This is why we must make time to the Word every day.
Philip was chosen to be a deacon because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He traveled to Samaria and saw almost the entire city turn to Jesus as a result of the power that flowed in his ministry.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:12-13
You will find a constant thread of experiences with the Holy Spirit if you will study the life and ministry of the men and women who have walked in the miraculous throughout Church history. This was true in Philip’s ministry and even the sorcerer Simon was converted because of it!
I have found that churches that preach against the Holy Spirit do not have miracles manifesting among their members. The Holy Spirit is key to us being able to walk in and experience the miraculous.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:14-17
The Samaritans had already believed and had been baptized by Philip. Peter and John still prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. They would not have done this if the Samaritans had received everything available when they were converted!
We see clearly in Scripture that there is a second encounter awaiting Christians after they have accepted Jesus and been born again. This is where the Holy Spirit’s anointing comes on a person. John the Baptist referred to this experience as a baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).
There is a clear distinction seen in the account of the Samaritans between being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit. You may have been taught otherwise and, as a result, been hindered from pursuing the Lord and being able to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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