I. The Word: Acts 19:1-6

1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2And 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.” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4And 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.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

II. Reflection Questions:

• Would you consider yourself a close-fisted or open-handed person?
• Can you be a disciple without the Holy Spirit?
• In all your studying and contemplating of scripture, do you ever just think “God, You are so mysterious!”

The Holy Spirit is mysterious, and we should not hold back from Him based solely on a lack of understanding. In this passage, we find Paul on his third missionary journey. He arrives at Ephesus after Apollos had just been through.  The Book of Acts describes Apollos as a man mighty in scriptures and fervent in spirit (Acts 18:24-25). The disciples in Ephesus had not even heard of the Holy Spirit, but had been baptized in John’s baptism, which was the teaching of Apollos. The disciples heard and then received the Holy Spirit.

When I read this I empathized with the disciples in Ephesus immediately. I grew up in a church where the Holy Spirit was talked about in hushed tones and referenced much like the creepy uncle of the Trinity. Discussion of the Spiritual gifts brewed an attitude of suspicion within me. Unlike the disciples in Ephesus, when it was revealed to me that I had received the baptism of repentance, but not the Holy Spirit, I became defensive. I did not like the idea that I had not checked off all the spiritual requirements (as if there were such a thing).

I was so close-fisted in my approach of the miraculous. I had decided that before I could come with open hands before God, I must have a complete grasp of the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit (which of course is a contradiction). I eventually frustrated myself when I could not get to this place of full understanding. I finally relented and opened my white-knuckled fists to the Holy and incomprehensible God. Then the next time I heard an invitation to receive the Holy Spirit, I arose from my seat and the Holy Spirit fell on me. [There were obviously more factors that pushed me to break through that mindset. If you would like the full story, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.]

Many times following that moment I couldn’t believe that I had spent so long in ignorance of the power of the Holy Spirit, and resenting the leaders that walked me through the foundations of my faith. However, when I think of the  path walked by the disciples in Ephesus, they did not point back at Apollos to blame him for their lack of understanding. Even Paul says “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). In the commentary margins of my NASB Bible, it says that the teachings of Apollos were “preparatory and provisional.” Therefore we cannot discredit, resent, or forget the journey it took for us, or anyone else for that matter, to arrive at the moment the Holy Spirit came upon us. The process was preparatory and provisional.

If you are like I was, and you are waiting in the hopes that you will eventually fully understand the ways of God before you can decide to go deeper in your faith, let me tell you now, this is futile. We serve far too great of a God for Him to be comprehended.

“Refuse to be content on just the knowledge of God, but insist on experiencing His presence.” -Kerri Williams

Prayer

Jesus, I thank you for taking on the cross so that I can have direct access to you. Oh God, would you create in me an eagerness for your truth? Would you impart boldness in my life? Holy Spirit, you are my advocate and my helper; help me when I want to sit in my own ways, however spiritual they may seem. Lord would you push me past my own understanding and into the joy of your mystery. My hands are open, God; use me.

In Jesus Name, Amen.