Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
How many times have you been confronted with someone who was ill or troubled and thought to yourself, “We need to find somebody to pray for this person!” The individual in front of you needed a touch of God’s power and you wondered who you knew who could pray with real authority…you know, someone who actually has power and believes in miracles. Those kind of people! And there are such people, aren’t there? But sadly there aren’t nearly enough, and they usually aren’t around when you need them.
Luke gives us a very honest report of what took place in Samaria. He says amazing miracles occurred when Philip ministered (vs 6, 7) and he tells us that Philip faithfully proclaimed the gospel and water-baptized those who believed. But he also reveals that not one of Philip’s converts received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and that it was necessary for two apostles to walk 40 miles north from Jerusalem to lay hands on these new believers so they could receive the Holy Spirit. This raises serious questions. Why didn’t Philip do that? Were the apostles the only ones with such authority? And then when we read what happened when the apostles laid their hands on them, the questions become even more troubling. Did these baptized believers not have the Holy Spirit until Peter and John arrived? After all it says, “He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized…” (v16).
These aren’t silly questions. We really need them answered if you and I are to see that those we bring to Christ have every blessing God wants for them. So let’s do some careful study, because Luke is very precise in his language, and when we look closely, solid answers are there. And those answers will embolden all of us to minister with authority.
83 - Spiritual Conversations - b
82 - Spiritual Conversations - a
81 - Paul's Hope
80 - The Gift of Truth
79 - Courageous Decisions
78 - Hearing Both Sides
77 - God's Overrulling Hand
76 - Learning To Listen
75 - Love Without Borders
74 - Repairing His Reputation
73 - Legalism or Liberty
72 - A Lonely Obedience
71 - Repentance and Faith
70 - Walk With Me
69 - Paul's Offering
68 - Dangerous Times
67 - Distracted
66 - The Real World
65 - Ministering God's Power
64 - Teaching the Word
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