Scripture
Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit
Observation
The gospel comes with power to Samaria. Many people are converted because of the signs of power being manifested including a sorcerer named Simon.
The apostles go to Samaria to check out what is happening there. They discover that people have not received the Holy Spirit so they lay hands on them for this purpose, and they receive the Holy Spirit.
Simon sees this phenomenon and, acting on the only paradigm he has known, he offers Peter money for this gift of imparting the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes him and Simon repents.
Application
Becoming a follower of Jesus does not guarantee that a person has the Holy Spirit. A whole group of people decided to follow Jesus, yet it took a separate act by the apostles, the laying on of hands, to impart the Holy Spirit. How did observers know that these people had received the Holy Spirit, Pentecostalists would say that it must have been speaking in tongues or something equally spectacular to have driven Simon to want to pay for the gift of impartation.
The other thing that is passage shows is that being a follower of Jesus does not bring instant holiness. The values and character of God take time to soak through our heart and we need to be constantly repenting of false values.
Prayer
Come Holy Spirit. Fill all of your people. Let there be a daily filling for all of your people. Amen.
Very interesting. I always thought the holy spirit came automatically.
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