Inspirational Words

From the Pastor’s Pen

Have you heard?

 

 “He said unto them.  Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?>  And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Acts 19: 2 - 5

 

After the conversion of Paul, he begins to work to bring the news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who may not have heard the message yet.

 

Acts 19:1 finds him in Ephesus in the presence of “certain disciples” of John. These represented people who had heard the message of the coming Messiah by the ministry of the predecessor of Jesus Christ.  They had received the baptism of John, but had not heard the complete story of the death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.  So, when Paul asks them about their personal experience, they give an honest and forthright answer. They have not heard the complete story, but were open to receiving the message.

 

How many people are running on a partial message?  Who do you know that has started, but has not followed to the completion of salvation?

 

Paul, after instructing them, received the results that he was expecting; they repented and were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They did not resist the news, or refuse to be influenced by it; they simply acted on the faith of the word of the one who brought the message.

 

 “Have you heard?”   Peter spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost and admonished them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…”  The Holy Ghost is a free gift to you, all you must do is receive it; Have you heard?

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