Receiving the Holy Spirit Part 3 – Special Efforts – Through the help of Apostles and Elders (1)

2. Is the Holy Spirit received through the help of Apostles or Elders of the Church?

(Part 1 – Three Examples)

Some other examples that are misinterpreted and misused to try to prove that the Holy Spirit is received separately, and not immediately on believing on the Lord Jesus, are:

·         The people of Samaria receiving the Holy Spirit through Peter and John (Acts 8:14-17);

·         Peter going and preaching in the house of Cornelius – a gentile, and those gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts chapters 10, 11);

·         The disciples of John the Baptist receiving the Holy Spirit through Paul (Acts 19:1-7)।

Here too, if we be careful to not fall into the same two errors in interpretation, then it becomes clear that these examples too are not in any manner teaching that the Holy Spirit is received separately, or by some efforts, or by the mediation of some servant of God – do take note that in each of these three situations not even one single person receiving the Holy Spirit had ever made any request or prayer to receive the Holy Spirit, nor did they make any special effort or say some special prayers for it; and neither did any of the Apostles or disciples of the Lord ask them to express any desire to receive the Holy Spirit। They all received the Holy Spirit from God spontaneously; and not because of any pleadings by them.

There was only one person who had asked this special gift of giving the Holy Spirit to people be given to him – Simon the sorcerer of Samaria, although he too had allegedly believed and taken baptism, so to say, (Acts 8:13) but he had not actually received salvation! And Peter severely condemned this desire of his, saying that his heart was not right on this, and asked him to repent and ask God to forgive him (Acts 8:18-23). Other than this one person there is no other person who has ever made a special request to receive the Holy Spirit, and neither has there been any Apostle or disciple who has ever given this teaching or instruction to make some special efforts, or special prayers, or to tarry to receive the Holy Spirit! This simply is not a teaching of the Bible.

- To Be Continued

Next: Some other teachings to be kept in mind here