Carla

There is a reason that Jesus told His disciples to wait for the indwelling of Holy Spirit. He is the power to accomplish in our walk with God what we are not able to do in our own will.  Jesus did not leave us alone.

Christ within is our strength, our hope. He takes the things of  Jesus and teaches us His ways.

We make feelings our false Holy Spirit.

Feelings are wonderful indicators, reminding us to turn to God and let Him direct our desires with His best provisions. But feelings should never be dictators to get our unmet longings and desires met however we see fit.

What happens when the King is absent? There is chaos.

What does all of this mean for us today? We need rescue. We need a king. But we aren't kingless like the people in Judges. We need the righteous ruler who will right all wrongs, direct and protect us, and redeem and restore all things … King Jesus. And we have the assurance of knowing this eternal King.

Oh, friend, let's not be people ruled by our feelings. Let's trust our King. Let's follow Him. Let's live by the Truth of His Word and become people with true strength residing within. First5 

I’ve been gratefully spending the week remembering Frederick Buechner. And rereading some of his writing, much of it for me, “thin places.” So, we’ll give him the final word today. “The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.” SabbathMoments  

Acts 19:1-7

19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. The New King James Version

Disciples, while this term usually refers to followers of Jesus, these people were likely originally followers of John the Baptist, since they had received his baptism. Speaking in tongues is likely a reference to an act related to worship, not miraculously speaking in another person’s native language. In Acts, speaking in tongues is related to the Holy Spirit indwelling and empowering believers. Faithlife Study Bible

These men had been baptized into the baptism of John the Baptist, but they had never heard about the Holy Spirit. All they knew was that One mightier than John was to come. They did not know that Jesus the Messiah, the One mightier than John had already come. He had died for their sins, had been raised from the dead, had ascended to the Father, and had already sent the Holy Spirit. 

They needed to hear the rest of the gospel. As soon as this happened, these men could place their faith in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. 

Baptism was a ritual used by the Jews as a picture of cleansing and purification. Gentiles who converted to Judaism would go through the rite of purification as their first act of worship. They would dip themselves in water as a sign of being cleansed from their old way of life. Before entering into the temple to worship, Jews would dip themselves in ritual bathing pools to show their desire for purification. 

But the dipping performed by John the Baptist was a call for repentance rather than mere ritual cleansing. His baptism was a call to people to turn to God and to identify with the coming Messiah who would forgive their sins. In the name of the Lord Jesus was a declaration of ownership, an identification with Jesus as Lord and Savior of one’s life. 

By laying on his hands here, Paul was demonstrating his apostolic authority. He was also affirming the unity of the new church in Ephesus with the church in Jerusalem, whose members were also were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak in foreign languages. This speaking in tongues was a sign to others that they were part of the body of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Acts 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 8:17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.