And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2 ESV)

The story of the Ephesian Church at the time Paul first met the young converts there is a fascinating story that reveals profound truths and insights into the Holy Spirit and our relationship with Him. Paul came to Ephesians and found 12 new believers and asked them the questions “did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”. These new converts answered and said, “ no, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit”!

Some Bible scholars have suggested that these 12 men were not yet saved because they had not heard of the Holy Spirit. This is incorrect. Though the Holy Spirit is the One who brings about the conversion experience, the sinner does not need to know or believe in a Holy Spirit to become saved. It is the knowledge and believe in Christ that results in salvation. Space will not permit me to elaborate on this in this devotional. However, the main message I want to communicate to you is the possibility of becoming saved and even loving Jesus and going to heaven without any personal knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Some believers have read about the Holy Spirit in the Bible, and that is the most they know. The Lord wants you to know the Spirit at a personal and experiential dimension.

MEDITATE

All of you reading this devotional have probably heard of the Holy Spirit. The bigger question for you to consider now is this: do you know the Holy Spirit personally? 

APPLY THE WORD

The profound truth from the devotional above is that we can be children of God, saved and heaven-bound, and yet not have practical knowledge and experience with the Holy Spirit, though He is already working in our lives. Yearn to know Him. Grow in your knowledge of Him.

PRAY

Ask the Father to help you cultivate a healthy and enjoyable fellowship with His Spirit.

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