Devotional #17
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” Acts 8: 5. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” Acts 8:12. “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” Acts 8:16-17.
Lord told His apostles that “when the Holy Spirit is come upon you shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria… “Acts 1:8.
But the Apostles focus and ministry remained only in Jerusalem. After the death of Stephen, the situation changed, and persecution broke out. Disciples were scattered abroad except the Apostles.
Philip was one of the deacons approved by the disciples and appointed by the apostles in Jerusalem. But the persecution brought him to Samaria to preach the Kingdom in the name of Jesus Christ. When Philip preached Christ in Samaria, the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of hearers to give heed with one accord (amazing work of the Spirit even before believing) and to believe. The Spirit also empowered Philip to do miracles and cast out demons. As per the promise, Philip gave witness and did miracles with power.
Those who believed were baptized but the Holy Spirit did not yet come upon them. Apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria after hearing that Samaritans received the word. When Peter and John was come, they noticed that though Samaritans were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, did not receive the Holy Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the Jews who were pricked in their hearts to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then they gladly received the word and were baptized. But in Samaria, although the Samaritans who believed were baptized (no Apostles were present at that time to officiate the Baptism ceremony) the Holy Spirit did not descend on them. The way it happened in Acts 2 with the Jews did not happen here in Acts 8 in the case of Samaritans.
Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Samaritans believed and worshipped in this mountain. But Jews say Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. The differences were large enough that Jews avoided walking through Samaria during their journeys to Jerusalem. Samaritans did not receive the Jews during their journeys if anyone is traveling towards Jerusalem as in the case of our Lord in Luke 9:52-53.
Samaritans had to wait for their Jewish brothers to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Spirit also prepared the hearts of the Apostles to send Peter and John after hearing that the word was accepted in Samaria. Peter and John were not hesitant to lay their hands on Samaritan brothers, which in normal course is not possible as we observe in John 4. Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritans denoting that we not only accept you but we are one with you in Christ.
The Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of Jews and Samaritans and made them realize and accept each other in Christ in whose name they both were baptized. Old nature led by flesh brings separation from one another. New nature led by Spirit brings the unity and make them one.
The work of the Holy Spirit is to make one new man in Christ without any differences either a jew or a Samaritan. The moment anyone accepts the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and is baptized, all old identities are lost and buried. The Holy Spirit unites them to be one in Christ breaking all the barriers in flesh created by man. If the Samaritans had received the gift of the Holy Spirit upon their baptism they would have maintained a separate identity apart from Jewish brothers. Jews still would have kept themselves separate as in the past. The old rivalry would have continued.
That is not the plan of God for believers to start a church based on human differences or commonalities. The Lord is building His church not churches. The work of the Spirit is always to glorify Christ and bring all believers to one Father, One Lord and One Faith. The Holy Spirit unites the believer with the Lord who is our head and with other believers who are the members of His body. This is another wonderful work of the Holy Spirit.
Earlier, with whom you do not want to have any dealings, now with the same you are made one. Those believers who overcame these earthly differences by the working of the Holy Spirit sang a song in Heavens “And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seal thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” Reve 5:9.
This is what is recognized in Heaven, therefore let us be diligent in keeping the unity of the Spirit which was brought by Him, in the bond of peace.
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