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".Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." Isaiah 11:5
 

 

Refined Ineffectuality
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"  They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:1-7

If Christianity had ended with the Gospels, it would have been a gospel without dynamism - not a gospel that would conquer the world. The significance of the events recorded in the four Gospels had to be understood by our Lord's followers and conveyed to others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 
In today's passage we see a Holy Spiritless type of religion -good on facts but lacking in power. When Paul arrived in Ephesus he sensed a lack in one group of disciples, and so his first question was, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." There were twelve men in that group, and without the Holy Spirit what were they doing? Very little it seems. They were just holding their own.

Apollos, when he arrived in Ephesus, was in a similar situation. Until instructed by Aqulia and Priscilla, he was the picture of a present day highly trained pastor who is eloquent and well versed in the Scriptures. (Acts 18:24-25), but who has experienced only an outer baptism and not an inner baptism. The result of theological training without the Holy Spirit is to produce what someone has termed "refined ineffectuality". Many modern day pulpits are occupied by people who have behind them years of training but no experience or dependence on the Spirit. The result? Refined ineffectuality and cultured emptiness.

What a difference between the 'twelve' at Ephesus and the other "Twelve"- the twelve apostles. The other "Twelve" were turning the world upside down; this "twelve" were barely holding their own. Training and refinement may be good but they are no substitute for the Holy Spirit.

O God, save us from this refined emptiness that makes Christianity a culture without conversion. Give us men and women who will stand in the pulpit and preach in the power of the Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Today's devotion taken from: "Every Day with Jesus" Wed 10 May written by Selwyn Hughes

Get your copy of the latest "Every Day with Jesus" from the Church in the Market Place office.

 

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