Title: No Segregation
Memorize: who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:15 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Acts 8:14-15 (Nkjv)
[14] Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
[15] who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Message:
When Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they prayed for the new believers there to receive the Holy Spirit. This shows the role of the apostles in imparting spiritual gifts to new believers. Consequently, the Holy Spirit moved mightily among different groups of people.
Peter and John, as respected figures among the apostles, likely prayed fervently and earnestly for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit because they understood the importance of spiritual empowerment in the life of a believer. Interestingly, Peter and John travelled from Jerusalem to Samaria to support and minister to their fellow believers.
This portrays the unity that existed in the body of Christ among early believers, and it should be encouraged in the church today. There should be no segregation between denominations. As God’s child, you should relate with other Christians based on biblical doctrines, not cultural sentiments.
Key Point:
You should relate with other Christians from other denominations without cultural sentiments.
Hymn 43: Lead Us Heavenly Father, Lead Us
1 Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us
O’er The World’s Tempestuous Sea;
Guard Us, Guide Us, Keep Us, Feed Us,
For We Have No Help But Thee,
Yet Possessing Every Blessing
If Our God Our Father Be.
2 Saviour, Breathe Forgiveness O’er Us;
All Our Weakness Thou Dost Know;
Thou Didst Tread This Earth Before Us,
Thou Didst Feel lts Keenest Woe;
Lone And Dreary, Faint And Weary,
Through The Desert Thou Didst Go.
3 Spirit Of Our God, Descending,
Fill Our Hearts With Heavenly Joy,
Love With Every Passion Blending,
Pleasure That Can Never Cloy;
Thus Provided, Pardoned, Guided,
Nothing Can Our Peace Destroy.
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, & 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye