God's Holy Fire: 'The Spirit Is Given to Samaritans'

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Blessed Christmas!

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When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.
— Acts 8:14-17 MSG

Key Thought

Jesus promised his closest followers that the Holy Spirit would empower them to reach the ends of the earth with the good news of the kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). But these followers had kept this good news bottled up with Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses in Samaria also. We see this expansion into Samaria dramatically happen in ways that the apostles can't deny. The Message of Jesus will reach the ends of the earth, and the Holy Spirit will be the unmistakable power that enables this spreading of the gospel to occur!

Today's Prayer

O God, thank you for the good news Message of Jesus. Thank you for sending your Spirit to help break down barriers that have stood in the way of your good news Message. Now I ask that you be with us as we seek to share this Message with others who do not know your grace and your victory that was given to us in your Son, in whose name I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 8:14-17 MSG — Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

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About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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