God's Holy Fire: 'Proof They Belong'

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

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When Paul placed his hands on [the people he had just baptized], the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
— Acts 19:6 NIV

Key Thought

The Holy Spirit is a vital part of our conversion and a crucial part of our daily walk with God and our transformation into the character and compassion of Christ. Paul's teaching and the work of the Holy Spirit in today's verse make clear that God has now fully included this group of people - disciples who had known only the baptism of John and who did not know about the Holy Spirit. Knowing about Jesus, however, wasn't enough. They also needed to know about the Holy Spirit and receive the Spirit. When Paul lays his hands on them, it is clear to everyone that they received the Spirit. They are now true followers of Jesus!

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for the powerful story of the Holy Spirit breaking down every barrier to include all sorts of people in Jesus' family of grace. I am also thankful to be included in this family of grace, and I thank and praise you for the gift of the Spirit that connects me to every follower of Jesus. I thank you and praise you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Receiving the Spirit
Devo: God's Holy Fire
""Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" [Paul] asked them. "No," they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." ... Paul said,...."
Including the Disciples of John the Baptizer in the Family of Jesus
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"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers...."
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"Dear Beloved, In today's reading, you will find Paul arriving in Ephesus. Ephesus was a remarkable and important city in Paul's world. But the people..."
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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 19:6 NIV — When Paul placed his hands on [the people he had just baptized], the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Respect for Leaders' (Acts 23:4-5)
"Those standing near Paul [when he spoke harshly to the high priest who had slapped him in the face] said to him, "Do you dare to insult God's high..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Watch Over You' (Ps. 121:8)
"The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Encouragement Matters'
"Dear Precious One, Encouragement matters! You were not created to do life alone. We — Father, Son, and Spirit — made Adam to need Eve....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast."

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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