Unstoppable! 'The Three Moves in Conversion' — Acts 8:14-17

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Fall Ministry Update & Donation Drive

See how God is using our shared efforts to bless people around the world.

 Read the Update
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
— Acts 8:14-17 NLT

Key Thought

Notice three key moves that occur in conversion. We find these moves repeatedly in Acts:*
  1. Turning in faith to follow Jesus.
  2. Submitting to baptism in Jesus.
  3. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit from Jesus.
Today, missionaries and evangelist see these three steps as an indication that a person has committed to following Jesus. While each of the three is rooted in faith, each is actually a gift of grace given to or done for the one coming to Jesus as Lord.

* See the examples in the first set of Related Scripture Readings.

Today's Prayer

O Father, may I be an instrument you use to bless and bring others to faith in Jesus as your Spirit works to open their hearts, cleanse them of sin, and make each of them your child. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

The Spirit Is Given to Samaritans
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"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....."
Verification by the Spirit
Devo: Unstoppable!
"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived,...."
Near and Far
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, The verses you read below are from Acts chapter 8. They tell of the scattering of My followers from Jerusalem. This scattering began..."
Baptism Must Open the Door to Genuine Fellowship
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, The early Christians were greatly encouraged by Luke's account of two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I joined those two disciples on...."
See All 5 Related Resources about Acts 8:14-17

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 8:14-17 NLT — When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, April 27, 2025

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'A Living Hope'
"Dear Faithful One, Life is full of challenges when you are bound to the realities of mortality. I know, not just because I AM God, but also because I..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Psalm 84:12
"O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
2 Peter 3:18
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Death is Swallowed Up in Victory!'
"For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our....."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Unstoppable!