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

Sunday, April 27, 2025

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.

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

  • Acts 2:38-41, 16:13-15, 22-34; 22:6-16
  • Galatians 3:26-29; Titus 3:3-7

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

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 daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly..."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, grower of spiritual fruit, Let the fruit of the Spirit blossom, mature, and ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,..."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Precious Believer, You were saved by grace when you fully trusted Me and participated in what I did to save you. This truth was the message that..."

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.