Rejecting the Holy Spirit

Acts 19:1-2

“1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

The question that always crosses my mind when I read this is, “how could a person come into the faith without knowing about the Holy Spirit?”  

But then I remember a Barna survey that revealed that 58% of people who call themselves Christians today do not believe that the Holy Spirit exists.  (https://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/)

A majority of Christians have heard about the Holy Spirit and have rejected the Holy Spirit.  This is worse than not knowing.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians believers, “Never quench the spirit.” (1Thessalonians 5:19). 

By rejecting the Holy Spirit, we reject God’s guidance, insight, and discernment.  We reject God’s power in our lives.  We reject the fire and the energy of God. 

By rejecting the Holy Spirit, we reject the hand of God.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)