'POWER AS OF OLD' - IS IT STILL ATTAINABLE IN OUR DAYS? (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 16)

Did the Baptism in the Holy Spirit 'Pass Away' With the Last Apostle?

Another extreme teaching in the Church is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit passed away and ceased when the last apostle died. Those who believe this say that the apostles received the Holy Ghost and consequently they were the only ones who could in turn pass on the Holy Ghost to others. Supposedly then, as this "theory" goes, those folks who received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the apostles' hands could not pass the Holy Ghost on to anyone else.

People who teach this say that when the last apostle died, being filled with the Holy Spirit also ceased since there was no one else to "pass on" the Holy Spirit. As this theory goes, that was why Philip didn't try to pass the Holy Ghost on to the Samaritans; he couldn't since he wasn't one of the original twelve apostles. People who believe this say that's why Philip had to call on Peter and John to lay hands on the Samaritan converts — because Peter and John were apostles and Philip was not an apostle.

This theory, however, could not be true because if we can find one layperson in the Bible who laid hands on another believer to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we would know with a certainty that this theory is not true. In Acts chapter 9, we find such an example of an ordinary believer — a layperson — who laid hands on another believer to receive the Holy Spirit. His name was Ananias. Ananias wasn't an apostle. He was just a disciple, a layman. Yet God used him to lay hands on Saul (later named Paul) to receive the Holy Spirit shortly after Saul's conversion on the Damascus road.

ACTS 9:10-12,17 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth. 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and PUTTING HIS HAND ON HIM, that he might receive his sight... . 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou tamest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

Ananias knew nothing at all about Saul's present spiritual condition and recent conversion other than what the Lord revealed to him supernaturally. The Lord spoke to Ananias supernaturally in a vision and told Ananias that Saul was praying, and that Saul had had a vision and had seen a man named Ananias coming to minister to him. In other words, Ananias was supernaturally directed by God to minister to Saul and lay hands on Saul to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As we've seen, the Scriptures declare that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all who believe (Acts 2:39).

The Holy Spirit is God's Gift to believers today as much as He was God's Gift to the believers in the Early Church. And we have also seen that laying hands on believers to receive the Holy Spirit has not been done away with and is a biblical practice to this day as we observe how God is moving among His people regardless of denominational boundaries, we can understand more clearly God's desire that all of His children receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.

FFT: The Holy Spirit baptism is relevant and attainable today just as in times of old!

ACTION POINT: I will not live a powerless life! What about you?

INTERACTIVE SESSION: Is the power as of old still relevant to you?