The People of Samaria:

1. They believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ.

2. Both men and women were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

They had received the Word of God, but the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them.

3. Then Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Did you know you could believe, receive the Word of God, and be baptized but not yet have the Holy Spirit fall on you?

When our hearts are not right in the sight of God, when we are poisoned by bitterness, and when we are bound by iniquity we have neither part nor portion in this matter. (Acts 8:21-23)

We need to repent of our wickedness and pray for the thought of our hearts to be forgiven.

When repentance isn’t taught, many well-intentioned people sit in their unholiness, hindering the power of God in their lives.

I did.

I had been a Christian for 15 years, planted in several churches, but never learned of the separate experience of receiving the Holy Spirit.

Though I walked in the faith of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Holiness had not yet been mine.

Why?

I had not yet walked through true repentance.

When I first started learning this, I sat myself in the presence of God and asked Him to sift me. I asked Him to make known to me all hindrances that prevented the fullness of His light. Together we started the journey of getting my heart right.

I began to see the many deep roots of bitterness I was previously unaware of that were poison – bitter roots producing bitter fruit. I forgave and sought forgiveness.

I began to see all the ways I was bound in iniquity. There was unrighteousness in my heart and life. Looking back today, I’m not sure why. Had I not desired to walk in freedom from the sin, or did I not realize it was possible?

I began to be cleansed from the impurities. Some things were instantly laid down. Some things took surrender, a bending of my will, and a pushing through. But, one by one, I sought for the deep joy of being able to stand in the presence of God with no known hinderances between us.

So, if you are like I was, heart not right before God; unaware of the objects between you and God that are casting shadows and preventing the fullness of His light; poisoned by bitterness and bound in iniquity; unaware of the available holiness which Christ died to give you…start the journey of sitting yourself before a holy God and allowing His presence to sift you.

Walk through true repentance and prepare the way for the Lord.

It’s time we become the washed, sanctified, holy, pure, and spotless Bride that Christ is coming back for; and it’s time we fill our lamps with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

“For surely I will command, and will sift…as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.” (Amos 9:9)