Acts 19:1-10 NKJV

[1] And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples [2] he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” [3] And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” [4] Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. [7] Now the men were about twelve in all. [8] And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. [9] But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. [10] And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

The groundwork had been laid for Paul's return through Ephesus. They heard the gospel. They received the message and believed in Jesus as the Way. What they had not yet heard or experienced was the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was this indwelling experience that shaped and transformed the early church. Paul had the honor of introducing them to the power behind the Gospel.

For most of my life, my faith was hindered by a distorted view of salvation and the gospel. Theologically inaccurate teaching, coupled with a lack of understanding and limited personal experience, kept me from really grasping God's truth. I thought salvation was fragile. I believed that willpower was the key to sanctification. I trusted in a moral standard that I was incapable of achieving. I got discouraged, and I quit trying.

I believe God has a unique plan for each of us. Jesus paved our way to accomplish God's plan, but He knew we weren't capable of going at it alone. We are broken, feeble creatures with our own hurts, habits, and flaws. Without the Holy Spirit, we will eventually find ourselves floundering in battles we aren't equipped to fight by ourselves. I found real, lasting transformation the same way the early church did. I have yet to do anything well without the power of the Holy Spirit.