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Friday, June 12th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
1 Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1nxz9H7
Commentary from Pastor Mike White:
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:17
The new disciples in Samaria had already received Jesus. They had already been baptized in water. Yet God had more for them! Peter and John came to pray for them, that they might receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Here we see the power of the laying on of hands on full display. Peter and John were already baptized in the Holy Spirit. The method they used to bless others with the same experience was laying their hands on them, and praying. The anointing is transferable! When we lay hands on others, they receive more than they had before. God’s Holy Spirit moves through us as we lay hands on others by faith.
Proximity matters. If close proximity didn’t make a difference in prayer, Peter and John would have simply stayed in Jerusalem and interceded for the Samarian disciples from there. Instead, they made the trip to Samaria, and made physical contact with the disciples so they could experience more of God!
Spend time with people who are anointed. Don’t be shy: ask them to lay hands on you, and impart some of what they have received from God!
Prayer:
Father, I pray that You would send anointed men and women of God to lay hands on me and pray for me. I also pray that I would have the courage to lay hands on other people and pray for them! Thank you for the power of laying hands!
© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.