As a denominational preacher years ago, these scriptures in Acts 8:5 and 12 helped me to see
that if you were saved, you had experienced the working of the Holy Ghost in your life, but you
had not actually received the infilling of the Holy Ghost. For in these scriptures, we see that the
Early Church believed that receiving the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to or
following salvation.
We know this because the Bible says, ". . . when they [Peter and John] were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:15). The disciples didn't pray
for the Samaritans to get saved. The Samaritans were already saved. Peter and John prayed
that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit: God's Giving vs. People's Receiving
As I discussed in Chapter 1, there has also been much misunderstanding in the Body of Christ
on the question, Does God give the Holy Spirit to believers? Or do believers merely receive the
Holy Spirit because God has already given Him on the Day of Pentecost? Let me point out
again that Peter and John did not pray that God would give the Samaritans the Holy Ghost.
Peter and John prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Ghost.
Very often we pray, "Dear Lord, save souls at this service tonight. Dear God, heal the sick at
this service. Fill believers with the Holy Ghost." However, I can't find in the Acts of the Apostles
that the New Testament Church ever prayed that way. We should pray according to the Word
of God.
I pray for folks, not that God would save them, for He has already done something about
saving them. He sent His Son to die for all mankind. God has already purchased salvation for
everyone who has ever lived or who shall ever live on the earth.
But it is not going to do a person any good unless he accepts salvation. That is the reason He
told us to tell people the good news of the gospel. Scripturally, we should pray that people will
receive that which has already been purchased for them and freely offered to them.
I don't pray that God will heal people. I pray that people will receive the healing that God freely
offers. I do not pray that God will fill people with the Holy Ghost. I pray, like Peter and John did,
that believers might receive the gift that God offers — the precious Holy Spirit.
Notice in Acts 8:17, "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." It
doesn't say, "Then laid they their hands on them and God filled them with the Holy Ghost." It
says, ". . . and they RECEIVED the Holy Ghost."
The Ministry of Laying On of Hands
There are many in the Church today who do not understand the doctrine of laying on of hands
which is taught in the Word of God (Heb. 6:2). But I believe that we are in good company with
Peter and John, so I follow that same practice; I lay hands on people that they might receive
the Holy Ghost.