Open Door Baptist Church

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Pastoral Oversight.

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If they were saved, why didn’t they have the Holy Ghost already? We have seen that there is a difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being Filled with Holy Spirit.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

( John 20:22 )

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

( Acts 2:4 )

We believe that we receive the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. So why didn’t Phillip’s converts have the Holy Spirit?

1. Was there something wrong with what they had been taught by Phillip?
2. Was this intended as one of the signs confirming the apostles authenticity in Mark 16:20?

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

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They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but had they actually understood who Jesus Christ was? Right now they are being thrilled by Phillips miracles which put to shame those of poor Simon the Sorcerer.

Whether Peter and john are fixing a problem with Phillip’s teaching or the Holy Spirit was held back as a sign, this is a clear picture of the importance of Pastoral oversight.

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They fixed the problem.

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Simon hears the cash register in his mind. This is what he has been waiting for: a bankable talent.

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Greed and avarice overcome whatever spiritual revelation he had.

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Peter responds as he did in the situation with Ananias and Sapphira

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He gives a pronouncement about Simon’s spiritual condition.

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However, he is merciful and points to God’s mercy. Making sure to include the part about repentance.

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Peter realized that Simon didn’t have a spiritual revelation at all, he was envious of Phillip and seeking a way to recoup his losses.

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Simon no doubt knows who Peter is, and he as quite possibly heard about what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. Now his own lust and avarice have overpowered him, and he has fallen under the judgement of God, the righteous judge. In panic he asks Peter to intercede for him.

He comes under conviction of his own wickedness, but does he repent?

Technically he has not repented, he asks for intercession, but he didn’t confess his sin. He asks to be saved from the consequences of his actions, but he doesn’t appear to connect that with repenting, turning away, from those actions.

Simon’s status is uncertain.

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Back to Jerusalem. What they did was made sure that Phillip had his facts straight and was on the right track. This was critical because of what comes next.