The Promise of the Father

THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

Acts 8:1. Saul fully approved of Stephen’s execution. And then there arose a great persecution against the Jerusalem church, which caused disciples to flee from Jerusalem and be scattered throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria. But the apostles stayed in Jerusalem 2. Some faithful disciples carried Stephen to be buried, and there was much grieving and lamentation over him. 3. But Saul continued to ravage the church, charging into peoples’ houses and dragging men and women off to prison. 4. And those that fled Jerusalem were scattered and began preaching the word everywhere they went.
5. Philip went to the city of Samaria, preaching Christ to the people there, and  everyone in that place listened intently to what Philip said and saw the miracles that occurred through his ministry. 7. Evil spirits, crying out loudly, came out of many people who were oppressed. And many that had been frail and paralyzed and crippled were healed 8. And great joy broke out in that city. 9. There was a man there called Simon, who had been a sorcerer in that city for a long time, bewitching and beguiling the people of Samaria, claiming that he was some almighty person. 10. Everyone there, from the least to the greatest had paid awesome respect to this man, saying that he had the almighty power of God, and they all revered him because for many years he had bewitched them with his sorcery. 12. But when they listened to Philip’s preaching on the things of the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized, both men and women.13. Then Simon himself also became a believer and after being baptized, he committed himself to following Philip, and he was amazed and astounded by the mighty power he saw in the miracles done through Philip’s ministry.
14. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard the news that Samaria had received the word of God they sent Peter and John to go and see what was happening. 15. And when they got there they prayed for the people to receive* (*lambano – take hold of, embrace) the Holy Spirit 16. For they had not yet received* the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17. So the apostles laid their hands on them and they received* the Holy Spirit. 18. When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit could be received* through the laying on of hands he offered them money. 19. He asked them to give him that same power so that upon whomever he laid his hands would receive* the Holy Spirit. 20. But Peter said to him ‘Let your money perish with you for even thinking that the gift of God could be purchased with money’ 21. This matter belongs to a realm that has nothing to do with you and of which you know nothing. Your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22. Turn away from this wicked thinking and pray to God that he might forgive the evil in your mind and heart. 23. I can see a poison and bitter root of evil in you which has brought your soul into bondage 24. Simon then said to Peter ‘Please pray to the Lord for me that what you have spoken will not happen to me.’
25. After the apostles had finished preaching and instructing the people in the word, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the villages of Samaria on the way. 

Jesus had told his disciples that when he went to be with the Father that he would send them the Holy Spirit and they would receive his power to become a living witness of God working through them with different kinds of anointings to bring the Kingdom of God into their times and into their cultures where they lived. He called this the ‘promise of the Father’ (Acts1:4)

On the day of Pentecost the ‘promise of the Father’ was sent and Peter proclaimed this as the message to everyone there on that day; ‘And God declares that in the last days ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh’ (Acts 2:17).
Philip obviously did not preach about the fulness of the Holy Spirit in Samaria that Peter did in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
If someone does not know that this is the promise of the Father, they will remain ignorant of the need to ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ in order for the empowering of the Holy Spirit to reveal the work of Jesus working within them. 
People can be told about Jesus and believe he exists and admire him and want to follow him and even receive the forgiveness of sins, and then to even preach about him, but only the Holy Spirit can reveal Jesus to people and lead them into all truth. Jesus said, ‘and when the Holy Spirit is come he will not speak of himself but will glorify me… All that theFather has is mine… and he will take of Mine and reveal to you’(John 16:14-16).

God has required that people be told of the ‘promise of the Father’ so that they will know what ask for so that they can receive what he has promised.
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

This promise can also be found in the Old Testament where God tells his people he will one day put his Holy Spirit within them, but he wants them to ask him to do this for them.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My ways, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Vs.36 I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it." I will also let the house of Israel ask Me to do this for them: In other words - I want to know that you want this - and I want you to ask me to do it for you.

Paul had a similar experience in Acts chapter nineteen that Peter and John had with Philip’s preaching in chapter eight when he went to preach the Gospel to the people of Ephesus. 
People had been told about Jesus and had believed in Jesus but there was something missing.
Acts 19:1 Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them…

They had already heard the Gospel and believed in Jesus, but it was only after were told of the promise of the Father that they could then receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes to the Ephesian church later on and tells them about this pathway of truth that he was committed to leading them into.
Ephesians 1:12-1 We should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise…

This brings us right back to the beginning when Jesus told his disciples about the ‘promise of the Father’. They would receive his power to become a living witness of God working through them.

One more thing… Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter five encouraging them to become this living witness to the life of God within them.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you live your life, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because these times are malicious (and mad). Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, letting that control your behaviour, but keep on being filled with the Spirit, letting that order your life.