Praying for New Believers

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14-17

There is an importance of having the Holy Spirit reside within us. In the passage, Peter and John laid hands on the new believers for the Holy Spirit to enter into the lives. Later on in the chapter, Simon talks about wanting the Holy Spirit for personal gain. He is rebuked by Apostles and told to confess his sins of selfish gains. 

When an individual becomes a new believer, they don't automatically obtain the Holy Spirit. Believe and obtaining the Holy Spirit is a process that doesn't happen hand in hand. There must have been some time separation between Philip converting the new believers and when John and Peter praying for the Holy Spirit to enter in the persons' lives. I look at my life and find that there have been moments when I failed to pray for my friends who came to know Christ. I feel guilty that I didn't sit down with them and ask the Holy Spirit to enter in their lives. Without the Holy Spirit our belief in Jesus Christ fails, because they're nothing solidifies his grace that is given to us. Unfortunately these brothers never grasp the personal relationship that the Holy Spirit induces through Jesus Christ. In the future I need to be proactive about asking the Holy Spirit to enter in the lives of new believers, as well as not just let go and allow them to grow on their on. I need to cultivate, guide and direct them to God. 

Jesus forgive me for neglecting my brothers who were new believers. I really did drop the ball on this one God. I pray that you would bring these brothers back to you. Allow the Holy Spirit to enter in their lives. I also pray God that you would be with my non-christian friends. Plant seeds in their lives and water it so that one day they would be ready for the harvest. Prepare me to be a better caretaker for future new believers.  

In Jesus Name
Amen