Acts 8:1-25 KJV
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

I be truthful there are days when you want all the good feel vibe God will lay on you as a believer, but it not the good feel vibe feeling that last and the truth is why because it our emotions and knowing God interaction with our hearts brings us joy as we sing to him, or praise him, or just give thanks in honor of him. The answer given by his word, through the interaction of our Spirit. Sermons go down to the belly and may feel like heart burn, turn the stomach or be sweet to the soul. Sermons and good milk and meat of faith is the heart of the church world and its survival. The Word spoken, the Word in the flesh(Christ), prophetic Word, and the Word of God in incorruptible flesh coming to man. Without the word of God there would be no conviction by the Spirit. Spirit is person in action upon the earth. Spirit being a person in regards to the equality of the God head being a being though unseeable, but his action seen. Spirit being part of the Godhead bodily coming back to earth after the resurrection to ignite and to mark the believers of faith, to fill them with one main thing boldness, to give them the power to do his work. To equip the saints of God.

The first type of believe is believing God's word. As a child hearing Bible stories it quite natural to believe when you understand the story is true. The difference between a fairy tale and what you read in scripture being understood as different. Phillip came preaching to the Samaria and the people were saved. No knowledge of the Holy Spirit at this point. All that was known was spoken about was the word of God and scripture. Some may of had even had knowledge of Old Testament, but they knew not the stories of Jesus. Philip told them about Jesus and his journey with Jesus even speaking from Old Testament no doubt as Peter even did. John and Peter hearing about the revival in Samaria came to investigated it. They found out that none had received the Holy Spirit because they lacked knowledge began to educate them about the Holy Spirit and they received the Holy Spirit to by the laying on of hands of the Apostles.

Man has tried to coin God with preaching, with music and even faking the ability of God through deception. This sorcery has not asked for anything that others had not thought to do even later in Christian history as far as buying the gift of the Holy Spirit to make profit of laying hands on people and giving them such an unseeable gift. The gift of the Holy Spirit to share to communicate about Jesus with others, through prayer for healing, through speaking with boldness in language that not of one's normal language as well as one own language. To speak as the Spirit himself gives utterance not just jabbering away so others hear you, but speaking as the Spirit commands you to speak.

What is the power of the Holy Spirit but a gift from God given by the third person of the Trinity Godhead. The word Trinity is not a Biblical word but a theology word. An expression of the unique power of God to represent in three person but being one. Representing himself as Father, Son(Word) and Holy Spirit. Salvation coming first by faith in the word of God, then the knowledge of the work of Christ to take away our sin performed on the cross and with his resurrection we given new life and hope. Some have knowledge of the Holy Spirit prior to through teaching of the word and believe just like many believe in Christ before confession of faith. I believe it is hard for adult to believe scripture sometimes, not because of the miracles but the stories seem remarkable in events and the truth of just a simple truth is hard to hold on too. I often look at scripture as to what I know now about life and the world and faith become clearer and need for faith is clear. There is time the gift of love by God's Spirit is necessary in a believers life to have longsuffering with an individual, to be that angel of mercy to someone that seems to be always in a situation of needing help, or just plain attitude of mercy and not judgment.

Simeon would ask for prayer once rebuked for his transgression against the Holy Spirit. Through out this passage we see the church growing because of the word and joy/elation of receiving of the word first and then the Holy Spirit. Knowledge they to could pray make request to God themselves and God also could enable them to do perform his work on earth. Holy Spirit is seen in the Old Testament as enabling architects, shepherd boy, a man in the desert and so forth. The Holy Spirit being Old Testament but also New Testament being given first to the Apostles after the resurrection, after Christ arose to testify of God's comfort and power was still for his people under the new covenant of faith. It not something buyable, retainable by the laying on of hands, hands is the act or the religious act of receiving the Holy Spirit. God is able to anoint any and all believers but believer just like receiving Jesus must receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit by faith in God's word. To know the purpose of receiving is not for your glory but for the glory of God to shine forth through his work on earth until his Son's return. If we lay down our own emotion for a moment is God's Spirit with us still? His God's comfort still with us? Does God still speak to the heart of man by his Spirit?

My hope is that each one listening will understand the confusion that can come with seeing people receive the Holy Spirit because in truth if you pray and you see instant miracle, or instant healing for someone you going to jump for joy. Yet if the miracle comes not at your will, but the will of God and that hard part of receiving God's will in our life. Is what we see and witness by his power testimony to spur us on in faith, or do we lay our faith down to do whatever we want and try to return to see the testimony of faith once more not understanding our faith needs not to be laid down but to move forward and continue, that are reflection should not be like in the Old Testament in II KIngs 5 of a little jewish girl telling her master that there is a prophet in Israel, it should be I have enough faith to pray for the healing and to obey God so I do not have to ask the prophet of faith to do it, but only have to ask Jesus to do whatever he will for the person.

Our tears of knowing our emotions can get away from what in truth is truly God's divine intervention in our life by reminding us our power to pray to make request known by the Spirit is needed in our world today. The fakery of faith by vain repetition and not by simple faith can be seen by those that wish to control others, and not allow God to move in a person's life. I was reminded the other day how little I know of another language. In fact the language skills being quite difficult at times to learn even for those with a good mind and ability to memorize. Repetitiion of the language skills are needed to learn how to speak another language. Some words come easier then others in those languages. It true about scripture without reptition of the stories without looking at them over again we fail to learn them, is that okay, God does have the ability to bring stroies and scripture back to the believer without memorization, but it by his Spirit. When we hear someone say we going to have church by the Spirit of God, it will be by testimony, by the word giving life in us and others, It is prayer needs can be requested and sometimes even meet immediately on the asking. Somethings require the open door, the time of the event for the prayer to be answered. That why some church grow from jubliation and joy, to concentration on the word and prayer and settle down into a quietness of awe of God and learn to be silent and wait on God.

Dear Heavenly Father, move in your people give them the joy of first salvation, through the works you do in their life to spur them on in faith, but to help to learn to be quiet to listen to hear what you say to us as believers both by your Spirit and by your word. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Acts 13:52 KJV
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

1 Peter 3:4 KJV
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.