Acts 18:25 English Standard Version (ESV)  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Fervent here is the Greek word zeo. It has a primary definition elated to boiling water. Water as we have learned in spiritual terms is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit, that the water is moved by the Spirit. In this case the Holy Spirit is the heat source.

How can one tell if the source of this zeo is the spirit of man or the Holy Spirit? The sign is stated above in the words “he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus.”

Now comes the more important part. How do we know that another is accurate about those things which concern Jesus?

Look closely to the end of the verse above. He only knew of the baptism of John. He had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The issue here is the working of the Holy Spirit. This man was accurate in as far as what John brought to him, teaching him about Jesus. He can only go so far without the Holy Spirit abiding within teaching him “all things”.

We read for ourselves and are taught by preachers and teachers. That will only take us so far. It will not teach us “all things” which Jesus has to say. That is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus told Nicodemus that we need to be born of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom. We need the Holy Spirit to dwell in us in order to be Kingdom dwellers. All external relationships with the bible and preachers and teachers will not get us into the Kingdom.

How do we become citizens of this heavenly Kingdom? How does anyone become a citizen in a foreign country? First we have to understand the requirements, swear allegiance, accept the authority over our lives and live according to the rule of law. The law of love.