Is It Wrong to Feel electric-tingling of the Holy Spirit?

[jiminpa]

Notice that when challenged concerning their faith in "electrical" feelings as evidence of the Holy Spirit, they become accusative and personal in their comments. Stephen faithfully preached the Gospel to the religious Jews and challenged their error, and they also became accusative, personal, angry, and in a rage stoned him to death. So, if we challenge the ones who put their faith on kundalini type manifestations, we get a verbal "stoning" from them, as is often seen in threads like this.

No, but I notice you do when your lack of concern for what the Bible actually says gets pointed out, and I'm addressing what you posted, before you throw another one of your usual unfounded accusations at me.

The fact is that you are putting unbiblical limitations on what you approve of God doing, and claiming that you are standing on the Bible, and you're not. Your doctrines of men are not Bible no matter how much you wish them to be.

I'm not really posting for your benefit, your mind was made up a long time ago, but I do want younger Christians to see your posts in light of the full context of scripture, as opposed to reformed philosophy prooftexting.

I do notice that you haven't even proof texted support for you claim that the Holy Spirit can't cause tingling sensations. I guess it's too weak a position to even dig up out of context proof texts.

 

[jiminpa]

Kundalini, the accusation from a cessationist who realizes they are unbiblical and don't care what the Bible says.

The Bible says that if we ask for bread our Father will not give us a serpent and if we ask for an egg He will not give us a scorpion, but how much more will he give us the Holy Spirit.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

No, but I notice you do when your lack of concern for what the Bible actually says gets pointed out, and I'm addressing what you posted, before you throw another one of your usual unfounded accusations at me.

The fact is that you are putting unbiblical limitations on what you approve of God doing, and claiming that you are standing on the Bible, and you're not. Your doctrines of men are not Bible no matter how much you wish them to be.

I'm not really posting for your benefit, your mind was made up a long time ago, but I do want younger Christians to see your posts in light of the full context of scripture, as opposed to reformed philosophy prooftexting.

I do notice that you haven't even proof texted support for you claim that the Holy Spirit can't cause tingling sensations. I guess it's too weak a position to even dig up out of context proof texts.

The "you" messages in your reply serve to prove my point.

 

[mourningdove~]

Jesus is our example to follow, so yes, we should be experiencing Him as well as having Him do things through us. As Paul said: "Imitate me as I imitate Christ."

Can I ask what you mean when you say "experiencing Him"?

Both you and @tturt have now used that phrase ... I'm not clear on what you both are referring to.

(The electrical tingling? Or something else?)

I'm not a cessationist ... I just haven't heard that expression used.

 

[ARBITER01]

Can I ask what you mean when you say "experiencing Him"?

Both you and @tturt have now used that phrase ... I'm not clear on what you both are referring to.

(The electrical tingling? Or something else?)

I'm not a cessationist ... I just haven't heard that expression used.

Similar to what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. He had a real time visitation and experience from The Lord Jesus. This has been my experience also the day I was born again, as well as many times after that day.

Don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself special in any way, that was just how my Spiritual life started out as, and had remained that way to some degree.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Can I ask what you mean when you say "experiencing Him"?

Both you and @tturt have now used that phrase ... I'm not clear on what you both are referring to.

(The electrical tingling? Or something else?)

I'm not a cessationist ... I just haven't heard that expression used.

I once read of a Chinese pastor imprisoned by the Communists, and he had wonderful experiences with the Lord. His job in the prison was to clean out the cesspool, and so spent most of his day knee deep in human effluent. He said that he stank so much that the others kept well away from him. He thought that was wonderful because it gave him space to have many wonderful times of fellowship with the Lord, alone, without any interference from others. He knew what it was to have the Scripture real to him: "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ." He found that depth of fellowship every day while knee deep in human waste and stink. Now that experience with the Lord beats outright any kind of "electric tingling" or goosbumps up the spine in a hyped up gathering of people jerking, shaking, and falling over in an hypnotic environment brought on by repetitive Hillsong type music. I don't think that Chinese pastor had many "electric tingling" sensations while wading around amongst all that human effluent, yet he had close and sacred fellowship with the Lord.

 

[mourningdove~]

Similar to what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. He had a real time visitation and experience from The Lord Jesus. This has been my experience also the day I was born again, as well as many times after that day.

Don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself special in any way, that was just how my Spiritual life started out as, and had remained that way to some degree.

I appreciate your sharing that.

I asked because it does seem that there are those that do appear to believe that the only way we "experience Him" is if we physically 'feel' His Presence in some physical way ... tingling, shaking, etc.. I was that way in my early charismatic days ... 'chasing down' those events where people expected to experience God in some physical way. It was fun. Till I realized that not all those things are due to the Presence of God.

I don't chase those things anymore. But I do very much believe in experiences with the Lord. Visions, dreams, divine revelation, etc. And also the intimacy we can experience with Him in prayer. That is more my journey now.

I have heard others talk about those real time visitations like you have experienced. I haven't had that experience, but I have no reason to doubt that they are true. Usually, the persons I've known that have had them were persons called into ministry.

Another question while on the subject? ...

While I've said what I've said above about 'feelings', I do believe we may experience "physical feelings" when in the presence of the demonic. Not necessarily that one has the gift of discernment of spirits, but that one will 'experience' a strong physical uneasiness (for lack of a better word) when the presence of evil is near. Have you (or anyone else here) experienced that sort of 'feeling'?

 

[Bobber]

It really is hard to explain in words as when I am reading the word of God or I am praying and I suddenly seem to understand something deeper than I have ever done before it starts off as a feeling I cannot really put into words. Then it rises into this feeling of indescribable energy/joy and it just seems to burst. It is a wonderful feeling of joy that fills your whole being and bursts out of you.

Sure. I experience that all of the time. I think that's what's called normal Christianity or it should be the normal regular type of experience that Christians have. However one wants to describe it it's God manifesting his presence in our lives.

 

[mourningdove~]

I once read of a Chinese pastor imprisoned by the Communists, and he had wonderful experiences with the Lord. His job in the prison was to clean out the cesspool, and so spent most of his day knee deep in human effluent. He said that he stank so much that the others kept well away from him. He thought that was wonderful because it gave him space to have many wonderful times of fellowship with the Lord, alone, without any interference from others. He knew what it was to have the Scripture real to him: "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ." He found that depth of fellowship every day while knee deep in human waste and stink. Now that experience with the Lord beats outright any kind of "electric tingling" or goosbumps up the spine in a hyped up gathering of people jerking, shaking, and falling over in an hypnotic environment brought on by repetitive Hillsong type music. I don't think that Chinese pastor had many "electric tingling" sensations while wading around amongst all that human effluent, yet he had close and sacred fellowship with the Lord.

I love hearing stories like this, and do believe them to be true.
Our Lord is awesome in comforting us, when we are suffering.

 

[ARBITER01]

I appreciate your sharing that.

I asked because it does seem that there are those that do appear to believe that the only way we "experience Him" is if we physically 'feel' His Presence in some physical way ... tingling, shaking, etc.. I was that way in my early charismatic days ... 'chasing down' those events where people expected to experience God in some physical way. It was fun. Till I realized that not all those things are due to the Presence of God.

I don't chase those things anymore. But I do very much believe in experiences with the Lord. Visions, dreams, divine revelation, etc. And also the intimacy we can experience with Him in prayer. That is more my journey now.

I have heard others talk about those real time visitations like you have experienced. I haven't had that experience, but I have no reason to doubt that they are true. Usually, the persons I've known that have had them were persons called into ministry.

Agree with your statement wholeheartedly.

My experiences are really not in the same category as say, Smith Wiggleworth or Maria Woodworth Etter. They experienced GOD in a much greater capacity of power and love. That was because they led a life of holiness and dedication to GOD. It's much harder now to be that dedicated and separated from the world due to economic constraints.

Another question while on the subject? ...

While I've said what I've said above about 'feelings', I do believe we may experience "physical feelings" when in the presence of the demonic. Not necessarily that one has the gift of discernment of spirits, but that one will 'experience' a strong physical uneasiness (for lack of a better word) when the presence of evil is near. Have you (or anyone else here) experienced that sort of 'feeling'?

More times than I can remember.

Anytime a Christian is a real powerhouse in their daily prayer language, they will attract these things as well as those people who utilize them against folks. If you are really trying to draw close to GOD in prayer, then satan is going to try and find a way to hinder or hurt you.

It's not just their presence, but their affects against your human spirit. I've had them affect my blood pressure and heart rate before. Principalities/fallen angles and such are absolutely evil, and our insides do not like being around them.

 

[mourningdove~]

Another question while on the subject? ...

While I've said what I've said above about 'feelings', I do believe we may experience "physical feelings" when in the presence of the demonic. Not necessarily that one has the gift of discernment of spirits, but that one will 'experience' a strong physical uneasiness (for lack of a better word) when the presence of evil is near. Have you (or anyone else here) experienced that sort of 'feeling'?

More times than I can remember.

Anytime a Christian is a real powerhouse in their daily prayer language, they will attract these things as well as those people who utilize them against folks. If you are really trying to draw close to GOD in prayer, then satan is going to try and find a way to hinder or hurt you.

It's not just their presence, but their affects against your human spirit. I've had them affect my blood pressure and heart rate before. Principalities/fallen angles and such are absolutely evil, and our insides do not like being around them.

Thanks for your response. It does confirm what I believe also.

(I do have another question I'd like to ask you, but I think I'll do that over in your spiritual warfare thread rather than to go off topic here ...)

 

[REXMAN154]

Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

So, something happened to me about 7 months ago and I've been trying to find out if anyone else had ever had this experience. I've seen a few others describe tingles, and then others criticize them for having emotions or goosebumps. This was not goosebumps people. I wanted to share my story with someone because I finally found a group of some individuals who have supposedly felt the same thing I did. I was actually driving to work one day and it was a very tough time in my life (I don't want to go into how bad it was, but it involved legal problems). Anyway, I had begun to read my Bible ferociously, every day, and was praying a lot. One day I just started praying for a friend's son who had cancer, then all the sick people I could think of, then all the sick people in the world. I got a little carried away with the intent of my prayer, overwhelmed you might say, and started to cry. All of the sudden I felt this crazy tingling begin. It started at the top of my head and proceeded downwards. It absolutely freaked me out, but in a good way. It was like an electro-magnetic-euphoric feeling really. It felt like the cells in my body (but it was bigger than that) or something astounding was revolving like a particle-beam masssage inside me. Again I was driving my car and I was like, I hope I don't pass out or crash, but I was totally in control. It was a very good feeling, but also incredibly intense. Something I had never felt before or since. It was absolutely inexplicable. It continued down my spine and radiated from the inside outward -- this steady stream of rolling bliss. It was like tingley-bubblely-electric all at the same time and just kept going all the way down my legs to my toes. I was like, "What just happened to me!!!" I've asked all kinds of people, including my pastor and everyone I've asked gives me the weird eye. But, really the only thing I can come up with to this day is it was God. I had been asking for the Holy Spirit to enter me, too, because I really wasn't sure if I had it or not. And, well I guess I don't have to wonder anymore. I just want to feel that again and again, like on a daily basis. And now, I've found some others that have confirmed what I have been thinking it was. Anyone else experience this? Have you ever had it the head-to-toe version more than once? Amazing is all I can say! If that's anything like what heaven will be like, we are stoked people!

Hello all.

A very strange thing happened to me the other night, and I was wondering if anybody had experienced what I did. My wife was away, and I was sleeping alone and woke up in the middle of the night. I had a feeling that there was some sort of bad presence or evil present or near me. I am 99% sure that I was awake when this happened. Anyway, I started to say the Lord's prayer, and all of a sudden I felt this incredible electricity sensation inside my body. The longer I said the prayer, the more intense it got. Just for kicks, I stopped about halfway through, and then the feeling immediately stopped. I started again and said the Lord's prayer and completion, and the feeling immediately came back and stayed with me until the end of the prayer. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before, and the bad or evil presence was no longer with me. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and have been under a lot of stress dealing with that because it is stage 3 a fact out of four, which is not optimal. Maybe that has something to do with this?

I would be curious if anyone else has felt this feeling. It was as if somebody was turning a volume knob, but this knob was increasing the intensity of the feeling inside of me. It was amazing!

Best to all, and thanks for reading.

Roger

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Hello all.

A very strange thing happened to me the other night, and I was wondering if anybody had experienced what I did. My wife was away, and I was sleeping alone and woke up in the middle of the night. I had a feeling that there was some sort of bad presence or evil present or near me. I am 99% sure that I was awake when this happened. Anyway, I started to say the Lord's prayer, and all of a sudden I felt this incredible electricity sensation inside my body. The longer I said the prayer, the more intense it got. Just for kicks, I stopped about halfway through, and then the feeling immediately stopped. I started again and said the Lord's prayer and completion, and the feeling immediately came back and stayed with me until the end of the prayer. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before, and the bad or evil presence was no longer with me. I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and have been under a lot of stress dealing with that because it is stage 3 a fact out of four, which is not optimal. Maybe that has something to do with this?

I would be curious if anyone else has felt this feeling. It was as if somebody was turning a volume knob, but this knob was increasing the intensity of the feeling inside of me. It was amazing!

Best to all, and thanks for reading.

Roger

Any manifestation of the Holy Spirit has to be validated by Scripture. Show us any reference in the Bible, Old Testament or New Testament where a manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a feeling of electricity in the body.

You might not like this, but if your experience is not validated in the Bible, then it is not of the Holy Spirit. I can't say where the feeling came from. It could have come from anywhere, but definitely not of the Holy Spirit if there is no record of anyone in the Bible having the same manifestation.

 

[jiminpa]

Any manifestation of the Holy Spirit has to be validated by Scripture. Show us any reference in the Bible, Old Testament or New Testament where a manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a feeling of electricity in the body.

You might not like this, but if your experience is not validated in the Bible, then it is not of the Holy Spirit. I can't say where the feeling came from. It could have come from anywhere, but definitely not of the Holy Spirit if there is no record of anyone in the Bible having the same manifestation.

Can you back that up with some scripture that says that anything that the Bible does not permit is forbidden, or that the Holy Spirit is now restricted to only do what has been document thousands of years ago? Especially in light of the Bible itself calling itself a partial record.

For those honestly questioning their experience, I would argue the converse to the semi-cessation stance, and say that what the Bible does not identify as wrong is open for the Holy Spirit to do as He sees fit. Man likes to be in control, and man likes to dictate what the Holy Spirit can and can't do. Man likes to be religious without the mess of doing the unpredictable, and undignified things of the Holy Spirit. Even on this forum you see those for whom the warning of a form of Godliness and not only lacking the power of it applies, but they don't stop there and go so far as flat out denouncing it.

Me, I can't find anywhere in the Bible that states that the Holy Spirit is not able to minister with a tingling sensation. I can point to the place in John where the Bible says that it's not possible to record all of Jesus's miracles. If it's not possible to record what the Holy Spirit did through Jesus in 3 years, how would we get everything He did through multiple men for 40 years. I wouldn't let the criticisms of men with a personal agenda discourage you.

 

[jiminpa]

I would like to encourage those with honest questions to be aware that there are those here who have admitted to only identifying as Charismatic for the purpose of continuing their adversarial position with impunity. So, if it posts like a cessationist, openly identifies with cessationist denominations, smells like a cessationist, claims to be scripture only while ignoring that scripture teaches an ongoing, active God in the lives of Christians, and rarely misses an opportunity to find the Holy Spirit wanting, it probably is a cessationist, and should be viewed as one who denies the power of Godliness.

 

[RootedWithGod]

Reading the OP question is and interesting one.

I do not think I can define exactly that moment when I feel the Holy Spirit, as I have to have faith that is what occurred.
I am hugely flawed, and why I do know several times in my life I can not deny the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I also know that only through prayer is when I might feel the Holy Spirit. But this scripture seems to fit for me and my understanding.
I try not to over complicate my relationship. Just try and base best I can on the words as they are given in real form in the testaments.
That said defining definition can also require prayer to understand the direction. So with out this tool of guidance like so many I would be lost.
I am grateful to have these tools to guide our lives.
I apologies if I am speaking too loosely, its just how I feel about this area of questions.
Devine truth is the way to hear in mho. This process helps me keep on path best I can.

John 16:13:
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Can you back that up with some scripture that says that anything that the Bible does not permit is forbidden, or that the Holy Spirit is now restricted to only do what has been document thousands of years ago? Especially in light of the Bible itself calling itself a partial record.

For those honestly questioning their experience, I would argue the converse to the semi-cessation stance, and say that what the Bible does not identify as wrong is open for the Holy Spirit to do as He sees fit. Man likes to be in control, and man likes to dictate what the Holy Spirit can and can't do. Man likes to be religious without the mess of doing the unpredictable, and undignified things of the Holy Spirit. Even on this forum you see those for whom the warning of a form of Godliness and not only lacking the power of it applies, but they don't stop there and go so far as flat out denouncing it.

Me, I can't find anywhere in the Bible that states that the Holy Spirit is not able to minister with a tingling sensation. I can point to the place in John where the Bible says that it's not possible to record all of Jesus's miracles. If it's not possible to record what the Holy Spirit did through Jesus in 3 years, how would we get everything He did through multiple men for 40 years. I wouldn't let the criticisms of men with a personal agenda discourage you.

I go by the fact that any manifestation that ain't in the Bible it ain't true. The Bible is God's complete word to man and contains everything that we need to know about how the Holy Spirit manifests Himself. If having electric type manifestation is of the Holy Spirit, He, being faithful to His word, would have included a description of it in the Bible.

 

[Jerry Ray Walz Jr]

I go by the fact that any manifestation that ain't in the Bible it ain't true. The Bible is God's complete word to man and contains everything that we need to know about how the Holy Spirit manifests Himself. If having electric type manifestation is of the Holy Spirit, He, being faithful to His word, would have included a description of it in the Bible.

Mr. Kitty, you have 17 posts in here on just this one subject, and earlier what you said, contradicts what you are saying now. This is what you first said,

"Sometimes God gives us experiences like these as a bonus when we come to Him in faith. It is the effect on our physical bodies when He jazzes up our spirit. It is His way of touching us physically with His hand of love. When the Holy Spirit stirs up inside of me, I get joyful and start giggling and laughing!"

If the Bible stated everything that happened, is happening, and what will happen, there would be no room for the prophetic word or for what is the mystery of what we don't know yet. We can't be so vain to say that we know everything because of what the Bible says. Even by human logic that does not make sense. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls have a lot to say, but many of the parchments are in such bad condition that we can't read them. We also have the Apocrypha books that were removed, and I know of at least three of them that should not have been. What God shares with us is for us as a people, but it is also about the personal relationships that we have with Him. Nobody can prove that they have a super personal relationship with the Spirit, but for the persons that have this experience, it is meant to be personal. Look at what happened to Elijah or Enoch, would anyone today believe that that could happen, yet the Bible says that it did. The physical manifestation isn't about needing that physical manifestation, it's a gift of experience, an acknowledgment by the Spirit of Divine presence. It is not common, it is rare. To say that people are not having these personal experiences with the Almighty is blasphemy of the highest degree. No-matter how many times you say that it can't happen, doesn't make it from un-happening. Yes, since October 27th, 2023, I'm still experiencing a physical manifestation of the Spirit. Acts 2:17,

‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.'

Mathew 12:30-32, "The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who isn’t gathering with me is scattering. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.”

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Mr. Kitty, you have 17 posts in here on just this one subject, and earlier what you said, contradicts what you are saying now. This is what you first said,

If the Bible stated everything that happened, is happening, and what will happen, there would be no room for the prophetic word or for what is the mystery of what we don't know yet. We can't be so vain to say that we know everything because of what the Bible says. Even by human logic that does not make sense. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls have a lot to say, but many of the parchments are in such bad condition that we can't read them. We also have the Apocrypha books that were removed, and I know of at least three of them that should not have been. What God shares with us is for us as a people, but it is also about the personal relationships that we have with Him. Nobody can prove that they have a super personal relationship with the Spirit, but for the persons that have this experience, it is meant to be personal. Look at what happened to Elijah or Enoch, would anyone today believe that that could happen, yet the Bible says that it did. The physical manifestation isn't about needing that physical manifestation, it's a gift of experience, an acknowledgment by the Spirit of Divine presence. It is not common, it is rare. To say that people are not having these personal experiences with the Almighty is blasphemy of the highest degree. No-matter how many times you say that it can't happen, doesn't make it from un-happening. Yes, since October 27th, 2023, I'm still experiencing a physical manifestation of the Spirit. Acts 2:17,

‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.'

Mathew 12:30-32, "The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who isn’t gathering with me is scattering. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.”

Rejoicing and joy at receiving God's gift of the Holy Spirit is part of the normal outflow of the streams of living water out of the innermost being. The Scripture says that "we worship God, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. It is normal for a Spirit-filled believer to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:, as the Scripture says. But my faith is not in the outflow. It is firmly based on the Scripture that when I asked for the Baptism with the Spirit, that is exactly what I got, and part of the outflow was that I spoke in tongues according to 1 Corinthians 14:2 as the Spirit gave me utterance. The language flowed out of me, along with the joy and rejoicing.

But nowhere have I ever said that I have experienced electricity flowing through me as evidence of the infilling of the Spirit. The Spirit is not electricity, but is the Third Person of the Trinity, who has come to dwell in my spirit. He expresses Himself through me with the outflow of the gifts of the Spirit. Therefore when I speak in tongues or prophesy, it is the Spirit who speaks through me, flowing out to build up the body of Christ as I serve Him in the particular calling He has for me.

But even if I had no emotions at all, I would still know that I am filled with the Spirit, because the Scripture said that I would be baptised with the Spirit as a believer, and when I asked for it as the Scripture instructed me, I got what I asked for. Just as a child asks his father for bread, the father does not give him a stone, or asks for fish, does not receive a snake, so if an evil father gives good gifts to his children, how much more does our heavenly Father give us the Holy Spirit when we ask Him? That's what the Scriptures says and that's where I base my faith. In the same way, I ask for tongues, and that is exactly what He gives me, and my faith is based on 1 Corinthians 14:2 where it says that when I speak in tongues I am speaking to God...mysteries in the Spirit. God is always faithful to His own Word, but when we shift our faith from His Word to experiences or speculations, that is where people can get counterfeits instead of the real thing.

 

[ARBITER01]

I would like to encourage those with honest questions to be aware that there are those here who have admitted to only identifying as Charismatic for the purpose of continuing their adversarial position with impunity. So, if it posts like a cessationist, openly identifies with cessationist denominations, smells like a cessationist, claims to be scripture only while ignoring that scripture teaches an ongoing, active God in the lives of Christians, and rarely misses an opportunity to find the Holy Spirit wanting, it probably is a cessationist, and should be viewed as one who denies the power of Godliness.

I remember a post from him a while back over in the controversial theology section where he made mention that he only retained the Charismatic title just so he could continue posting in this section, essentially just to stir up issues with people over here, so yes, if it acts like a duck, it's a duck.