Holy Ghost Manifestations

[AudioArtist]

Well, I see the attitude of many Christians today-that the gifts are dead, that you can't know God in a real way anymore, that miracles are not for today, that science has explained away a lot of things and therefore God's manifestations no longer occur, along with a concentration on ritual over any actual leading of the Holy Spirit-far more alarming then applying too much to God!

 

[JimB]

I don’t think anyone in this forum believes that, AA.

\o/

 

[Trish1947]

These things cannot be proven, without the proof of their own experiance. I have seen the Shekinah glory, or glory cloud, probably about 6 times in my whole life. I wasn't looking for it, it just happened. The first time was when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit..it was there in my spiritual seeing, for over three days. And the other times have been at a healing and worship services at my church or visiting another. But to tell someone about your proof, does not prove it to anyone.

 

[JimB]

Then is it, IYO, sort of a private vision of the glory that others cannot see, like what happened to Paul when the Lord appeared to him near Damascus?

\o/

 

[Trish1947]

Then is it, IYO, sort of a private vision of the glory that others cannot see, like what happened to Paul when the Lord appeared to him near Damascus?

\o/

I would have to say as far as my experiance, when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, it was what I saw for three days in my own spirit. It was very difficult those three days to focus my natural vision, without being absorbed right back into that bluish haze of Gods glory, and when I was absorbed by that presence, nothing but praise was coming out of me. But the other at church was seen by all.

 

[BillynJennifer]

Now, I'm not putting my head on the chopping block over this one, but I think that the early Jews believed the shekinah to be the feminine prescence of God and the kawbode to be the masculine prescence of God. The shekinah being the cloud that lead the children of Israel, and the kawbode being the fire that protected them by night.

I've never seen a visible haze, but I've felt God so near at times that you could all most touch Him physically, it seemed.

 

[CorTortilla]

These things cannot be proven, without the proof of their own experiance. I have seen the Shekinah glory, or glory cloud, probably about 6 times in my whole life. I wasn't looking for it, it just happened. The first time was when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit..it was there in my spiritual seeing, for over three days. And the other times have been at a healing and worship services at my church or visiting another. But to tell someone about your proof, does not prove it to anyone.

The Who of the what??

 

[JimB]

I remember being in a visible haze but it was not the Holy Spirit, it was when this really boring preacher just would not stop. But that’s not the Shekinah, right?

\o/

 

[habeas]

Is it right to speak of these things? Should we feel any reluctance about sharing these experiences.? Is it edifying?

I've had experiences and received power after fasting many days upon my initial salvation, but do not feel very comfortable sharing, especially because my experiences do not fall into any "normal" category such as "healing," visions or dreams. I'm not talking about the shaking, trembling, crying, shouting, etc. I've done, because I view these not as "powers" working through me to benefit anyone, me but rather upon me.

Why should we discuss manifestations of the holy spirit, are they not between God and ourselves? Is anyone's faith strengthened hearing these testimonies, especially when so many of us are anonymous to eachother?

I am truly questioning and seeking an answer. I am not attacking the OP. I feel hesitant to share, even with my closest family and friends; does anyone else?

 

[Father Rick]

Is it right to speak of these things? Should we feel any reluctance about sharing these experiences.? Is it edifying?

I've had experiences and received power after fasting many days upon my initial salvation, but do not feel very comfortable sharing, especially because my experiences do not fall into any "normal" category such as "healing," visions or dreams. I'm not talking about the shaking, trembling, crying, shouting, etc. I've done, because I view these not as "powers" working through me to benefit anyone, me but rather upon me.

Why should we discuss manifestations of the holy spirit, are they not between God and ourselves? Is anyone's faith strengthened hearing these testimonies, especially when so many of us are anonymous to eachother?

I am truly questioning and seeking an answer. I am not attacking the OP. I feel hesitant to share, even with my closest family and friends; does anyone else?

Habeas...

I'm right there with you. It's been my experience that God doesn't whisper the secrets of the kingdom to blabber mouths...

Jesus told his disciples "don't cast your pearls before swine."

I believe there is a time and a place to share our experiences in Christ and some of the various manifestations of the Spirit that occur in our time with Him, but there are many things that I keep to myself and don't share unless I specifically feel it is important.

 

[Trish1947]

Habeas...

I'm right there with you. It's been my experience that God doesn't whisper the secrets of the kingdom to blabber mouths...

Jesus told his disciples "don't cast your pearls before swine."

I believe there is a time and a place to share our experiences in Christ and some of the various manifestations of the Spirit that occur in our time with Him, but there are many things that I keep to myself and don't share unless I specifically feel it is important.

You might consider me a blabber mouth, it does not bother me. But niether do I consider anyone on this thread swine. They may not understand it, or agree with it. But I do not consider sharing the Glory of the Lord when asked, to be something that I would want to hide..I am not ashamed of his manifestations or anything about Him.

I'm right there with you. It's been my experience that God doesn't whisper the secrets of the kingdom to blabber mouths...

What did Jesus say, "what ever you hear in the ear, shout it from the rooftops!

 

[Pac Shady]

Well, I see the attitude of many Christians today-that the gifts are dead, that you can't know God in a real way anymore, that miracles are not for today, that science has explained away a lot of things and therefore God's manifestations no longer occur, along with a concentration on ritual over any actual leading of the Holy Spirit-far more alarming then applying too much to God!

No body here is denying that God works in amazing and miraculous ways, and no one is saying He can't and doesn't come to us and manifest Himself before us now. However, what we are saying is not to believe that EVERY ONE of these manifestations is God, but to test them as God Himself suggests in His Word. Otherwise you're opening yourself up to way too much spiritual danger and risk which the Holy Spirit really doesn't want you to go through!

God Bless

'Shady

 

[Trish1947]

No body here is denying that God works in amazing and miraculous ways, and no one is saying He can't and doesn't come to us and manifest Himself before us now. However, what we are saying is not to believe that EVERY ONE of these manifestations is God, but to test them as God Himself suggests in His Word. Otherwise you're opening yourself up to way too much spiritual danger and risk which the Holy Spirit really doesn't want you to go through!

God Bless

'Shady

Spiritual danger??? Because someone wants to redicule?. Somehow I find that hard to happen. You can always expect to be ridiculed. The only reason you might not want to say anything to those that "are swine", is because they put themselves in spiritual danger.

 

[Pac Shady]

Spiritual danger??? Because someone wants to redicule?. Somehow I find that hard to happen. You can always expect to be ridiculed. The only reason you might not want to say anything to those that "are swine", is because they put themselves in spiritual danger.

What? You've confused me. I didn't say anything about ridicule LOL. I'm talking about the fact that if you accept every manifestation that happens to you as being of God, what's to stop Satan from counterfeiting a manifestation and attacking you as such? And you wouldn't even know unless you tested it to make sure it was of God. But the point I'm making is that lately, many Pentecostals don't test these manifestations they see or have done to them or around them to make sure they ARE really Godly manifestations and not demonic counterfeits.

'Shady

 

[Trish1947]

What? You've confused me. I didn't say anything about ridicule LOL. I'm talking about the fact that if you accept every manifestation that happens to you as being of God, what's to stop Satan from counterfeiting a manifestation and attacking you as such? And you wouldn't even know unless you tested it to make sure it was of God. But the point I'm making is that lately, many Pentecostals don't test these manifestations they see or have done to them or around them to make sure they ARE really Godly manifestations and not demonic counterfeits.

'Shady

And this is what fear and not faith will do for you. If you truly believe that God has promised not to give you a stone, or a serpent. And you are trusting Him to keep you from all harm..and when a manifestation causes you to do nothing but praise God with your whole being..then the devil would be stupid. When something like that is given to you it causes praise towards God and worship in your spirit, it does not drive you away from Him. Thats why you have the Holy Spirit. He is quite able to identify a counterfeit.

 

[Pac Shady]

And this is what fear and not faith will do for you. If you truly believe that God has promised not to give you a stone, or a serpent. And you are trusting Him to keep you from all harm..and when a manifestation causes you to do nothing but praise God with your whole being..then the devil would be stupid. It turns people towards God to worship, not away from Him. Thats why you have the Holy Spirit. He is quite able to identify a counterfeit.

I think you're forgetting one vital factor: we are still human. We make mistakes. Yes, the Holy Spirit can tell the difference between Himself and a demonic spirit, but unless you test the spirits how do you know you're even listening to the Holy Spirit? And I'm speaking more of the fact that people are looking to the next big sign from God instead of having faith in Him because He is God - too many of us (you included it seems) believe that we need all these signs and wonders to believe in our God.

I'm protected from Satan too, but that's because I'm not willing to trust everything and I put everything to the test of God's Word, not because I assume that God won't allow Satan anywhere near me. Considering Satan tempted Jesus Himself, I would assume none of us is invulnerable to Satan's deceptions, and only by testing and knowing the truth of God can we be sure that what we see and hear is in fact of God.

I believe God's Word when it says not to trust every spirit, but to test them to ensure they are from God. You can continue believing in your signs and wonders if you wish. I prefer to make sure I'm believing in the God who does the signs and wonders in my life, and I'll keep my eyes on Him and not the manifestations. Because I love my God, not falling over or dust or tongues or anything else.

'Shady

 

[Trish1947]

Why would you assume that manifestations is what keeps a person going in their Christian life? That's nonsense. Like I posted in another post, I think I've had about six of them my whole Christian life of 47 years. Do you honestly think that this would be enough to keep a person going in trusting God? When they did happen, I was not expecting it, or asking for it. Why is it either or when talking about what God wants to do, when He wants to do it? Manifestations does not increase my faith in God. My faith in God is not based on what He wants to do regarding signs, wonders, or manifestations. It's based on what Christ did for me at the cross.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

Many of the things mentioned here are things I have not seen. I see folks Rest in the Spirit, have tears and laughter. Mostly we discern what is of the Holy Spirit or not. We test them against scripture. I have heard all sorts of stories of barking and strange noises.
I have also witnessed things that were not of God, including two cases of possession. This is over a period of 35 years. I have seen un-Godly counterfits (sp) and things that happen in the flesh.
Don't you all believe the gift of Discernment is really needed here????
I do not believe we should stifle the Holy Spirit but we must test all things.

 

[Trish1947]

Many of the things mentioned here are things I have not seen. I see folks Rest in the Spirit, have tears and laughter. Mostly we discern what is of the Holy Spirit or not. We test them against scripture. I have heard all sorts of stories of barking and strange noises.
I have also witnessed things that were not of God, including two cases of possession. This is over a period of 35 years. I have seen un-Godly counterfits (sp) and things that happen in the flesh.
Don't you all believe the gift of Discernment is really needed here????
I do not believe we should stifle the Holy Spirit but we must test all things.

Thats what I was trying to get across. I think some of the things that you mentioned mostly is from the flesh. I have no doubt that people can get into this, maybe to conveince others that they have been affected, but this does not mean that it is a counterfiet spirit. It's just the flesh. The Holy Spirit can be present, but a person that is so inclined might still want to jump a pew. That does not mean that the Holy Spirit is not present. But it might mean that a person is in the flesh in his reactions.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

Thats what I was trying to get across. I think some of the things that you mentioned mostly is from the flesh. I have no doubt that people can get into this, maybe to conveince others that they have been affected, but this does not mean that it is a counterfiet spirit. It's just the flesh. The Holy Spirit can be present, but a person that is so inclined might still want to jump a pew. That does not mean that the Holy Spirit is not present. But it might mean that a person is in the flesh in his reactions.

Exactly!!!
I just sat under a Leadership teaching on Discernment.
A good example was Prophesy. This was on how much the Prophet was "prayed up" and other things. How a Leader should exercise Discernment.
The example was someone getting a "Word" but for whatever reason, didn't stop at just the word but was inclined to add on and on to it.
The Leader could discern the Holy Spirit but something was not quite right.

Do you understand?

Same thing when the "flesh" gets mixed up in our ligit manifestations.

Then of course there are the demonic things that can get involved in the mix.

Thank God we have the Leaders Gifts.