- May 17, 2011
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So we of the Spirit variety love to worship and observe all things Charismatic. We believe the Holy Spirit of Yahweh is alive and active in all who adhere to our creed and enjoy a good Charismatic preacher bringing "the word". Why, from time to time, being slain in the Spirit or praying in tongues even gets the fervor even higher.
But where is the proof of "the anointing"?
We cannot possibly believe or even say with conviction that people who are "slain in the Spirit" have been Spirit baptized.
Nor can we say with any conviction praying in tongues is the mark of being Spirit Filled.
I have known many people who fell seemingly lifeless to the ground at an altar who straight way went about their life as though nothing ever happened. Only having received a slightly higher moral standing with which to look down up others from.
I have seen people who pray in the Spirit one minute and then cut others down the next. These are NOT marks of the Holy Spirit.
So what is?
LOVE
Not love for self, not love for friends. Love for your enemies.
The Spirit was given so we would be Christlike. Being Christlike means having his mind and living as he.
Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners! He was alone, even his closest friends and companions abandoned him, yet he carried on dutifully because He LOVED even those who betrayed him.
I know some will disagree and spit out the traditional Charismatic nonsense of "Praying in tongues" is the only sign, but I do not agree. Being able to love people that hurt you, despise you, mistreat you, revile you, hate you is the true mark of being full of the Spirit. Anyone can fake a tongue. Any preacher can fabricate a slaying in the Spirit. But only the Holy Spirit of God can cause a person to sacrifically love even those who the flesh longs to hate.
Until the church gets a hold on what really matters to God, the fakeness of our worship will only continue to grow.
But where is the proof of "the anointing"?
We cannot possibly believe or even say with conviction that people who are "slain in the Spirit" have been Spirit baptized.
Nor can we say with any conviction praying in tongues is the mark of being Spirit Filled.
I have known many people who fell seemingly lifeless to the ground at an altar who straight way went about their life as though nothing ever happened. Only having received a slightly higher moral standing with which to look down up others from.
I have seen people who pray in the Spirit one minute and then cut others down the next. These are NOT marks of the Holy Spirit.
So what is?
LOVE
Not love for self, not love for friends. Love for your enemies.
The Spirit was given so we would be Christlike. Being Christlike means having his mind and living as he.
Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners! He was alone, even his closest friends and companions abandoned him, yet he carried on dutifully because He LOVED even those who betrayed him.
I know some will disagree and spit out the traditional Charismatic nonsense of "Praying in tongues" is the only sign, but I do not agree. Being able to love people that hurt you, despise you, mistreat you, revile you, hate you is the true mark of being full of the Spirit. Anyone can fake a tongue. Any preacher can fabricate a slaying in the Spirit. But only the Holy Spirit of God can cause a person to sacrifically love even those who the flesh longs to hate.
Until the church gets a hold on what really matters to God, the fakeness of our worship will only continue to grow.