What in the world is Holy Laughter?!!!

[jamie]

http://www.banner.org.uk/articles.html This is the article page, it has it all...the other link i gave was just a testimony.

[Guest Called]

I did go to the Brownsville Revival. I don't remember seeing people laughing or barking or anything like that! Of course I was in shock, I was a little Baptist girl that had no idea about anything in regards to the Holy Spirit! HA!

[Ovedya]

If the Lord releases you from a certain thing - say, something that has been troubling you, and He gives you peace or joy, then you can certainly have an emtional response. But that emotional response is not the power of the Spirit - it is simply your emotional response to the Spirit. But we absolutely cannot rely upon our emotions, and we certainly cannot label them as manifestations of the Spirit.

I guess you could look at it that way, but doesn't our emotions come from God also? I am just trying to understand, not give anyone a hard time? I think what I experienced is a different thing than what ya'll are calling "holy laughter"

My laughter wasn't from anything that was funny, I was just happy and thankful for Jesus and excited that I am going to heaven! I think there will be so much laughter and joy in heaven that our minds can't even comprehend it here on earth.

The Lord created us as emotional beings. But our emotions are tainted by sin. We cannot rely upon our emotions to tell us what is real. Certainly the experiences of joy, peace, etc. we get from a deep interaction with the Lord are real, but we have to recognize that they are only a response to what the Lord is doing. What the Lord is doing in our situation is the reality.

It is not inherantly wrong to have an emotional response to the Lord. The Lord loves us, and we love the Lord. But the kind of "holy laughter" that Toronto (and others) promote is something different.

[Guest Called]

Did you ever hear about people's dental fillings (not at Toronto necessarily - another church) being turned to Gold?? now - if God wanted to heal you, would he completely heal the tooth instead of giving you just gold fillings?? Think about it.....you can't jump and dance around I'm rich I am rich!! You would need to harvest it out of your mouth!! LOL

Ummmm, that is interesting!

[Guest Called]

It is not inherantly wrong to have an emotional response to the Lord. The Lord loves us, and we love the Lord. But the kind of "holy laughter" that Toronto (and others) promote is something different.

I guess I need to do more research on this.

[Guest shiloh357]

Why in the middle of a sermon? Who knows. Maybe something the pastor said triggered it? One thing for sure, once he understood the circumstances he had no problems with it. In fact, his thoughts were, "Lord, if You need to disrupt my services in order to set people free, You go for it!"

Remember when Jesus healed people on the Sabbath in the Synogogue? Wasn't He rebuked for doing what was "out of order" to do? What is more important, human tradition or setting people free from bondage?

I myself would rather be in a chruch that puts the people first and the agenda second.

BTW, in Acts chapter 2, why do you suppose the people in Jerusalem thought the disciples were drunk? I know it only says they were speaking in other languages, but consider: would something so mild as a person speaking a foreign language make you think a person was drunk? What if the disciples were laughing uncontrollably and staggering and rolling on the ground - wouldn't that be a more likely candidate for calling someone "drunk?"

Just something to consider.

Whoa.... Good point, Neb! Our definition of "order" maybe different than God's. Setting people free is never out of order, even if it does disrupt our carefully crafted programs. People's needs should always come first.

[Ovedya]

BTW, in Acts chapter 2, why do you suppose the people in Jerusalem thought the disciples were drunk? I know it only says they were speaking in other languages, but consider: would something so mild as a person speaking a foreign language make you think a person was drunk? What if the disciples were laughing uncontrollably and staggering and rolling on the ground - wouldn't that be a more likely candidate for calling someone "drunk?"

Well the Pharisees claimed that Jesus was a drunkard too. But I don't ever recall Him acting in a manner that would make people think so. I'm not well versed in this, but it seems to me that anything "out of the norm" would cause folks to say, "They must be drunk," especially by the Pharisees, since they were out to get the believers anyway.

[Botz]

Without doubt there are all sorts of deceptions at work in the Church...especially here in our cozy Western life-style Churches and it is right that we don't sweep these things under the carpet and ignore them...but rather expose them and discuss them...because when things are brought out into the open and seen for what they are...deception is pretty difficult.

G-d has moved on individuals and Congregations,and huge Assemblies of people for years and many have been totally surrounded with the joy of the Holy Ghost...some laugh,some cry,some run up and down shouting and leaping and praising G-d.

No movement or individual is responsible for ushering in the joyful presence of G-d although at this present time the overwhelming experience of this deep releasing joy may be more prevalent in some places than in others. It is a pity that there have been excesses and it is a pity that some ministries have chosen to major on outward manifestations...but this is nothing new...we just have to discern what is of G-d,what is of the flesh,and what is demonic counterfeit.

Testing what is presented by the Word of G-d has always been the guideline for all things whether in the time of Moses or Jesus or nowadays. We have a remarkable propensity for erring...its in the nature of being a sheep I guess.

There comes a point though when if we scrutinize and doubt every last thing that we are presented with ...we will become like some of the Religious Leaders in the NT and all the time we will be testing the Word of G-d or the presence of G-d or the manifestion of G-d...trying to see if it will fit into our small box of revealed truth that we know beyond a doubt is of G-d.

There is a difference between a Borean heart attitude...and that of a Finickity-Pickity attitude that nit-picks the whole time.

G-d is looking for Faith...He is always looking for Faith...but one sure fire way to close down a persons faith is to assail it with doubt. We should be strong enough and spiritual enough to recognise the difference between the voice of the Shepherd and the voice of a hireling...and therefore to quickly discern what is of G-d and not allow ourselves to be carried away by every wind of doctrine.

Sometimes when a Church as a body experiences a fresh release of the presence of G-d and several unusual manifestations take place...there is a time of learning and growth and experimentation...and sometimes we get it wrong.

The L-rd when he let His disciples loose on the world gave them very little instruction that we know of...the rest was up to them...to go and to move in faith and to experiment. They would come back and try and outdo each other with testimonies of faith and how demons fled from them in the name of Jesus and they were excited...The L-rd said..." Hey fellers...I know that gives you a kick but really you should be getting that excited about having your names written in Heaven" Luke Chapter 17.

The Finikity Pickity ones would leave no room for any sort experimentation and solemnly say 'It has to be in the Word of G-d brother.' Well that is true...but often the Word of G-d goes a little deeper than their limited conception...and Hebrew has always painted a broad picture...rather like an impressionist painting...than drawn in the minute detail.

So I 100% endorse what Called has spoken about..The presence of G-d at times leads to a total deep joy and laughter...and is manifested in various obvious ways...and it is wonderful...but the core of the joy is the presence of G-d.

2Chron 6:18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

[Guest shiloh357]

I have personally been in times of intercession when laughter just came over me, and I knew that somewhere in the Spirit realm there was a breakthrough. It was not some crazy thing. It came from inside me. It was not the same kind of laughter that comes from seeing a humorous movie, but rather it came out of a joy that I have deep within me.

It is kinda silly when people try to equate laughing in the Spirit with barking, hissing, growling, shrieking, etc. None of those are even the ballpark when compared to genuine Holy Ghost laughter.

I believe that the Holy Spirit has a genuine use for laughter. I would challenge anyone to demonstrate how genuine laughter in the Spirit will contribute to someone's spiritual decline.

[artsylady]

The following are common manifestations of the risen Kundalini:

Muscle twitches, cramps or spasms. 

Energy rushes or immense electricity circulating the body 

Itching, vibrating, prickling, tingling, stinging or crawling sensations 

Intense heat or cold 

Involuntary bodily movements (occur more often during meditation, rest or sleep): jerking, tremors, shaking; feeling an inner force pushing one into postures or moving one's body in unusual ways 

Alterations in eating and sleeping patterns 

Episodes of extreme hyperactivity or, conversely, overwhelming fatigue 

Intensified or diminished sexual desires 

Headaches, pressures within the skull 

Racing heartbeat, pains in the chest 

Digestive system problems 

Numbness or pain in the limbs (particularly the left foot and leg) 

Pains and blockages anywhere; often in the back and neck 

Emotional outbursts; rapid mood shifts; seemingly unprovoked or excessive episodes of grief, fear, rage, depression 

Spontaneous vocalizations (including laughing and weeping) -- are as unintentional and uncontrollable as hiccoughs 

Hearing an inner sound or sounds, classically described as a flute, drum, waterfall, birds singing, bees buzzing but which may also sound like roaring, whooshing, or thunderous noises or like ringing in the ears. 

Mental confusion; difficulty concentrating 

Altered states of consciousness: heightened awareness; spontaneous trance states; mystical experiences (if the individual's prior belief system is too threatened by these, they can lead to bouts of psychosis or self-grandiosity) 

Heat, strange activity, and/or blissful sensations in the head, particularly in the crown area. 

Ecstasy and intervals of tremendous joy, love, peace and compassion 

Psychic experiences: extrasensory perception; out-of-body experiences; pastlife memories; astral travel; direct awareness of auras and chakras; contact with spirit guides through inner voices, dreams or visions; healing powers 

Increased creativity: new interests in self-expression and spiritual communication through music, art, poetry, etc. 

Intensified understanding and sensitivity: insight into one's own essence; deeper understanding of spiritual truths; exquisite awareness of one's environment (including "vibes" from others)

Enlightenment experiences: direct Knowing of a more expansive reality; transcendent awareness 

We've determined somehow that barking and oinking are not of God but laughing is, although it is also a manifestation of the Kundalini.

Do you believe the Holy Spirit also causes laughter in those who are involved in the Kundalini?

So are the 'jerks' from the holy spirit? Shaking? How do you decide which is from God and which is not?

It seems that most of those who've had this experience are all for it, and those who have not are hesitant to accept it.

I acknowledge all of the verses about being cheerful and able to laugh, although I'm still not convinced that this uncontrollable laughter is of God.

I have to admit that when I was in my early 20's i saw the Toronto Vineyard stuff on Donahue and really wanted to go there. I wasn't a strong Christian, didn't read my Bible and hardly prayed, but I really wanted to go there and get touched by God. It seemed rather attractive to me at the time to lose all senses and be taken over.

Wow. That Gayle's testimony was pretty freaky.