Receiving the Holy Spirit

[~Shalhevet~]

I feel like a failure. I cannot tell the difference between God and Satan. How am I to judge the angels? These people do miracles and wonders in Jesus name and I cannot even believe it. God must be shaking His head. Like I said in a post awhile back, I believe in spiritual gifts but I'm a skeptical. Satan can dress himself as the angel of light to deceive even the elect. Last night they prayed over me in tongues and I had no idea what they were saying. They could have been putting a curse on me for all I know. Lord help me.

[OneLight]

I feel like a failure. I cannot tell the difference between God and Satan. How am I to judge the angels? These people do miracles and wonders in Jesus name and I cannot even believe it. God must be shaking His head. Like I said in a post awhile back, I believe in spiritual gifts but I'm a skeptical. Satan can dress himself as the angel of light to deceive even the elect. Last night they prayed over me in tongues and I had no idea what they were saying. They could have been putting a curse on me for all I know. Lord help me.

Read your words. How many times do you use the word "I"? It is not "you" who can do anything. It is God, through the Holy Spirit. Learn to recognize His leading and trust in Him, not your own abilities. Let go of trying to do this yourself, you can't ... nobody can.

[humbleseeker]

I guess I may have been blessed or just ignorant enough 13 years ago to just allow the baptim to happen. Although as many things in life there is a first and we dont forget those moments. Same was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was a new convert and so so hungry for more of God praying at least an hour everyday and reading the bible constantly. I had a great pastor and youth pastor who after a service one day many people were praying down the front end of the church, they both came over to me and started praying for me and it was like power ripped through my body and started speaking in tounges. It was realy crazy! Anyway my sugestion is to just seek God let it all go maybe even forget about recieving the gifts just pray, fast and seek more of God. God is not ignorant to any believers situation he wants to bless us. We must have faith that he is going too and sometimes be patient the 72 in the upper room were praying for many days before the Holy Spirit was poured out.

[~Shalhevet~]

Read your words. How many times do you use the word "I"? It is not "you" who can do anything. It is God, through the Holy Spirit. Learn to recognize His leading and trust in Him, not your own abilities. Let go of trying to do this yourself, you can't ... nobody can.

You're right. Thank you.

[2Joyful]

I feel like a failure. I cannot tell the difference between God and Satan. How am I to judge the angels? These people do miracles and wonders in Jesus name and I cannot even believe it. God must be shaking His head. Like I said in a post awhile back, I believe in spiritual gifts but I'm a skeptical. Satan can dress himself as the angel of light to deceive even the elect. Last night they prayed over me in tongues and I had no idea what they were saying. They could have been putting a curse on me for all I know. Lord help me.

Or'el, you know God too well to be talking like that. He understands what you are feeling. On the other hand, if you want to be baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, you got to put all thoughts of satan behind you. You have to keep your mind on Jesus and His word. You have to believe that God would NEVER offer a blessing to you thats cursed.

Being filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues is going to cost you to step into a realm of faith that many will never venture into. Because like other things that we ask God for sometimes come easier to believe. Many say it not for todays church...you don't need to speak...or they just don't desire to allow Him to speak. And thats ok, the IMPORTANT thing is, has GOD PLACED A DESIRE IN YOU TO ALLOW THE COMFORTER TO SPEAK THROUGH YOU!! Thats all that matters. If you have this burning desire, God will put people in your mist to pray for you...or...at home in prayer God will do it. , and any where else as long as the desire is in you.

Now for praying in tongues, I do it and it came about from hearing it was so. One thing about me is I know God for myself. And I went into prayer about it and He shared this to me. If you travel to France, what language are you going to speak? English right, that the langage that I carry everywhere I go because I know no other. He ask me then why would you be filled with the Holy Ghost who never speaks? At that point I said Lord I believe and He speaks.

Now for the filling from the toes, I not debating because thats what he believes and I can't take that from him. But as I was being baptism in the Holy Ghost, I felt the filling coming from my feet up, I didn't ask why, because what I had been praying and believing, God could have chosen it to start in my nose, I didn't care, I knew God was doing what I had asked.

I have prayed about that thought (filling from the toes) and the answer was given for ME (no on has to believe).. God ask when you stepped in the water at church to be baptism..feet goes in first...when you FILL your glass with water, you have to start from the bottom..thats good enough for me

Acts 2:2- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind, and it FILLED the whole house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3- and yes it does say: Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4- And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I'm not trying to change or make any one believe that things has to be done my way. All I'm asking is for you to know God for yourself and in whatever area

you ask Him to lead you, be willing to take His hand and do just that. We have a God Who answers us concerning spiritual things. When He knocks at the door, we must fully be willing to open it and invite Him in.

Be blessed (and you are),

Joyful

[~Shalhevet~]

Thanks Joyful.

After talking to people here and to my pastor and my dad, and after praying about it, I've come to the conclusion that God would not create this fear and confusion in my heart. God is not chaos. Why on earth would he want to scare me like that?

[~Shalhevet~]

Question...

How can you test the spirits without committing blasphemy of the holy spirit? In other words, if I were to discern that these spirits last night were not of God but rather of Satan, how do I make that determination without committing the unforgivable? If I were to say their spirits were of the devil and they weren't, Id' be in pretty big trouble, wouldn't I? Does this make sense?

[Blien]

Question...

How can you test the spirits without committing blasphemy of the holy spirit? In other words, if I were to discern that these spirits last night were not of God but rather of Satan, how do I make that determination without committing the unforgivable? If I were to say their spirits were of the devil and they weren't, Id' be in pretty big trouble, wouldn't I? Does this make sense?

Personally, I belive God is much more flexible and forgiving. If you said something without knowing it then He would overlook it. I think the danger is when you know it's God and yet say something Evil against the Holy Spirit. That's what the Pharisees did according to the scripture.

To discern. Just ask God and wait for His response. You can also do what it says in 1 John 4.. just ask this spirit who is talking to you. Did Christ come in the flesh? Is Jesus Lord? Did He die for our sins and rise up from the dead to Glory on the Right hand of the father?

If the answer is no to any of these, its not from God.

[nebula]

I had some people pray over me tonight to receive the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. I don't know why but now I feel like maybe I did something wrong by allowing them to do this. What if I don't receive the gift? Does that mean I don't have enough faith?

No, it's not wrong; and no, it's not about not having enough faith. However, in order for the manifestation, sometimes you need to take a "leap of faith" and open your mouth to speak it before it comes out.

Then something strange happened before that. While they were praying and speaking in tongues over other people I felt this strong sensation come over me. It was like a wave that went through me. I felt dizzy/lightheaded and began having muscle twitches. Then my heart started racing really fast. I have NEVER in my life experienced anything like this. First I thought it was neat but then it scared me! Was this God or the devil? I'm so confused!

I believe it is God.

Why? Because when the Lord's presence manifests, I feel it as joy and peace, but also as energy. This energy affects some people physically (thus the shaking). My brother twitches and shakes. I don't.

The next time you feel that way, start worshiping - not spouting out words - but from your heart/spirit - direct praise, adoration, love, and worship to the Lord. It might settle your heart. This is how I react; maybe that's why I don't have physical manifestations, because my spirit is "manifesting"?

[nebula]

By the way, praying in tongues... I'm not entirely sure it's from God. They told me, essentially to just make up the words as I go! How stupid!

No, that's one way to take a leap of faith. Sometimes we have to get past our mental barriers.

I was encouraged to just let sounds come out of my mouth until the words flow, and that's what happened! Note that I am not the kind of person who can make up babble. I could indeed tell something was different.

As if GOD needed anyone to speak in a different language for Him to understand us. How absurd!

In 1 Cor. 14, Paul mentions tongues being used to speak to God, did he not?