Receiving the Holy Spirit

[EricH]

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?

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!

Al believers receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.

[~Shalhevet~]

Does a person need to continuously ask for the Holy Spirit? That's kind of what they were saying at the Bible study the other night. I thought once we had the Holy Spirit, we had it and that was it.

[EricH]

Does a person need to continuously ask for the Holy Spirit? That's kind of what they were saying at the Bible study the other night. I thought once we had the Holy Spirit, we had it and that was it.

Not for indwelling (you already have that). As believers what we need to seek is being filled with the Spirit. Being filled is not a matter of quantity (getting more of the Spirit). It is a matter of us being fully yielded to HIs presence in our lives.

[~Shalhevet~]

Not for indwelling (you already have that). As believers what we need to seek is being filled with the Spirit. Being filled is not a matter of quantity (getting more of the Spirit). It is a matter of us being fully yielded to HIs presence in our lives.

Is receiving the spirit a physical thing? Some people say they get "drunk" in the holy spirit. Perhaps this is what was happening to me?

[Blien]

Does a person need to continuously ask for the Holy Spirit? That's kind of what they were saying at the Bible study the other night. I thought once we had the Holy Spirit, we had it and that was it.

This is a line of separation between myself and other believers here. I personally, do not believe we need to keep asking for the Holy Spirit. Why would we ask more of His Spirit, when we know that He is an actual person like you and I?

[nebula]

Being filled with the Spirit isn't a one-time event. It's an on-going way of life. Remember the parable of the 10 Virgins? Oil represents the Holy Spirit. You don't fill the vessel once and expect the lamp to burn the rest of your life. Oil needs to continually re-fill the lamp.

Consider Acts 4:31 speaks of a time when the believers prayed to the Lord for more boldness and greater works of God to manifest through them, it says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the same group that was filled with the Spirit during the Feast of Pentecost.

[EricH]

Not for indwelling (you already have that). As believers what we need to seek is being filled with the Spirit. Being filled is not a matter of quantity (getting more of the Spirit). It is a matter of us being fully yielded to HIs presence in our lives.

Is receiving the spirit a physical thing? Some people say they get "drunk" in the holy spirit. Perhaps this is what was happening to me?

It is always hard to quantify someone elses experience (unless that experience directly contradicts scripture). I compare it to people Jesus healed. Some He healed from a distance. For some He rubbed clay on their eyes. Fo others He commanded them to do something. If you interviewed each person separately and asked them how Jesus healed a person, you would have gotten several different answers. The blind man from John 9 woul have insisted you needed to be anointed with clay mixed with Jesus spit. The Roman centurion would insit that all you needed was a remote word from Jesus.

It is the same, in my opinion, with our outward experiences resulting from salvation and yielding to the Spirit. Some have no outward manifestation, some experience physical symptoms, others speak in tongues. I think we get into trouble when we try an make spirtual things into a formula (i.e. unless you have had emotional experience in this order you have not received the Spirit), we get into trouble.

[nebula]

Is receiving the spirit a physical thing? Some people say they get "drunk" in the holy spirit. Perhaps this is what was happening to me?

Could be. Remember when the Holy Spirit filled the believers on the Feast of Pentecost how the people thought they were drunk? There was a reason for that! And simply speaking in another language would not have made people think they were drunk.

[exrockstar]

Does a person need to continuously ask for the Holy Spirit? That's kind of what they were saying at the Bible study the other night. I thought once we had the Holy Spirit, we had it and that was it.

Not for indwelling (you already have that). As believers what we need to seek is being filled with the Spirit. Being filled is not a matter of quantity (getting more of the Spirit). It is a matter of us being fully yielded to HIs presence in our lives.

you dont ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you stay in fellowship, constantly ask for forgiveness of sins then by default you are filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit will not dwell in you in you live in unrighteousness.

This is a great example of when Christ on the cross said "why have you forsaken me...."

the mistake that many people do is ask for forgivenss of sins when the go to sleep as a "night prayer."

they sleep in righteousness when theyre asleep but what good is that? lol

[Blien]

Not for indwelling (you already have that). As believers what we need to seek is being filled with the Spirit. Being filled is not a matter of quantity (getting more of the Spirit). It is a matter of us being fully yielded to HIs presence in our lives.

Is receiving the spirit a physical thing? Some people say they get "drunk" in the holy spirit. Perhaps this is what was happening to me?

It is always hard to quantify someone elses experience (unless that experience directly contradicts scripture). I compare it to people Jesus healed. Some He healed from a distance. For some He rubbed clay on their eyes. Fo others He commanded them to do something. If you interviewed each person separately and asked them how Jesus healed a person, you would have gotten several different answers. The blind man from John 9 woul have insisted you needed to be anointed with clay mixed with Jesus spit. The Roman centurion would insit that all you needed was a remote word from Jesus.

It is the same, in my opinion, with our outward experiences resulting from salvation and yielding to the Spirit. Some have no outward manifestation, some experience physical symptoms, others speak in tongues. I think we get into trouble when we try an make spirtual things into a formula (i.e. unless you have had emotional experience in this order you have not received the Spirit), we get into trouble.

Completely agree, very balanced and Biblical.