Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Paul writes that no-one can say, “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Spirit of God was at work in your life before you became a Christian and has continued to work by His Spirit since then.

Although Charismatics agree that the Spirit is operative in every believer and the varied ministries of the church, still every believer must answer the question of Acts 19:2, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”

Is there a definite experience of empowering (or drenching) in the Holy Spirit?

Yes. The Bible speaks of this and it is part of the Christian life today. Jesus experienced such an anointing at His baptism. The disciples were empowered by the Spirit at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had already been at work in the lives of Jesus and His disciples before this.

The empowering comes through a process of yielding the whole person to the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is not passive or automatic. We must yield our minds by worshiping Jesus Christ, the One who sends the Spirit. The emotions are warmed as the love of God flows from our hearts (Romans 5:50). Our physical bodies participate as we worship with our spoken words of expressed worship or raised hands of adoration (Psalm 63:1-5)

When should I expect this kind of renewing work of the Spirit to happen?

Assuming that you have first asked and keep on asking for more of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence, when it is right for you. The Holy Spirit is in charge. But you must keep asking, seeking, knocking (Luke 11:9,10,13)

The experience you have of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in your life now is more important than the way you received it.

Is this a once and for all event?

No. There’s much more to come. Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to go on being filled with the Spirit.

Can we reject the Holy Spirit’s fullness and blessing for us?

We can and many do. It is possible to grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30); outrage Him (Hebrews 10:29); and put out the Spirit’s fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19). It is a human reaction to reject the supernatural and manifestation gifts of the Spirit.

We need to receive and welcome the Holy Spirit’s work in us.

How do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

The Bible unequivocally declares, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). An analysis of the Greek verb translated “Be filled” shows that it is in the present tense, indicating that this blessing is one that may be experienced and enjoyed now. The fact that the verb is a command (imperative mood) does not leave the responsive believer an option in the matter – it must be done! However, on the other side, since the verb is in the passive voice, it is also clear that being filled with the Spirit is not something the Christian achieves through effort, but is something that is done for you and to which you must yield, submit and surrender. We simply ask.

The asking happens through prayer, alone or with others. It may be especially appropriate to seek God for a deeper experience of the Spirit’s presence at the following times:

· Near the beginning of your Christian life

· At or around a service of baptism, confirmation or renewal of vows

· Before taking on some new ministry or taking a new step in your life

· After a time of extended spiritual dryness

How do I know I have received the Holy Spirit’s fullness?

If the Spirit has been moving gradually in our lives over the years, we may not always know through a big crisis experience, whether we have received the Holy Spirit. We may not feel any different initially. For some, receiving prayer for the infilling of the Spirit is a powerful and immediate life transforming experience; for others it will be a quiet but no less significant opening up to God. For some there will be tears and laughter, tongues or prophecy; for others a deep assurance of God’s love, presence or peace. Jesus tailors our experience of Himself to meet our particular needs.

The point is to keep open, yielding yourself to the Holy Spirit. Keep asking for more and believe you receive. Often you will receive a conscious sign or confirmation – an experience.

Paul tells us that the work of the Holy Spirit can be told by the fruit produced. This is the acid test. If your life in Christ is bearing fruit then you have received more of the Holy Spirit.

The answer to this is a bit involved, philosophical and technical, but it goes something like this:

The philosophy that has shaped our modern scientific world is the 18^th century movement called the Enlightenment. Even as we have moved into the 21^st century, this philosophy still influences us very strongly. The goal of this philosophy was to counter medieval superstition with reason and science.

Its highest values are the natural, material and the rational. It assumes matter is more ‘real’ than spirit – natural more real than supernatural. It’s anti-supernatural at its core. It also reduces God to the first Cause, the One who does not interrupt or intervene by the miraculous (deism).

Add to that a theology that interprets the Bible through the lens of: “the age of miracles ended after the apostles” (see below – cessationism); what do you think you will get?

The result is that you cannot trust emotions, intuition, we are sceptical about the invisible and the realm of the immaterial world (spirit realm). An Enlightenment worldview has influenced the way we interpret and apply scripture. It makes us cynical rationalists. This results in reduced, biblically valid and normative spiritual experiences and encounters.

To counter this cultural conditioning, we need to allow the Bible to reshape your worldview and experiences. I recommend exposing yourself to contexts where the Holy Spirit is moving. Read and listen to stuff on renewal and revival, so your views and limits are challenged and your hunger for more of God is stimulated.

Some churches believe that the supernatural gifts and manifestations of the Spirit are not for today’s church. Why is this?

This is one system of Biblical interpretation called cessationism. It is the view that the ‘sign gifts’ in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ceased after the Apostles and then later, after the completion of the 27 New Testament books of the Bible. This view is taken from 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.

My Response: Paul is comparing in this passage the partial (gifts) and the perfect (love), not the temporary (gifts) and the permanent (Bible). He is saying everything in this age compared to the new creation is at a child-like stage, including gifts. The context of these verses is obviously the return of Jesus Christ (the perfect) not the advent of all the books of the Bible. We are still to desire the gifts until the age to come arrives (14:1).

This theology leads to continuationism, the counterpoint to cessationism. We stand firmly within the former, not the latter tradition, in our beliefs and practice.

Carl Gidney 2007

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