Experiencing the Holy Spirit
When it relates to God, human history is often divided into three separate periods.
- The Old Testament era: The Father's dispensation
- The New Testament era: The Holy Spirit's dispensation
- The one-thousand-year period: The Son's dispensation
We may refer to the interval between the Old and New Testaments as the "time of the Son"; however, it spans only thirty-three years.
Pentecostal churches often emphasize that while salvation is essential, believers may also seek a deeper experience through receiving the Holy Spirit. Many teach that this reception is commonly accompanied by speaking in unknown languages (tongues), viewing it as a key sign of being filled with the Spirit. While interpretations and emphases vary among groups, such practices are widely encouraged in Pentecostal traditions. Could such a broader interpretation be true? If one relies solely on personal experiences or feelings, they cannot determine what is correct. Only by studying Scripture can we truly understand these matters, for human emotions can be influenced by Satan and evil spirits and thus should not be trusted alone.
So, what does the Bible say about this?
At the Moment of Belief
When does a person receive the Holy Spirit? Paul says, " And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13). Therefore, at the moment one hears and believes the gospel of salvation, they have already received the Holy Spirit. Thus, to receive the Holy Spirit, it is sufficient to hear and believe in the gospel of salvation. Believing in the message of Christ's salvation itself is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Some argue that one must wait and pray to receive the Holy Spirit. However, the Bible says: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4). The 120 disciples waited ten days and prayed for the Holy Spirit before receiving Him on the Day of Pentecost. However, when Peter preached on that same day, about three thousand people received the Holy Spirit immediately without waiting or praying for an additional period. After this event, there is no mention of needing to wait for the Holy Spirit. As Paul affirmed, as soon as one believes in the gospel of salvation, they receive the Holy Spirit at that very moment.
Regarding Signs and Wonders
The Holy Spirit is not received through speaking in other tongues; rather, speaking in tongues is a manifestation of a spiritual gift. "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and it sat on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and believers, three distinct phenomena were observed: a sound like a rushing wind was heard, tongues of fire appeared above each person, and they began to speak in various known languages (16 human languages). This happened because the Holy Spirit had come to dwell permanently on earth at that time, marked by great commotion and celebration akin to the establishment of a new era. Later, however, such disturbances did not recur. Similarly, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the 3,000 converts on the Day of Pentecost, these signs were present; but when another 5,000 were added to the church, no further manifestation of these phenomena occurred. Furthermore, the languages spoken on the Day of Pentecost were known human languages, whereas today's so-called "unknown tongues" are completely different and incomprehensible.
Only Through Prayer
Some people claim that the Holy Spirit can only be received through the laying on of hands by someone who prays for them, citing this passage: "When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-17).
So why did the believers in Samaria need Peter to lay his hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit? At that time, humanity was divided into three groups: Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. Jesus entrusted Peter with the responsibility of opening the heavens for all these groups because he was correctly able to declare that Jesus is the Messiah (John 16:13-20). Although the Samaritans believed the gospel preached by Philip, they required Peter to perform the laying on of hands ceremony. This situation is analogous to workers building a temple versus Solomon dedicating it; just as Peter performed the dedication for the Gentiles at Cornelius' house (Acts 10), he had previously done so for the Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Later, when people believed in Jesus and were baptized, Paul administered the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-7) within specific historical contexts.
Absent these unique circumstances, there is no need for anyone to lay hands on individuals to receive the Holy Spirit. Therefore, today, whenever anyone believes the gospel of salvation, they immediately receive the Holy Spirit without requiring another person to lay hands on them. There is no need for a laying-on-of-hands ceremony in our present context.
Bearing Witness to Others
Jesus spoke of the reasons for giving the Holy Spirit, saying, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit represents divine power. While this power enables a person to bear witness, most who have received the Holy Spirit fail to do so. Consequently, they often cannot experience true joy or success in their lives.
Bearing witness is the primary calling of believers. Because many engage in other activities instead of fulfilling this main task, they end up perishing without having received salvation. Failing to share one's faith not only fails to honor God and prevent others from finding salvation, but it also hinders the happiness of believers. From now on, let us begin to bear witness. If you are unable to do so, please contact Pastor Moses, the author of this article.
Being Carried Backward or Forward by the Spirit
Today, we encounter various experiences described as being "baptized in the Spirit," along with weeping, running about, and making animal-like noises. Are these manifestations works of the Holy Spirit? To understand this, we must look to Scripture rather than relying on personal experiences or feelings. The Lord Jesus previously revealed exactly what the work of the Holy Spirit would entail:
"When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:8-15)
When a patient comes to a doctor, the physician first identifies and explains the illness, then outlines the treatment plan. The doctor also warns the patient of potential consequences if left untreated. Similarly, Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit would expose sin, righteousness, and judgment, and guide people into all truth. However, the experiences of falling down, laughing, or running about are not actions mentioned by Jesus or performed by the apostles. Consequently, these phenomena are not works of the Holy Spirit but rather the result of a false spirit. Such behaviors are also observed in the practices of certain Hindu, Buddhist, and other religious traditions.
When the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, they boldly testified to and preached the gospel. Therefore, we must not accept such experiences as genuine spiritual manifestations. Instead, we should warn others against them. Furthermore, it is essential to read Scripture to correctly discern the truth.
