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CONTEMPORARY MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT - Assembly of God statement

sermonindex Apr 2, 2013


What is the Pentecostal Church congregation on the reports of cases of contemporary manifestations of the Holy Spirit, such as dancing in the Spirit, falling down under the power of the Spirit, etc.?


Misunderstanding and controversy accompanied the wake of the events of each day of the New Testament. When the day of Pentecost there were divine manifestations of the gift of tongues skeptics have stated that the Spirit-filled believers are drunk (Acts 2:13). Similarly, in the early twentieth-century Pentecostal many skeptics of the earlier tradition of the Church also did not understand the outpouring of the Spirit, and stated that those Spirit-filled believers were under the influence of demonic.

Such criticism and controversy are not limited to attacks by non-Pentecostals. Some people brought up in the Pentecostal churches argue about which are the manifestations of the Spirit, the Bible, and therefore appropriate. Critics of biblical manifestation state that they are wrong, because as such do not exist in the Bible. Supporters of these demonstrations also respond by quoting Scripture to justify their experience, but the parts used to support it are associated with contemporary manifestations of a very long and loose manner. Despite the lack of strong support for the Bible, Assemblies of God consider relevant these cases in Scripture, when some people were in the unusual physical and spiritual (eg Dan 8,17-18, Acts 9,3-4; Rev. 1:17) . The Church, however, also aware of the dangers of defending any unnatural in the wake of demonstrations as a sign of God's presence in the individual, not described in detail in the Bible cases.

As believers, we should carefully look for any evidence in the Bible demonstrations that announces itself as a sign of spirituality and a model for all people. Doctrine that the gift of tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is based on the record several times in the Word. Thus, we can certainly conclude that all believers can survive this experience, and that it should still be a normative part of the spiritual experience of every believer.

However, the assertion that for every small incidents during revival movement must be found equivalent in Scripture, it is not consistent with our understanding of a sovereign God who can act according to their best discretion, knowledge and will. An example of this might be a divine healing. As Pentecostals do not believe in and confess the truth. Do not come to the conclusion that only God can heal the diseases mentioned in Scripture. Because you can instantly read about many different cases of healing, we know that God can heal any weakness and disease.

The same is true in the Bible described many instances where God on people supernaturally. The Apostle Paul wrote about one such experience (2 Cor 12,1-5), but never demanded this as a normative experience, you should look for all believers, nor claimed that because of this experience was more spiritual. John also lived through extraordinary experiences on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:10). In any case, God revealed himself to a particular person at a particular time in a particular way in a particular order. Such cases have never been described as occurring regularly. This does not mean that the manifestations were not true, and there were only works not normal and exceptional events. In light of this we acknowledge that God is sovereign, and that gives his blessings to his people and his time creatively.

People are often looking for easy answers to difficult questions. Few spiritual chooses to adjudicate that the prophecy requires 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 14:29). It is easier to say that anything that requires discernment, should not be allowed. Manifestations of the Pentecostal church service should still be spiritually discerned, and not just to consider the whole revival is inappropriate, but to keep the good that God wants to accomplish in przebudzeniowym moving.

What's more, judging the distance, on the basis of reports from the second and third hand is not what Paul required. Judging whether human response is appropriate or not, should be made in the context of the church, where God is clearly working, where certain physical manifestations can be mixed in real manifestations of God's presence. We should always seek God's presence and appreciate it more than any of the evidence or manifestation. God can come in the wind, the earthquake, the fire, or in a small quiet voice (1 Kings 19,11-12).

Extraordinary experience of God's presence, which survived Isaiah (Isaiah 6) shows a beautiful sequence of events. First, there is a vision, a revelation of God's holiness and majesty. Isaiah's response is to give glory to God. However, the experience of God's presence in this never ends. He immediately came to the overwhelming feeling of unworthiness and sinfulness of man. "Woe is me", cried out, "I am a man of unclean lips ... and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5). Samopotępienie but there was also the finale of the story. God gave Isaiah once the job, "Go and tell." The experience of God's presence is more than a pleasant feeling of warmth, it brings a call to greater service.

The following refers to the modern manifestations, which often arises many questions, and they deserve to adjudicate.

Falling in the Spirit. Returns "blown away in the Spirit", "falling under the power" or "resting in the Spirit" in the Bible does not exist. However, they are used to describe the experience of incidence on the ground under the power of the Holy Spirit. Although the incidence of the Spirit seems to be a characteristic of some modern revivals and evangelistic services, recorded in the history of cases of people falling under the power of God or the "shock" of the Spirit in revivals eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some of the previously reported cases involved lying on the ground declining sinners in connection with the conviction of his sin. In modern Pentecostal revivals / charismatic / believers who fall under the power of the Spirit often suffer long, time intensive internal work of the Spirit is appropriate for a particular person and their needs.

Some exegetes note that in all cases the Bible when God's powerful presence meant that someone fell, it always has to face down (on the face), while the modern person usually falls back. When the number of people falling regularly increased, some evangelists relied on the "catchers" who would protect people from injury during a fall. Some question whether or not people need to protect others from harm, if the work is genuinely the work of the Holy Spirit. However, based on the biblical evidence we find that the incidence is no evidence of spirituality. It is also not a normative experience, which should be sought on the basis of any order or recurring biblical examples.

This type of "overwhelming" experience, and falling to the ground and therefore do not, in themselves, something that all believers as the pattern sought. However, when such events occur, they can be justified, and should not be discredited in its entirety.

On the other hand, some believers present at the meeting where several people fall under the power of the Spirit may feel inadequate if they do not fall down, while others may consider them to be non-spiritual or based action of the Spirit. "The collapse of civility" is never the action of the Spirit, as well as fast rising so others can experience the experience. If someone actually fell under the power of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit apparently wants to do in his life, a job.

Dancing in the Spirit. Dancing in the Spirit must be clearly distinguished from a normal dance and the dance arranged or being part of the choreography. Cases of dancing in the Spirit, known twentieth-century Pentecostal revival, generally related to a single person spontaneously "dancing" with her eyes closed, but which does not falls into the other persons present or the subjects clearly the power and leading of the Spirit. Again, such a manifestation in itself is not a sign of spirituality or higher standard, which would look for all believers. If such an experience takes place, it is because that person fell into the loving presence of God delight that the Spirit takes control over both the spiritual and emotional such a man, and on his movements.

The biblical story of David dancing before the Lord does not constitute a dance in the Spirit. Scripture says that "David danced before the Lord with all his might" (2 Sam 6:14), thus describing the personal joy and thanksgiving to the Lord David consciously expressed. Based on the biblical description of some of the contemporary charismatic churches initiated organized and trained dance as part of worship during services. Traditional Pentecostals, such as members of the Assemblies of God, complain because the replacement building, spontaneous, beautiful manifestation of the Spirit for man planned and carefully executed dance naturally. Some justify arranged choreographed dance in praise of the fact that it is a restoration of the Old Testament, "the dance of David", but selectively ignore the teaching of the spontaneous, not crafted and practiced manifestation of the Holy Spirit, which represents a higher form of expression in worship.

Other manifestations. It would be useless to refer to a long list of other manifestations, moreover, such a list would be quickly outdated. The above described principles are, however, both these manifestations, which are known to us, as well as those that may occur in the future. In any case, they are human reactions to the realization of the immediate presence of God. These are not signs of spirituality, or by themselves will not guarantee the development of the Kingdom. It is the only authentic presence of God, and not the human response to it, and this is the presence of the victorious Church will provide the power in the last days before Christ's return.

God's action, which includes demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, must always be in the Church accepted with joy. But we have to be careful and always focus on Jesus Christ and the desire of himself, and not any demonstrations. In our search we must consciously obey the Word of God in everything we do. We also need to be aware that when God poured in a creative way on the person of the Holy Spirit in a manner not described in Scripture, it is not a normative experience for either the person or the Church.

How can we recognize a manifestation of induced and controlled by the Spirit? Does it bring glory to Jesus and build his body? Confirmation that spiritual experience is authentic and biblical should be sought in the spiritual growth of those who survived them. Is it in the humility that exalts Jesus? Is such a person becomes a believer more like Him? Is the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility and self-control - multiplied through the personal experience of the presence of our Lord? These fruits will have a direct impact on a person's testimony and ultimately attract others to Christ.

Developed by the Assemblies of God

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flameoffire Apr 2, 2013

Thank you for posting this Greg. Interesting and somewhat ambiguous, which seems to be a trend among AG position papers. Could you post the source of this article? I have some friends in the AoG who would be interested in this.

sermonindex Apr 2, 2013

Brother,

I found it helpful that they were defining some more clear biblical direction towards manifestations of the Spirit.

The source is: http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/topics/sptlissues_manifestations.cfm

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wombat1 May 7, 2013

It was with great amusement and sadness that I came across Revival list put together by Andrew Strom. I told him about you although he may have been a member anyway so thought to mention him.

of the ten most annoying things in the Penticostal movement two of which were being pushed down to a catcher, nothing to do with God and of course and this is where I laughed, the courtesy fall. You are standing in a line to get a touch from the master or repent publicly or whatever and you realise everyone the man is touching is falling down, again. So he touches you and you know there is not enought annointing to blow the top off a beer bottle but down you go. Besides you would look like an idiot or rebellious if you did not.

of recent years I have rejected the push, I went forward in my own church for prayer, was on my knees as I was submitting to the Lord, one of hte elders came up and started yelling at me in tongues and pushing on my forehead. he kept it up untill I had a pain in the lower pack and had to walk backwards on my knees to get some relief he moved forward and reapplied the pressure I walked back again and he walked forward and again pushed for ten minutes or more I endured the push.

It was one of the most oustanding displays of the flesh in the church I have ever seen. There is a history of control so it allowed for pushing.

God bless you Andrew and Greg.

Not just the annointing but the unction if I can make a difference is coming back to the church. The young people have decided to wait on God in a special meeting. My son and his friend saved only ten days both had a vision at the same time, teh same vision. A man in chain mail the picture zoomed in to the point that each link could be seen to ber a member of the church. One brother looses grip in danger of falling and another reaches down and links arms with him again holding him in place.

Another Girl just saved had a vision clear about being a branch on a tree with teh Lord being the tree and branches growing from branches. She had been saved less than two weeks neither of these guys baptised in the spirit.

God is moving again, this time like the Penticostal move it is reformation not just revival. It is the beginning and I think it will be interesting to see who comes in and how fights against it. The last move of God is normally the most stringent enemy.

For those that read this may I ask a simple request and that is that we on occasion when it comes to mind like when driving to work or during morning tea or when ever that we pray for one another. I want to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit adn to be one who trembles at his word, not a know it all whose got it all.

Good wishes from down under Oskar.

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