Is that the power of Holy Spirit?

[kaylagrl]

I don't get into "Laughing" either. But I also know that I honestly would not bet my life on being so cock-sure it is not of God.

Yes,thats why I said "for the most part". Ive seen people so full of joy in a service break out in laughter usually after a healing or deliverance. But Ive also attended services where it was clear that people were all laughing on cue and falling out of their chairs like idiots. Again, you can usually tell whats in the flesh and in the Spirit.

 

[miknik5]

Did Peter stay with Cornelius and his family to validate if indeed GOD had washed him? or was the evidence of THE SPIRIT glorifying GOD rightly sufficient for Peter to understand that the Gentiles would also be included in THE HOUSE?

 

[LaurenTM]

I agree with you that this type of service is harmful to unbelievers. However, there is no reason to think that an orderly demonstration of the gifts of the spirit during worship and a good sermon are mutually exclusive. As Lauren has pointed out repeatedly in her posts that there is supposed to be order and not chaos. People do often twist or pervert spiritual gifts as she said. Just like there are true and false conversions there are true and false demonstrations of spiritual gifts. We don't throw out the idea of conversion because of the fake converts.

If you think about it what is more convicting and awe inspiring for an unbeliever to witness than a true demonstration of the Holy Spirit? Also, it makes sense to me that if Christians are truly being led by the Holy Spirit ( including the minister), that the minister would have a message of truth to share with his congregation. As for falling down, I would imagine there have been genuine and non genuine incidents. I don't think it's that far fetched to imagine a person being overcome by the sense of majesty and holiness of God and falling to their knees. The Holy Spirit is powerful. As Christians we are often overcome when in the presence of God. Not to mention there have been countless recorded stories of revivals ( the great awakening comes to mind) in which many in attendance during those meetings were prostrate under conviction of sins and later found salvation. (Those weren't Pentecostal or charismatic meetings). Those prostrate weren't manufacturing that.

I do agree that at times these things seem manufactured. I don't flow with everything I've ever witnessed. You have to assess each situation independently and use discernment. Simply writing off speaking in tongues as being disorderly because you don't understand the tongues isn't right.

it has happened to me on a few occasions, that the presence of the Holy Spirit in my own home during private worship time has overcome me to the point I did feel myself going backwards...but I did not fall 'under'...but was overcome...in a good way

I have also been in meetings where, sadly, push does come to shove

and I see no use for hundreds of people falling over when certain people wave their arms at them

the main problem I see with Christians and the Holy Spirit, is them throwing caution and discernment out the door and just accepting EVERYTHING

that, is not a wise thing to do

 

[Willie-T]

Peter went where he wouldn't have gone
and after that he ate with the "Gentiles". Those whom he initially considered unclean, uncircumcised, who had no part in the things of HOD until GOD sent him to go where he wouldn't have

Yet, you are ridiculing it here. Why?

 

[LaurenTM]

I don't get into "Laughing" either. But I also know that I honestly would not bet my life on being so cock-sure it is not of God.

I think it may...but again, we have the forced soulish activity as with many things

some years back, I had a really badly broken right shoulder (riding incident)...doctors were really worried it would be frozen..cause like I said, it was really messed up

anyway, one night, a couple of weeks into the healing process, I'm lying in bed...on my back cause that was the only position available with the shoulder...and I start laughing...it was like 2 or 3 in the morning...my husband wakes up and wonders what is going on...I just laugh and laugh until tears roll down my cheek

don't know why...but it sure took the tension off LOL!

and by the way, my shoulder is about 95% functional and I believe God had a hand in that and left me with the 5% to remind me about His care...the doctors also said if I had landed differently, I might have been a paraplegic

God didn't put me on that horse and she was one mean ole thing....and I've had a number of horses and you don't find many actual mean ones

I could go on...but enough about horses

 

[PinkDiamond]

Yes,thats why I said "for the most part". Ive seen people so full of joy in a service break out in laughter usually after a healing or deliverance. But Ive also attended services where it was clear that people were all laughing on cue and falling out of their chairs like idiots. Again, you can usually tell whats in the flesh and in the Spirit.

I recall seeing a documentary once about these missionaries in New Guinea (if I recall they weren't from a Pentecostal background). There was a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the whole tribe responded to the gospel. Afterwards, the whole tribe corporately broke out in exuberance and dancing. It wasn't scripted or learned behavior. They were all overcome with joy and excitement. I agree with you that you can tell when something is genuine. I'd not normally be an advocate for dancing or laughing during a service but I wouldn't rule out every situation.

 

[trofimus]

I recall seeing a documentary once about these missionaries in New Guinea (if I recall they weren't from a Pentecostal background). There was a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the whole tribe responded to the gospel. Afterwards, the whole tribe corporately broke out in exuberance and dancing. It wasn't scripted or learned behavior. They were all overcome with joy and excitement. I agree with you that you can tell when something is genuine. I'd not normally be an advocate for dancing or laughing during a service but I wouldn't rule out every situation.

If they were not from pentecostal background, what exactly did they mean by "there was a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit"? I think this is the language of charismatic/pentecostals...

 

[kaylagrl]

Why should it bother me? I've seen it happen. But, unfortunately, I have also seen far too many "Frozen-Chosen" brothers fight it, tooth and nail, making sure none of that stuff would ever get in "their" building.

We had a Baptist friend that use to play instruments and travel with us. He was totally against speaking in tongues or emotion of any kind,no raising hands. One morning he was traveling with us and someone in the service spoke in tongues, after a while the interpretation came. So after the service we sat our friend down to explain what had happened and he said " I already know, I knew what the person speaking in tongues was saying before it was spoken in English". So ya,he changed his mind about the whole thing pretty fast. lol

 

[notuptome]

what do you call deliberate twisting of what I say Roger? huh? what is THAT? and you do if often

I didn't attack you

you just have no defense for what you believe...or I should say DON'T believe

without discernment, a person is lost in this world today...which makes your particular pick and choose as to what you do and do not believe all the more alarming

let's not play games

many people here know what you actually think and if insist, I'll go along and post it

I see all kinds of folks touching the thread...what a silly thing to say

Yeah I'm twisting. You have taken falling on the ground and laughing uncontrollably and turned it into talking in tongues.

Guess you'll believe any kind of nonsense if it happens under a church roof.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

oh good grief

you may know a little something about eastern religions

but apparently not very much about the Holy Spirit


did you use scissors or shears to cut out all the parts about the Holy Spirit in your Bible?

And maybe you would like to fill me in on the parts I cut out?

 

[Joidevivre]

I believe that the Holy Spirit could do anything He desires with and upon a person. He might know that person needs to let go and laugh - or let go and not be able to stand. There might be inner healing done at that time. One of the messages of the gospel is healing and manifesting the presence of God with us. The Holy Spirit is far beyond our understanding of how he will always work. I agree with the posting that mentioned the danger of judging what your eyes see or your ears hear.

You can only discern rightly when you, yourself, have an experience.

Personally, I welcome whatever He chooses to give me. I trust his ways are far above my ways. If he desires, he can gently knock me off my feet and by doing so maybe knock the pride out of me. Or he can cause my heart and soul to so fill with joy that for the first time in my life I can actually know what joy really feels like as the laughter rises up in me not to be quenched. Or he can show me how God's glory has such weight that I find my flesh shaking under it.

Come, Holy Spirit. Every time you have touched me, I have felt even more of the love of Jesus for me. How could I not want everything you could give?

 

[LaurenTM]

Yeah I'm twisting. You have taken falling on the ground and laughing uncontrollably and turned it into talking in tongues.

Guess you'll believe any kind of nonsense if it happens under a church roof.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

I did?

please point that out to me, cause I know I didn't

you have to yet say one word about the scripture I posted..AFTER you said no one posted any scripture

you are posting in a manner that suggests you can't deal with it, as you are making personal comments to me and really, there is no need for that at all unless you cannot respond to the truth of the Bible?

I don't believe in nonsense...I believe in the power of God as seen through the infilling of His Holy Spirit

frankly, I don't know how anyone is going to make it, refusing the gift of the Holy Spirit, without falling under the power of the devil if this world keeps on the way it is...and we know it is not going to get better

it's not me or those like me, you are railing against Roger

you are railing against God Himself as He fulfills His word

 

[PinkDiamond]

If they were not from pentecostal background, what exactly did they mean by "there was a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit"? I think this is the language of charismatic/pentecostals...

Are you taking issue with the story itself or the term outpouring of the Spirit? Also, I'm paraphrasing this account. The missionaries acknowledged this reaction of the tribe to be wonderful and of God. I honestly don't recall what exact words they used to describe this situation. I am from a Pentecostal background, however.

That being said you won't like the prophet Joel if you have an issue with the term outpouring of the Spirit. The term wasn't created by Pentecostals. Long before there were any charismatic or Pentecostal denominations the term was used in scripture In fact, Peter during Pentecost quotes Joel in Acts 2:17. The term is biblical.

 

[LaurenTM]

And maybe you would like to fill me in on the parts I cut out?

nope


just making sure other people don't think the Holy Spirit is actually the coiled snake waiting to be awakened

 

[eph610]

I think the falling and other things are result of auto/suggestion, hypnosis and nerves made vulnerable by shouting, loud music and hysterical atmosphere.

Then explain this to me...

We were ministering in a Prison service and after the music stopped, the Holy Ghost was in the room. No music was playing, nobody was saying anything, just 180 people worshiping God in spirit and in truth.....

Without anyone touching them, people begin to fall as they stood, straight down on their knees, some fell face forward, some fell on their backs or to the side, but there was not one broken bone, no busted lips, no blood, no broken teeth, no head injuries nothing....the ones that fell would get back up and you knew they had some face time with the Holy Ghost...and strictly on his terms...I saw people who fell in ways that if they had fallen that way naturally, it would have broken legs, ankles, backs, knees, hips, pelvis, arms and even necks...yet we had nothing like that happen....many times people that fall out like this stand back up and are radically healed of diseases and cured of illness like Hep C, sexually transmitted, heart disease, thyroid problems, etc....We always get a report from the infirmary doctors they go to and we encourage them to go see the DR's to get the tests ran that proves they were healed. We have confirmations of 2 people that were born blind, recovering their sight...this is in addition to the emotional healings, etc...

This is the rule in our services and not our exception...we had a visiting Evangelist and his wife with us during one such service and they both said they have never experienced a move of the Spirit like that...ever. He asked me why the ministers that come in with us never went to pray with people or bother them during this quiet time of worship...

I told him I was trained to discern when the Holy Ghost wanted to be free to move and touch who he needs to and that the Holy Ghost can do more in persons life, than any minister of the Gospel could ever, so I trained our ministers the same way....

We had another Pastor and his wife that was visiting with us tell us they also experienced the same things when they were on the missions field....

If you don't believe in the ministry of the Holy Ghost...it is doubtful you will ever experience the ministry of the Holy Ghost...

 

[Blain]

I'm a bit late to thread but I have often wondered about the topic as well. Now I believe in speaking in tongues I believe that some may also be slain in the spirit falling down losing all strength as I myself have experienced this once but the whole shaking and laughing uncontrollably doesn't seem like it's from the holy spirit, I have only read of that happening in the bible when ppl were possessed by evil spirits

 

[eph610]

What about the gift of discernment? Are you not able to discern between real and fake?
Roger

What is this gift of discernment you are talking about? There is no gift of discernment that I am aware of...there is a gift of discerning of spirits, but that is not what you are describing here....

The gift of discerning of spirits allows the person the Holy Ghost will to operate in that gift, the ability to see and hear in the spiritual realm...simply put it allows the person to see angels or demons....It also allows the person to know what Spirits are operating inside of or outside of someone....

Plain old discernment is not a gift but comes from the meat or solid food of the Word and having your senses exercised to discern between good and evil...

 

[eph610]

yea the "Holy Spirit laughing" phenomenon doesn't make sense to me.....laughing does not edify the person or others...I mean sure maybe if someone is down the Holy Spirit can give joy and make them laugh but this whole "group laugh" type experience is very disturbing.....like videos on youtube with kenneth hagin is something dark about that.....almost like putting people in a trance like state/mesmerized.....The Holy Spirit is more concerned with healing people emotionally, spiritually and physicially, not making a scene like comedy central or what not.....

Spontaneous "holy" Laughter was/is popular among the Word Of Faith movements, which is part of the charismatic movement....
It is an abomination.....

I have watched some people come into great joy and weep tears of joy or even laugh or smile...this is usually the manifestation when a demonic depression or spirit of suicide is broken...

 

[Willie-T]

What is this gift of discernment you are talking about? There is no gift of discernment that I am aware of...there is a gift of discerning of spirits, but that is not what you are describing here....

The gift of discerning of spirits allows the person the Holy Ghost will to operate in that gift, the ability to see and hear in the spiritual realm...simply put it allows the person to see angels or demons....It also allows the person to know what Spirits are operating inside of or outside of someone....

Plain old discernment is not a gift but comes from the meat or solid food of the Word and having your senses exercised to discern between good and evil...

Several pastors I know have told me that is the one word they wish no one had ever taught their congregations. They relate that everyone and his dog is certain they can "discern" just about anything and everything from a to z.

 

[Blain]

Spontaneous "holy" Laughter was/is popular among the Word Of Faith movements, which is part of the charismatic movement....
It is an abomination.....

I have watched some people come into great joy and weep tears of joy or even laugh or smile...this is usually the manifestation when a demonic depression or spirit of suicide is broken...

Honestly i never seen or even heard of holy laughter but if they suddenly begin laughing in a maniacally manner I would not suspect it's from God