Huh uh, nonsense. 1) Why did Paul ask some men: did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? 2)If he could be sure just by looking at them, he wouldn't have asked that. 3) And no, 3a) I was NOT talking about the apostles by what I said previously because none of them would have DARED to preach a gospel saying that 3b)without the gift of tongues you could not call Jesus Lord or that 3c)the only way to pray in spirit was in tongues. They would have spoke AGAINST that false gospel.
(I added #'s for clear reference)
In all of these discussions I hope that you are able to remember that I am a friend and not an enemy. I have no intention of cutting you down or undermining your faith. (although you might think otherwise at times. )
1) Because he knew that the Holy Ghost is something specific that doesn't automatically come at time of belief.
2) Who said anyone could tell just by looking?? I didn't. But what you should be finding the answer to is "How was it that they COULD tell when a person received the Holy Ghost?".... because that is the reason the (3a) apostles sent Peter and James to pray for those in Samaria...because they KNEW they hadn't received the Holy Ghost EVEN THOUGH they had already received the word of God and were baptized.
3b) I didn't say that, Waggles did. Also I believe that verse to be saying something different than what has been shared about it so far. So in broad terms, I disagree with the way it seems Waggles was using that verse.
3c) There is a verse (1 Corinthians 14:14) that unbreakably bonds 'the-Spirit-praying' with 'speaking-in-tongues'. When speaking in tongues occurs, the spirit IS praying...even when we're doing it out of order. (God cannot deny himself). So it is correct to state that speaking in tongues = praying in the spirit. Others suggest that other actions (sincerity, crying, praying in the understanding, silence, sighing, even the presence of God in the room, etc) are spirit-prayer...but is there a verse that says "If I pray and really mean it, my spirit is praying" ? --or -- "if I pray silently, my spirit is praying" --or-- "if I feel the presence of God, my spirit is praying" - or- "If I groan/cry/weep/moan when i pray, my spirit is praying" ?
Love in Jesus,
Kelby