How many times did you ask God for the Holy Ghost?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by noeticknight

Indeed, I do believe in miracles. However, I believe reality has stretched this doctrine quite thin. Are you really prepared to go around validating everyone’s salvation on whether or not they’ve exhibited “speaking in tongues?” Personally, I refuse to coerce people to produce some outward manifestation of inward faith to prove something that is intimately personal, especially if that means asking them to do the impossible, unless, that is, it is commanded in scripture explicitly. The only justification for such audacity would be the ability to produce solid teaching from the Early Church leaders. Maybe even one verse commanding it would suffice?

I agree in principle. I believe tongues is the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost. Nothing anyone has said has veered me from that persuasion. But at the same time, abuse of that belief and how some people have in turn ABUSED PEOPLE with that doctrine is no reason to say the doctrine is wrong. I say that to say this: I am not going to judge a person's salvation either way. EITHER WAY! People mock the believe that tongues is evidence of the Spirit baptism in a teaching that demands Spirit baptism for salvation, as judging people, and yet there is the judgment of no need for such a thing as well. Those who usually criticize another's view of judgment for salvation are judges, themselves, on the other end of the spectrum. They insist such and such is all that is needed for salvation.

Why do people have to wind up saying lack of THIS or THAT makes for hell? Why not preach what the bible shows people preaching, leave hell out of it where the bible leaves hell out of it, mention hell where the bible mentions hell, and leave people in the hands of God to sort out later?

It seems some people JUST HAVE TO SAY people will go to hell if __________. Priscilla and Aquila showed the way more perfectly to Apollos. We read them saying no words about hell to Apollos. Yes, I believe in Acts 2:38 salvation and tongues as initial evidence of the Spirit, but I am not going to proclaim hell to anyone who does otherwise when Peter did not even do so in Acts 2. Why do people think they have to say "...or you'll go to hell?" And for the onesteppers, do not think every three stepper is a harsh hell hollering preacher either.

[Mirth1981]

1 Kings 18:26-29

Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying, "Answer us, Baal!" But there was no sound, and no one answering. And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.

When it was noon, Elijah taunted them: "Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.

Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state until the time for offering sacrifice. But there was not a sound; no one answered, and no one was listening.

[Mirth1981]

1 Kings 18: 36-38

At the time for offering sacrifice, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.

Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses."

The LORD'S fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

1 Kings 18:26-29

Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying, "Answer us, Baal!" But there was no sound, and no one answering. And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.

When it was noon, Elijah taunted them: "Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.

Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state until the time for offering sacrifice. But there was not a sound; no one answered, and no one was listening.

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

1 Kings 18: 36-38

At the time for offering sacrifice, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.

Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses."

The LORD'S fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench

It looks as if you found an example. Good for you!

[Mirth1981]

My older brother took a long time to get the Holy Ghost. He was one of those people that would "tarry" at the altar long after everyone else had left. He was 14 or so around that time. He was SO HUNGRY.

There would always be a group of people gathered around him...you know the way it goes: one person shouting in his ear, another rubbing his back, yet another shouting in the other ear, others just standing close by watching and praying loudly, and just all fired up. He told me about the worst of these experiences...it was at a district youth camp. The above described melee was taking place, and an unnamed preacher parted the crowd in front of him and laid his hand on his head and PUSHED DOWN (like he was trying to cause him to be "slain in the spirit") My brother said he had to bend his knees and forcefully brace himself to keep from being knocked over...but eventually just had to give in and be pushed down on the floor.

He didn't get the Holy Ghost that night either.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

My older brother took a long time to get the Holy Ghost. He was one of those people that would "tarry" at the altar long after everyone else had left. He was 14 or so around that time. He was SO HUNGRY.

There would always be a group of people gathered around him...you know the way it goes: one person shouting in his ear, another rubbing his back, yet another shouting in the other ear, others just standing close by watching and praying loudly, and just all fired up. He told me about the worst of these experiences...it was at a district youth camp. The above described melee was taking place, and an unnamed preacher parted the crowd in front of him and laid his hand on his head and PUSHED DOWN (like he was trying to cause him to be "slain in the spirit") My brother said he had to bend his knees and forcefully brace himself to keep from being knocked over...but eventually just had to give in and be pushed down on the floor.

He didn't get the Holy Ghost that night either.

What goes through people's minds when they do that? "I'm gonna push that young man straight down to the floor!!! Yup!! ... There! See? He put up a fight but I got him down! Yup!"

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by Mirth1981

My older brother took a long time to get the Holy Ghost. He was one of those people that would "tarry" at the altar long after everyone else had left. He was 14 or so around that time. He was SO HUNGRY.

There would always be a group of people gathered around him...you know the way it goes: one person shouting in his ear, another rubbing his back, yet another shouting in the other ear, others just standing close by watching and praying loudly, and just all fired up. He told me about the worst of these experiences...it was at a district youth camp. The above described melee was taking place, and an unnamed preacher parted the crowd in front of him and laid his hand on his head and PUSHED DOWN (like he was trying to cause him to be "slain in the spirit") My brother said he had to bend his knees and forcefully brace himself to keep from being knocked over...but eventually just had to give in and be pushed down on the floor.

He didn't get the Holy Ghost that night either.

We don't allow "rubdowns" in our church. Call me Charismatic!

Also, whenever the good folks start "rockin' the seeker" I step in and "stabilize". I'm forced to wonder if this view was the "joy set before him" that Christ saw from Calvary: hungry souls repeatedly begging for salvation like the Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.

It bothers me, I must confess.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by On The Wheel

We don't allow "rubdowns" in our church. Call me Charismatic!

Also, whenever the good folks start "rockin' the seeker" I step in and "stabilize". I'm forced to wonder if this view was the "joy set before him" that Christ saw from Calvary: hungry souls repeatedly begging for salvation like the Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.

It bothers me, I must confess.

Seeking the Holy Ghost is not seeking salvation. I do not look at it like that. If someone is seeking all God desires for them, and they are sincere, they are saved should anything happen to them.

[KWSS1976]

Well it seems those in Acts did not ask for it so they did not use the advise in the book of Luke that was spoken of...lol O how I love these holyghost threads....

[KWSS1976]

My wife did ask my son one time at camp if he wanted to go up and ask for the holyghost...yea I had to correct her on that one...