"The normal initial evidence of the Holy Ghost often gets pushed back from manifestation by the deep seated constraints and restraints of believers. This is a look at what ought to be the initial or early manifestation of baptism in the Holy Spirit."

A visitor to this site asked:

What do you believe to be the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost?

Below is the reply I sent.

This question is formally put but I get what you're asking. You want to know what I believe is the first thing I should see as confirmation the Holy Spirit has come on and filled a believer. A believer receives the Holy Spirit by faith. One does not receive by sight or signs of what is received. However, it is valid to ask what outward manifestation or demonstration is there going to be of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In order to explore this we need to look to an example in the New Testament. We find one in Acts chapter two. There we read that on the Day of Pentecost all the disciples in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit. They received by faith - their faith in the promise of the Holy Spirit being given had brought them into the upper room and kept them there. This baptism of the Holy Spirit then immediately became externalised - the disciples started to do things they could never do before. This, I believe, is the appointed pattern for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The initial evidence of a believer's baptism in the Holy Spirit should follow the same pattern as that of the disciples as seen in that example from the Day of Pentecost. Three clear manifestations of the Holy Spirit came forth from the disciples on that day. We might expect the same manifestations from believers today. We might also expect these manifestations in the same order.

If this same pattern were followed then we would get this order of manifestation of the Holy Spirit:

• speaking in tongues,
• sharing boldly and fluently with others the Gospel of Christ,
• receiving insight into the meanings and purposes of God by revelation.

In the church today, however, we often find that that pattern isn't necessarily the norm. I believe the reason for this is because men and women in our churches (and entering into our churches) come with all the deep seated constraints and restraints of our modern society. In this atmosphere of constraint and restraint we find church traditions, denominational doctrines, preconceived notions and pressures of community all at work to quench the operations of the Holy Spirit.

The result is, the normal initial evidence of the Holy Ghost all too often gets pushed back from manifestation. As a result, it is not until the believer hears God's Word on the Holy Spirit that that word sets him free allowing the manifestations of the Holy Spirit come forth! John 8:31-32.

Sadly, this freedom in and openness to the Holy Spirit in many, many cases never reaches the ordinary church goer. This is a matter that calls for fervent prayer by the church and particularly its Spirit-filled members. James 5:16b.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16b - KJV

You can find out more on the fullness manifestation of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 12.

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:7 - 10 - KJV

Use the links below to get to other pages on this site that have a similar subject to that which you've read about above.

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• Fear, enemy of faith
• Holy Spirit, His leading
• Kingdom of God, experiencing it
• Knowing the things of God
• Miracles, defined
• Opportunities
• Psychics
• Spirits
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