My daughter asked me about the Holy Spirit. She cited when the Holy Spirit was given in Acts and asked if those things happened today. Acts 2: 1-4 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." To answer this question, I have looked at the prophetic posers seen on TV with their nice cars, rings, homes, and private jets and realize that this does not fit with what the Bible describes.
Peter in Acts 8:20 tells Simon the Magician what he thinks of getting paid for the Holy Spirit "But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!"
I have known people who claim the Holy Spirit's power of healing and are famous for a while but fade away. They are looking for people to think like them who won't challenge interpretations of scripture and allow them to control God. There is always a non-biblical show with a dramatic, well-crafted prayer finishing the performance. All congregants are prayed for before they go home.
1 Timothy 5:22 "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure."
I have seen the crazy laying on of hands on TV and in person, bringing forward all who want to be healed. Scripture shows that this hasty laying on of hands is not pure. They are not pure, making these leaders not people to honor or follow. There have been several church services that I have been a part of where they had the same calling for one and all to come forward. They claim the healing (as if they can control God), and everyone gets an emotional boost. Where is the recovery? Many times "healers" give testimony of other people (claiming their glory). Mass healing meetings appear to have mass healing, but the only testimony to healing remains what the well-paid "healers" give themselves as time goes by. The power shown in Acts Chapter 14 is not seen.
Acts 14:8-18 "Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 'Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.' Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them."
The people in this story saw the power of God and wanted to make gods of Paul and Barnabas. The people were sure Paul and Barnabas were gods because of the miracle they witnessed. Even after they corrected the crowd, some still were convinced they were gods because they wanted to sacrifice to them. Watching people claim this same type of healing today is more like the "healers" are claiming to be gods themselves, trying to be authentic.
Mark 8: 11-13 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
No one tells God what to do.
God does heal, but there is more to eternity than what we think God should do. We need to take to heart: Let thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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