Featured Feel the Spirit?

In the book of Acts it speaks numerous times of people being filled with the Holy Ghost. The upper Room, Paul's conversion, Cornelius. The bible say's His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. He gives us a peace that passeth all understanding. Can a man receive the Holy Spirit in his soul and not know it. Can a man pass from death unto life and not know it. Is it so wrong that God would give assurance by his Spirit to a seeking soul ?

 

One emotion that is often associated with the Holy Spirit is boldness.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is so that we will be witnesses.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

So, this is one feeling or emotion associated with the Holy Spirit, boldness or courage.

 

Verbatim? No. But, we're told the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Is God not love, and is love not felt?

The fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace.

Are those not felt?

But the Spirit didn't use the word "feelings" for "feelings." It used the word "bowels" for feelings. And I'm going to just copy and paste, because this is really just the milk of the Word, and something intended for babies, and something a child can understand.

[Phl 1:8 KJV] For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

[Phl 2:1 KJV] If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

[Col 3:12 KJV] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

[Phm 1:7 KJV] For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

[Phm 1:12 KJV] Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

[Phm 1:20 KJV] Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

[1Jo 3:17 KJV] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Pretty basic and straightforward stuff.

 

No love is not always felt.

I KNOW God loves me because he died on the cross for me.

But I do not always feel love.

Love is not a feeling, You can have a knowledge of love, but it is not a feeling.

that is why many marriages fall apart, because they think love is a feeling, Love is a choice.

NOT A FEELING!

It may feel good and pleasant to KNOW you are loved. but love itself is not a feeling.

 

Love can be expressed by feelings. Did you not have feelings for your bride when you married her ? Do you not burst open with feelings of love toward your children as you watch them play or have pain ?

 

God is love. Love does not exist or operate without affection.

Love is felt.

What else is meant by "the bowels of Jesus Christ" than a true feeling of love?

There is a carnal and worldly love. It doesn't last and it easily cools in the face of difficulty. But it is a love, not divine love, but a love nonetheless. Yes, we are often faced with the prospect of having to do our duty when our hearts feel cold and joyless, but that only means that the love and joy we were feeling, and that we mistook for the Spirit, was worldly and carnal. It was only a copy of the real thing.

Certainly you wouldn't relegate the love of Jesus to the mere cold and clinical exercise of one's duty! What a dry and lifeless philosophy. No, it's felt in your gut.

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

 

:thumbs: Thanks, good post.

for the kingdom of God is....righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ro 14:17

162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.
165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling. Ps 119

You think ol' Martin may have 'felt the Spirit' as David by taking delight in His Word?

 

Carnal feelings come and go, that's right. The bowels of Christ are eternal.

 

Did Luther write that in English I wonder? Did it also rhyme in German?

 

Colombo is on the case. :thumbs:

 

Is He not called the Comforter?

 

You'll labor in vain for a verse that instructs us to feel the Holy Spirit. However, I believe a proper understanding of the relation between the spirit/soul/body does give an adequate answer.

I don't have time to scrub through all the scripture passages, but man is a dichotomy of substance (spirit/body), and having a soul (psyche) wherein lies our thoughts, emotions, will, rationale, feelings, memories, etc.

the spirit substance and the soul personality are inextricably joined, as is bone an marrow (Heb 4:12). The spirit influences our thoughts, such as when our inner promptings make us think about God.

And while we're in this body, our psyche and body are joined in such a way as to influence each other. For example:

If someone touches my shoulder (body), it can startle me in my psyche (thinking)

If I see my dog get run over with my eyes (body), it can make me sad in my psyche

conversely, if I have a sad thought (psyche), it can manifest tears from my eyes (body)

or if I have a happy thought (psyche), it can make my face (body) smile

If I hear a loud scream with my ears (body), it can make me fearful in my psyche, and then make the hair stand up on the back of my neck (body).

Stress in our psyche can make us physically sick, or the emotions of love can give us a feeling of elation.


If thoughts of fear can make the hair stand up on your neck, or thoughts of your baby dying can make you cry, why cannot thoughts of God give someone a physical feeling of not-quite-euphoria?

Does scripture unfold every detail of how the psyche and body interact? Not at all. Very little, actually. But the relation is undeniable, nonetheless.

A mind set on Christ can absolutely bring a physically manifested sensation, maybe close to euphoric, or somewhat ethereal.


But you raise some very valid concerns as well. Do we have a sixth sense? Not that scripture would bear out - and not that I would believe, either.

Should we "feel" the Holy Spirit in a service? In my opinion, if someone has a euphoric feeling only during a service, it is almost certainly NOT the Holy Spirit.


I think the appropriate balance is somewhere between two rudimentary categories I tend to place believers in - Stale Scholars and Lively Illiterates


The Stale Scholar is well versed in scripture, able to accurately handle complex theological issues, and has a systematic theology in mind which governs most of his thoughts. He has a plethora of bible references strung together for each aspect of his faith. He may or may not actually be a scholar, but he has the utmost regard for scripture, and is firmly convinced that God is best known through His Word.

The Lively Illiterate, on the other hand, knows very little scripture other than several dozen which are taken horribly out of context, misquoted, added to, or otherwise abused. Complex theological issues are boring. Words like eschatology and soteriology mean about as much as dextromethorphan. He is more likely to carry a bible, and far less likely to know what it means, and is firmly convinced that God is best known through experiences.


The Stale Scholar is firmly convinced that scripture is supreme, and that all legitimate experiences (if any) will bear out in scripture. His battle cry in a debate is "Prove It From Scripture"

The Lively Illiterate, otoh, is firmly convinced that the Holy Spirit is living and active, and blows like the wind wherever He may, whether or not scripture supports it. His battle cry is always "Some Things You Just Have To Experience To Believe"


There are problems with each type of person. First, the Stale Scholar seems to be limiting God's activity to what He has let us in on in scripture. He is generally quick to quote 2Tim 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed....", yet has somehow redefined "all scripture" as "only scripture"


The Lively Illiterate, though, knows so little of scripture that he is not grounded in truth. Having come from that persuasion, I am pretty convinced that many aren't even believers. They know so little of scripture that they don't even understand what Christ has done for us. Always looking for some proof that God is near, they rely upon those ethereal feelings instead of on Christ Himself.

And when those feelings are the basis of his assurance, they become the basis for accepting others as "Sprit filled" believers. That's why anyone who comes through the door with a "falling down" ministry is also free to bring his doctrinal heresies right along with him.

Those who are looking for this "feeling" only during a service are almost unanimously steeped in Old Testament Law-based works, too. In their eyes,
they're coming to "God's House", which harkens backward to the OT temple.
They're coming to get a glimpse of His "Shekinah Glory" which was manifested to those in bondage to the Law.
They're coming to pay tithes, not knowing that tithes were commanded to go to Israelite priests.
They're coming to put their face on an "altar", which was part of the OT temple
They're coming to have their sins "covered" which is what the blood of bulls and goats did
They come to be in God's presence, not realizing that His presence once came to a tabernacle and temple. But now He dwells IN us

They know very little, if any, about the New Covenant and Grace. Most everything is about works, Law, Temple. So they look for evidence that God is near.


Do I ever "feel" the Holy Spirit? Yes.
During a church service? Rarely.
Is it like the feeling of being inebriated? No.

I've been drunk on beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, and high on marijuana, opium, hash, crack-laced weed, formaldehyde, and a few others, and it is nothing like that. I also get a funny, dizzy, out-of-it feeling when my blood sugar drops, and it is nothing like that.


I don't believe it's His PRESENCE I feel, it's his FILLING. Paul said:

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-21


It is in those times when most every thought is on Him. Not just for 15 minutes. Every thought for a whole week, or month. Thinking about His grace all day long. Thinking about my church family all day long. Thinking about bringing my son up in the faith all day long. Singing, whistling, humming songs to Him and about Him all day long Talking to Him all day long. Encouraging someone from the church, studying for bible study, telling about His goodness, hoping in the next life - all day long

For days and weeks my mind is set on Him. I am walking in the Spirit, and I am filled with the Holy Spirit. And I feel it physically.

Then there are times when most every thought is set on myself, and my circumstances, my work, my bills, and bible study is drudgery. I'm not whistling. I'm not thankful. I'm set on the flesh. And in those times, I don't feel this not-quite-euphoric feeling. Because I'm not filled with the Holy Spirit

 

Or, to put it more simply, what is comfort but a feeling?

Is He not called the Comforter?

 

Thats correct.:smilewinkgrin: so how is God working in your life....do you FEEL His presence?:thumbs:

 

What's Martyn Lloyd Jones have to say? Well.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckrKsG-SPSM

 

You are exactly right, it cannot exist or operation with affection. But affection is an outward expression toward others. So, more accurately, love is expressed.

Love is not for us, it is for others. That's not to say I can't "feel love" for my wife, but I am going to find a way to express that love, or it doesn't do her any good. That is unlike joy, peace, contentment, satisfaction, security, and the other positive emotions we feel that are for our own benefit and sense of well-being. These are a direct result of God's love toward us. There is no need to express those emotions/feelings to others for us to have their full benefit, though certainly we may choose to express those emotions outwardly. It may even benefit us more to do so, but it is not absolutely necessary for us to feel them.

Therefore, "feeling love" but not expressing it is useless. If a feeling is useless, it is negative. Love is never negative. Therefore, love is not a feeling. It is a decision based on the emotions that have caused us to determine we love someone, and it is imperative that love is expressed.

God's love is different than our love. It is always purely unconditional. Though we are to express unconditional love to others, we rarely manage to do so consistently and effectively. Witness how we brothers and sisters in Christ regularly talk to one another on this board -- and I do not leave myself out of that indictment. Love becomes selfish when it is withheld. God never withholds love. Even those who do not believe in Him, in the salvation of His son, and in His eternal life, nonetheless receive the benefits of His common grace -- the the favorable attitude of God toward all His creatures, the restraint of sin in the life of the individual and in society, and the allowance of civic righteousness even among those who are unregenerate so that they are able to do "good" within the limits of their understanding.

We do not express that kind of love. In fact, we choose not to love those whom we do not like, either for lifestyle, rejection of us or God, or sociopolitical viewpoint. God says we don't have the right to make that choice. We are to love regardless. If we have made the decision not to love them based on our emotional reaction to them, we are in fact sinning against God, and must repent by showing them love.

It is that process that proves that love is a choice. God's love is given regardless. We have chosen to withhold it from some, though we actually have no right to do so.