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Can supernatural experience like healings and visions be the definite
proof that one received the Holy Spirit?
You have really had an amazing experience.
I have heard many confessions from people who dedicated their lives
to the Lord after experiencing God's answers to their prayers. However,
I would like to ask you if this amazing supernatural experience
could be the definite proof that you received the Holy Spirit.
As a matter of fact, many Christians
nowadays would answer "Yes" to the question above. When
Western Christianity was in decline amid the growth of materialism,
the so-called Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement arose and Christianity
revived tremendously, especially in the under developed or developing
countries.
As a result, many Christians fell under
the influence of the Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement, which stresses
the importance of supernatural experience. Those who lead revival
meetings sometimes obtain worldwide fame as Evangelical revivalists.
Furthermore, because they have surprising testimonies of their own
and express their own faith through their experiences, their followers
pursue experience-based faith like them.
However, the Bible says "No"
to the question above. Of course, the Holy Spirit has the ability
to give us supernatural experiences. However, because He is the
Spirit of truth (John 15:26), we can receive the Holy Spirit only
through the word of truth.
Peter received the Holy Spirit on the
Day of Pentecost and confidently preached the gospel saying, "God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Then the Jews who heard this said to Peter and the other Apostles,
"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:36-37) He
answered them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord
our God will call" (Acts 2:38-39).
In other words, God clearly said that
He would give the Holy Spirit as a gift to the righteous who received
the remission of sin by believing in Jesus Christ's gospel. The
only proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in one's heart is
the word of truth.
Have you received the remission of
sin through the gospel of the water and the Spirit? If so, you can
be assured that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit has already taken
place in you.
However, no matter what amazing experiences
you may have had or no matter how many wonders you have performed,
you have definitely not received the Holy Spirit if you still have
sin in your heart. The reason is that you don't have the witness
of the remission of sin based on the word of truth. Just as darkness
can't be found in the light, the Holy Spirit can neither come on
a sinner nor dwell with sin.
Therefore, the true indwelling of the
Holy Spirit only happens to people whose sins are completely washed
away by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. God wants all people
to hear the truth and to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Now you can receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by believing
in the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
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