Is the Holy Spirit among us *
Q: I sometimes hear people talk about the Holy Spirit being absent in certain churches. The question is, if true, how do you know if the Holy Spirit is absent?
Is it based on something that you feel or based on something you read in your Bible?
A: He is only absent in false churches, incl. cults and quasi religions ones masquerading as Christian.
This question would be referring to specific the gifts of the Holy Spirit being: Signs and wonders, miracles, gifts of healing, gifts of knowledge, of prophesy, tongues and interpretation of tongues.
Feelings are not facts.
Emotionalism and feelings are traps.
We stand on the Word revealed and it says When we are saved we are born again by the power from above; the Holy Spirit indwells and eternally seals us to God. He is always with us for He lives in us. God the trinity lives in us, guides leads and moves us, and God in is works through us into the world for His purposes.
The Holy Spirit resides in every Believer. The Holy Spirit is God and God is omnipresent. If someone feels like the Spirit is absent, I would suggest (as graciously and kindly as possible) that they look inside themselves. If they are looking for the congregation to get all animated during a service to see the Spirit working, I would say God is a God of order. And just because you don’t “feel” the Spirit, doesn’t mean He’s absent. If God feels far away, guess who moved?
Paul identified the true church by their love for one another and their great faith in Christ (Col 1:4; Eph 1:15), conducting themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil 1:27), suffering for His sake (Phil 1:29). The gospel message is preached (Christ and Him crucified), the saints of God walking in Christ and producing the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control). A church who isn't self absorbed and not relying on self righteousness for salvation. We receive the Spirit by hearing with faith, not by any work (Gal 3:2).
Further Examination
On Holy Spirit Matters
Don't "feel" Saved
Related Resources
False Preachers & Teachers
