I had posted in my previous post about how I had been confused about why Paul expected to see some sort of visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit in new believers. Thanks everyone for their comments. Here are my own conclusions that have come from as a result of your interactions, both on this blog, as well as in private conversations. (It also helped that my Pastor preached on a similar topic last Sunday.)
1. Early Christians thought possession of the Holy Spirit was outwardly recognizable.
2. This outwardly recognizability could come in a number of forms, and should not be restricted to what immediately occured in Acts 19. (Speaking in tongues and prophesying.)
3. We cannot put the Holy Spirit in a box. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8
4. For every rule there is an exception.
5. Many Christians today would not be easily identifiable because they lack either the manifestations or fruit of the Holy Spirit.
6. More Christians need to be seeking what God has for them through the ministry of his Holy Spirit. (I include myself in this list.)
7. How much more effective our churches would be if people could point to us and say. “I know that these people are Christians, because it shows itself in their lives in these many ways.”
I am still doing lots of thinking in this area. My points are very abbreviated here because I don’t think that I am yet able to fully flesh them out.
Michael Bell
Joshua Hearne
Tim Melton
Joel Black
