By This We Know the Spirit

What is sometimes called "cessationist" teaching accuses charismatics of indulging in subjectivism: following experiences, rather than scripture. That was John MacArthur's accusation in whatever was the first thing of his I read, over 30 years ago. We've always heard this criticism from anti-charismatics, and we continue to hear it.

And of course it's true of some "charismatics." I've never come across an honest charismatic who didn't recognize that fact. No scripture-based charismatic teacher, friend, writer or blogger I've known in my 40 years as a Christian considered "charismania" anything but a false spirit, satan's imitation of the worship "in Spirit and in truth" which God desires.

But it was obvious, in whatever of his I read, that MacArthur's charge that we follow only our emotions and experiences, was just a way to beat up on charismatics. It was obvious even then that MacArthur's primary purpose was partisan rhetoric: and that he was closed to the possibility that any charismatic could be honest or scripture-based.

Closed as well to discussing what scripture says about charismata, unless discussion started from, and ended in, his own rejection of Spiritual gifts. Closed further to considering what scripture says about the part of emotion and experience in our worship of God. There again, satan is eager to spread his counterfeits: but I doubt even MacArthur believes that human beings should relate to God without emotion, or not experience of His Presence !

That said, I offer my subjective experience of "baptism in the Spirit."

When I was baptized in the Spirit, I knew from the scriptural teaching that preceded the invitation that I wanted to be in the realm of God's rule where His Spirit was manifest among men ! That teaching, in a Derek Prince meeting, was also that "speaking in tongues" was scripturally the initial sign of having received the Spirit. Don't know that I currently consider that an absolute, just on the general thought that the Spirit is sovereign and can do otherwise if He will. But at the time, I went ahead and spoke the unknown words that came into my spirit, in obedience to the teaching that they were from God's Spirit, for me to speak.

I still believe that's true. And I still pray in a tongue any time it arises in my spirit to do so, in obedience to the belief that it's from the Spirit of God, for me to speak. Because the congregation I'm part of wouldn't be able to handle that, I don't do so in public worship. If I were in a congregation that recognized tongues as prayer/worship, I'd be glad to speak out in worship when God prompted me to do so, trusting He'd also give someone His translation. (As is my current understanding of scripture's teaching about using tongues in public worship.) But as yet, I don't feel God's directing me to seek out a "Spirit-filled" congregation where charismata are part of public worship.

But the manifestation of the Spirit I noticed most when I was baptized in the Spirit, and still consider His primary manifestation in my life, was hunger for His word and His Presence, in study, prayer, and fasting. When I first became a Christian, that hunger was intense, and continual. Unfortunately, the vicissitudes of life: college, marriage, parenthood, starting and running a business: occupied more of my life's time as I got older, and I spent correspondingly less time in study and prayer, and fasted much less frequently.

Subjectively, even during those "less Spiritual" periods of my life, I was ALWAYS conscious of the Spirit's Presence; and usually in some kind of internal dialogue with Him. When not in dialogue, it was because of my own failure to engage Him: usually because I knew what He would say, and didn't want to hear Him. But He's been gracious NOT to leave: even though He impressed me, and I had to agree, that those were manifestations of rebellion.

Objectively, even in less Spiritual periods, I seemed to read the Bible, pray, and spend time in meditation much more than most believers I knew. God deals with each of us as He will: so I consider He intends we perceive our spiritual life relative only to Him, not to others. But I understand His intent that we "walk humbly with your God" as applicable to all: and such a walk is manifest in any who choose it. I have to take that inner desire to study scripture, to pray, and to meditate in His Presence are manifestations of that walk: manifestations that can be seen, or seen to be absent, in every life.

I'm glad that in the last few years, God has called me again, and more, to study and meditate on scripture, pray, to seek to be in His Presence, and to listen. That's been a change: the kind of change which, itself, manifests the Spirit's working.

Perhaps MacArthur would consider all that subjectivism unscriptural, or what he calls "charismania." From the inside, I take those experiences rather as God putting in place His tools for a Spirit-filled life. My understanding of scripture is that Spirit-filled life is what God intends all who love Him should desire, and should live.

Our loving Father's effectual will is that "...we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (II Corinthians 3:18). I testify from subjective experience that He is able to perform His word !

Praise HIM forever !!