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(1) The Bible And The Holy Spirit by John Richardson, 1995
On the blessing of the Holy Spirit and why the Toronto "Blessing"/Brownsville, Pensacola derivatives are preaching an unorthodox theology of the Holy Spirit -- a "Reformed" perspective.
(2) The Filling Of The Holy Spirit - The Quality Of Life by Tommy Ice, 1997
Is the "filling of the Spirit" metaphysical or ethical?
Is the "filling of the Spirit" metaphysical or ethical?
(3) The Holy Spirit And Hermenuetics by Daniel B. Wallace, 1997
The role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture.
The role of the Holy Spirit in relation to the interpretation of Scripture.
(4) The Anointing by Dean & Laura VanDruff, 1996
Who is really anointed?
Who is really anointed?
(5) Misplaced Faith by B. M. Rocine, 1996
"By saying the right formulas, can people control God? Can the Holy Spirit be held in the palm of the hand, pumped, or scooped into other people? Is it true that Jesus Christ will not come back until Christians all over the world unite under the leadership of new apostles and prophets and take control of the whole earth? Can Christians be gods?"
"By saying the right formulas, can people control God? Can the Holy Spirit be held in the palm of the hand, pumped, or scooped into other people? Is it true that Jesus Christ will not come back until Christians all over the world unite under the leadership of new apostles and prophets and take control of the whole earth? Can Christians be gods?"
(6) The Anointing: Bible And Fiction by Shawn Paul Sauve, 1996
"The purpose of this article is to clarify the Biblical concept of anointing in contrast to current concepts of anointing present in many churches. It is not uncommon to hear comments in church, on Christian radio, and on Christian television where the words "anoint," "anointing," and "anointed" are used. Very often the context and the connotative meanings poured into these words differ from the words as they are used within the context of the Bible ... Biblical anointing is never equated with power, but position."
"The purpose of this article is to clarify the Biblical concept of anointing in contrast to current concepts of anointing present in many churches. It is not uncommon to hear comments in church, on Christian radio, and on Christian television where the words "anoint," "anointing," and "anointed" are used. Very often the context and the connotative meanings poured into these words differ from the words as they are used within the context of the Bible ... Biblical anointing is never equated with power, but position."
(7) What Is The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit? How Does A Person Receive It? by Dr. John Bechtle, 1996
"We may use whatever words we want to describe our experiences with God. But it is most accurate to say that the Bible uses "baptism of the Spirit" to refer to one of the wonderful things that God does for us the instant we trust Christ and enter His family!"
"We may use whatever words we want to describe our experiences with God. But it is most accurate to say that the Bible uses "baptism of the Spirit" to refer to one of the wonderful things that God does for us the instant we trust Christ and enter His family!"
(8) Who Surprised Whom? The Holy Spirit Or Jack Deere? by Richard L. Mayhue, 1994
A review of "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit" by Jack Deere by a cessationist, Richard L. Mayhue, the Senior Vice-President and Dean and Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Masters Seminary. Although we are not cessationists, he correctly points out that Deere's "proofs" for his new-found belief in modern day miracles and manifestations are based mainly on experiential rather than a solid biblical exegesis. "Dr. Jack Deere, a former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and a highly visible convert from the cessationist to the noncessationist position regarding miraculous acts of God through men, recounts his journey in Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. He reasons that cessationists have argued more from silence than from Scripture, have twisted Scripture, and have no one single Scripture passage that proves their point. In this brief analysis of his work, it is apparent that Deere, not cessationists, has made these interpretive errors in coming to his biblically unfounded conclusion that the miraculous acts of God have continued beyond the apostolic age--but with lesser quality and frequency." This is an Acrobat .pdf file.
A review of "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit" by Jack Deere by a cessationist, Richard L. Mayhue, the Senior Vice-President and Dean and Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Masters Seminary. Although we are not cessationists, he correctly points out that Deere's "proofs" for his new-found belief in modern day miracles and manifestations are based mainly on experiential rather than a solid biblical exegesis. "Dr. Jack Deere, a former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and a highly visible convert from the cessationist to the noncessationist position regarding miraculous acts of God through men, recounts his journey in Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. He reasons that cessationists have argued more from silence than from Scripture, have twisted Scripture, and have no one single Scripture passage that proves their point. In this brief analysis of his work, it is apparent that Deere, not cessationists, has made these interpretive errors in coming to his biblically unfounded conclusion that the miraculous acts of God have continued beyond the apostolic age--but with lesser quality and frequency." This is an Acrobat .pdf file.
(9) Signs, Wonders, and Evangelism: The Down Side by Gregory Koukl, 1994
"Signs and wonders are not to be identified as the principle evidence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for in fact one way the filling of the Holy Spirit is characterized is by a bold, powerful and effective witness of the Gospel rather than by external manifestations of power (Acts 4:8, 31; 7:55). " From the perspective of a Foursquare pastor.
"Signs and wonders are not to be identified as the principle evidence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for in fact one way the filling of the Holy Spirit is characterized is by a bold, powerful and effective witness of the Gospel rather than by external manifestations of power (Acts 4:8, 31; 7:55). " From the perspective of a Foursquare pastor.
(10) Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit by Rev. John S. Erickson, 1997
"So, what is prescriptive for the believer today? First and foremost, be in the Word. Meditate on the Word (Psalm 1:2). Secondly, since it is clear that the Holy Spirit of God works with us through Word and Sacrament, it is imperative that that we are consistent and faithful in worship. Thirdly, since prayer is the 'breathing of new life' the believer will want to spend time, daily, in prayer. A part of that prayer time ought to be spent in asking that God would gift as he sees fit [I Corinthians 12, with special emphasis on asking to be gifted with the greatest gift of all, that of love (I Corinthians 13)] and that the Holy Spirit would then give the willingness, wisdom and strength to put that gift(s) to use for the "common good." Praying further, that the Holy Spirit would help the believer to "live by the Spirit" (Galatians 5) and specifically, that the "fruit of the Spirit" (verses 22-26) might be born out in one's life to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31) and in witness to the world (Matt. 5:16)" From a Lutheran perspective.
"So, what is prescriptive for the believer today? First and foremost, be in the Word. Meditate on the Word (Psalm 1:2). Secondly, since it is clear that the Holy Spirit of God works with us through Word and Sacrament, it is imperative that that we are consistent and faithful in worship. Thirdly, since prayer is the 'breathing of new life' the believer will want to spend time, daily, in prayer. A part of that prayer time ought to be spent in asking that God would gift as he sees fit [I Corinthians 12, with special emphasis on asking to be gifted with the greatest gift of all, that of love (I Corinthians 13)] and that the Holy Spirit would then give the willingness, wisdom and strength to put that gift(s) to use for the "common good." Praying further, that the Holy Spirit would help the believer to "live by the Spirit" (Galatians 5) and specifically, that the "fruit of the Spirit" (verses 22-26) might be born out in one's life to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31) and in witness to the world (Matt. 5:16)" From a Lutheran perspective.
(11) Holy Spirit by Paul Becker, 1997
" ... "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:7,11) ... what we see in these so-called "revivals" is NOT Scriptural...where people are being "slain" in the spirit...and are totally NOT in control of themselves, as SOME "spirit" has taken control OF them. In these meetings the "preacher" will warn the men against looking with lust upon the women so-caught up in the moment, dancing around. When these skirt-clad women fall down "dead" in immodest poses, special workers go around with drop clothes to cover them. The Holy Spirit will work where He is given room to work...but will not render a person incapacitated. Nor will He "cause" a person to act unbecomingly, nor flop down non-demurely. (Ex20:26,1Tm5:2,1Cor14:40)"
" ... "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:7,11) ... what we see in these so-called "revivals" is NOT Scriptural...where people are being "slain" in the spirit...and are totally NOT in control of themselves, as SOME "spirit" has taken control OF them. In these meetings the "preacher" will warn the men against looking with lust upon the women so-caught up in the moment, dancing around. When these skirt-clad women fall down "dead" in immodest poses, special workers go around with drop clothes to cover them. The Holy Spirit will work where He is given room to work...but will not render a person incapacitated. Nor will He "cause" a person to act unbecomingly, nor flop down non-demurely. (Ex20:26,1Tm5:2,1Cor14:40)"
(12) We All Fall Down: An Investigation Into The Experience Known As Slain In The Spirit by Alan Morrison, 1995
"Those who profess Christianity should refrain from indulging in practices which undermine the essential message of its Founder. Instead of inducing mass swoonings and hysterical laughter, churches should be cultivating widespread repentance and reverential worship before the present time of Gods mercy comes to an end (Rev.14:14-20; 18:4-24; cf. 2 Chron.36:15-16). If the crisis in modern Christianity deepens, the ensuing Divine judgement will defy the powers of the imagination."
"Those who profess Christianity should refrain from indulging in practices which undermine the essential message of its Founder. Instead of inducing mass swoonings and hysterical laughter, churches should be cultivating widespread repentance and reverential worship before the present time of Gods mercy comes to an end (Rev.14:14-20; 18:4-24; cf. 2 Chron.36:15-16). If the crisis in modern Christianity deepens, the ensuing Divine judgement will defy the powers of the imagination."
(13) Slain In The Spirit: A Midrashic Perspective by Jacob Prasch, 1997
"The only thing that God is interested in — and therefore the only thing that we should be interested in — is not what happens when people go down, but what happens when people get back up. "
"The only thing that God is interested in — and therefore the only thing that we should be interested in — is not what happens when people go down, but what happens when people get back up. "
(14) The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit by Hank Hanegraaff, 1998
"... to ask where the Holy Spirit is is to confuse categories. When we speak of the Holy Spirit, we speak of "who" and "what", not "where" in the physical sense. To ask spatial questions concerning a Being who is Spirit and does not have location in space is analogous to asking what the color blue tastes like. "
"... to ask where the Holy Spirit is is to confuse categories. When we speak of the Holy Spirit, we speak of "who" and "what", not "where" in the physical sense. To ask spatial questions concerning a Being who is Spirit and does not have location in space is analogous to asking what the color blue tastes like. "
(15) Slain In The Spirit & Other Signs And Wonders: Biblical Or Unbiblical? by Wayne O'Conner, Searching Together Magazine, 1996
"Just because signs and wonders, including the "slain in the spirit" phenomenon, occur "in the church," that does not mean that Jesus is the power behind them. There is little doubt to the discerning that many Christians today are being exposed to seducing spirits and Christianized New Age philosophies on an unprecedented scale."
"Just because signs and wonders, including the "slain in the spirit" phenomenon, occur "in the church," that does not mean that Jesus is the power behind them. There is little doubt to the discerning that many Christians today are being exposed to seducing spirits and Christianized New Age philosophies on an unprecedented scale."
(16) The "Anointing" by Inner-City Christian Discernment Ministry, 1999
"In conclusion I do not believe any Christian today has God's power to bestow on another Christian, certainly not the people mentioned in this short booklet."
"In conclusion I do not believe any Christian today has God's power to bestow on another Christian, certainly not the people mentioned in this short booklet."
(17) How To Try The Spirits by A.W. Tozer, an excerpt from his book Man, the Dwelling Place of God
"Another revealing test of the soundess of religious experience is, How does it affect my attitude toward the Holy Scriptures?"
"Another revealing test of the soundess of religious experience is, How does it affect my attitude toward the Holy Scriptures?"
(18) Survey of Bible Doctrine: The Holy Spirit by Sid Litke, Th.M., 1999
An excellent outline on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
An excellent outline on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
(19) Filling in the Blank (Acts 18:18–19:7) by Prof. Robert Deffinbaugh, 1999
A thoughtful explanation for the few instances in Acts where the Holy Spirit was "apparently" given at a different time than salvation. An apologetic against the second blessing idea of Pentecostalism and the Third Wave.
A thoughtful explanation for the few instances in Acts where the Holy Spirit was "apparently" given at a different time than salvation. An apologetic against the second blessing idea of Pentecostalism and the Third Wave.
(20) Exposing The True Source Of The So-Called Third Wave "Anointing" by Yvette, 1999
A letter from Yvette in South Africa with her testimony. It gives startling confirmation of the spiritual deception of the revival.
A letter from Yvette in South Africa with her testimony. It gives startling confirmation of the spiritual deception of the revival.
