Acts 19:2 *“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit*” (NLT)
Recently, a preacher narrated one of the most hilarious conversations she had with someone about the Holy Spirit.
She inquired of this individual, who was supposedly a churchgoer, whether she had ever heard of the Holy Spirit. The response was a simple "No." The person then mentioned that she had heard about "Emi Mimo," the Yoruba name for the Holy Spirit but she did not know it is the same.
She explained that "Emi Mimo" is the spirit that causes people to fall and speak in mysterious or esoteric ways. If I were in her position, I would have burst into laughter at how it would sound in Yoruba.
Aside the fact that she doesn't know that the Holy Spirit is the same as "Emi Mimo" in Yoruba language, more troubling for me is her understanding about the work of the Holy Spirit.
In her mind, the Holy Spirit is that person that makes people fall on the ground and makes them speak languages that are unintelligible. Unfortunately, that is the only understanding most charismatics have about the Holy Spirit.
In fact, some evangelist do not believe the Holy Spirit is at work in their meetings until someone falls on the ground. Isn't that the reason some push people to fall and then ask the camera man to focus on those rolling on the ground?
Anyway, that is what most people believe too. If they have not seen people fall and roll on the ground, to them, the preacher is not powerful. Some preachers know this desire is inherent in the minds of most charismatics, so they have devised a means of making people fall. So bad!
*Most of the things the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer doesn't manifest in the form of falling or rolling on the floor. He is actively working in us even when there no physical signs to show for it*.
In some circles, the only thing some know and emphasize about the Holy Spirit is tongues. After tongues, nothing more. There is more to the Holy Spirit than tongues. There are deeper dimensions of the Spirit we're yet to explore. We can't stop the journey at the gate. We need to press further.
*Often we major on the initial sign of His baptism and neglect fellowshipping with His person. For me, this is one of the greatest mistakes of we charismatics*.
Let me ask you, have you heard about the Holy Spirit? If yes, what were you told about Him? If you know nothing about Him other than the person that makes people fall in church meetings, you need to meet Him in truth.
John 16:13 says, *"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come*".
*PRAYER*:
Holy Spirit, I want to meet you. Reveal yourself to me from the pages of scriptures and help me to fellowship with you in Jesus name.