I think that some nominally Christian people will experience the Holy Spirit and some will not. For some who claim to have that experience it may be simply a "good sermon," or an "inspiring hymn." For others, it may be a spontaenous "prophecy" or encouragement as though from God, or "speaking in tongues."
My own sense is that some people experience the Holy Spirit from afar, and are not really *in* the experience. They see and recognize Divine activity, but it doesn't take place in them. The Bible is more a book of moral truhs than ecstatic utterances directly from God, although lip service is paid to the apostles who are assumed to be different and superior to us.
But in my experience, raised a Christian from birth in a very dry denominational church, I experienced God "from afar" during my childhood and early adolescence. And it just got me confused in my teen years, when current trends competed with "archaic" Christian standards. I ended up in trouble with society and with the law.
Anyway, I repented and followed my conscience, going back to church and reading my Bible. And I came upon a verse in Acts where it said, "I give my Spirit to those who obey Me." I was instantly filled with the Spirit in the knowledge that God was pleased with my willingness to give up my "idols" and follow Him completely.
I got into Pentecostal circles where I was taught to "speak in tongues," but this never seemed real important to me--in fact it seemed artificial and more like "some have this gift and others don't." I didn't.
But as I went out into the streets and passed out Gospel tracts, God began speaking to me supernaturally in a "word of knowledge." I handed out a tract to a military guard at the entry to a military installation. Half a block away I *saw* God speaking to this person. I walked all the way back down there and asked him, "The Lord is speaking to you, isn't He?" And there he was, reading the tract, and nodding his head, yes.
I can't explain supernatural things--they either happen or I'm lying. You'll have to follow God all the way and then test to see if the Holy Spirit fills you. Mind you, I don't always feel "filled!" It comes and goes.
Being "baptized in the Holy Spirit" seems to have to do with the transition from OT age to NT age. Whereas John the Bapist baptized people to repent before Jesus finished his ministry, Spirit Baptism seems to be a baptism that follows accepting Jesus. It is just embracing Jesus as the new way of the NT age, and involves the Spirit indwelling our lives as confirmation that we now have Christian Salvation.
It is a replacement for the Law since we are in the NT now. But more, it is the means of showing the world this new way so that those who see and want it can realize it is available for them too. Unless there is a supernatural aspect to it, it will never be attractive to those who want to know and experience the Lord as their Savior. They need to know He exists. We can speak about our expeerience, but others will only "see it* if the Holy Spirit enables them. And He does!QUOTE]
All true Christians are baptized by the HS into the body/church of Christ when they repent and invite Jesus into their hearts as lord (RV 3:20) // Those who seek an "experience" along with that event risk substituting emotion for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as well as causing some to doubt the genuineness of their faith, because yes, "The Bible is more a book of moral truths than ecstatic utterances."
It sounds like you grew up in a church where the preacher did not do a good job of teaching the Gospel/GRFS, whereas my pastor did that ad nauseum to the neglect of discipleship, so I grew spiritually very little. Fortunately, I was blessed with wonderful parents and so I was not tempted to run wild as a teenager. I rejoice with you over your recovery from being prodigal.//
Re "I came upon a verse in Acts where it said, 'I give my Spirit to those who obey Me.' I was instantly filled with the Spirit in the knowledge that God was pleased with my willingness to give up my "idols" and follow Him completely.": // Indeed! That is what should happen at the moment of genuine repentance/conversion.
Re "I got into Pentecostal circles where I was taught to 'speak in tongues', but this never seemed real important to me--in fact it seemed artificial and more like 'some have this gift and others don't.' I didn't.": // Beautiful/bingo! I was very impressed when the leadership of a charismatic gathering stressed that fruit rather than gifts are the sign of Spirit-filling. I was doubly impressed later when they discontinued the gathering because it had become so popular that people were attending it rather than a local church, because their intent was to be a para-church boost to local churches--sort of like youth rallies I had attended as a teen.
Re "I can't explain supernatural things--they either happen or I'm lying. You'll have to follow God all the way and then test to see if the Holy Spirit fills you. Mind you, I don't always feel "filled!" It comes and goes.": //Right, which is why we should be content to walk by faith and not want to prove our faith by means of miracles, which Jesus said was wicked.
Re "Being "baptized in the Holy Spirit" seems to have to do with the transition from OT age to NT age. Whereas John the Baptist baptized people to repent before Jesus finished his ministry, Spirit Baptism seems to be a baptism that follows accepting Jesus. It is just embracing Jesus as the new way of the NT age, and involves the Spirit indwelling our lives as confirmation that we now have Christian Salvation. It is a replacement for the Law since we are in the NT now. ": // Exactly! This was a main theme of Paul
Re "But more, it is the means of showing the world this new way so that those who see and want it can realize it is available for them too. Unless there is a supernatural aspect to it, it will never be attractive to those who want to know and experience the Lord as their Savior. They need to know He exists. We can speak about our experience, but others will only "see it* if the Holy Spirit enables them. And He does!" // This is the only problematic part of your post IMO. The supernatural aspect that Jesus and Paul enjoin is to love everyone fully/perfectly. And we never know for sure, which is why faith is necessary, although it is not blind either, so we can have confidence as we LGW and become mature. The reason for our faith that we share (1PT 3:15) may or may not include some sort of amazing experience.