The devil, of course, will try to get believers to doubt any biblical experience they may have.
But just because a believer is tempted to doubt doesn't mean that he didn't receive whatever it
was he asked for according to God's Word.
People are often taught to believe that their receiving certain petitions from God depends upon
experiencing some evidence the Bible does not teach us to expect. But we receive God's
promises by faith in His Word. Yet in regard to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, God does give us
physical evidence — speaking in tongues — to confirm to us that we have received the infilling
of the Holy Spirit.
Expect the Biblical Evidence Of Receiving the Holy Spirit
Many people have different opinions about receiving the Holy Spirit that do not line up with
God's Word. They form their own opinion about what the evidence should be of receiving the
Holy Spirit. But we should expect to see the evidence that the Word of God teaches us to
expect.
Misconceptions About Receiving The Holy Spirit
In the Early Church, they had no trial-and-error method of seeking and not finding, or of
coming to receive the Holy Spirit and going away empty. We should be scriptural and tell
people what the Word of God says. Too many times, people tell folks what they think. They
give their theory or tell their experience. But did you know that you have no right to preach or
to teach your experience?
Paul told Timothy, "Preach THE WORD . . ." (2 Tim. 4:2). He didn't say, "Timothy, tell folks
what you think about the subject." He didn't say, "Now, Timothy, give people your theory on
this subject." The preaching of opinion and theory just produces doubt and unbelief and holds
people in bondage.
The truth of God's Word will liberate people: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free" (John 8:32). God's Word will also instill faith in people: "So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word ofGod" (Rom. 10:17).
Magnify the Word, Not Your Experience
Some people have unusual experiences beyond what most of us have when they are born
again or receive the Holy Spirit. It is all right to refer to experiences one may have had, if those
experiences are in line with the Word of God. But magnify the Word above experiences. Then
let everyone have his or her own scriptural experience, for experiences will vary in many ways.
An example of an unusual born-again experience occurred when Paul was converted on the
road to Damascus. A light brighter than the noonday sun shone round about him and he heard
a voice speaking to him, saying, ". . . Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:3,4).
However, when I was born again, I didn't see any light or hear any voice speaking to me, but I
am just as born again as Paul was.
Paul never told folks that they had to be converted in the same manner that he was. He never
told folks that in order to be saved they had to see a light or hear a voice as he had. He
referred to his experience occasionally, but he taught the scriptural way to be saved.