“Feel the presence of God…”

We frequently hear this phrase among “believers” because many mistakenly associate being in the presence of God with the short-lived feelings of certain settings, with emotional songs that make them cry. Some speak in “tongues”, convinced that they’ve been baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Three types of people sincerely seek the Holy Spirit, but end up deceived by what they feel, or what they don’t feel.

1 – Some say, “I wish I could live in the church. I feel so good here.”

2 – Some don’t feel anything and become sad and confused because they don’t know if they received the Holy Spirit.

3 – Some are still waiting to feel something.

The problem is that when these people leave that setting and return to their daily routine, tribulations, trials and temptations come.

How can these people deal with all those problems when they haven’t received the Holy Spirit, and instead were filled with emotion, or hoped to be filled with emotion?

What happens in times like these when most churches are closed because of the pandemic, and their gospel concerts, those emotion-pack moments, are not taking place? How are those people doing now, those who’re always searching for feelings?

I have no doubt that even in settings that encourage emotion, there are sincere people who have actually been baptised with the Holy Spirit. Surrounded by hardships, problems and temptations, these people persist in doing God’s will.

God doesn’t need emotional settings to work, and He doesn’t discriminate. He pours out His Holy Spirit on anyone who’s thirsty, no matter who they are, what they’ve done or where they are.

Maybe you think you don’t deserve the Holy Spirit, and that’s true. And yet, if you’re sincere and put all your effort into knowing God, you’ll find Him.

What’s the proper place?

Do you need to feel certain things?

Does crying, shouting, or speaking in “tongues” prove that you’ve been baptised in the Holy Spirit?

Let’s look at what happened in Cornelius’s house:

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” (Acts 10:44-45)

The Holy Spirit came down on Cornelius’ house and baptised all who heard the Word of God through the apostle Peter.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion, an uncircumcised Gentile, but he feared God. He prayed to the Lord every single day and helped the poor.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done. Take advantage of this quarantine and seek the Holy Spirit wherever you are… at home, in prison, in a hospital, wherever.

Just as it happened in Cornelius’s home, you’ll be possessed by the Holy Spirit through the word that’s preached by God’s servants on the internet, radio or television.