Scriptural Terms

Meaning of some scriptural terms

The presence and work of the Holy Spirit in a person or Church’s life. “As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you…” (1 John 2:27)

The manifestation of God’s presence and splendour to the spiritual and physical faculties of man.  “When the priests withdrew from the Holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord.  And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.” (1 Kings 8:10-11)

The manifestation of God’s will and truths to man.  “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the wyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

When the presence of the Holy Spirit is strongly manifest, people sometimes fall to the ground.  This experience is also called “falling under the power”.  People who fall down are never unconscious, but completely yielded to the Holy Spirit as He moves powerfully upon them.  The experience usually last for a minute or two but can sometimes be quite prolonged. (Acts 9:4)

An experience occurring at or after conversion when the believer is filled with power and speaks with tongues (Acts 1:5, 2:4, 19:16).  A Christian who has been baptised in the Holy Spirit is often called a “Spirit-filled Christian”.  This is a misleading term because on experience doesn’t guarantee constant fullness.  Like the early disciples, we need to seek God for further in fillings of the Spirit (Acts 4:29-31)

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers, they spoke with tongues and the gifts o the Holy Spirit began to operate (Acts 2).  We believe that all believers should experience the Pentecostal experience through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Comes from the Greek word “charisma” meaning gift.  The charisma of God are His “grace gifts” such as tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.  These gifts are known as the gifts of the Holy Spirit; some of these are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.  Christians operating under these gifts are sometimes called charismatics.