Our May issue on the Holy Spirit embodies what Charisma is all about. Sure, we cover many things about the church, Christianity and the culture. But at our core, it’s all about the Spirit.
Sadly, many Spirit-filled churches, in an effort to be “seeker sensitive,” no longer invite people to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That’s why it was refreshing when I attended a recent Perry Stone conference in DeLand, Fla., to hear him minister the baptism in the Holy Spirit to more than 100 people. Perry says he does this in at least one service during his prophetic conferences, and almost without exception, 100 to 300 will receive it—with most of the people coming from non-charismatic churches!
“God says He’ll pour out His Spirit on all flesh,” Perry told me. “People are ready to receive. All they need is an atmosphere to receive.”
Perry believes too many pastors fear the unction of the Holy Spirit will turn off people in the church, yet just the opposite is true: People are hungry for God’s power. “It’s as if the pastors don’t trust Him to do His work,” Perry said, “or even that He knows what He’s doing.”
Jack Hayford makes a similar point when speaking of the seeker-sensitive movement, where the emphasis is on making sure corporate worship services appeal to visitors. If you’re looking for church growth, Hayford says, look no further than the day of Pentecost, when 3,000 were added to the church at one time!
As I pointed out in my last Strang Report, this is an issue you can share with friends who have questions or are seeking the Holy Spirit. We’re posting articles, teachings and other resources about the Holy Spirit daily on our social media outlets, including my public Facebook page. We’re also partnering with Billy Wilson’s Empowered21 movement. Go to charismamag.com, or get our Charisma News app (charismamobile.com) to learn more—including how you can download an Empowered21 course on the Holy Spirit for free.
In The Code of the Holy Spirit, Perry gives a deeper insight and understanding into who the Holy Spirit is and how He wants to work in us and through us. In addition to revealing the Holy Spirit’s presence throughout the Old Testament, including clues to the Day of Penecost revealed in the Hebrew feasts, Stone answers questions such as:
- What is the anointing?
- Is the Holy Spirit feminine or masculine?
- Why is the Spirit likened to a dove?
- How do you offend the Holy Spirit”
- How do you know if someone is truly operating in a gift of the Spirit?
Whether you’ve been taught a doctrine, embarked on your own study of Scripture, observed others operating under His power, or had a personal life-changing experience, in The Code of the Holy Spirit, Perry will take you deeper in your understanding of this member of the Godhead than you’ve ever been before.
You can purchase Perry Stone’s The Code of the Holy Spirit from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or Christianbook.com.
Steve Strang is the founder and publisher of Charisma. Follow him on Twitter at @sstrang or Facebook (stephenestrang).
