A biblical understanding of Holy Spirit encounters

Name: A biblical understanding of Holy Spirit encounters
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The bible teaches us to test the spirits, whether they are of God.

Created byMichael E.B. Maher

Last updated 6/2026

English

What you'll learn

Have a clear understanding as to what it means to be born of the Spirit.
Have a clear understanding as to what it means to be baptized with the Spirit.
Have a clear understanding of biblical evidences that reveal false supernatural manifestations.
Have a clear understanding of biblical criteria that can be used to identify counterfeit manifestations of the Holy Spirit
Have a clear understanding as to which physical manifestations are of God and which aren't.

Course content

3 sections • 33 lectures • 11h 56m total length

Introduction0:10

First encounter of the Holy Spirit - Part 120:11
In this lecture we discuss the first outpouring of the Spirit and what it means to be born of the Spirit.
First encounter of the Holy Spirit - Part 220:06
In this lecture we discuss how the fountain of living water blesses the life of the believer.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 119:02
In this lecture we discuss the reason why Jesus wants His disciples to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 233:43
In this lecture we discuss the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 332:16
In this lecture we discuss the account of the saints being filled with the Spirit in Samaria and specifically what phenomena accompanied that baptism.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 424:43
In this lecture we discuss the last three accounts of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts and the fact that tongues is the main evidence of the baptism and the only evidence accepted by the new testament church.
Sealed by the Spirit19:51
In this lecture we discuss the truth that it is only believers that have been baptized with the Holy Spirit that have been sealed and have received the guarantee of their inheritance.
Believers signs - Part 129:01
In this lecture we discuss the three signs that believers can always expect to see.
Believers signs - Part 222:29
In this lecture we discuss the baptism of the Spirit as the third sign that believers can always expect to see and how false prophets learn to use the name of Jesus.
Consistent manifestations - Part 126:39
In this lecture we discuss how false prophets can be identified through their being able to operate in the supernatural at will.
Consistent manifestations - Part 220:59
In this lecture we discuss how the devil accommodates those who desire to operate in the supernatural whenever they choose and why some past "moves" of the spirit were not from God.
Confirming the word - Part 115:47
In this lecture we discuss how the Holy Spirit always confirms the word of God and cannot confirm a distorted gospel.
Confirming the word - Part 224:02
In this lecture we discuss why the Holy Spirit will not disrupt the teaching of God's word whereas other spirits will.
Indiscriminate anointing - Part 123:28
In this lecture we discuss how to recognize a false anointing through the indiscriminate use of the laying on of hands.
Indiscriminate anointing - Part 222:43
In this lecture we discuss the consequences of the unscriptural use of the laying on of hands as practiced in some churches and ministries.
Absence of faith27:09
In this lecture we discuss how it is only by faith that the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be manifested whereas demonic displays of the supernatural occur even when faith is absent.
Scriptural encounters - Part 124:49
In this lecture we discuss why it is unscriptural for Spirit filled believers to seek to be filled again.
Scriptural encounters - Part 216:24
In this lecture we discuss how the saints are to remain filled with the Holy Spirit and not get into error by seeking to be filled again.
Tongues - Part 129:59
In this lecture we discuss tongues as being the main evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as well as the difference between tongues and the spiritual gift called "kinds of tongues".
Tongues - Part 219:04
In this lecture we discuss the difference between praying with the spirit and praying with the understanding and we discuss that our prayers in the spirit are always heard by God.
Tongues - Part 315:40
In this lecture we discuss how praying in tongues is always in line with God's will and how the saint is edified when praying in tongues.
Tongues - Part 420:47
In this lecture we discuss how praying in tongues helps us to be led by the Holy Spirit in the affairs of life.
Falling under the power - Part 122:54
In this lecture we discuss our bodies physical reaction to encountering the power of God and the difference between that and prostrating oneself before the Lord.
Falling under the power - Part 215:51
In this lecture we discuss further scriptural evidence confirming the truth that people do fall under the power of God and that in many instances they lay on the ground in a trance like state as the Lord deals with them.
Falling under the power - Part 323:12
In this lecture we discuss the phenomena of people pretending to fall under the power of God and also the more disturbing phenomena of people being thrown to the floor by demonic powers.
Laughing in the spirit - Part 123:40
In this lecture we discuss why it is scriptural for believers to laugh in the Spirit.
Laughing in the spirit - Part 222:31
In this lecture we discuss the two biblical evidences that help us to identify when laughing in the "spirit" is not the work of the Holy Spirit.
Weeping and trembling in the spirit24:26
In this lecture we discuss the phenomena of the saints weeping and trembling when encountering the power of the Holy Spirit.
Convulsions in the spirit25:57
In this lecture we discuss the phenomena of people being made to shake as they encounter the power of the supernatural.
Drunk in the spirit25:21
In this lecture we discuss the difference between being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and becoming spiritually intoxicated by the power of a demonic spirit.
Animal behaviors' in the spirit23:51
In this lecture we discuss the phenomena of people shouting out in meetings and also behaving like animals and how none of those displays are the work of the Holy Spirit.

Requirements

As a supplementary resource, students can obtain the book, Holy Spirit Encounters, by M.E.B. Maher (Amazon, 2019) ISBN: 978-1691638437. The book is available in print and digital formats.

Description

This course provides a biblical framework for understanding encounters with the Holy Spirit. Maher distinguishes between the first encounter (being born again, where the Holy Spirit indwells the believer) and the second encounter (the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers with supernatural gifts, including speaking in tongues as the initial evidence). He examines five New Testament accounts of Spirit baptism, noting that it can occur directly from heaven or through the laying on of hands, and that it seals believers as God’s own.

The lecturer then addresses subsequent manifestations—both scriptural (healing, deliverance, trembling, weeping, holy laughter) and unscriptural (convulsions, drunken behaviour, animal sounds, uncontrolled shouting). He warns that while God confirms His Word with signs, the devil can counterfeit some supernatural displays. Key discernment markers include: manifestations that are consistently reproducible at will, those that occur without faith or the preaching of God’s Word, indiscriminate laying on of hands, and disorderly conduct. Maher emphasizes that genuine Holy Spirit encounters always align with Scripture, require faith, and produce order, not confusion.

This course is meant for all audiences. No previous theological study is required or expected, for it is meant to give a basic understanding of what the bible says about the subject of the Holy Spirit.

Michael Maher will lecture from the bible, to walk the student through the subject of the Holy Spirit, and how that doctrine impacts the life of the believer.

This course focuses on explaining the biblical view of our encounters with the Holy Spirit. As a supplementary resource, this course can be taken in tandem with the reading of Michael Maher’s book, Holy Spirit Encounters.

I trust that the material and the dialogue with other students will be encouraging and enlightening for all.

Who this course is for:

This is an all level course for anyone wishing to understand what the bible teaches regarding our encounters with the Holy Spirit.
This course is not for those who wish to enter into religious debates.

A biblical understanding of Holy Spirit encounters

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 1min

Holy Spirit Encounters31 lectures • 11hr 57min

Conclusion1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: