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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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<strong>and</strong> his wife acting as equal partners <strong>the</strong>n in <strong>the</strong> event <strong>of</strong> one partner‟s death, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r willassume full ministerial responsibilities (including serving communion) with <strong>the</strong> fullsupport <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local church members <strong>and</strong> sanctioned by <strong>the</strong> Church Council or Synod.5.4 Introducing <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit as an Authority in Healing.According to Christian tradition, The Holy Spirit is a name <strong>of</strong> a distinct person or element<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Triune God, <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r, Son (Jesus) <strong>and</strong> Holy Spirit. It is used to designate <strong>the</strong> thirdperson <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> divine Trinity (Gaunton 1997). Christian doctrine underst<strong>and</strong>s <strong>the</strong> Holy Spiritas a divine agent. (Richardson <strong>and</strong> Bowden 1999:262). In Christian tradition, healing isdependent on <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit. Biblical passages are <strong>of</strong>ten used to support this. Not allChristian Theology shares in relating doctrines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit to a physical healing <strong>and</strong>charismatic experience; although Moltman (1997) postulates that <strong>the</strong> experience <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Spirit means a renewal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul <strong>and</strong> sometimes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body. The Christian hope <strong>and</strong>claim for healing is directed towards a new creation <strong>of</strong> all things through <strong>the</strong> resurrection<strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ. The authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit to heal is a combination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> renewalprocesses at all stages <strong>of</strong> life <strong>and</strong> is also derived from historical sources. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> keywords relating to Pentecostals is Power- „The Power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit‟ Warrington (2008)advocates that <strong>the</strong> Power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit empowers, transforms <strong>and</strong> guides believers <strong>and</strong> that<strong>the</strong> giving <strong>and</strong> receiving <strong>of</strong> this Power is evidenced in <strong>the</strong> many manifestations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> HolySpirit before <strong>and</strong> after <strong>the</strong> outpouring at Pentecost <strong>and</strong> later at Azusa Street.Evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit in operation is reported in <strong>the</strong> testimonies <strong>of</strong> eye-witnesses atAzusa Street (<strong>An</strong>derson 2004). The renewed outpouring <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit (<strong>the</strong> first outpouringthat was regarded as newsworthy) took place in <strong>the</strong> West in North America at <strong>the</strong> RedRiver Church in 1899 <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n again in Kentucky two years later, swiftly followed by <strong>the</strong>159

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