The Fruit of The Spirit/Ruach of YAH vs. False Manifestations of The Holy Ghost— Understanding “Speaking in Tongues,” Visions, and Spiritual Control
Welcome back to our thought-provoking series where we examine and debunk some of the outright lies and common misconceptions that are told concerning Biblical matters. Let us separate fact from fiction as we test modern beliefs held by some against the standards, wisdom, and instructions that are found in the Biblical Scriptures.
A little about my upbringing up front: I grew up in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), a Pentecostal Christian Church denomination. In COGIC churches everywhere: “speaking in tongues”, “catching the holy ghost/shoutin”, and being “slain in The Spirit”, were normal and expected occurrences during church services—more on that later…
For far too long, Christian church culture has modeled and taught a rewritten/remixed version of the Bible; they add to and diminish their teaching and keeping of Biblical, Hebraic truth. YAH’s Holy Spirit, His Ruach Qodesh, brings excitement and joy, but Ruach HaQodesh also brings order, functionality, clarity, truth, and shalom. Supernatural loss of control, as seen in Scripture, occurs when unclean spirits are present or being driven out of a person (“exorcised”) by the power of Ruach HaQodesh, not as a sign of having The Spirit of YAH Sunday after Sunday.
1 — Definitions: Before we expose anything, let’s define some terms so that we are on the same page
We will start with these English words first because they carry a ton of baggage:
Holy — often used to mean “mystical” or “spiritual feeling.” Vague and misleading.
Ghost — the disembodied dead; haunting presences; a possessing entity.
Spirit — a catch-all that can mean mood, attitude, or supernatural being.
Now, the corresponding Hebrew/Biblical foundational words:
Qodesh — set-apart (by the one with authority — YAH). Concrete Biblical definition: dedicated to The Most High YAH’s purpose and order. Not chaos.
Ruach (רוּחַ) — breath/“spirit”, wind, life-force; YAH’s invisible presence and power that brings wisdom, skill, clarity, and righteous action.
Ruach HaQodesh — The Set-apart breath/“Spirit”/presence of YAH. Not a ghost. Not necromancy. Not some wild, uncontrolled possession.
Hebrew has no single word that equals the modern “ghost.” The nearest terms (’ôb, rephaim, shedim) describe necromancy or unclean spirits — never YAH’s presence.
For more on this thought process, review my post on language & translation for more understanding.
2 — The Pattern of Scripture: What YAH’s Ruach/Spirit Does
Whenever YAH’s Ruach moves, notice the fruit:
- Skill and wisdom (Bezalel & Aholiab — Exodus 31:1-6, 35:30-35)
- Righteous leadership and judgment (Moses, Joshua, and the elders — Numbers 11:16-17, 24-25, Deuteronomy 34:9)
- Clear prophetic utterance (the prophets — Numbers 24:2, 1 Samuel 10:9-10, 2 Samuel 23:2, Ezekiel 2:1-2, Micah 3:8, etc…)
- Bold, intelligible proclamation & praise (the apostles — Acts 2:4-11, 4:8, 4:31, 1 Corinthians 14:33 (1-33))
- Fruit of The Spirit — self-control, patience, peace, etc… (Isaiah 32:15-17, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Timothy 1:7)
Ruach HaQodesh (The Set-apart Spirit of The Most High YAH) produces order and self-control. That is the mark, that is the sign of YAH’s Holy Spirit.
Always Remember Acts 2: “We hear them declaring the wonders of YAH in our own tongues.”
Paul’s correction in 1 Corinthians 12–14 is practical: tongues are languages; interpretation is required; Elohim is not the author of confusion. If one is filled with His Spirit, there will be evidence; all things we do, through His Spirit, should be done decently and in order — 1 Corinthians 14:40.
3 — Visions vs. “Trance”: Make the distinction
We need to be careful with the word trance. When it’s used loosely, readers often read modern religious experiences back into the Scripture—especially when discussing Kepha’s (Peter’s) vision or Dani’el’s dreams. Scripture does not describe the same thing that Christianity teaches.
Biblical visions (ḥazon, mar’eh) — focused revelations from YAH. The seer/prophet remains coherent (and not forgetful) while receiving instruction or prophecy from YAH. Peter’s/Kepha’s vision in Acts 10 is controlled revelation, not some kind of lucid dream phenomenon or substance-induced experience, that he later vaguely remembers or cannot relay.
Modern “trances” as popularly described or experienced by — involuntary/uncontrollable movements, falling over, babbling, convulsing, fainting — are a different category. Biblical visions are about revelation and order; loss-of-control phenomena are not.
4 — The Counterfeit: Why Many Modern Manifestations Mirror Pagan Ecstasy
Look across various worldwide pagan religions, traditions, practices, and systems like: Vodun, Santeria, Sufi, Shamanic, Kundalini, and others, and you will see babbling, shouting, shaking, falling, fainting, and ecstatic-passionate expressions & dancing. The same outward signs or manifestations appear in many Christian (especially charismatic) assemblies.
Question: If other non-Spirit of YAH religions produce “identical” spiritual responses to charismatic Christian Holy Ghost manifestations, how can identical behavior in Christian settings be assumed to be from YAH? (Especially when we don’t see it in Scripture)
Reasonable possibilities: natural emotional release, cultural imitation, or another Spirit is at work. Scripture warns of “other spirits,” and we are commanded to test the spirits by The Spirit of YAH (1 John 4:1, 2:3-6)
Feel free to watch this collection of video clips now or after you’ve finished reading this fully, but give each a watch:
Question: Where in the Bible do you read about “speaking in tongues” services or lessons?😂😮💨
5 — The Biblical Evidence: Loss of Control = Unclean Spirits
This is the decisive point: when Scripture records violent convulsions, foaming, shrieking, rolling, or other loss-of-control phenomena, those incidents are connected to unclean spirits being exposed, rebuked, or expelled.
Examples (read them soberly):
- Mark 1 — a man cries out and convulses as the unclean spirit leaves.
- Mark 9 — a boy foams at the mouth, falls, and convulses when a demon departs.
- Luke 4 — a man shouts and collapses when the spirit is rebuked.
- Acts 16 — a slave-girl with a spirit cried out until the spirit was removed.
Rule of discernment: Chaotic, involuntary physical phenomena suggest unclean spirits possession, not an indwelling of The Set-Apart/Holy Spirit/Ruach of YAH.
6 — Tongues: What Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians Showcase
Acts 2 — languages known to hearers; proclamation to the nations. No falling, no incoherence. A clarity of message. Scriptural praise to YAH!
1 Corinthians 12–14 — Paul forbids disorder. Tongues are languages; interpretation is part of the gift. Prophecy — clear speech that builds the assembly is honorable.
If your tradition and dogma treat unintelligible babbling as evidence of The Spirit of The Most High YAH, you disregard the correction and instruction given by Paul, along with the observed act in Acts 2. YAH’s Holy Spirit equips people for Scriptural praise & worship of YAH and the benefit to the assembly, not the individual’s emotional display and euphoria (reminds me of 1 Kings 18:28-29)
7 — Emotion, Praise, and Human Response
Hear me, I am not suggesting that we should be void of or are against emotion and passion when praising & worshiping YAH. Tears of repentance and joyful dancing are part of our worship & praise of YAH. But feelings and displays are not proof of the indwelling of YAH’s Holy Spirit.
Emotional responses may be natural, cultural, or manipulated by atmosphere, music, or substances. Ask whether outcomes: point to or lead to holiness (obedience to Torah (YAH’s instructions), and self-control) — or to confusion and replacement of Scripture with sensation.
We praise YAH, we sing and dance before Him, we pray to Him, and it should all be done in spirit & truth. We can be full of joy, thanksgiving, and other emotions like King David when he danced before YAH (2 Samuel 6:14), and we must also always remember what our King, The Messiah, said:
“And when you pray, do NOT babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.”
Matthew 6:7 BSB
“The Messiah replied, “And why do you break the command of YAH (Torah) for the sake of your tradition? ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men (breaking YAH’s precepts).’””
Matthew 15:3, 8-9
8 — Practical Spiritual Discernment Check
We must always Test, and not merely accept, that which looks rightous at first glance. We can check worship assemblies by means such as these:
- Fruit check: Are lives bearing The Fruit of YAH’s Spirit — love, peace, self-control, etc?
- Order check: Is the assembly edified by the Word of YAH (declaration, interpretation, teaching)? Is there shalom or confusion and dysfunction?
- Content check: Does YAH’s Torah rule the assembly, or is the focus prioritized by feeling/sensation?
- Pattern check: Does the assembly match YAH’s Spirit pattern or the pattern of other spirits/demonic frenzy?
- Leadership check: Are Torah obeying and instructing elders & leaders present to govern the assembly in YAH’s Word?
If the answers fail these checks, pray to YAH, and if He says to, work on helping the assembly to obey Torah, not the tradition of men, and/or if that fails, pray and move on.
9 — Conclusion: A Line That Cannot Be Crossed
This series exposes how man-made doctrine and tradition distort foundational Torah instructions. And now, we have just exposed a related error where people substitute emotional experiences, feelings, and desires for Ruach HaQodesh’s ordered presence.
Again — Ruach HaQodesh is YAH’s Holy/Set-apart Spirit/Breath. His Spirit, His Ruach, honors Torah, brings clarity, and produces self-control. When someone’s body convulses because of a spiritual encounter, or people lose control due to supernatural possession, Scripture consistently points to unclean spirits being present or cast out, not to the evidence of YAH’s Ruach — Essential spiritual discernment is required.
You cannot and do NOT “catch the holy ghost!”
Revisit my language post and Part 8. Learn and return to Biblical & Hebraic language understanding. Test every spirit. Insist that order and obedience to Torah must be adhered to in our worship and gatherings. Study Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12–14 with a notebook handy for notes and prayer points. And as always, again I say: Pray for YAH’s discernment.
Until next time, shalom ✌🏾
~Yahrahn
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