@Denise Happyfeet the last thing I want to do today is argue over "legalities". It has been my experience in many churches that I have gone to in my lifetime where the Spirit of God was not present in that church. Whether He was there and just didn't show Himself is a possibility. God definitely can be everywhere at one time, but I believe just as Jesus walked away from places and people who did not want Him in their lives....God does not stay where He is not wanted either.
Although it's been awhile since I went to catholic school, I always learned and believed you don't go to heaven by grace alone...you have to confess and be a good person also.
I'm wondering @Denise Happyfeet if your gal-friend meant when she said "spirit-filled" church if she was talking about a denominational church that spoke in tongues, danced, was "slain by the Spirit. etc.? Do you know if this was what she was talking about?
Well first, I didn't know we were arguing, I'm just stating what I believe to be true of what the bible says. Second, it's not just a possibility as I understand it, it is what God tells us, here's a few verses: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Present-Everywhere You say the Spirit of God was not present, and I say He is everywhere, simple as that. You're saying God vacates the wherever He is not wanted, I do not believe that. I believe He will give a person over to their sinful ways yes, but I believe He is ever present longing for them to change their mind. Jesus had a lot to do in 3 years, and He was fully God, and Fully Human, so His Human self could not be everywhere at the same time (well He could have if that had been the plan). But you were right earlier I can see, we do differ in our beliefs. So I will leave it at this.
I think we are saying the same thing @Denise Happyfeet just in different ways. Your one quote above is what I believe too. I just usually say that it is us that turns our back on God, He is always waiting for us to turn back to Him.
There are dozens of references in the Bible to the Spirit of God coming upon someone. If the Spirit of God were everywhere already, then how could the Spirit of God come upon someone? The word that is translated, in the Old Testament, as "Spirit," as in the Spirit of God, literally means "breath" or "exhalation." In Old Testament usage, breath is often used to represent life, living, or a creative force. "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." -- Job 33:4 "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." -- Genesis 1:2-3 In the New Testament, the Greek word that is translated as "Spirit" means the same thing as the Old Testament word that is translated similarly -- breath, although it is used differently. While the OT word is used to refer to the creation of physical life, the NT word is used to refer to the power that comes upon a Christian when the Holy Spirit comes upon him, or to the Holy Spirit Himself. "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” -- Matthew 3:16-17 " For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." -- Romans 8:14 In the New Testament, the Spirit is often said to come upon someone or upon a room like a wind, blowing where it pleases. So I think it might be wrong to assume that the Spirit of God is everywhere. God is everywhere, but God exists in three persons: God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and it does seem that the Spirit is picky about the places He chooses to go. In particular, I don't see that the Holy Spirit is present in a non-Christian, so it would stand to reason that the Holy Spirit may not be in a church that will not submit to the will of God.
This is what I was trying to put into words when I said I have not felt the Spirit in many churches. God will not go where He is not wanted is as close as I knew how to say it.
My sister came to visit me the other day when she and her husband were in from Florida to visit with his Mom and she said to me: "Barbara, everytime I come to your home I feel the spirit of peace in your home and I just don't want to leave." Her home in Florida is the same way and that peace comes from inviting God's spirit to live in our home...we invited Him in and never want Him to leave us. So many churches today invite everyone in but Him and a person who has Christ living within them can feel the difference to me.