Would anyone out there like to share his/her personal testimony about being baptisted in the spirit?? Has it changed your walk with the Lord and in what way?? Do you think it is vital to be baptised in the spirit in order to fully be used of God? I am reading "Azusa Street" right now. There is alot of talk about being baptised in the spirit. I've never asked to be baptised in the spritit. I've been to some penecostal churches where EVERYONE seems to be baptised in the spririt. Everyone speaks in tounges and gets all kinds of "gifts", but I never saw any real power of God in these "gifts"....other than a good show!!! Sorry if I sound a little cynical, but I think most of you know where I am coming from. This question about being being baptised by the Holy spirit has been burning in my heart. My prayer is "Lord if I need it please do it" I know it doesn't sound like a very good prayer, but the whole thing is kind of scary to me. In HIS love, Tina
Baptism of the spirit?!?!?!
Sure... I will share a little about what I have experienced. Note... I don't go just by experience I believe the baptism is backed up by the Bible.Shortly after I was saved, I figured out that I had a choice: to go back to my old friends and do the same thing or separate myself. I, by the loving grace of God, decided to separate myself. I was in a bookstore curious about 'tongues' because I knew it was a controversial topic. I asked the bookstore clerk if they had anything on the topic. She directed me to a book about the baptism (something I had never heard of... I was about 2 months old in the Lord). I, much like you, was like, "what? What is this about?" At this time I was away at college but before I left home I was going a church. I called the pastor of my home church and asked him about it. He told me that the baptism was for me and that it was something very well worth seeking. During that week I was so longing for God to fill me to the uttermost with his Spirit. I spend many hours in prayer. I did nothing but go to class and then go pray and dive into the word. Within a week of even hearing of the baptism, Jesus filled me. After receiving the baptism my whole life was changed. If you were to say that when I was converted it was a 100% change in me, then from when I was baptized in the Holy Ghost would be a 90% change. It was a huge change. It was like my born again experience saved me from hell; my baptism experience saved me from the world and sin. It was such an intense change... almost like I was born again, again. Do you know what I mean? My prayer life intensified the revealing of the word, every aspect of my life. Especially my convictions. I was talking to a friend about it one day and he likened it to having a "super conscience." Things you never seen as bad looking like the blackness of darkness forever. I experienced tongues when I was baptized in the Holy Ghost. I tend to lean towards that when you receive the baptism you will speak in tongues. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost but never spoke in tongues. But when the apostles received it they did... I think the focus is on the change that comes upon you. I believe that what has happened in the Pentecostal church is that people are just seeking 'tongues' instead of the fullness of it. If all a person leaves with is tongues they have not received all that God wants them to receive. When you are baptized in the Holy Ghost there is a change in you, not just your mouth.
By the way.. I think a person should not speak in tongues in a church service, unless of course there is an interpretation. Not to get off topic but I just thought I would say that.The gifts of tongues are married to the interpretation of tongues. They should never leave one another.
Hi Tina,This question about being being baptised by the Holy spirit has been burning in my heart. My prayer is "Lord if I need it please do it" I know it doesn't sound like a very good prayer, but the whole thing is kind of scary to me. That is a wonderful prayer, eloquence comes from the heart.I don't think it necessary to be afraid nor to be overly skeptical. I know there is a variety of thought and experience in what this all means and the gifts or not having the gifts have been discussed at length.Hate to be redundant but my own experience would be opposite PreachParsly in that I was part of a gathering that was in effect coaching or coaxing 'tongues' out of people.... The reason I bring it up is that my own prayer at the time was very much similar to yours in that contrary to this spurious idea of 'letting your mind go' as they were proposing ("blocking" the Holy Spirit they said) mine was more "If this is true and You wish me to have this gift, then You will have to open my mouth and let the words speak". The only thing that would come was that which I knew was of my own effort and therefore gibberish and false. Something I was trying to force. Apparently being the only one that wasn't joining in to this babbling with no interpretation only made me want to throw up, it was the most disgusting thing I have ever been apart of and believe it was demonic in origin.There are supernatural powers and agencies that can play with us like toys whenever they choose unless we are garrisoned by God. The New Testament continually impresses this upon us: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the high places.” According to the Bible, spiritualism is not a trick, it is a fact. Man can communicate with beings of a different order from his own; he can put himself into a state of subjectivity in which spirits can appear. A medium commits the great crime psychically because he gives himself over to a force the nature of which he does not know. He does great violence to his own rectitude and tampers with the balance of his sanity by putting himself into league with powers the character of which he does not know. Mediumship, whereby unseen spirits talk to men and women, will destroy the basis of moral sanity because it introduces a man into domains he had better leave alone. Drunkenness and debauchery are child’s play compared with the peril of spiritualism. There is something uncannily awful about tampering with these supernatural powers, and in the speeding up of these days the necromantic element is increasing. Be on the look out for the manifestations that are not of God; all have the one sign, they ignore Jesus Christ.Beware of the advice: “Yield, give up your will.” No man or woman has any right to yield himself or herself to any impression or any influence; immediately they do they are susceptible to all kinds of supernatural powers. There is only one Being to Whom we must yield, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure that it is Jesus Christ to whom you yield, then the whole nature is safeguarded for ever.Chambers, O.That is not to negate anything whatsoever from what our brother here wrote, if anything it is just the other side for those who have not been granted to receive this particular gift;1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
reposted below. formatting went adrift!
This is an excellent quotation and I was interested to see which of Chambers writings it came from. For any who want to read more... Beware of the advice: “Yield, give up your will.” No man or woman has any right to yield himself or herself to any impression or any influence; immediately they do they are susceptible to all kinds of supernatural powers. There is only one Being to Whom we must yield, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure that it is Jesus Christ to whom you yield, then the whole nature is safeguarded for ever. ...Chambers' CD identified it as from "The Servant as His Lord", (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1959.
How Great Soul Winners Were Filled With the Holy Spirit by John R. RiceThis may be of some interest.
This is an excellent quote by Philologos:Beware of the advice: “Yield, give up your will.” No man or woman has any right to yield himself or herself to any impression or any influence; immediately they do they are susceptible to all kinds of supernatural powers. There is only one Being to Whom we must yield, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure that it is Jesus Christ to whom you yield, then the whole nature is safeguarded for ever....Chambers' CD identified it as from "The Servant as His Lord", (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1959.Jesus told us that His Father would give us the Holy Spirit if we asked Him: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).I posted the below article a number of weeks ago. I believe that it addresses your question Tinluke.A number of recent threads have touched on: the power of Satan, the conquering power of Christ, law and freedom from the law, etc. For me, and I believe for many others, Christianity is both obedience to God’s Word and the living out of this obedience free from legalism. This seems to be very difficult for many of us; as a result we struggle in our faith to come to a place where we can say with Paul: I have fought a good fight, I have finished (my) course, I have kept the faith (2Tim.4:7).Galatians 4:19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU.Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present EVERY MAN PERFECT in Christ Jesus:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.These are a few Scriptures pointing towards the ultimate PRIZE which should be sought by every Christian: CHRIST IN YOU.Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Church wrote two prayers that He prayed for the Ephesian Christians and, even though this is not recorded, likely for others also. I make this statement, because Paul talks about travailing in birth, laboring, and striving for the Christians in the early churches. The root of the Greek word for what Paul did is AGON. It is also the root of the word AGONIA which is used to describe the intensity of the prayer by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, when His sweat became drops of blood. Our English word AGONY comes from this Greek word. I pray and ask the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him so that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened, each time before I read His Word, and before I share from the Word with the people I speak to. For a number of years I have prayed the entire prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23 and 3:14-21, after I personalized them, for ourselves and for the Christians we worship with. I do this with confidence in faith because Jesus told us: how much more shall (your) heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).Just consider: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that YE MAY KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the EXEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD who believe, according to the working of HIS MIGHTY POWER, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,” And:“That HE WOULD GRANT YOU, according to the riches of his glory, to be STRENGTHENED with might by his Spirit in THE INNER MAN; THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH”I cannot think of a better way to learn to walk “in Christ,” than by the working of His mighty power, being strengthened with power by His Spirit in my inner man, so that Christ may live in me by faith!For years I have done this and taught others. When I ask the Christians I shared this with through the years, if they do this, the answer is always: NO.Why don’t we want to have Christ formed in us by asking our heavenly Father, and thereby having the Holy Spirit living in us? Please read the thread “What is a Christian?” “Inner Light?”
This is an excellent quotation and I was interested to see which of Chambers writings it came from.I agree completely. That is some good advice. I once heard a minister say, "Just open up and receive! Clear your mind! Don't even pray! Oh I bet that breaks your tradition!" He wasn't talking about the baptism but just in general. That is what spiritualist do. Open your self up and just let what ever comes to you come. A person can be open to a lot of demonic things by doing that. I would never listen to a person who tells you to not think or pray. Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
John 4:10 Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
My own personal experience is that I have not yet experienced this fullness or the baptism of the Spirit.I'm just praying that I will be empty of self, so that I can be full of the Spirit. No hidden agenda, no desire to be somebody, etc. That's what the Lord is dealing with me on at present.It's good advice to avoid emotionalism or a reliant on feeling. There are many in the church who have "experienced God" but in reality they're not really walking with Jesus. That reality alone terrifies me away from any reliance on feeling.I would never listen to a person who tells you to not think or pray. Amen that's very sage advice. Here's another quote by Oswald Chambers: This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around.If I go to church to get a special feeling but there's no real repentance, no real change of heart what do I have? Simply another form of godliness with no power.
This is an excellent quotation and I was interested to see which of Chambers writings it came from. For any who want to read more... Beware of the advice: “Yield, give up your will.” No man or woman has any right to yield himself or herself to any impression or any influence; immediately they do they are susceptible to all kinds of supernatural powers. There is only one Being to Whom we must yield, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure that it is Jesus Christ to whom you yield, then the whole nature is safeguarded for ever. ...Chambers' CD identified it as from "The Servant as His Lord", (United Kingdom: Marshall Morgan & Scott) c1959.Hi Ron,Have been shovering around near this section that was quoted for a few days, there is 3 or 4 sections prior that I have been meaning to bring out as well. One of which he talks about things that are 'satanic' that I think could well throw a wrench in a lot of thinking...This is another one of those must read books.
I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was almost 18 years old. I had recently become convinced through my study of the Scriptures that the gifts of the Spirit were for today (though I wasn't aware of the term yet, "baptism of the Holy Spirit"). I then prayed over a long period of time that the Lord would do whatever He wanted with me, and that I would do whatever He called me to do. One night as I lay in my bedroom, I suddenly became consumed with the presence of God, and had an awareness of God that I had not had since I first heard the gospel when I was 14. At that time, I felt as if God had called me into ministry, and told me that He knew where I had been, where I was at, and where I was going. I was so consumed with the presence of God, I don't really remember if I spoke in tongues or not. I'm pretty sure I did, as I remember saying a bunch of different stuff while in prayer for a while. But I was just so caught up with God's presence, that I was more concerned about God's presence than anything else. I know I have spoken in tongues since then, and am relatively sure that I did that night, but am not absolutely certain that I did. It seems every instance of Spirit baptism's recorded in the book of Acts, that those that received the Spirit seem to have all spoken in tongues, and sometimes also prophesied or exalted God. While many Pentecostals are convinced this establishes a fixed pattern of manifestations that will subsequently be followed in all future generations, there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly says that, and I cannot think of a theological reason as to why it must. While I'd say speaking in tongues seems to be the normal thing to happen when somebody is baptized in the Spirit, I don't think it can be dogmatically asserted that it must happen every time without exception. One simply cannot prove such dogmatically from the Scriptures.
Dear all,I am confused. I thought there was only one baptism? Ephesians 4:5 - (NLT)There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism,Why is everyone talking as if there is two? To be saved is to be born again which means we are baptized in the Spirit. Is this wrong? I thought some people had the gift of tongues and some do not. Can everyone obtain this gift? Please help me understand.Thanks,Blake
My personal experience with baptizm in the holy spirit is a bit... well. Lets just say that my first experience suffered the dogmatic "you must speak in tongues" approach.Total hoey. But I spoke in tongues.I don't know if I could pin a night to when God decided to let His Spirit loose in me. So I don't know if I can say I have ever been "baptized in the Spirit." But I know that God has indeed let loose His Spirit. I was baptized in the 9th grade, and I gained membership into my homechurch on November 9th, 1998. That event with tongues occured one late fall evening in 2003. Before then I had experienced some of the gifts of the Spirit. I had also experienced a lot of the fruits of the Spirit.I have spoken in tongues before, although I find it very difficult to do so on command. Not something I understand completely.It is my personal viewpoint that God doesn't come in chunks, its kind of all or nothing. I also hold the viewpoint that at baptism, God instills something into the heart of His followers. I haven't really investigated much further. I'm pretty sure there are better answers.And for Ron, you mentioned a CD, where would I be able to acquire such a resource?
I am confused. I thought there was only one baptism?Hi Blakethis is a topic we have discussed several times, and several of us here on SI have different takes on the matter. There is a 'water baptism' which is separate from the 'Spirit baptism'. The 'two' might happen at the same time but they should always be distinguished from each other in our thinking.“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:5-6, NKJV)I feel your Ephesians reference is to the 'Spirit baptism' but then my take on these things is different to most here on SI.As regards my personal experience, Tina, as was originally asked... I often hesitate to tell it because it doesn't quite fit my theology! My first conscious turning to the Lord was 25th Oct 1958; I just marked its 47th anniversary. I knew I was loved, forgiven and accepted. Some 12 months later I began to meet with Pentecostal's and had a physical/spiritual experience of 'power' during which I spoke in tongues. I have continued to speak in tongues since that time. However, although I certainly gained a boldness in witnessing and preaching there was more that one sin that had me in its grip. I was the 'star' of the church I attended! I was actively involved in 7 meetings every Sunday, and well as interdenomiational activities in the town. I was very much involved in the early 60's charismatic movement in the UK. But I was still the same person I had always been, but with some bolt-on additions. I came to a point in my life where I was so distressed about my continuing sin and wrong disposition that I asked God to take away my life. I just could not live with myself any longer. I was 'sick to death' of myself. I called on the Lord in a new way and knew that in response to that cry God broke the power of my old disposition. If becoming a 'new creation' is the criterion, this was my time.Now which of these shall I call 'the baptism'. The Brethren would say I was 'baptised in Spirit' at the first. The Pentecostals would say I was 'baptised in Spirit' at the second. The 2nd Blessing Holiness people would say I was 'baptised in Spirit' at the third. What do I say? It was a long drawn out, going... going... gone! but I regard the whole 'process' as 'One Baptism'.Now let's see what the theologians on SI make of that. :-D
MAT 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but hethat cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:One baptism for the forgiveness of sins, after we have been forgiven we only need to 'wash our feet': Jn 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is different. I too am a little confused about the Spirit filling thing, having not had the experience I have seen in others (radical life change, not just show or tongues) I have asked God for the Holy Ghost, told Him I cannot do anything without Him , but no big change. However, when I preach on the street I just open my mouth and He gives me the words to say, when I am witnessing I hear His prompting, when I am teaching I hear His voice. Some would call me filled, but I was perhaps expecting something different.As I am writing this I will put something down and delete it cos He is showing me He has already done what I think He hasn't. May be I'm more filled than I first thought. :-o I will go away now not wanting to confuse anyone. :-(
PTywama3And for Ron, you mentioned a CD, where would I be able to acquire such a resource? Mine came with a huge volume called the Complete Works of Oswald Chambers. It is available from Amazon.combut will it run on a MacThe CD uses the 'logos' software engine which, I think, is only available for Windows/PCs. I access it on my Mac with a PC Emulator programme. This logos news item suggests that logos will be available for the Mac in December, but it would be well to check that the CD with the book will run on Mac.
Dear Ron,I would have to say that I agree with you. The way I see it is like this. Spirit baptism is an act of promise by God to us. Water baptism is an act of promise by us to God. A relationship can only form when two commit to each other. Often times, God will make His commitment to us, but we don't make our commitment to Him. We think we do, sometimes, but we only give Him part.In my case, I had already made a commitment to God before I was saved. I didn't know, however, that it was the wrong God. So, when I came to Jesus, I was ready and willingly for Him to mold me anyway He wished. When I discovered Christ, it impacted me so greatly, I laid everything at His feet that very night. Of course, this is something I must do daily for I am extremely clumsy.As far as being born again, and transformed into a new creation, I have seen different transformations. Some are immediate. People change like night and day. Others take many years to change. The reason for this, I think, is that God respects our free will, our choices. He doesn't force anything upon us even after salvation. He will saves us at the right time. However, our willingness to let Him change us affects the process to becoming the full likeness of Christ. Not to mention, it makes for one great testimony of the power of Christ. I would not be so quick to say when it was you were baptized in the Spirit, for that is neither my decision or my place. That is a matter between you and Christ. Besides, the important thing is not when it happened, but that it did. To see how you have grown is an immense inspiration for any Christian. I am thankful for all my fellow brother's and sister's in Christ. Praise Jesus for saving each one of you and that we can come together in love as the body of Christ. Thanks for sharing your life story too. In love,Blake
I was baptised by the Holy Ghost after listening to lots of sermons by Ravenhill (John Baptist-Fire of God, Revival Hymn, Video Interview, etc) and starting seeking the baptism of fire from Luke 3:16. Seeking the fire of the Lord seemed to woo me, as I had never been instructed on this subject. I really didn't know what all of that meant, I just knew that I had never had an experience that I could call a baptism of fire from the Holy Ghost.Two dear Christian brothers, one who regularly street preaches, and the other is preparing to be a pastor, came over to spend the night, and we spent all night talking. They were a blessing to just have in my house. I remember praying during this time that I could just be crucified to the world, that I would die right where I was, that Christ would be risen in my place, that God could have me tortured, or killed, but that I just wanted to be decreased so that He could increase in my death.That morning we did a devotion together, and during my prayer, my voice began to quiver. I used to think that guys were just putting on when they did that, but it just felt like God was right on top of me.Not long after they left, I was in the shower, and just went down on my knees suddenly. I got my composure, but the Spirit hit me again walking up the steps in my house. The third time was like being in a spiritual wind tunnel. While driving the Spirit of the Lord descended on me like a flame. I screamed like a wild man, "GLORY TO GOD! REVIVAL IS ON!" I've never done heavy drugs, but this had to be better. I was so excited, basically because I now knew that revival could happen, today, right now. That what happened to me could happen to a church or group of Christians who wanted it.Once I pulled up at the church, I just laid limp sobbing. I wouldn't have been able to stop crying had someone seen me. It was very, very purifying. How about this for divine appointment: the first person I talked to about it was one of the women at the church who had been praying for fresh wind and fire on us. So when I told her what happened, I was surprised to hear her say, 'That's what we've been praying for.'The next ten days were not fun. It felt like non-stop super-sensitivity. I stayed up late reading Scripture, there were nights praying where I was afraid to look because it felt like the Lord was in the room with me. I remember crawling on one occasion to the office to pray.Anyway, I did not speak in tongues. I will lay my pride aside. I listened to Duncan Campbell's testimony, amazingly right after my experience, and he experienced the same thing, without tongues. Don't get me wrong, I think some people do...'to another...'etc. But I did read a book, that I think is completely wrong, that explained how to start speaking in tongues. I attempted on two occasions to do what the book said and just let myself go, speaking words I didn't know. I did not feel edified in the least by doing this. I did not stop feeling super-weird until about ten days after the Spirit hit me, when I read what happened after Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit after the Holy Ghost fell on Him. He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I honestly think that God gave me up to be beat up a little demonically after my experience. The weirdness left during a flood of tears upon reading Jesus' first words in Scripture after His anointing: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." It just hit me that my spiritual life would be like a ship on an ocean, and that my only anchor was the unchanging Word of God.One night I seriously prayed for God to give me tongues if it was His will, but His answer was, 'covet earnestly the best gifts.'Three things have been disheartening to me since the experience that I would like to mention. 1) Some people speak of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as the same experience as a baptism of tongues. They spoke in tongues, and therefore say they were baptized by the Spirit. No bowing before God, no earnest prayer, no dying to the world, just tongues. 2) Some people say concerning tongues that not everyone 'gets it,' as if since you didn't speak in tongues your experience was only half-genuine, or you have not completed the latter half of your baptism 3) Many people don't know how to treat the experience, and because of what they believe or have been taught, may not avoid you, but will avoid the subject altogether, or not address the issue even when you intentionally bring it up so that they can have the same. Sorry for the long post, it is just that this experience was most certainly the sweetest moment I have ever had with the Lord. Much, much stronger than my salvation, which was nothing to scoff at either. This was just other-worldly. So to anyone who is scared of the experience, just read through the gospels and Acts with this experience in mind, and remember that it is the Spirit the Christ gave us. It is God's Spirit. It is the third member of the trinity. He's nothing new in orthodox Christianity, just a little misunderstood and way over-ignored I think.
This is truly turning into just a wonderful thread, what an enjoyment to read all these different experiences.It was a long drawn out, going... going... gone! but I regard the whole 'process' as 'One Baptism'.Now let's see what the theologians on SI make of thatDon't know about theolog's but I could only say, Amen! And so the variety within the similarities. Would be closer to Ed here I think in 'experience' on the one hand but more closer to you Ron on the other as that seems the course thus far. There was 'the night' when I cried out to the Lord in the pit of sin that I was in, so utterly ashamed and ugly and knowing that He had been drawing me for so long and... in that repentance the sense of His overwhelming...love, that just warmed the inside of me as if it filled every pore and I do mean physically as well as, emotionally, spiritually... It was incredible and I cried mixed tears of joy and sorrow, I felt forgiven as much as afraid in knowing or at least what my faulty understanding had of Christianity that I was soon to loose everything or would become this strange outcast... well, actually all that happened! :-P But I just had know idea what was really true about this life.The stranger part would be that nothing changed right away while everything was set in motion from then on out. It would be likely close to 2 years before I began even reading the scriptures and then began getting caught up in all the word-of-faith type things. There were changes along the way but ever so incremental. It wasn't until much later that I was able to look back and realize what had transpired on 'that night'. Have no recollection of the day nor even the month really, but I can look out my patio door right now up to the room of that apartment not 30 feet away and remember precisely how that all happened.I have no idea if this would be considered being baptized in the Holy Spirit nor would I even find it anywhere close to thinking I was 'saved' then as I continued on doing pretty much all the sinful activities that I was involved in... The difference was, a battle begun brewing inwardly, the same things were now met with more than just the usual 'Catholic guilt' associations in increasing frequency and one by one they began to fall over the ensuing years. Some fell quite quickly and others were a raging duel of rebellion of the flesh and the working of the Holy Spirit. Dark, dark nights of the soul, more than a few times I really thought I was going insane from confusion over both the inward dealings and the mixed up sentiments of where I had found myself doctrinally, the problems of such a mixed bag of truth, half-truth and flat out lies that had to be unraveled.But the beauty here is in hearing all these different was the Lord has worked and given different gifts at different times for different reasons perhaps, to all of us and that no one is trying to put everything into a neat box that says 'must' while still not going beyond the parameters He has set. It's just as much a wonder and perfectly content that if He was never to grant any particular gift, such as tongues or healing or what have you it wouldn't faze me in the least. Yet with that knowing the possibilities that at any given time if He so choose He could open these foolish lips to speak wonders of His Praise in an unknown tongue is just as wonderful.Here is something that also I have found on just a few occasions that is in a more pronounced sense and difficult to express but would likely be closer to what KingJimmy spoke of;If all Jesus Christ came to do was to upset me, make me unfit for my work, upset my friendships and my life, produce disturbance and misery and distress, then I wish He had never come. But that is not all He came to do. He came to lift us up to “the heavenly places”† where He is Himself. The whole claim of the Redemption of Jesus is that He can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human soul, not hereafter only, but here and now. Satisfaction does not mean stagnation, it means the knowledge that we have the right type of life for our souls. The hymn has it rightly, “Oh, the peace my Saviour gives!” That peace is the deepest thing a human personality can know, it is almighty. The Apostle Paul emphasises the hilarity of life—“Be not drunk with wine, . . . but be filled with the Spirit.” Enthusiasm is the idea, intoxicated with the life of God. The healthy pagan and the healthy saint are the ones described in God’s Book as hilarious; all in between are diseased and more or less sick. We have no business to be sick unless it is just a preparatory stage towards something better, when God is nursing us through some spiritual illness; but if it is the main characteristic of the life there is something wrong.Chambers, O. The servant as His Lord. As was mentioned, this "Complete Works of Oswald Chambers", I just couldn't say enough... It is a lofty tome, big as a phone book. I gave it to myself as almost the lone gift for Christmas last year and last year was tough around that time at home. It is an amazing treasure of thought, Oswald has such an incredible grasp and seemingly different approach, so much that just grips and is thought provoking, challenging in the right way. He is as practical as he is forthright and honest, brutally honest. Things that can make one think "You know, I wondered about that, I had those suspicions as well" about what might really be going on in the heart, what the Lord is after, what the devil is really up to. Sorry for the digression and the rambling, this is really a wonderful expression here from everyone.
Hi all, been reading through this thread and felt to contribute my testimony.I don't want to multiply words cos that in itself can only lead to more confusion...but yes, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation.The first time I saw people filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, was during a revival that broke out in my high school, during which time I was saved.There was no formal teaching that I remember on the experience...God just poured out on the hungry and those who were ready to receive this in-filling...it was awesome!It wasn't until about 8 months later that I was reading a book called The Holy Spirit and you by John and Rita Bennet,that I had any 'teaching' on it.I read this as well as my bible, and came to the conclusion one night in my bedroom, that if God had this experience for all His children, then I wanted it too.How could I say no to what He wanted to give me?So, I prayed the prayer at the end of a chapter in the book, then waited.Wasn't too sure what I was waiting for. He spoke within me and asked me to pray outloud as I usually would.So, I began to pray in english,worshipping Him and before I knew what was happening, the words I was speaking weren't english anymore!! They were tongues as given by the Holy Spirit...I couldn't believe it, it was lovely and you just knew you were speaking to God! I actually opened my eyes and went to look in the mirror to confirm that this language was coming out of me...such joy, such closeness to Him!Since then(8 and a half yrs ago), I have found my relationship with Christ deepen and grow.I love Him.The bible became soooo alive to me...worship was so living and real...life changed and is changing-praise His name! Not to mention the effect on prayer!Well children of God...be encouraged...I pray God gives His peace to all who have such confusion regarding this topic.His Word is truth...Trust Him,seek Him...He is ALL you need.NR
Thank you for all of your responses and testimonies! After I posted this thread yesterday I went to my friend's house for coffee. She recently discovered her husband's infedelilty. On the way over I prayed that HE would fill me and use me. As I sat at her kitchen table and ministered to her, I was also ministering to myself. I knew that the words and the wisdom that I was speaking were not from me. I could feel Jesus shining on my face. I would say something and think "wow this is good stuff." When I was leaviing she thanked me for "uplifting her." But I could only give glory to Jesus. I knew that the words I spoke were dirrectly from the heart of God. Outside of Him I have nothing to offer anyone. I share this so you can see my heart and where I am coming from. This is an example of how God uses me. It's like an exchange process. The more I surrender to Him, the more He fills me with His spirit. I have no doubt that I have a messure of the Holy Spirit, but can not think of one specific time when I may have been baptised. I have completely surrendered my will to Him. It's a scary thing. Sort of like when you first give your heart to Him...you think "what will I become, I won't be me," but once you receive Him in your heart, you relize it's the best thing that's ever happened to you! I think that's maybe what being bapisted in the spirit is like. Hopefully my next thread will be "How I became baptised in the Spirit." I'd love to share that with all of you when it happens. In HIS Love, Tina
This subject is an interesting one, but it seems that there is a common theme, while there is not a perfect outline that I can see. Many such as Duncan Campbell and DL Moody describe definate experiences, while Billy Sunday and John Wesley never had a direct claim of a baptism of the Holy Ghost (correct me if I am wrong, but please site your source). So it seems that some may be filled and not know it, or they were not filled, but surely on fire for God. I have leaned toward the fact that the Spirit visits those who just kind of surrender, simply give up, to the Spirit. Some may do mighty works for God, but not mighty works of God, by doing them in the flesh, like the Ephesian church in Revelation. It is one of those subjects that will suredly be a joy to know that truth of once we are in heaven. I think that we have access to these truths, but I don't think we are willing to pay the price, in general. Plus we tend to get (I know I do) puffed up as God gives us more knowledge.I would love to hear more testimonies. Some of the subtleties of the stories really are interesting. I have thought about writing a book on the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. Maybe present all the sides and then my own personal case based on Scripture, as well as past men and women of God who had experiences of the Holy Ghost that were not fly-by-night Christians.