Popular Post ravindran Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 11 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 496 Content Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 398 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/18/2014 Status: Offline Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2019 So, we have moved to a new house and a week back we had invited one of the pastors we know to our house. Just to spend some time us and bless the new house. He stayed overnight and we were planning to do some prayer in the evening. He is such a humble and wonderful person full of wisdom! He is a pentecostal Pastor and always encourages me and my wife to seek Baptism of Holy Spirit. I have held different positions about speaking in tongues. Generally I have always believed speaking in tongues is for today. But my position was that it was not "essential". I never prayed for it too much. In my Church, a series on Spirit Empowered Life has been going on from beginning of the year (and this week they started a new series). Wonder about the timing!! The Pastor was actually fasting that day and wanted to pray with us for us to receive baptism of HS. He talked about it for a while and we started praying. I prayed. Then I slowly set aside my doubts and prayed to God that He would simply touch me and fill me. If that means speaking in tongues, then let it happen. This went on for a while. Then I thought Pastor would stop and stay keep asking the Lord and some other day it would happen. Nope, he would not stop! We kept on praying and finally my wife started speaking in tongues. That's when my prayers became serious!! I was in tears, just praising God and asking Him to fill me. Then the Pastor was moved by HS and he layed his hands on my head. On that instant, I felt like something gushing out of me. I started crying and speaking in tongues. It felt liberating. It felt like water breaking out of dam. It felt like everything came out of the core of the body or close to belly. That's the best way I can describe! I was speaking in tongues for a while and eventually we stopped. Yesterday during worship service at Church, once again I spoke in tongues for a while. May be for 1 or 2 songs. It is amazing! Clearly I could feel connected to God than normal praise and worship. It feels like there is zero distraction. No other thoughts in mind. And there is a calmness and peace at that time. And plenty of crying! I am so thankful and grateful to Lord that He would chose a sinner like me to show His goodness. I am not posting this up for debate on whether tongues is for today or question my experience. I am sharing this more as a testimony. As for my position about Baptism of Holy Spirit, I can personally testify that speaking in tongues is for today. Is Baptism of Holy Spirit is a second experience after being saved? This is the case for me. May be that's the way it is or may be that's the way it was for me because of my unbelief and not seeking it before. I don't know. If you are in my boat, set aside your doubts and seek Him. Just seek Him. 3 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sower Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 14 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 5,247 Content Per Day: 0.97 Reputation: 5,852 Days Won: 1 Joined: 07/09/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted July 15, 2019 Cool. So, how has this new experience changed or increased your walk with the Lord? What have you learned? Are you different? Closer to God? Was the experience a feeling? Mental or physical? I do not know about these things. I have not had the spirit moving me to seek this "baptism' in the spirit. I thought/believed I had all the spirit of God within me already. Are these 'gifts' only for special/certain people? What is different when you get 'baptized' with/in the spirit? Are you feeling better equipped to deal with your life now? What is the biblical purpose of seeking to get baptized in the spirit? Do you have an interpreter when you speak in tongues? Does the interpreter give the same meaning that you had when speaking? Lots of questions. What is the biblical purpose in tongues, and the baptism in spirit? Should every Christian speak in tongues? Am I missing out on what God has equipped me/us as a believer? Thank you for any reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravindran Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 11 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 496 Content Per Day: 0.14 Reputation: 398 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/18/2014 Status: Offline Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 8 minutes ago, Sower said: Cool. So, how has this new experience changed or increased your walk with the Lord? What have you learned? Are you different? Closer to God? Was the experience a feeling? Mental or physical? I do not know about these things. I have not had the spirit moving me to seek this "baptism' in the spirit. I thought/believed I had all the spirit of God within me already. Are these 'gifts' only for special/certain people? What is different when you get 'baptized' with/in the spirit? Are you feeling better equipped to deal with your life now? What is the biblical purpose of seeking to get baptized in the spirit? Do you have an interpreter when you speak in tongues? Does the interpreter give the same meaning that you had when speaking? Lots of questions. What is the biblical purpose in tongues, and the baptism in spirit? Should every Christian speak in tongues? Am I missing out on what God has equipped me/us as a believer? Thank you for any reply. What are your answers to these questions? I will leave out the general questions. Because you can search through the forum and find lot of answers on those. As I said before, I did not start this thread to debate on this topic So, how has this new experience changed or increased your walk with the Lord? - It has been just a week. One thing I do feel in my personal prayers is more devoted praise and worship. I am not distracted much. I am enjoying praying and not just going through the motions. What have you learned? Are you different? Closer to God? - When I speak in tongues, I do feel closer to God and connected to God. Was the experience a feeling? Mental or physical? - It's hard to say. It is not like I have lost senses. I am well aware of everything going on. Yesterday I was raising hands in worship. But still not distracted by anything going around. What is different when you get 'baptized' with/in the spirit? - I explained how I felt in my OP. Are you feeling better equipped to deal with your life now? - I don't know Do you have an interpreter when you speak in tongues? - No, it was not in a Church. And on both occasions, it was just me praying and not declaring any prophecy/ Does the interpreter give the same meaning that you had when speaking? - No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jostler Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Mars Hill Followers: 25 Topic Count: 6 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,679 Content Per Day: 1.39 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 16 Joined: 01/19/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted July 15, 2019 thanks for sharing your testimony @ravindran 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOrangeCat Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 57 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,403 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 1,824 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/24/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted July 15, 2019 Glad to hear about it! My own experience with it was a happy one. Came about one night when I was in a youth meeting at the church I attended at the time and I carried on like that going between tongues and normal speech for prayer for about an hour or so. I got the feeling around my stomach too. Thinking back on it makes me smile and get a bit teary eyed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not me Posted July 15, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 14 Topic Count: 512 Topics Per Day: 0.23 Content Count: 3,188 Content Per Day: 1.44 Reputation: 3,350 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/06/2018 Status: Online Share Posted July 15, 2019 @ravindran Thanks for this word. I love to hear how God works in other peoples lives. I speak neither good or bad concerning such experiences. I have had a few of my own how do you say, “workings of God in my life” so as long as your relationship with Him grows thereby, I praise God for you and your experience with Him. Do me a favor and in your prayer life put a good word in for me and I will do likewise. Thanks for the testimony. Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jostler Posted July 16, 2019 Group: Mars Hill Followers: 25 Topic Count: 6 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,679 Content Per Day: 1.39 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 16 Joined: 01/19/2019 Status: Offline Popular Post Share Posted July 16, 2019 (edited) My own experience involved quite a struggle that I find amusing now. I went forward in church in response to an altar call inviting those that wished to receive the baptism in the Spirit to come forward for ministry. I knew little about it really but had at least seen enough to understand that this was one of the baptisms I had not experienced and if God has something on offer i want it. I was quietly praying and asking Him to baptize me in the Spirit and when the pastor came by and laid hands on me I could immediately sense His presence in a stronger way....but boy there was a battle going on in my mind. Lots of fearful "self" stuff like "I don't want to sound stupid...." going on and being way too focused on what others might think But that presence remained and it was peaceful and comforting so I kept praying and trying to bring my thoughts in line. Eventually I did feel a bit of a bubbling sensation in my stomach and it literally moved up ward toward my throat and mouth and when it hit my mouth I spoke out three words I'd never heard before and didn't understand. I was so surprised I kinda shut down and went back to thinking "Was that real? Did I do that? Was that You or me Lord?" Didn't have a lot of Word understanding so pretty much fell into not knowing for sure what to believe and that mind war got raging again. The pastor discerned what was going on I think and just told me to keep saying those three words over and over and moved on to the next person in line. Nothing much more happened during the service but that fluttery feeling and sense of His presence remained with me all the way home. In the privacy of home where my vanity and fear of what others might think wasn't quite as strong, i prayed some more and within a few minutes what seemed like a full vocabulary of distinct words began to flow accompanied by a joy that was very strong. I still didn't understand a word of it but it seemed very clear something had happened and He was right there with me....well....I guess He always is but i was able to sense that He was in a way I was unfamiliar with....new to me. I struggled with my mind a good bit for months and self-talk telling me I was making it up, I sound dumb....yadda yadda Eventually I kept telling those thoughts what He said, and He said "....those that believe SHALL speak with new tongues..." and i eventually forced those negative thoughts to line up with His Word. Quote Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Over time the battle with unbelief was won and this prayer language became a treasured part of my time with Him. But there was another turning point too...and it was the day He highlighted these verses: Quote 1Co 14:13-15 ¶ Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. It dawned on me I should be asking for interpretations. I didn't seem to get any for a long time, at least I didn't realize I was, but it wasn't long before I began having visual experiences where before I'd never "heard" Him except via reading the Word. And, enemy that my mind can be I had to wrestle with those too. For a while i stressed over whether what I was seeing was coming from Him or my own imagination....etc He cleared that up in time by guiding me into some Biblical understanding of what imagination is, why He gave us one, how it works and how He uses it. It had been a while I had been asking for interpretations of my prayers in tongues and I was getting frustrated because I hadn't gotten any. So I asked Him about that. It was like He stepped up and rapped His knuckles on my forehead and said something like "Hello? McFly, what in the world do you think those visions are?" ROFL....He's so tolerant and patient with His dain brammaged kids....... I can tell you He's revealed more to me about my own future and His purpose for it via that method of tongues and interpretation than any other means. I've never ever been used to deliver a message in tongues in the assembly, nor have I been given an interpretation when others with that gift gave a message in tongues. But the Word is true, and though tongues are likely the least of all the gifts, they are a precious gift. The Bible says we speak "mysteries" by the Spirit and praying in tongues edifies us....it's a good thing to be "built up" in Him. Through those interpretations He's revealed much about my call and how to walk in it more effectively and it certainly has enhanced my ability to understand how He designed me to serve Him and has made me more effective in doing so. Quote 1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. We're encouraged to pray in tongues...and be built up in Him: Quote Jde 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, It's good to be built up and more effective in service, but it's better still to excel in building up the church. We're told to pursue love and desire all the gifts, Quote 1Co 14:1 ¶ Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. and to earnestly desire the best gifts, and the above verse seems to imply prophecy is one of the best if not the best. Quote 1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1Co 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Some who apparently don't want all He has for them may try to discourage you from obeying Him in those Scriptures. I commend you to His Word. If you want all He has for us.....go for it...it's there for the asking, by grace, through faith. Since my initial struggles with my own stinkin' thinkin' He has seen fit to use me to display some of the other gifts from time to time, as the situation required and according to His will and choice. Edited July 16, 2019 by Jostler corrected forty-eleven grammar and spelling errors....probably only a few hundred left now.. :) 2 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BeauJangles Posted July 16, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 44 Topic Count: 229 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 10,900 Content Per Day: 2.93 Reputation: 12,145 Days Won: 68 Joined: 02/13/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 08/14/1954 Popular Post Share Posted July 16, 2019 John 7: 38 He that believeth on me, as the scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. KJV 4 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior12 Posted July 16, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 54 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,427 Content Per Day: 0.88 Reputation: 1,516 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Online Share Posted July 16, 2019 Indeed, the supernatural world exist with many things that you cannot see, though you can feel and and your senses exercised . Tongues are biblical mentioned and though some have claimed that it has ceased , only those who has experienced them, weather true or false can testify as the OP has done. I myself is skeptical about it as I was eager to get baptized earlier in my salvation journey. I was attending a Pentecostal church at the time and went through the pre baptism classes. On the day of the baptism, there were four of us on the schedule. When the those who were baptized came out the water and the parents and the congregation were praying for the Holy Spirit to come, the baptized people fell and rolled on the ground and there was weeping and crying ect. When my turn came around and I went into the pool, I gave my short testimony and before I went into the water, I did not know what to expect, so I said to the Lord in my prayer or words, " If this tongues is for me, then show me the truth and whatever the out come I have to be obedient". Well I got into the water, came up and nothing, absolutely nothing came upon me and I felt nothing in what the others were experiencing and to mention, the others were pre teens girls. I have though had numerous encounters in the spiritual realm where things , I would call them spirits try to manipulate and plant sensual things upon my body and senses in almost an ecstasy kind of state. Just to be short, I have mentioned the above before early in my time here at worthy and I am just repeating what I have and still experience. It is also a caution to test the spirits . How each person has his experience, it is for him to examine the word and see what lines up or not. I can tell you, that I have been tempted in ways that wants me to argue with James about his verse on the believer and temptation, but it is scripture and I have to heed it. I also think, a pastor should not be prompting anyone to get the baptism of the Holy Spirit as it is a gift and the Lord knows how to give his gifts. I am not in anyway discrediting the OP encounter, as it is his and I have to respect his testimony. Just to caution thought that satan comes in as an angel of light too and we have to be on our gard. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jostler Posted July 16, 2019 Group: Mars Hill Followers: 25 Topic Count: 6 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,679 Content Per Day: 1.39 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 16 Joined: 01/19/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted July 16, 2019 (edited) Quote Luk 11:9-13 ¶ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? “Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” It's good to know that when it comes to something this important and fundamental, God Himself promises to make sure no counterfeit is received by any son or daughter who asks, seeks and knocks, obeying Him in desiring what He desires for them. It's a given that the written Word is the final judge of experience. But suspicion is not discernment and we should be aware we are not to live in fear, but in the faith that is ours by believing in His Word. Quote Jhn 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. Edited July 16, 2019 by Jostler 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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