This is a True Story to be entered at "Tell Me a True Story."
My continued story will resume soon.
When the Charismatic movement
began in the early 50s, many of the Pentecostal brethren had several problems
with the way the Charismatic brethren received the HOLY GHOST BAPTISM. They felt they should receive it (HIM) the
Pentecostal way in order to be real. This
business of merely laying hands on people was simply too easy.
The Pentecostals believed in
the old fashion tarrying method. Sometimes
it took several years of tarrying before a seeker broke through, whereas the
charismatic people just laid hands on and said, “Start speaking in tongues,”
and the seeker did just that.
I have my own feeling about
this conflict, but probably should keep my opinions to myself.
In any case the important
thing was the seeker was first baptized into the body of Christ by the HOLY
SPIRIT, and then was baptized by Christ into the HOLY SPIRIT. Another way to say it is, first get saved and
then be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.
I have seen both methods used
in ministering to seekers, and in most cases either will work for it is GOD who
does the baptizing.
Back in 1976 I attended the
RHEMA SCHOOL OF MINISTRY for a year and worked in the prayer room with people
who wanted to be “saved”(born again) and others who wanted to receive the
baptism in the HOLY GHOST.
Many things occurred there,
but one thing stood out from the others.
A young man was a seeker and I was appointed to minister to him. After a settling down time I talked to him
explaining the procedure we were going to follow.
We prayed for a couple
minutes and then I laid my hands on him as I had explained to him. Before I knew what happened he shot straight
up between my hands and almost hit the ceiling and came down yelling, “I got
it.” It took me a while to grasp what
had occurred.
He was a little beside
himself and didn’t want to talk to me any more.
He immediately went on his way rejoicing, and I sat there somewhat
amazed and wondered what had just taken place.
I thought well this is great,
but that was a one time experience seeing as I had prayed for seekers and had
done the same thing many times, but never had anything as dramatic had happened before exactly like this.
If you are basically a Born
Again Christian, please understand that there is MORE for you. Jesus wants to baptize you in the Holy Ghost!
Acts 1:8 “You shall receive Power after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me.”
This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”
God broke this into me back in early 1967 when I was taken to Seattle to a singing time, and it was an Episcopal church, and, as I had come to the Lord only a few months earlier, I didn't know much or understand much. The pastor, Dennis Bennett, was something I'd never heard of. I didn't know anything about charismatic. I thought this was crazy, BUT the Lord broke into me that night, and I couldn't ever say I was at the wrong place with my Baptist pastor and choir director at our church in Tacoma who would go there on Friday's to worship and were really happy to take this Tough Cookie kid who had truly accepted Christ. My whole life changed because of that one night. I could tell you too much, believe me. Anyhow, I know the conflict had begun between Pentecostal and Charismatic and basic other church thoughts and plans, which are still in place. Trusting the Lord is all we can do. Good sharing on your part.
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