Stunnedbygrace,
This is the last post I intend to make on this matter (directed to you) unless you tell me you actually want to talk more. So I’m hoping you’ll at least read it through. And I’m reserving the right to be human and potentially mess up at some later time.
First, I am NOT inaccurate to say that if a person is missing an aspect of God/Salvation/Truth, they will not receive the benefit of that aspect. And you are not inaccurate to say that if a person is missing a required element of salvation, they cannot accurately apply the term “saved” to themself in regards to the fullness of salvation.
However, there were two things I WAS wrong in doing. First, I highlighted the wrong aspect of the light bulb analogy because it made it look like I was trying to condemn rather than justify what I've understood your situation to be. Second, I was wrong to say "No" to the question of justification of an unlit light bulb now in the person's possession...because it IS possible. I’ll mention 2 possibilities and you can do as you see fit with the information .
If a person is given a lightbulb (with the purpose of giving them light) but the person doesn't know how to use it, the person is justified in the non-use of the light bulb, temporarily, if no one is available to offer instructions on its use and/or if there is some other kind of disconnect. In that case, it is completely understandable why the person wouldn't be walking in the main benefit of the light bulb.
Now for something I’m guessing you didn’t know:
Like you, I understand that weaning experience you were talking about because I also experienced it about 6 months after having received the Holy Ghost and baptism (regardless of anyone's thoughts on watervbaptism...they just happened on the same day so I'm acknowledging that fact). You're the first person I've met since that experience who expressed having also gone through it. With mine, he first taught me that if I wanted to keep the power, I needed to keep in prayer. Then he went ahead and took away the "feeling" of it anyway, and someone else actually had to tell me that it was because he wanted me to walk by faith rather than by sight or feeling, and that it wasn't because of me doing something wrong. Your similar experience is why I
CAN believe it possible that you do have the Holy Ghost. And also like you, I don’t need you or anyone else to believe that it happened.
That's
half of "the issue that pretends to divide us" (specifically, can or do YOU have the Holy Ghost). The other half is speaking in tongues. So I'll explain that to, and as you already know, you can do with that information as you will.
When I was told to ask God for the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues, I did ask sincerely (while still in the baptismal tub). Those praying for me told me to just "let it out" meaning just go ahead and speak in tongues... but even though I could feel an urge within my body, I had no idea how to "let it out" or even WHAT I was supposed to let out and I had no intentions of making something up just to please man, or even God. Someone said "try saying this" and spoke a 'sentence' in tongues. I repeated it from memory, noting that some syllables were different even though I'd intended to repeat it verbatim. They rejoiced saying "Praise God, you've got it" while I wondered whether that actually counts as speaking in tongues, and didn't figure out how to "let it out" fluently until weeks or months later, although meanwhile I still had that strong presence (your "feeling") of peace, joy, love and power.
So… from MY perspective, there was a time when I #1) had the Holy Ghost and #2) wasn’t demonstrating something that I could/would clearly say was “speaking in tongues”. So, since that time I have been keeping my eye out (so to speak) for someone who also had likely received the Holy Ghost but potentially had not spoken in tongues
AT ALL.
You may just have BOTH of the things I’ve been watching 20+ years to see, and I’d love to ask you questions and also share with you, but I get the fairly strong impression that you currently think I’m a religious loser/stalker that’s latched onto you for some unpleasant reason related to the fact that you were being polite enough to respond. <--Am I close?
BTW, that’s why I’m promising to drop the topic (with you) unless you actually want to discuss it (with me) further. And your reply to this will
NOT be considered a request for further interaction with me.
Now I know you could say something like "Yeah, you simply had the Holy Ghost, without tongues, and only received speaking in tongues later as an additional spiritual gift" and I would even agree that sounds perfectly logical EXCEPT that it overlooks the answer to that initial question "What is speaking in tongues FOR?". And NO, I’m not talking about it being an observable indicator of someone having received the Holy Ghost. There are greater purposes that you just won’t get until you turn that particular light bulb on. Meanwhile, I wish you well.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby