Experiences of the Holy Spirit/speaking in tongues/pictures/words of wisdom and anything else

I’ve thought carefully about creating this thread, as I know all of the above subject matter is very controversial.

It struck me though that what is often missing from similar threads are people’s own experiences and so it’s no wonder that this is approached with much scepticism. There is a saying the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Also I honestly do believe that where there are true works of the Holy Spirit there are counterfeit works too. There are examples of such counterfeits and words of warning about this in the bible.

It’s no wonder really that the works and gifts of the Holy Spirit are controversial and viewed with suspicion.

Anyway I thought it would be useful for people to post about their own genuine personal experiences. At minimum it will give glory to God and maybe if you are one of the deeply suspicious ones (honestly can’t blame you for that by the way). Maybe you can approach this thread with open mindedness while still testing the spirit as it were.

I for one would never condone accepting everything without question, even though I am convinced the works and gifts are still for today, I have come across fake stuff myself.

So how about it folks. 🙂

Thought I would kick the ball off and stick my neck out.

I go to a good old fashioned bible believing Pentecostal church. We do not bark like dogs, have fits on the floor or artificially whip up in the spirit with lots of yelling.

During worship times we can put hands in the air or remain perfectly still. I really do believe it’s the heart that matters not the posture. Although at times it’s hard to stop the body responding. Like David for example when he danced with all his might. (His example not mine) lol.

Anyway I believe I was baptised in the Holy Spirit some years ago. I’ve had many encounters with the Holy Spirit since.

However I’ve never been the sort of person who is easily affected, moved to tears, moved to speak in tongues etc. In my case I’ve always been so desperate for anything which might happen to be genuine, not forced or artificial. So much so that probably at times I’ve “quenched” the Holy Spirit. When I’ve seen on occasions people fall over, I’ve thought no way, nil, zilch, not me!

I have on occasion found words rising up inside me during worship times briefly, which has been speaking in tongues. But I’ve never been the sort of person who can just do this at will, it’s always been totally out of the blue and spontaneous. I’ve battled a lot with this and it’s always caused me to wonder if I really do know and recognised the Holy Spirit.

Anyway it was my birthday the other week on the sunday (51 now I’m getting old eek).

The Sunday sermon in part, was about standing on holy ground and why people were told to take their sandals off.

The pastor unusually also had an apple he was using it as a teaching aid. He took a bite and ate it.

Strangely enough I had a dream about an apple tree year ago full of every type and colour of apple. In the dream one fell off then it was way above me falling towards me getting bigger and bigger. As it got near me it was the size of a mountain. I actually ducked in the dream then woke up.

Back to Sunday, We had an amazing time of worship at the end but I just couldn’t get into it. People were stood around me hands raised singing. While I was just still.

Then I suddenly got this thought that the floor of the church was on fire and we were standing on Holy ground. I had this mad idea about taking off my sandals but then I thought - well it’s hot, sweaty feet etc! But I couldn’t get it out of my head. So I kind of half slipped one sandal off so my heel was on the floor.

Then I had this massive sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit and started talking and singing in tongues. My legs felt wobbly and I had to hold the back of the chair in front of me then eventually sat down crying.

After the service we have a coffee bar open I usually go home as it gets packed after the second service. I much prefer to visit the coffee bar between the two services.

However this Sunday my legs were so wobbly I didn’t think I would make it to the bus stop so I went to get a drink and to sit a bit.

I couldn’t speak in English though! I just about managed to blurt our tea please. But didn’t trust myself to say anything else as it was coming out in tongues!

I sat for ages in silence not daring to speak, drinking my tea, trying to work out what had happened. I really do believe that on my birthday that Sunday, God gave me a bite of the apple and maybe there is more to come.

I don’t think I will ever be that person who can speak in tongues at will. But I am now certain that I have been filled with the Holy Spirit. 😊

When I was fifteen, I was at a big revival. Towards the end, the evangelist was laying hands on and praying for ppl. I witnessed what could be described as a slaying (controversial word) in the spirit. I remember being skeptical, not convinced it was real, even though at the time my dad was a Pentecostal preacher/evangelist. He, the man not my dad, approached me and I was nervous, but the minute He gently laid His hands on me, I went flying back, and I too experienced first hand the slaying. I'll never forget the power of the Holy Spirit in that moment.

I no longer attend a Pentacostal church but I do believe in speaking in tongues. I too have never experienced it for myself, though I have witnessed it and thought...what a beautiful and neat privilege that must be, such a sweet blessing. My very honest, reasonable, and upright sister speaks it and says it is a blessing to her, that she is grateful.

I would like to add my experience here please. I was in a very dry dead Baptist church,when I began fellowshipping with a neighbor! We had coffee together every morning! I began to notice that she was different and shine with such light in love and joy! I never asked her why! She invited me to a revival they were having at her Pentecostal church (Church of God),I went! My mind could hardly conceive how God was moving,I went three days in and so longed for a touch of what I was witnessing! I began going to her church as did my whole family,her love and joy is what drew us! This began a deeper richer study into His word,and my prayers became more open and intimate with the Father! On the 4 th of July,I went out under the amazing power of the Holy Spirit,I lay on my back in the floor with my arms straight up in the air for over two hours,praising and worshipping Him! Some of the faithful stayed with me and prayed,it was after church ppl had gone home! I saw myself as His tabernacle and the Spirit cleansing me,lol I would say to Him in my mind please clean this area or that thinking how dirty my temple was! When the HOLY GHOST SHOWED EVIDIENCE OF HIS RESIDIENCE IN MY PHYSICAL TEMPLE,WITH THE EVIDIENCE OF SPEAKING THRU MY LIPS IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE......... It was the most beautiful blessing I have EVER experienced!I continue to allow Him to pray thru me ,speak when I'm reading the word of talking to someone about Jesus! I would that every believer be blessed with the comfort and power He brings into our walk of faith with Jesus! Blessings my loving family!

I first experienced the holy spirit when I was born again at the very start of my christian walk, spoke in tongues and everything and not a day goes by that I dont practice it, its kinda normal for me. At first was a bit strange me saying stuff I dont know but have always been able to speak in tongues when I open my mouth.

I then found out that for some people they dont ever have this who which is a bit sad but maybe they have other gifts.

I have experienced deliverance and healing, and words of wisdom. I'll ask God something and he shows me scripture, sometimes I wont know it and have to look it up.

Some people have visions and dreams, I dont get them myself, but often God will give me interprtation. Discerning of spirits, I will have this gut feeling sometimes.
When the holy spirit wants me to say something or share, I get this 'quaky' or shaking feeling. Then I know its important to say something in church. Its not to show off but always to edify the congregation. .

Laying on hands and healing, God can work through me but I dont have this particular gift that those anointed do.

In some churches they think being able to play a musical instrument is a gift. Well I dont ever have that kind of gift. Usually its the ones that can play that are in the front of the church and there every week. I am only mentioning this because when people talk of counterfeiting, satan was able to get to people through music. There is musical performance, and then theirs the genuine worship in spirit and in truth. Many people are fooled by mere performance and they do the same thing every week like going through the motions. But God knows when people praise him with their lips but their hearts are far from him.

He always knows and always knows before we act, if it is genuine.

Speaking in tongues is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is all about - your own spiritual prayer language - allowing the Spirit
to pray on your behalf.
Pray in tongues to start the day off. Pray in tongues often and you will experience the power of God working in your heart and soul;
your inner person.
You will also start to experience more miracles, healings and blessings …

http://revivalfellowship.uk/

My name is Ame Nyeadeh Zee, from the Duport Road Assembly in Liberia.
Before I was born again and received the Holy Spirit, I used to attend many churches, but I hardly understood their teaching.
I was confused most of the time and my life was empty.
One day, my friend told me about her church, Revival Fellowship. She said I should meet some visitors that were coming to her church. That was how I met Brother Jan Pieter. He showed me some scriptures from the Bible about being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit. I saw those scriptures and read them, and I believed.
I got baptised by full immersion and received the Holy Spirit with the Bible evidence of speaking in tongues.
Since then I had been happy and blessed by God. My life is now filled with joy and peace. God has done many miracles for me.

Recently I was very sick with an infection. For one month I was feeling sharp pain in my back and side. I was unable to do anything.
I went to hospital for treatment but my condition kept getting worse.
On the 28th of April, when I went to a meeting, Brother Jan and some other brothers, prayed for me and I got healed instantly.
Now I am normal in my body.
Brother Jan said “The change in her was remarkable, she looked down, and we could see she was in quite a bit of pain. After we prayed we just saw her countenance changing!
She joined us in the outreach and by the time we left, she had this enormous smile on her face. Praise the Lord!”

Ame Nyeadeh Zee, Liberia

I know when I pray to Him privately in the language He gives freely He responds.

Oh goodness God has done so so many...God gave me the gift of tongues, I've heard tons of times where people speak out in tongues in church and someone interprets, I've seen some miracles like a lady getting her arm set in place merely by a lady prophet touching it and praying over her, just all kinds of things.

Like all the time

Might I just say @Miri, I am so glad you started this thread!
I have been so blessed just from reading the stories shared here.
I have so, so, so much I would love to share!
I am not always good at articulating things though........
I will think about events and pray about what maybe to share/how to!
I am excited to see more in this thread!

Genuine spiritual gifts, should not be a source of controversy. And I hope that no one will discourage anyone from speaking about their gifts. It's not a secret

Several years ago when I was in the
worship team. We had a prayer evening where someone had this idea of covering people in these red veils and praying over them.

I was a bit sceptical but went along with it. When it came to my turn it was as if a light bulb had been turned on.

I got home later that night and all I wanted to do was read the bible. It was as if it had come alive in a way that it never had before.
Every word, letter, even the spaces between the words, seem to leap out at me.

I felt like I was literally tasting the bible. I kept reading a few words and thinking wow, oh wow, that’s amazing.

I really felt like I understood John when he said eating the scroll tasted like honey.

That feeling of digesting the word lasted about 3-4 months. Every story in the bible took on new meaning and insight in a way I had never experienced before.

Even now whenever I read the bible I get some new insight, something I never noticed before. It doesn’t matter for example how many times I read about the birth of Jesus, something new comes to me.

I really do feel that God gave me a gift that night. An love of His word, an insight I never had before.

His Word is revealed to us, like the way He encounters us all the time, we just don't perceive it, when we do begin to perceive Him actively working in us and for us it is like opening flood gates, you have been given a great gift.
Blessings

John 14 (ESV) -
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do,
because I am going to the Father.
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he
dwells with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
23 Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our home with him.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your
remembrance all that I have said to you.

The ministry of Curry Blake at John G. Lake Ministries has really opened up my growth in the Lord.
JGLM.org and on Facebook. So much very excellent teaching is available now with the internet.
This gentleman's ministry has also kick started my growth, here he is teaching on the importance of waiting on the Lord, his teachings are found at plumblinem.com and on youtube , I am looking forward to sitting in his teaching this weekend.

John 4: (ESV) -
6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him,
and he would have given you living water.”
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in
him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is
seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 7: (ESV) -
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The ministry of Curry Blake at John G. Lake Ministries has really opened up my growth in the Lord.
JGLM.org and on Facebook. So much very excellent teaching is available now with the internet.

Miri- Thank you for starting this thread, more and more he is pouring out His Spirit on all mankind, you have answered His call to begin this place for Spiritual Christians to share.
blessings

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing
with my mind also.
1Corinthians 14:

13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication
for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:

Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jud 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude 1: