Continued on from My Story....
Having recently found the Lord I was attending church at the Hamilton Assembly of God, which was the church God led me to go to. I remember God giving me a very firm understanding that I was to listen and learn in that time.
BAPTISM
Not too long after I had been going to that church there was a baptism service. I knew that I needed to be baptised, so put my name down and attended pre-baptism classes. I understood that this baptism, which was a full immersion baptism, was a believers baptism. In other words it was a baptism confirming your faith in Christ. I was Christened (baptised, Anglican version) as a baby, but I knew that Scripture says first believe, then get baptised for the remission of sins.
Mar 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As I was baptised and came out of the water someone started praying for me. I remember them speaking in tongues and encouraging me to do the same as they prayed for me to receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:15 who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 19:6 And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
I didn't speak in tongues, I just got very wet, but knew that I had obeyed God so there was a very special feeling of being in that right place with Him.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Back in my flat I was spending some time with my new found friend and Saviour. I remember singing to Him praise songs that I had learned in church. As I sang I felt Him close to me. It was an awesome feeling. The love and joy that filled my heart caused me to sing all the more and I danced around the table.
I left my flat to go and meet a friend in town. Everything within me wanted to skip down the street like a child, but regrettably I managed to resist the urge and conform to my conservative manner. As I was walking down the street I was still singing and totally enjoying the Lord's presence with me. I opened my mouth to say something, but didn't know what I was going to say. All of a sudden I heard this strange language come out of my mouth. I was speaking in tongues! The excitement grew, as did that awesome feeling of closenes with God!
THREE STRANGERS
As I got nearer to town a complete stranger came up to me and asked me if I could tell him about God. He didn't need to ask twice! I answered his questions and shared with him the wonderful experience I was enjoying. We talked for a while and then we went our seperate ways.
This happened twice more before I got to town. I was bursting with excitement that I could not contain. Instead of continuing on into town I ran back to my flat and spent more time with the Lord I love.
FRUIT, GIFTS AND SO MUCH MORE
I learned about the fruit and gifts of the Spirit in Scripture and became aware of these things starting to happen in my life. Things like love, joy peace, patience. Things that were foreign to me not that long ago.
Over the 26 years that I have known God these things continue to grow. There are times when I mess up, but as I ask for forgiveness and hand these situations over to God He turns them into learning experiences and I end up better off for it.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1Co 12:4 But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all.
1Co 12:7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit.
1Co 12:8 For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues.
1Co 12:11 But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He desires.