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Baptism of the Holy Spirit & the A Team
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My experience in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, during my 3rd year in the bile school when they lay hands on me . I ask and seek God in my life. And during my worship time, God pour out his Holy Spirit on me and I started speaking in tongues
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The baptism of the Holy Spirit is such an integral part of the Christian journey, I could never imagine a life without it. I loved hearing the stories about how it happened to each of the Apostolic Team members.
For me, I was in my early teens, in Zion Apostolic Church in Winnipeg, and I believe it was when Frank Kosick was our pastor (he absolutely loved 'young people'). Some of the elders began to hold 'tarrying services' (a term unfamiliar to me) after the morning service. Many of the young people – teens and older – stayed. We just got on our knees, and 'waited on God' as it was explained to us that's what it was, much like the Upper Room in Acts 1, where they waited, continuing in prayer and supplication. I remember the elders (and other men of God) though, fervently praying on their knees as we waited. We did this for several Sundays. During one of these tarrying times, one of the young men all of a sudden began to call out (he was by nature very quiet and reserved), and soon began speaking in tongues, as those around began to pray, and lay hands on him. I just knew this had to be genuine, given his nature! Soon – it was like a little fire began to break out, and spread among those who stayed and were tarrying. Eventually it fell on me also, and I began to speak in this unknown tongue. What stayed with me though, was that is was not just about 'speaking in tongues', but you were truly 'filled with the spirit' sensing the very fire of God surging throughout your whole being. It changes you forever. I could never imagine a life without it. Later on in my life, God laid an intercessory mantle on me to pray through for situations in my own life, for my family, and for many other situations. The baptism of fire takes you into another whole dimension of communion with God and His Holy Spirit.
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From the time I was 12 I wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I wanted it for the wrong reasons. Everyone around me was getting baptised in the Holy Spirit, except me. Jealousy drove me to the altar again and again. Finally, when I was 15, I decided I would no longer go up for prayer and if I was going to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, it would be God's timing not mine. A few months later, I remember we were at a Sunday night service and my sister wanted to receive prayer to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit but she did not want to go alone, so I went with her. We went to the front and were led into a back room so they could continue on with the service. The leaders laid hands on my sister and I did as well. As I was praying for her she was filled with the Holy Spirit. I was so filled with joy for her. I started thanking God and the next thing I knew I was overwhelmed by the presence of God and was also speaking another language. The awe I felt in not only being a part of her moment with God, but having her there for mine was an experience I will never forget.
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The first time I was baptized in the Holy Spirit was at Veteran Bible Camp in my high school years. There was an alter call to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and I went up and after some prayer, started to speak in tongues. It didn’t really feel like it made sense, a small part of me doubted if I was faking it or not, but the power of that experience wasn’t necessarily in what was physically happening, but in my spirit. I felt a deep loving connection with God at that time. Overfilled with joy and adoration and awe and praise towards God. Since then I have had a few “bigger” or “showier” experiences with the Holy Spirit like uncontrollable laughter and shaking. But what I have consistently noticed is that I respond to the Holy Spirit with tears. In conversation, during a sermon, in worship, in prayer, and in evangelism, when I sensed that Holy Spirit was present I responded with emotional tears. I think all of these experiences are powerful and wonderful. An experience with the Holy Spirit doesn’t need to be showy for it to be valid. That spiritual connection and revelation that happens when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit is what is consistent in any following encounter with the Holy Spirit.
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