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Baptism of the Holy Spirit & the A Team
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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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I remember clearly being baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was around 12 years old. It happened at the church where my Dad was pastoring during a youth retreat. The youth leaders explained it to me scripturally, encouraged me and then laid hands on me and prayed. I began speaking in tongues that night and it has been a big part of my life ever since!
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I was at a conference at CFG for young people who wanted to step out in their faith more. I was prayed for by the minister and I began to speak in tongues. The Holy Spirit fell so strongly on me I could not focus on anyone or anything else. I stayed at the altar for a long time speaking in tongues and waiting in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
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