Hello Imogen
I can tell you what happened with me and if you read my other post about this you will get an overall picture on my opinion. I will try and be brief so here we go. "The revelation of Christ, one mans story"
I was told about Jesus while traverling. I didn't like Church's because of the hypocrisy I saw, but thought ok if you say you can prove your beliefs I'd see for myself. I went to a house meeting and watched, listened and read the Bible with an open mind to confirm or debate what I found. The meeting was based on how they conducted the meetings in Pauls letters. Opening prayer and songs then a scripture talk and then the "gifts" one person would speak in tongues then another would interperate as promted by the Holy Spirit. This was repeated three times usually by a different person so all can have a part in using the "gifts" then three ppl would prophyesy in turn and then they prayed for things like the sick and so on (no falling over here). It was all very orderly and confirmed in the Bible . So far so good I thought. So I made arrangments to be Baptized as it was written in the Bible full immersion. The next sunday at the school were they held there meetings at, no big budget just basic fellowship. The days leading up to Sunday I asked God several times 'into my life' and wondered about the "gifts" if I would have them too after the Baptism. Sunday came and the meeting was the same as the house meeting. At the end of the meeting I was sitting praying to the Lord for someone else's needs when I received the Holy Spirit. It was like a flood of love, knowledge and awareness of God filled my every being, the hollow void within me was ablaze with light. A tear touched my cheek with all the joy I felt. Then the ppl sitting next to looked at me and said " you received the Holy Spirit" I answered and said "I know".
I am a quite person by nature so didn't make a big show of speaking in tongues when I came up from the water's of Baptism. Later when alone I let all my sole and being converse with the Lord God by speaking in tongues. I didn't know the words I spoke but that is the hole point, my mind can't interfere with human faults, thinking. But I felt the power of the Holy Spirit in doing it and still do to this day when I speak in tongues. To farther confirm Gods presents within me and the fellowship, any questions I had I wouldn't ask other ppl but the Lord directly, privately then God would answer me directly in the "gifts" section of the weekly meetings. I have placed my hands on ppl in prayer and all have felt a power, nothing to do with me but It's the Holy Spirit that confirms it's presents, leaving no doubt in my mind. That said... religion, the Bible and church can still be influenced by man/woman leaving doubt for ppl to trust it (man ideal's on how to run things). I can't say or certain that the Bible has not been changed, all I know is that the Holy Spirit proves without doubt the love and power of God in Christ IMO. [
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Take care Imogen
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