'Be filled with the Holy Spirit'

A Pentecostal Preacher’s Experience

‘’In 1937 there was more reproach connected with speaking in tongues than there is today, although in some quarters even today religious prejudices still exist. People become proud of their name, and my family felt I had disgraced our name.

When I was filled with the Holy Spirit I didn’t say one word to my family; I didn’t even invite them to go to Church with me. I felt in my spirit that if I would just live right and not try to push anything off on them, the reality of the baptism in the Holy Spirit would become obvious to them and they would follow me in this New Testament experience.

And in the course of time, every one of my family members did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, including both of my brothers and my sister, and even my nephews and nieces.

Later the folks beyond my immediate family followed me in that experience, too, because they could see the difference in my life. My aunt, my mother’s youngest sister, held out the longest. She felt that I had really disgraced her. She was a great church worker, but there is a difference between being a church worker and being a Christian.

In 1950 my aunt came to visit us. I wasn’t there, but my mother and wife were. My aunt said to my mother, ‘’You know, there’s just a difference in this home. I get blessed spiritually every time I’m here, and I feel comfortable and blessed. There’s a peace and tranquility in this home. I felt Kenneth had disgraced us, but, you know, I believe he made the right move. I’m going to begin attending his church.’’ And she did. She also said, ‘’Not only that, but I’ve watched him over the years. His children are never sick, , very seldom a cold but nothing more serious than that.’’

You see, the thing that influenced my aunt and made her begin attending a Full Gospel church (which she vowed she would never do) was the profiting she saw in my life.’’ – Kenneth E. Hagin

Acts 9:15-20
The Lord said, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.

Ephesians 5:15-20
Watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Galatians 5:22-25
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

With the Holy Spirit filling us he will fill our lives. There is testimony to Jesus Christ to those we can have listening to us. So we do not then walk as the unwise, or remain among them, who deny the truth. We would desire knowing the will of God for us so as to do what is according to it. It would not be taking anything that would possibly intoxicate us. We should have psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs we can be prepared to sing, with those in our hearts, with thankfulness to God through Christ. And the fruit of the Spirit of God would be with us growing productively that will then show to others, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. There is no good reason to keep any of these limited, with which we are growing in godliness.

FredVB said:

So we do not then walk as the unwise, or remain among them, who deny the truth.

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Hello 'FredVP'! Welcome!! Thanks for the comment. But, I'm unclear who it is your determining the 'unwise' to be?

For I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you, ,'' (Acts 20:27)

rocknanchor said:

Hello 'FredVP'! Welcome!! Thanks for the comment. But, I'm unclear who it is your determining the 'unwise' to be?

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Hello. Psalm 14 shows us the fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Those unwise dismiss God or any of the things of God, and there are those among them that will argue with against those. It is wise to leave them, and not be like them. Many would be not be equipped well to speak with them, while they are set in their ways.

FredVB said:

Hello. Psalm 14 shows us the fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Those unwise dismiss God or any of the things of God, and there are those among them that will argue with against those. It is wise to leave them, and not be like them. Many would be not be equipped well to speak with them, while they are set in their ways.

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An great choice to put their kind in the category under them who walk ''filled with the Spirit 'FredVB'! For when they come upon a person equipped with the Spirit, it is again true, most often, not a word has to be spoken (i.e. unbelieving spouse won by the believing spouse) to them, fully unaware are being ministered to in ways beyond the entrance of godly conduct. The tools of the Spirit upon the unbeliever backed by the believer's petitioning presents an enormous advantage in the heavenlies. For He still would ''have all men to be saved''.

Witness is important, always, while we who follow Jesus are warned to not cast pearls before swine. With wisdom we avoid the foolishness, which is around out there, while there are hardened hearts that will not be open to God while we would present anything with the truth of God.

FredVB said:

With wisdom we avoid the foolishness, which is around out there,

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Understood! But, When you are committed to providing for a hungry family, you have to remain in the workforce amongst those very swine. And the type of witnessing I relied on in the dozens of shops I worked in came back with confirmation to me time and again, such as apologizing to me for speaking in course language, as though I should decide FOR THEM, what was considered wholesome logic. Again, most always in the same witnessing of 1 Peter 3:1. If after the Lord brings them to heel in this manner, I know they have responded to the light He gave. And this isn't the same as a child of God who ''walk in the council of the ungodly''. It is walking in patience and longsuffering of those many ''hairs of the head'' details He is capable of keeping track of concerning OUR heart and walk.

rocknanchor said:

Understood! But, When you are committed to providing for a hungry family, you have to remain in the workforce amongst those very swine. And the type of witnessing I relied on in the dozens of shops I worked in came back with confirmation to me time and again, such as apologizing to me for speaking in course language, as though I should decide FOR THEM, what was considered wholesome logic. Again, most always in the same witnessing of 1 Peter 3:1. If after the Lord brings them to heel in this manner, I know they have responded to the light He gave. And this isn't the same as a child of God who ''walk in the council of the ungodly''. It is walking in patience and longsuffering of those many ''hairs of the head'' details He is capable of keeping track of concerning OUR heart and walk.

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There are things God calls us to, these are not such things to avoid. It would be where we do not have the obligations to, where the worldly will argue to you about anything of God, which they show they are against, that it is well to walk away from. I can name where there are such, where I had not been wise enough to walk away from as soon as that should be done.

FredVB said:

It would be where we do not have the obligations to, where the worldly will argue to you about anything of God, which they show they are against, that it is well to walk away from.

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Well yes! We do not seek to dilute His penchant call!

For this you know, realizing that any fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. (Eph 5:5-7)

Neither would I seek to sweep His love of the sinner from view, which remains one of the great mysteries of godliness - to humble oneself before His grace - but only by those who are fully equipped!

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all these things to all, so that by all means I might save some. (1Cor 9:22)

It is my understanding, God will bring such maturity by a confirmation of souls-saved. And no device of Satan would succeed to cause that one to ''run in vain'' and become an utter ''castaway'' in the faith. So to have both fulfilled in a Christians life, that ''weakness'' would have to be a space by God's leading not to bring reproach on the faith, but by convincing love, a gathering of souls. Even, back at that workplace,

'', , that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:11,12)

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. (Matt 12:30)

We need God's grace, with God's love and mercy. It is well then to show it generally, as God is Creator of all others too.

quietbloke said:

The promise is for you and your children and for all that are far off, for all that the LORD our God will call' (Acts of the Apostles 2:38-39)

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To sow (Gal 6:8) to the ''promise'' so we could be a blessing to others requires more than simply ''stop letting our sinful nature control our minds'', it is much simpler than that, WE ARE TOLD TO ASK OR, BE SHOWN TO RECIEVE (Luke 11:11-13, Acts 9:17, Rom 8:2), Amen!