I've asked dozens of people what their experience of the Holy Spirit was/is. So far, other than cliches (or as Stormy says - "God talk"), nobody has said anything real - in the experiential sense of "real."
I found Visionary's answer interesting because it was real - specific, grounded, and suggestive of utility. Whether or not it's valid does not matter to me - I appreciated getting an answer. And accept it as offered.
Just wanted to be clear there were no strings on the request.
Having said that - carry on BFA.
Can I offer you my Holy Spirit moment?
I consider myself a relatively 'New' Adventist. Fresh outta the package, so to speak! I took my profession of faith in April 2006.
I became an Adventist after many years of watching Amazing Facts, but more important, after being convicted, and convinced, that God's Moral Law wasn't canceled, or abolished, just forgotten. I also remember "it is Written" from when I was a kid. So I began to "check out" sabbath keeping churches in my area on line. This was right around Sept/Oct. 2005.
And much to my surprise, there weren't very many....especially in the area where I live.
So I examined the local SDA church web site and I thought I had read that these crazy Adventist's washed feet each week....and I wasn't interested in washing someone's feet every week and thought to myself, "Man! That's 'cultish!'" So several months passed by....
Then one Saturday morning I had an appointment with a client to go over the plans for the swimming pool I was designing for them. The night before, I had 'made up my mind' that I was gonna take a chance and visit that church where they washed feet. I had my Bible out. Surely, I could find a way to "skip out" on this rather unusual and cultish ritual.
So, after my 9 o'clock I got to the church around 10:00am. I met a rather nice guy that greeted me and quietly put up with my rather far-fetched ideas of God, the Bible and Jesus Christ. He didn't make one reference to EGW. If he had I would have said, "Ellen who?"
Anywho...
I sat in on the pastor's class for a bit. The pastor seemed rather nice, personable, quite kind and had a very quiet and attractive nature about him. After the class, we moved into the worship hour...
The service seemed to be going rather nicely. Announcements, good singing of traditional Christian hymns...the 'normal' stuff one would expect in any service. Then....
Everything changed!
While not paying much attention to the language in the church coming from the alter, and what was happening around me, the pastor began dismissing everyone and letting everyone know that they would "regather" in the main sanctuary....
And like a blind lemming, I followed! I followed the men outside to another room. And there he stood....
A rather congenial looking man with glasses and a big smile greeted me at the door of the other building and he said to me, "Hi! My name is Benjamin. My wife is out of town this weekend, and I don't have anyone to wash feet with....can I wash your feet?!"
Oh, no I thought....it's true!
It's a cult!
Reluctantly, I agreed.
Now, if this wasn't the Holy Spirit helping me confront the one thing that was the hang-up for me in enjoying and understanding the sabbath then I don't know what it could have been. I for one will always be convinced that it was indeed the Holy Spirit leading and guiding me that day.
A few days later Benjamin and I talked on the phone for about two hours. I was steeped in alot of "error" regarding some of the absolutely crazy things I believed from watching the "Shepperd's Chapel" and Arnold Murray for about 6 months and yet he was extremely patient with me and completely non-judgmental. I found a home.
To make a long story short, the week of February 3rd, 2008 I had the blessing of the opportunity to see this man, and my dear friend, give his first sermon at his new church in Big Bear that he was selected to pastor and lead.
And I enjoyed every bit of it!
And I missed that it wasn't a "communion" service! I would have been honored to wash his feet again!
