- Apr 15, 2007
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For context, about 11 years ago or so I left behind the "Spirit-filled/Charismatic" Movement. I was hurt by those that I put myself under their authority and it was primarily caused by misuse of the gifts and being forced to take part in it. This led to a slide down where 5 years ago I left Christianity and converted to Islam. I came back a year ago and at that point I recognized where it all started. I knew I was wrong for leaving the movement and gifts behind as a whole instead of just leaving behind the imperfect souls who hurt me. I wanted it back, I wanted to speak in tongues, experience prophecies and words of knowledge, experience the manifested gifts of the Holy Spirit that I hadn't been a part of in years. There was just one problem, I couldn't seem to find a church that actively practiced the gifts. I went to a few different Assemblies of God churches and nothing, or there may have been some sign of them but there were other things wrong with them. I even went to an AG church where they said, from the pulpit that, though they do believe they are for today, they don't do it in the services because it's crazy (paraphrased).
I came back to CF and looked at threads where there were reports that yes, it does seem that the glory has left various churches like AG and Full Gospel that were traditionally practicing them and welcoming them and seeking the glory, as it were. This really got me down for a minute because I'm like, why is God giving me this desire if it doesn't quite exist? I downloaded the International House of Prayer channel on my Roku TV and saw that, indeed, the glory is still active in churches, I'm just not looking in the right place. I did some Google searches to see if I could find a church and found one that seemed to welcome the gifts about 20 minutes down the road. I went this morning and during my devotions and I prayed, "Please send your Holy Spirit today. I need to see Your works in action. I crave it." God answered my prayers.
At the end of the service, the head Pastor came to me and introduced himself and we started talking and I told him, as briefly as I could, my story. He prayed for me, the Lord gave him a word for me and then I talked to his mother, who preached this morning. His mother and her husband started the church. She then led me to being baptized in the Spirit.
For the first time in 11 years, I spoke in tongues. For the first time in 11 years, I felt God's presence. For the first time in 11 years, I felt home. I can do nothing but thank God for it and thank God that I am still acceptable to Him.
TL;DR Man who stopped believing in the manifested gifts of the Holy spirit and later left Christianity for Islam and then returned to Christianity experienced the gifts for the first time in 11 years and just had to write about it.
I came back to CF and looked at threads where there were reports that yes, it does seem that the glory has left various churches like AG and Full Gospel that were traditionally practicing them and welcoming them and seeking the glory, as it were. This really got me down for a minute because I'm like, why is God giving me this desire if it doesn't quite exist? I downloaded the International House of Prayer channel on my Roku TV and saw that, indeed, the glory is still active in churches, I'm just not looking in the right place. I did some Google searches to see if I could find a church and found one that seemed to welcome the gifts about 20 minutes down the road. I went this morning and during my devotions and I prayed, "Please send your Holy Spirit today. I need to see Your works in action. I crave it." God answered my prayers.
At the end of the service, the head Pastor came to me and introduced himself and we started talking and I told him, as briefly as I could, my story. He prayed for me, the Lord gave him a word for me and then I talked to his mother, who preached this morning. His mother and her husband started the church. She then led me to being baptized in the Spirit.
For the first time in 11 years, I spoke in tongues. For the first time in 11 years, I felt God's presence. For the first time in 11 years, I felt home. I can do nothing but thank God for it and thank God that I am still acceptable to Him.
TL;DR Man who stopped believing in the manifested gifts of the Holy spirit and later left Christianity for Islam and then returned to Christianity experienced the gifts for the first time in 11 years and just had to write about it.
