When God interrupted my sinful life and saved, sanctified me (miraculously delivered me from drug and alcohol addiction) and FILLED ME with the HOLY SPIRIT 52 YEARS AGO, May 27, 1972! I’ll NEVER FORGET that glorious moment!
My encounters with God somehow had to do with bathrooms. Let me explain, the week that I was born again and then sanctified we were having revival in the Kirkland Church, a few days later someone close to me was filled with the Holy Spirit and I listened as they prayed what sounded to me like “Italian,” just going ON AND ON in a beautiful, new to them, language “And began to SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)
I had heard about this and had been unsuccessfully seeking myself, now I was wondering why I had not experienced this. So, I got in the altar and cried out in prayer, “I want this, Lord!” The Word of God teaches that when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. I learned that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence, or sign, of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “And they were FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance” — Acts 2:4. Paul encouraged believers to speak tongues in their individual prayer life as a means of spiritual edification or building up. The Bible says, “He that SPEAKS in an unknown tongue EDIFIES HIMSELF” — I Corinthians 14:14. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome, “We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes INTERCESSION (entugchanō: allowance, mediation) for us with GROANINGS which cannot be uttered” — Romans 8:26.
I very sincerely searched the scriptures to make sure “speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance” was scripturally correct. Understanding this I really began to seek until it was just me left there praying and wondering what was wrong with me!!! I knew that it would help me learn to trust God. Because the Bible says, “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” —Jude 20
Well, that weekend was the first Youth Convention I would attend, and I was going to be filled!!! That evening My friend and I were discussing GOD’s MIRACLES, and he was explaining to me how Miracle’s work. Something happened in me, and I just knew that we could not understand how “miracles work” if so, they would not be miraculous! So, it was time for bed, and I headed for the restroom, as I was staring at the blank wall in front of me, I said “Lord, I don’t want to understand anything about the Holy Spirit, I just want to be filled!” and just like that, I began speaking in tongues!!! On and on it went for about an hour, Oh so very blessed. I shaved and took a bath and was JOYFULLY REJOICING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham