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I am not real sure what your understanding of a Holy Ghost experience is. I can only tell you how the Holy Spirit works/moves within His children. In fact, I believe that when a child of God is walking in obedience to God and not walking in the flesh, they are having a Holy Ghost, ie Holy Spirit experience (if you will).
So... Maybe.. we can determine how the Holy Spirit is experience by a child of God when we understand who the Holy Sprit is and what the Holy Spirit does in us and for us.
God's word says " But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria.. and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
So Who is the Holy Spirit?
A. He is God ( Acts 5:3-5)
B. He is All Knowing (1 cor 2:10-11)
C. He is Eternal (Heb 9:14)
D. He is Equal with God the Father and God the Son. ( 1 John 5:7)
And What are the works of the Holy Spirit?
"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin... and to comfort....." ( see John 16:8-11)
He never speaks of Himself nor draws veneration to Himself. He only draws veneration to Jesus. (John 16:13-14)
He Convinces men that Jesus is the Son of God and can be their saviour. (John 4:13-14..... by this alone, every born again believer has had a Holy Ghost/Spirit experience)
He Shows men that the power of satan is broken by Jesus in His death on the cross. ( John 16:11)
He Regenerates the sinner (John 3:5)
He Teaches and leads into all truth. (1 John 2:27, John 16:13 )
He Empowers to witness. (Acts 1:8)
He Fills our mouths with His words in our time of need. (Luke 12:12)
He Gives us Direction. (Romans 8:14)
He Helps us choose not to sin or to give in to the flesh and all its lusts. ( Gal 5:16)
He Seals us and gives us assurance of God's ownership of our lives. (Eph 1:13-14)
He Remains in us forever. (1 John 3:9)
He Administers Gifts to the church. ( 1 Cor 12:7)
He Draws unbelievers to Jesus's saving grace.
It would seem to me that as a believer,, born again from Above and filled with His Holy Spirit, is the greatest experience a person can have. So much so that the Angels in heaven Praise God and celebrate continually before His throne when men come to Jesus.
Now... There are also many other ways in which we experience the Holy Spirit. This is true when we surrender to His prompting and use His gifts to serve each other in the Body of Christ, called His Church.
T
So... Maybe.. we can determine how the Holy Spirit is experience by a child of God when we understand who the Holy Sprit is and what the Holy Spirit does in us and for us.
God's word says " But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria.. and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
So Who is the Holy Spirit?
A. He is God ( Acts 5:3-5)
B. He is All Knowing (1 cor 2:10-11)
C. He is Eternal (Heb 9:14)
D. He is Equal with God the Father and God the Son. ( 1 John 5:7)
And What are the works of the Holy Spirit?
"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin... and to comfort....." ( see John 16:8-11)
He never speaks of Himself nor draws veneration to Himself. He only draws veneration to Jesus. (John 16:13-14)
He Convinces men that Jesus is the Son of God and can be their saviour. (John 4:13-14..... by this alone, every born again believer has had a Holy Ghost/Spirit experience)
He Shows men that the power of satan is broken by Jesus in His death on the cross. ( John 16:11)
He Regenerates the sinner (John 3:5)
He Teaches and leads into all truth. (1 John 2:27, John 16:13 )
He Empowers to witness. (Acts 1:8)
He Fills our mouths with His words in our time of need. (Luke 12:12)
He Gives us Direction. (Romans 8:14)
He Helps us choose not to sin or to give in to the flesh and all its lusts. ( Gal 5:16)
He Seals us and gives us assurance of God's ownership of our lives. (Eph 1:13-14)
He Remains in us forever. (1 John 3:9)
He Administers Gifts to the church. ( 1 Cor 12:7)
He Draws unbelievers to Jesus's saving grace.
It would seem to me that as a believer,, born again from Above and filled with His Holy Spirit, is the greatest experience a person can have. So much so that the Angels in heaven Praise God and celebrate continually before His throne when men come to Jesus.
Now... There are also many other ways in which we experience the Holy Spirit. This is true when we surrender to His prompting and use His gifts to serve each other in the Body of Christ, called His Church.
T
Another way to tell if the experience is from above, is the fruit it produces. What are the fruits of the Spirit?
Now.. there are also many counterfeit movements supposedly empowered by the Holy Spirit where the fruit was not that of the fruit of the Spirit. Movements which fade, or cause turmoil, divisions , confusions... and even some movements that ultimately leave you wanting for more.... they are addictive because they are from the flesh and not the Spirit.
Always.. When one is unsure if their experience is from God or not... they need to wait upon the lord and allow hindsight to show us the fruit it produced. In You and In others lives.
T
Now.. there are also many counterfeit movements supposedly empowered by the Holy Spirit where the fruit was not that of the fruit of the Spirit. Movements which fade, or cause turmoil, divisions , confusions... and even some movements that ultimately leave you wanting for more.... they are addictive because they are from the flesh and not the Spirit.
Always.. When one is unsure if their experience is from God or not... they need to wait upon the lord and allow hindsight to show us the fruit it produced. In You and In others lives.
T
I am going to consider your question further but off the top of my head, There are many fruitful ministries which I am aware of. To name just a few:
Billy Graham Crusades,
The Calvary Chapel fellowships started by Chuck Smith,
Far Reaching Ministries by Wes Bently.
The Village missions organization which goes into rurual areas and refurbishes dying church and keeping them viable.
Every person who goes into the world and preaches the Word of God because God has promised that His Word will not return void.
But I shall consider others and get back to you
T
Billy Graham Crusades,
The Calvary Chapel fellowships started by Chuck Smith,
Far Reaching Ministries by Wes Bently.
The Village missions organization which goes into rurual areas and refurbishes dying church and keeping them viable.
Every person who goes into the world and preaches the Word of God because God has promised that His Word will not return void.
But I shall consider others and get back to you
T
I am sure that those ministeries, as you have listed, are fruitful. I was not necessarily looking for names of ministeries but was asking what kind of work fruitful ministries engaged in, as in (Eph 4:12 & 2Cor 5:18, Eph 2:10). This would include any local church of believers that God has raised up.
Well the holy ghost is wonderful.. he can give you these feelings that are so awsome it's hard to describe. One time he wnated to show me how powerful he is. He stepped inside of me. At first it just felt fantstic, some glorious feeling. Then it got stronger and stronger. It got too strong and I thought if he doesn't stop my body will explode and I will be splattered all over the walls then he stepped out. And I almost collasped onto the floor. He is very strong more than we can think. I seen him once. He was about 10 ft tall. Shaped like a man. He looked like fire or glow of fire. He came and put his hand on the back of my shoulder. He talks out loud. He talks inside of you with a voice. He talks in your voice in your mind. He let me hear the angels sing in heaven. He let me feel a angel once. He lets you feel his sadness of him crying so hard cause his people don't know him. He lets you feel other peoples sadness. There are so many things he does. How have you felt him? God bless you, Love
L
Cool Holy Ghost experience i had once: about 12 yrs ago when i was a young christian He used to work powerfully when id share with others about God. On one occassion after witnessing on a couple of different occassions on a particular shift at work , every time i witnessed the feeling of the Holy spirit in my body would grow stronger and stronger to the point that when i i met up with a friend that i had known before i was saved in the smoko room i felt like i had electric charge running around inside of me. As my friend was talking to me i heard the Holy Spirit say "pray for him in tongues". i was in a busy staff room at the time and there where 2 other people sitting at the table with us. i said to god in my heart "if you make the other 2 people get up and leave i will." instantly the other 2 people got up and left. so i told my friend that god wanted me to pray for him (he was unsaved by the way, but he had seen all of the amazing things God was doing in my life and my own personal transformation) so he said ok, and i told him God wants me to pray for u in tongues. he was surprised and said that would be ok! i started to pray and the words were like i had never experienced before, they were so powerful and eloquent and i could actually "feel them coming out of my mouth like i could bite down on them, like they were tangible. and as i raise my hands and started to pray i felt all of the electricity rush down my arms and out of my hands towards him - he was obviously receiving! the release of faith and the grace to receive is a beautiful thing. Glory to God. then God gave me the interpretation of the tongue. it was really a powerful witness.
Yes, I had one and it changed my life.
I was raised in an atheist family. My parents were doing a lot of honorary work (my father worked on sundays at the homeless shelter [he is a lawyer] and my mother worked with disabled kids [she's a theacher]) so one day they asked me if I wouldn't like to do some honorary work myself. I chose to take care of elderly people with unhealable diseases who have no relatives, mainly because I just lost my grandfather. I was 17 years old and never considered myself a believer.
On my first day I met a monk, who was also working in that... I don't know the english word for it, but it means a place where old people go to die. He was quite old himself, told me that he is doing that for 35 years now. I asked him how he could cope with 35 years of death and he only smiled and said: "I will show you."
So he led me to a room where an old woman was lying. She was only 70 but she looked like 120. Cancer, final stadium. Her body only running on pain and morphium. She opened her eyes and said: "Hello Pater, you brought someone?" and the monk said "Yes, he want's to work here honorary. He was asking me how I cope with all that death." I tell you, I myself nearly died in that moment. Saying a thing like that to a dying person, imagine that!
But she just smiled and said: "Don't be afraid. I am not. Death will only be a moment so brief you will miss it if you blink. I know that he watches over me and when he thinks that I am ready for him, I will be ready."
And in that moment the room just started to spin around me as if... you can't really describe that. For the first time in my life I could feel his precence. I could feel it so strong that I thought I would just have to reach out and I would touch him. As if had never used my eyes before, never heard before, never tasted before. I felt... "enlightened" if that is the word.
I can remember that day like it was yesterday. 17th of July 2004.
Two weeks later I was babtised. I worked there until I was 19, then I moved away to College. Last month I heard that they would tear down the old building and I was close to tears.
And before I forget it, the woman died shortly afterwards... she was ready. Pater Michael just celebrated his 74th birthday. I am proud of calling him a friend.
Sorry if I got a little sentimental over this, but I think you can understand why.
I was raised in an atheist family. My parents were doing a lot of honorary work (my father worked on sundays at the homeless shelter [he is a lawyer] and my mother worked with disabled kids [she's a theacher]) so one day they asked me if I wouldn't like to do some honorary work myself. I chose to take care of elderly people with unhealable diseases who have no relatives, mainly because I just lost my grandfather. I was 17 years old and never considered myself a believer.
On my first day I met a monk, who was also working in that... I don't know the english word for it, but it means a place where old people go to die. He was quite old himself, told me that he is doing that for 35 years now. I asked him how he could cope with 35 years of death and he only smiled and said: "I will show you."
So he led me to a room where an old woman was lying. She was only 70 but she looked like 120. Cancer, final stadium. Her body only running on pain and morphium. She opened her eyes and said: "Hello Pater, you brought someone?" and the monk said "Yes, he want's to work here honorary. He was asking me how I cope with all that death." I tell you, I myself nearly died in that moment. Saying a thing like that to a dying person, imagine that!
But she just smiled and said: "Don't be afraid. I am not. Death will only be a moment so brief you will miss it if you blink. I know that he watches over me and when he thinks that I am ready for him, I will be ready."
And in that moment the room just started to spin around me as if... you can't really describe that. For the first time in my life I could feel his precence. I could feel it so strong that I thought I would just have to reach out and I would touch him. As if had never used my eyes before, never heard before, never tasted before. I felt... "enlightened" if that is the word.
I can remember that day like it was yesterday. 17th of July 2004.
Two weeks later I was babtised. I worked there until I was 19, then I moved away to College. Last month I heard that they would tear down the old building and I was close to tears.
And before I forget it, the woman died shortly afterwards... she was ready. Pater Michael just celebrated his 74th birthday. I am proud of calling him a friend.
Sorry if I got a little sentimental over this, but I think you can understand why.
to make a long story short (if that is possible for me) I was skeptic of slain in the spirit, drunk in the spirit, mainly because I was taught that it was wrong. but I was invited to a church that was having Holy Ghost meeting, the speaker was Tommy Zito, I saw things that i questioned, I saw things that I couldn't explain. But What i felt was real and it was peaceful, Tommy prayed for the businesses in the area then he prayed for the depressed people, and I saw people walking away with unmeasured joy, I didn't go up, remember I was a skeptic. But God allowed me to go back two more nights.the last night Tommy said as he was going to start the annointing part of the service. tommy said that he knew that they were some there that were skeptics but he wanted to challenge the skeptics, to come up let him annoint them , and Just ask God to give them what God had in store for them. well I am one that has never wanted to turn down a blessing from God, so I went up. I was praying before tommy got to me, God you know my heart I don't now about all this stuff, with all these people falling out in the floor, and That I would not go down, But I do want what you got in store for me tonight. yep You guessed it The second God touched me through Tommy. I went down, there was a force that pinned me to the floor, I knew all that was going on around me but could not move. and my spiritual walk has never been better, I know when I displease Him, I feel His presence in my life so much more clearer now. I was told that I was baptised in the Spirit that night I didn't know then what it was but I liked it and wanted more of it, shortly after that on easter Sunday morning service the presence of God was so strong, at our Church that I was lower to my kness while preaching I dropped Behind the pulpit, and preached to rest of the sermon on my knees, with my head bowed, I couldn't even look up, for truely I was in the presence of God.
Ac 19:1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,Ac 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.Ac 19:3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.Ac 19:4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.Ac 19:5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Ac 19:6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Ac 19:1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,Ac 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.Ac 19:3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.Ac 19:4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.Ac 19:5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Ac 19:6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
L
Though I have already posted some of this. I will add to it.
The first thing is the great feeling of peace that I recieved when the holy spirit came into me. At the same time my inner eyes were openned. I was then able to fully comprehend all sorts of things that had elusive meanings for me.
Most important was the feeling of great love from God. I had so much joy I cried. This happened when I was 23. I have been striving ever since to stay close to our lord through prayer. It was through faith and prayer that I recieved the holy spirit 4 years after I was baptised. It took me that long to understand about faith. God is real for me and has been since.
I have lost most of my family or been seperated from them. To the extent of having to be alone for most of my life. God has realy filled that void in me through our lord Jesus Chist. Thank you precious lamb for your sacrifice to save us sinners! amen
The best part is that not only did it change my life. The holy spirit stayed with me to help and guide me in our lord. I remember several times when I knew not what to say in answer to some people whom were questioning me. Yet, when I openned my mouth the words came out in perfect answers. Not my words but, Gods! The most amazing thing is that I had only read Mathew-John in the new testiment. When I finaly read Acts I was crying again as I saw the things that had happened to me.
I only just read Acts recintly. Guess I did not need to before. God does put in our hearts and minds the word if we ask without even reading. Just takes strong faith and fervent prayer.
The first thing is the great feeling of peace that I recieved when the holy spirit came into me. At the same time my inner eyes were openned. I was then able to fully comprehend all sorts of things that had elusive meanings for me.
Most important was the feeling of great love from God. I had so much joy I cried. This happened when I was 23. I have been striving ever since to stay close to our lord through prayer. It was through faith and prayer that I recieved the holy spirit 4 years after I was baptised. It took me that long to understand about faith. God is real for me and has been since.
I have lost most of my family or been seperated from them. To the extent of having to be alone for most of my life. God has realy filled that void in me through our lord Jesus Chist. Thank you precious lamb for your sacrifice to save us sinners! amen
The best part is that not only did it change my life. The holy spirit stayed with me to help and guide me in our lord. I remember several times when I knew not what to say in answer to some people whom were questioning me. Yet, when I openned my mouth the words came out in perfect answers. Not my words but, Gods! The most amazing thing is that I had only read Mathew-John in the new testiment. When I finaly read Acts I was crying again as I saw the things that had happened to me.
I only just read Acts recintly. Guess I did not need to before. God does put in our hearts and minds the word if we ask without even reading. Just takes strong faith and fervent prayer.
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A
Being told by doctors I would never function again in society due to my PCP induced manic episode that landed my in a mental health ward for 3 months along with taking countless prescriptions of anti psycotics like Thorazine, Depakote and Haldole, I was forced to give up my family, (of whom I thought where just actors pretending to be my family), and move in with my mom. My mom gave up her job and I filed for permanent disability since the suicidal and homicidal thoughts I was experiencing would never go away.
While I was in 2 Tower (mental health ward) i did some foolish things:
1. Made all other patient beds, thinking I was in the military training for a mission
2. Confronted my parents about them being military personnal pretending to be my mom and dad.
3. Hallucinated about an Imaginary chip I had in my head that allowed others to read my thoughts
4. Stripped down naked in the emergency room, because I heard a voice instruct me too in order to get ready for surgery.
5. I even hid medications under my tongue and refused to take them thinking I wa being poisoned or was going to be harmed.
6. Tried to change my Identity for others would not recognise me.
The list goes on and on.
I was given a Bible of all things by an unbelieving uncle since everyone thought there was just nothing they can due for me anymore to bring me out of this state that I was in.
As I thumbed through the Word at my moms house looking for secret messages hidden in it like in Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. I came upon this scripture:
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.1 Cor 1:26-29
At that very moment every anti psycotic I was on wore off. My mom seen such a different look in my face she insisted that she take me to the hospital again or call the doctor. I rejected that idea and asked for my wife and 3 kids of whom I didn't ask for nor seen in 3 months. At that moment my mom knew something had happened and she allowed me a 26 year old man to call his wife for the first time in months.
I explained to my wife the experiance I just had, but did not expect her to beleive me. To make a long story short I convinced her to go to church with me that Sunday and we have been serving the Lord ever since.
Give God the glory, for the Bible does change lives through His Spirit. At that point and time of my life I beleive I was saved. I understood not only the weight of my sin, but how foolish I had been the past 26 years, even more so those last three months.
Through God and this noticable change in my life my sister, mom and aunt gave their lives to the Lord, of which where staunch catholics. My dad who was LDS even showed more interest in the God of the bible rather then the God of the book of Mormon.
Praise God that He does use the foolish things of this world. Willing or not.
While I was in 2 Tower (mental health ward) i did some foolish things:
1. Made all other patient beds, thinking I was in the military training for a mission
2. Confronted my parents about them being military personnal pretending to be my mom and dad.
3. Hallucinated about an Imaginary chip I had in my head that allowed others to read my thoughts
4. Stripped down naked in the emergency room, because I heard a voice instruct me too in order to get ready for surgery.
5. I even hid medications under my tongue and refused to take them thinking I wa being poisoned or was going to be harmed.
6. Tried to change my Identity for others would not recognise me.
The list goes on and on.
I was given a Bible of all things by an unbelieving uncle since everyone thought there was just nothing they can due for me anymore to bring me out of this state that I was in.
As I thumbed through the Word at my moms house looking for secret messages hidden in it like in Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. I came upon this scripture:
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.1 Cor 1:26-29
At that very moment every anti psycotic I was on wore off. My mom seen such a different look in my face she insisted that she take me to the hospital again or call the doctor. I rejected that idea and asked for my wife and 3 kids of whom I didn't ask for nor seen in 3 months. At that moment my mom knew something had happened and she allowed me a 26 year old man to call his wife for the first time in months.
I explained to my wife the experiance I just had, but did not expect her to beleive me. To make a long story short I convinced her to go to church with me that Sunday and we have been serving the Lord ever since.
Give God the glory, for the Bible does change lives through His Spirit. At that point and time of my life I beleive I was saved. I understood not only the weight of my sin, but how foolish I had been the past 26 years, even more so those last three months.
Through God and this noticable change in my life my sister, mom and aunt gave their lives to the Lord, of which where staunch catholics. My dad who was LDS even showed more interest in the God of the bible rather then the God of the book of Mormon.
Praise God that He does use the foolish things of this world. Willing or not.
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