Who here has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Now I know there's alot of you who don't believe Gifts are for today but I strongly disagree. Im from a pentacostal background and I have seen God move...Anyway! Is their anyone who can tell us about your experience on how you received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
I was saved, therefore, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
I've got the Pentecostal background too, but it really messed me up for quite some time. When I was saved, the Pentecostal that taught me "Now what?" also taught me that the sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was speaking in tongues. I spent a good ten years of my Christian life thinking I wasn't saved because I can't do tongues.
Later, I had someone help me figure out what I already said, "I was saved, therefore, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit."
Sure, gifts are for today. Even tongues, but that is the least of the gifts, and gifts from God is kind of like asking God for patience. It's something we tend to ask for and then might well regret asking for for the rest of our lives. He's going to give us gifts and he's going to give us patience if it kills us! That's who he is. A Dad gives the best for his kids, even if the best overwhelms. In God's case, everything he does overwhelms, and therefore we need him to stabilize us.
In my case, just like asking for patience didn't work out for me too well, (and asking God for patience is like asking God to give you one problem after another, and then mount some up all at once, because, guess what? All those problems teach us patience, whether we wanted it or not. lol), asking for specific gifts didn't work for me either. I didn't get the nifty, keeno gifts. I got the gifts that best fit me to serve the church. I'n not a teacher, evangelist, prophet, or even polyglot. I'm an administrator (as in organize stuff, not as in "boss"), apologetic, encourager, smack-you-in-your-face realist, and discerner. I'm mostly a behind-the-scenes organizer/paperpusher, because my ego doesn't grace me with the qualities of a leader. (Ego -- WAY too big.)
Still? What church couldn't use someone who can put together a Sunday bulletin, a membership directory, a potluck dinner or meals for someone in need, or can deal with the full-of-herself/scared-others-will-reject-her person? God tends to put us places where he needs us and we need him. So, his gifts always work, even if we don't believe in gifts.
(Oh, and now I'm not Pentecostal. I'm evangelical. Worse yet, reformed. lol)