I have a habit of listening/watching sermons. Typically when I am taking a shower (phone in ziplock baggy), if I’m on the treadmill, or if I just need some mama time with my headphones on so my kids can recognize that I can’t hear them (think Susanna Wesley). This year the Lord has been leading me in an unknown direction. A direction I certainly wasn’t expecting, but lit an enormous fire in my soul.
It all began when I was listening to one of my favorite pastors, Matt Chandler. It was March 2020. It was just a random sermon I chose from his site. Quite surprisingly he was discussing a topic I had never heard a pastor speak on. I knew my Bible, don’t get me wrong, but this one part made me feel like I was making the Bible goofy. He was speaking about the gifts of the Spirit. I didn’t even know there were “gifts.” I immediately became a child! I want a gift!! If He’s giving out gifts I want one, too!! I didn’t even fully know what gifts He was handing out. I just know I had a hunger.
This sermon is what ignited a desire in me to know more. He recommended the below book by Sam Storms. So I promptly ordered it.
The very next day our pastor was preaching on the gifts of the Spirit! WHAT???? Like, are you kidding me??? Ok, flame is growing ?
Being a busy mom of many I find it difficult to find time to read so I would listen to Sam Storms’ sermons on his website. The wisdom he shared made me hungry for more!
So the Lord was teaching me through pastors. Ok, that makes sense. Then He brought this sweet beautiful young girl back into my life. She was on fire with the Holy Spirit! Her life had drastically changed and she was saved about a year ago. I eagerly watched her instagram for what sorts of biblical wisdom she was sharing. One day she was sharing about a book called “Trail of Fire.” I had no idea what it was about, but if she recommended it I wanted it!
This book really dives into revival. And yes, I want a revival! I thought I knew what that meant. But oh my, this goes even deeper. My husband and I would read a chapter to each other every night. I was so sad when it was over!
We then read a book by Sam Storms called The Beginners Guide to Spiritual Gifts. This one really got down to the nitty gritty.
As we entered into June 2020 I was seeing more people speaking about “revival.” I shared a photo on my Facebook of some books I was reading and the amount of sisters that surrounded me with love and encouragement and support and prayer was beautifully overwhelming!
I specifically remember a friend’s daughter telling me that I needed to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I had to ask what that even meant? I had been baptized twice before. Once when I was in middle school and wanted reincarnated when I died. So yeah, not a Christian at all. And once after I became a true Christ follower. I thought I had already been baptized! Why in the world would I need to be baptized again??
Oh, my loves, in the water baptism I received a baptism of repentance, but never was I baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit. A friend recommended this sermon by David Wilkerson (he wrote The Cross and the Switchblade).
The day I planned on watching this I had locked myself into my closet with my Bible and my highlighters. Two of my daughters had blessed me with turning my closet into a war room a couple months earlier. I had my kids watching The Chosen while I stayed in my closet focusing on Him and listening to the David Wilkerson sermon. I was pleading with the Lord because I was so hungry for Him. I wanted filled with His fire with His Spirit!! Near the end I stood with arms raised and heart open. Before I realized it there were foreign words coming out of my mouth. I just continued for as long as He allowed. I was worshipping and praising and thanking Him! To be honest, I never thought I’d be able to speak in tongues simply because I only know English and American Sign Language. And I don’t quite know how that works. I had a dear friend encourage me later because I told her I sound silly. And she was so loving and reminded my that I’m a baby and learning how to speak and to have grace for myself and to just keep practicing.
Now, what I’m doing is praying in tongues, not speaking, only praying. Just between me and the Lord and that is it. This is to edify myself not to edify the church. Plus, I personally don’t know anybody who interprets tongues. But then again, I had no idea I had so many friends who spoke in tongues and has been baptized in the Holy Spirit! I don’t even know what other gifts may be filling those I love.
Below is a dear friend of mine and I LOVE his story!!!
Right now, I have a big handful of friends I am praying over to be filled with the Spirit! If you would like prayer for this as well please message me! I am quickly filling a wall in my closet with names ?
If you, too, are eager please look into the books and sermons above. There is far too much to learn and glean from on this little blog post. Plus, pray and plead for Him to guide you! It was like He continually knocked on my heart.
There was a part of me that was simply irate that no pastor had ever shared this information before. Was lovingly reminded…
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
Proverbs 25:2
I understand that the enemy has made people feel foolish for having such gifts of tongues, or prophecy, or healings, or miracles or on and on. One thing I’ve always said is that if you’re comfortable in a church then you’re in the wrong place! If you simply read the New Testament it’s a whole lot of laying their lives down to make Him bigger. It was not comfortable. We need to repent if we have chosen self first and we need to be preparing for spiritual warfare!
One last thing: pay attention. That’s probably the best thing I can say right now. If you’re reading or listening and only half paying attention. Like when we endlessly scroll on social media. Stop it! Focus on God. If somebody is scrolling their phone while talking to you and they’re directly in front of you, you immediately know they don’t really care. Don’t do that to Him! HE LOVES YOU!!!! Sacrifice your comforts for Him. Pray for FIRE! ?
Blessings ?
