My experiences with a living God began to change me. I’d known about God all my life, but now I’d directly experienced his presence and power for myself. My faith no longer rested on someone else’s experience.
I felt so excited, I wanted to tell everyone, especially my husband Jerry. But somehow I sensed that I wasn’t to say much about my encounter with the Holy Spirit. For the next few months I went quietly about my life.
During this time, the Bible became alive to me; I couldn’t seem get enough of it. Even Deuteronomy! My prayers changed, they carried more confidence and authority. I enjoyed singing aloud to God in my kitchen or my car—even though I couldn’t carry a tune (I’d inherited my Mother’s off-key warble). God didn’t seem to mind: his presence seemed so near, so real to me.
I carried more vitality and more joy. My steps seemed lighter. I felt a new peace, a new strength, and a new power within me. Life held more meaning and purpose, in spite of our son’s illness. Seven months went my, then one day my husband suddenly said, “You know, you are different; I want what you have.”
Right then, we knelt by our sofa and prayed for Jesus to baptize him in the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit fell 
upon him in a powerful way: he bolted backwards in a somersault and came up praising God in a strange new language. It was the changes in me that caused my husband to desire more from God—not my words.
Our hearts filled with joy because we knew God was at work in our lives. Our Christian walk was no longer an external practice of religion but a real and living day-to-day experience. We were learning to look to God in everything—like when my car wouldn’t start (see my blog, God Fixes Cars).
- A true Christian is one who has seen, heard, sensed and lived Christ. Either we have direct experience, a personal encounter with the risen Christ, or we have nothing. (Father Tony DeMello)
- We cannot consider ourselves to know something unless we have experienced it. (Psychiatrist, M. Scott Peck)
Spiritual foundation: the new birth experience
When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior through faith, we receive the “Spirit of Christ.” Our own spirit is quickened and made alive (Romans 8:9-10). The new birth experience takes place in our spirit. God grants us his uncreated life so that our spirit may come alive and we can connect with our Creator once again.
God’s work begins without exception within us, from the center to the circumference. God aims to renew our darkened spirit by imparting his life to it, because it is this spirit which God originally designed to receive His life and to commune with Him.
Christianity has to do with not only the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, but the work of the Holy Spirit inside us. This is key. In Christianity, transformation occurs through the indwelling Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit working inside a person, not by us trying to be good.
Spiritual foundation: the baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism in the Holy Spirit involves a filling or immersion into God’s power and authority and the capability of functioning with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is received through faith, the same way we accept Jesus Christ to be our Savior.
Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…(Acts 2:38-39).
First, we need to ask God to baptize us in the Holy Spirit: “Ask, and it shall be given to you” (Luke 11:9). Second, we need to apply our faith, believing that what we asked for, we have received. St. Paul explains that we receive the Spirit “by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2).
Questions: What effect has God had on your soul? What meaning and purpose has He brought into your life?
Interesting title, Judith. Many people think in terms of the power of God rather than the God of power. Thanks for the post.
Nice insight