Today marks 53 years since a very special event in my life. It was a Sunday night--I was fifteen-years-old. We lived in Perth Amboy, New Jersey where my dad pastored Glad Tidings Assembly of God. We were in revival with A. N. and Blanche Trotter--(my aunt and uncle).
That night--a group of our relatives from North Jersey came down to the service and to visit with the Trotters afterward. My grandparents, Edward and Jessie May Garlock lived in a small apartment above our family's quarters in the church parsonage--next door to the church.
When the altar call was given by Brother Trotter, I was one of the first to find my way there. It was my custom to pray and "seek" Holy Spirit Baptism. I had done this since age seven. I was hungry for the experience, but very shy and guess I was waiting for God to hit me in the head with a lightening bolt and force me to speak in tongues.
I stayed on my knees, determined that I would receive that night. Slowly people got up from prayer and drifted out of the building, heading home. Eventually even my mother and grandparents, as well as my Aunt Blanche, left and went to the parsonage next door. My Uncles Eddie and Vic, Aunt Alice and some of my cousins wanted to visit with them before heading home. My cousin Eunice was the only one of that group that remained at the altar.
Even though I wasn't paying attention to who was around--as everyone filtered out, I felt no distractions. I was alone with God as His presence overshadowed me. The three still with me, even seemed to step back, allowing me this private time with Christ. (But, again, I was waiting for the aforesaid lightening bolt experience to hit.
And suddenly--as in Acts 2:2--He came "suddenly"--I was ushered into a realm beyond myself. I was fully conscious--I don't mean I had an out-of-the-body experience. No lightening bolt--but definitely a jolt of Holy Spirit awakening. Then, as promised in Isaiah, with "stammering lips" and "another tongue"--I spoke.
In this overpowering presence, I couldn't speak English if I wanted to. The stammering was indication that my human tongue was still holding back, and then finally I gave up and surrendered.
Surrendering to the will and power of God is something required on this Christian path if we are to be an effective witness. The Pentecostal experience, is poured out on those who hungrily seek to receive--and total surrender is necessary. Why it took me eight years to experience this--I don't know. I think I was looking for an earthly experience, something I could control, waiting for the Spirit of God to take away my control. Instead, He was waiting for me to surrender--that is when He can take control, and only then.
If you are reading my blog, thanks for taking the time to share this glorious experience with me on my 53rd year celebration. The power of the Holy Spirit is the same today as fifty-three years ago, and the same as He was on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's death and resurrection.
"And you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses..." Acts 1:8
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