My Salvation Experience
I love to through every detail of my testimony, but it's extremely long so I will hit the major spots.
Growing up, I didn't go to church very much, I grew up watching ESPN and watching sports on Sunday mornings! I worshiped sports. It was my idol, but I always felt a pull from the Lord during that time. As a child, I would look up at the stars and wonder "Who made this, and how did I get here?"
What will happen If you died tonight?
In my junior year of Highschool, I started reading the bible, not having a clue what it all meant. One scripture that resonated with me at that time was Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me."
I remember being in my parent's basement when "something" asked me a question, He said, "Where would you go If you died?" I answered "Heaven? Heaven........right?" There was such a dead silence after that.
Those were just some of the examples that began my journey of finding the Lord. I carried on in life still watching ESPN football, and sports, along with worldly music like Madonna, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, SWV, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, LL Cool J, TLC, Britney Spears, etc. I listen to every genre of music! I watched reality TV shows like “American Idol” and my favorite “I Love New York!”
One day in college, A friend of mine invited me to their church. My friend would always tell me to let go of worldly music and TV. He said it was not bringing me closer to God and its dead weight, but I loved it too much! I loved watching the VMAs every year on MTV, and watching my favorite artists perform! My friend also talked about speaking in other tongues, he said it was a gift from God! In my pride, I pretended to know what that was, didn’t want to admit I didn’t know something, I had such a competitive spirit!
Griping and Blaming God
I visited my friend’s church, and it was an interesting experience! I saw the Pastor speaking in an unknown language. I wasn’t taught about praying in other tongues! I had no clue about that! I left that service wanting this “gift!”
At home, I sat in my recliner chair crying, telling God how I never got anything out of this life, how life has been unfair to me!"God, I never get anything in this life! I've been hurt and rejected by life, people, and even You are rejecting me! I went on like this for about 5 minutes, feeling sorry for myself, and blaming God. Then I collected my tears, and said from my heart, "YOU ARE GOING TO BLESS ME! YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE ME THIS GIFT!" I wouldn't take NO for an answer! I had a determination about the matter. "Whatever I have to do to receive it, FINE! I decided to fast from worldly music and tv for a week! I figured I would go back to it after that. I did nothing but read my bible, pray, and did homework.
On the 6th day of my fast Saturday evening, I felt different and changed I no had a desire for worldly things anymore. I saw in my heart that if I wanted to want to walk with God, I can’t hold on to the world and expect to receive! We must choose today whom we will serve! There is a pull on both sides, and will force you to choose one or the other! I decided in my heart that day to never go back to those things, and I haven’t in 13 years. I tell people today that I don’t watch helly-vision, and I don’t miss it!
My first encounter with the Holy Spirit
Sunday morning came, and I went to that church for the second time. The Pastor called a line for people who wanted to be prayed for. My friend nudged me to go, and I leaped eagerly out of my seat! The Pastor prayed for me, and I didn’t feel a thing, but I still believed I received whatever there was to receive! After service in the car going to work, I started laughing for no reason! I tried to contain myself because I felt stupid just laughing hilariously for no reason!
I went to work, and the laughing didn’t stop! I could hardly contain myself, before finally reaching the bathroom late that night. I looked around in the bathroom first, checking for people, and finally broke out into laughter! I started to weep and weep, then out of my spirit without thinking or premeditating these words, I said “OHA! This is the Holy Spirit!" I kept crying, and I thought I looked crazy and ridiculous just sitting on the floor crying and carrying on, what If someone would barge in and see me like this? I got up and went to the stall. As soon as I close the door, seconds later I felt a strong surge like a rushing river come from my belly to my vocal cords and my mouth!! Like something was trying to get out! I didn’t understand at first what was going on, and I quench it! The second time this happen, I realized that this was the supernatural language, and started speaking out the words in an unknown language!!
I spoke in tongues hard and fast! I felt like I could have prayed there for 3 hours straight or all night! I spoke fluently like I’ve been praying for years! Then minutes later the devil started talking to me in my mind. He said, “that’s of the devil!” “This is demonic!” I said in my heart “well I’m gonna just keep speaking anyway, I’ll worry about that later! This feels good, so I’ll deal with that later!” I spoke these words out of my spirit, it was my very first tongue interpretation “Je-su-s Chr-is-t is Lord, Je-sus Chr-is-t is Lord! I went home happily, praying in other tongues and interpreting it!
