Memoir: The day I spoke in tongues…for the first time.

​

The baptism of the Holy Spirit with the  evidence of speaking in tongues is a new testament experience that I craved for for a very long time. As one who was born into the church, I had heard and seen people speak in the heavenly languageas well as read and heard of so many testimonies that happened because they prayed in the spirit. I had also been taught in church and other christain gatherings of the benefits of speaking in tongues. When i became saved in september 2013, i began craving for this gift that the Lord has for His children. I went for altar calls of those in need of the baptism and other prayer gatherings. However, i still could not speak in tongues. At a time, i tink i was even trying to manipulate the Holy Spirit to baptise me(one of those funny things we do to get this baptism) but it did not work. I wrote of one of my very funny experiences here.  Many other times of trying to speak and asking and praying but still it didnt happen until one day…

It happened in my second year during my ND program at Yabatech. Pastor Kumuyi was coming to Yaba area for a program and the sports complex of my school was the venue. All campus fellowships’ workers and excos were to be available to assist the church with whatever help we could render. As such, they held a pre-program for us to get us ready and tell us our duties during the day. The pre-Program was on a friday which was two days before the main program.

I went to market that evening to buy some stuff and returned just when the pre-program was about to start. I wanted to just go back to my hostel, cook my food, eat and sleep but i met the president of another fellowship who was kinda my freind and she told me to mk sure i come that she wants to see me there. So i obeyed. Went up, dropped everything i bought, picked up my bible and went to the chapel. (I purposely did nt take a scarf even though i knew it was a deeper life program i was going for. I wasnt in the mood for the program). 

In the chapel, the pre-program which i thought would be all about talks and strategies was turned to a prayer meeting. The cordinator began by praying, then asked us all to pray. He raised some prayer points and at a time, he began praying in the spirit. The atmosphere was charged and people were screaming in prayer, some falling under some annointing. But me, i just knelt down where i was staying and continued praying. I didnt want o even ask for the baptism in the Holy Ghost then as i was not ready to fall down under the annointing that day. I just wanted a simple prayer and to get going. That period, i had so many problems in my relationships with so many people and i knew God wanted better from me. I was tired of the struggles i had in these relationships. I wanted to be better. So on my knees, i began asking God for a change of heart towards these people and to help me have better relationships. I was so sincere in my asking and soon i had teary eyes. The next thing, i began speaking something i couldnt decipher. It was a twin three syllable word. Then i spoke longer words. I continued speaking as i could not even stop. Oh what joy. God was baptizing me with His Holy Spirit and I didnt have to fall and roll on the floor and there would never be any need for that again. Haha. I kept speaking and praying. And i felt a release in my spirit. A release concerning all my relationship problems. I knew God was addresing that issue. I felt light inside me. The prayer was long and i prayed and prayed until the prayer session ended. I was blessed. Then the cordinator gave a ljttle talk about our roles on the d-day. 

As i left the chapel, i thanked God for making me obey to be present and wondered how long again i would have waited for this baptism if i didn’t attend that program that day. Two days later which was the day of the main program, i was very tired and needed to sleep cos i didnt sleep a wink the previous night. So i couldnt go for the main program. Later, God dropped it in me heart that the baptism was my birthday gift (my birthday was 20 days before the pre-program and i didnt even ask for that. Talk about a Father who gives good gifts to His children).  What a gift! 

Today, almost two years of being baptized, I am not where i want to be in my spiritual walk as regards praying in the spirit but im definitely better than when i started. Sometimes i stretch myself in prayers and other times i slack. But ive done myself good to surround myself with people who constantly remind me  that im to improve in that area and so i put myself to the task. 

Lessons learnt:

1. Obedience is priceless. You never know what God can do because you obeyed. 

2. Focusing more on God yields so many great return. I just wanted to be better at showing God’s love in my relationships. I asked for that with a sincere heart. I got more. 

Do you also crave for this baptism? It really takes a hunger for it plus a right heart. Dont relent. Keep craving. Keep asking. Keep praying. Its a gift to the children and God doesnt withhold good things from us. So you will get it. 

Do you have experiences of the Holy Spirit baptism and you? Pls share with us. 

Life made easy

It wasn’t the first day I would be looking for my calculator, and even on this day, it wasnt the first time I would be searching for it. I urgently needed my calculator. I was tired of using my phone to calculate figures. ‘Where could it be?’ I asked myself. I combed through the house beginning from my room, to my mom’s room (although i knew there was no way it was going to be there), to my brothers’ room, my little library. Still no sign of a calculator. Once again, I searched all my bags and still saw nothing. I went to my mom’s room again. This time, i was fed up. I sunk my neck, made a pleading face and said, ‘Please Holy Spirit, please show me where my calculator is. Please.’ And then i walked back to my room. On entering my room, I was about moving in the direction of my bags again but then I diverted to my reading table and my eyes wanted to go somewhere else when suddenly it just went to my pencil case on one of the compartments of the table. Then were my eyes ‘opened’ to see through the prints on the somewhat transparent pencil case and lo and behold, my calculator was right inside. I took it out and immediately lay on the floor and began thanking the Holy Spirit and the entire Godhead. I was so happy Ive found my calculator.
Why didnt I see it all this while? Though it was in my pencil case and staring at me the whole time. It was looking too flat and I thought it was some papers that were in it. I realised that it was that simple call/prayer for help made to the Holy Spirit that made the difference. I couldnt have seen it on my own. Nothing would have made me touch that pencil case if not for the Holy Spirit. That is just one of the many experiences I have had trying to figure things out by myself to no avail and then calling on Him and He made it all so easy.
Im glad I got Him. Most times, we just leave Him idle when He is actually meant to be working- helping us. We need to ask Him in our everyday lives and be very intentional about it. He is the perfect gift to mankind and im glad to reckon with Him. Truth is, if technology or education or civilisation was indeed all we needed to live a better, more meaningfull and fulfilling life here on earth, God would have given us that since Jesus was leaving this world. But He knew that the Holy spirit is just the perfect gift we need to live life easily and He gave Him to us right from that moment. And those who have let Him lead them in their life’s journey have had no regrets whatsoever and have enjoyed every step of the way. Of a truth, He has been an ever present helper at all times of need and He makes life sweet.
Do you desire to have a better, sweeter and easier life? One where you can smile through the entire journey? The Holy Spirit is just the right person you need on your boat as you sail this sea of life. Hi-technology, internet or education wont do you too much good but He will. Its guaranteed. Invite him today to be your comforter and helper and make sure you communicate frequently with Him. Even when you think He wont come through, He will. He never fails.