Unique Impressions of the Holy Spirit #1
From Pastor Murray Lincoln…
I have spoken of the Holy Spirit a number of times in this Blog. In our very beginning in Feb 2006 – I began to share intermittently of His work in revival.
In our prayer we sometimes ‘sign off’ by saying, “In the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit”. But He is far more than a rubber stamp at the end of an official request to God. For the most part His job as part of the Trinity is very quiet and unassuming. He is a person different from the other parts of God – unique and able. His main task is to draw people to and reveal people to The Father – God.
These short paragraphs will begin to describe the ways that we become aware of His work in our lives. Yet, even having said that; He is unseen. It is His work that we see – not Him.
In our church this fall we have been looking more closely at the Holy Spirit. While beginning this study I have invited different people to write out a testimony of how they encountered the Holy Spirit. For the next few postings our Blog will publish their stories.
Then most important things that can come from this adventure this fall is for you to have a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. Even as you read what has happened to each person – you will be encountering the Holy Spirit as well. No – you do not have to be a “church goer” or even attend church regularly to encounter the Holy Spirit. You may well have had this happen in your everyday life – and not even recognized it.
The first account is of Steve. I know Steve very well. Steve is a very big man and rides a motorcycle. He hangs with ‘motorcycle people’. Now let’s allow the Spirit to do His work. Steve – please take this space.
Steve speaks…
It was a cool March night as I was heading through the United States towards Maryland.
This trip was unlike any other, as I was counting down the miles to my own death. You see, things in my life had progressed to a point that life itself had become a no-win proposal.
The years of alcoholism and other abuses had taken a significant toll. Even before that a learning disability seemed to haunt every effort for success. Life no longer had meaning, or happiness, only the daunting reminders of inadequacy, despair and transgressions against others. Especially this night, for in the morning I would answer to authorities for further transgressions that would most assuredly remove the only thing of which I still possessed – liberty.
Through the night I thought of the childhood memories, the awkward teenage years, and a dawn into manhood that was plagued with heartache and disappointment. The thought of what was to occur filled my head, my parent’s reaction, those that knew me… They all seemed so distant so long ago as the miles clicked away. My destiny was an open piece of guardrail followed by a two hundred foot plunge onto a rocky embankment, peace at last.
At twenty miles… the emotions were felt rushing through my head like a whirlwind. The feeling of the end soon coming was overwhelming. I pulled onto a shoulder to sufficiently medicate myself for preparation for the uncontrolled acceleration and speed followed by the end.
As I had shut off the car and placed my head on the steering wheel the thoughts pulsed through my head and the realization came, I can actually do this.
I think everybody is hard wired to struggle and fight for every breath of life to the very end, nobody really wants to die. But for some life itself with its cruel inhumane tendencies become simply too much and we cannot see a way to continue.
In the darkness, that lonely spaceless void I could feel death so near, so chilling. “I don’t know if there is a God, but if there is I need you right now” The words came from my mouth void of feeling or any emotion for that matter.
You see I was not expecting an answer, only the taunting of the still lonely darkness. But to my utter amazement, confusion, and bewilderment the answer came. Pictures flashed through my head… back when I was six accompanied by this feeling. That feeling, so hard to describe in fact quite impossible to articulate. The flashes continued through my life, so many times, so many people sent to me along the way. The answer was there all along; I was so blind trying in my own strength to find my own way and to heal my own hurts, navigate my own destiny. I had not realized and I had no idea that was the voice of a “Savior” that had already died for me so that I would have life, and not just life, but life more abundantly, a life with him.
God spoke to me in those moments….and I knew it would be alright – from then on. I continued on the journey south. I met with the authorities and confessed my “sin”. Miraculously – they let me go. I returned to Canada and home. In Canada I confessed. I was charged and convicted for what I did wrong. I really don’t want to dwell on the ‘crime’. The story is too long to tell here – but God intervened over and over again – and I am today free! Completely FREE… WOW!
I do want to say that on March 11, 1986 at 2:45 A.M., on a country road somewhere in Maryland, I traded in a worthless life in total chaos for a life with Jesus Christ and a joy that has proven to surpass all understanding. That night I felt myself die and also felt a resurrected life begin as the Holy Spirit entered my very being. I was changed forever.
Pause to explain….
You see there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is based on the world, your own situation in life. Joy is this amazing God given peace that passes all understanding and comprehension always there even in the worst of situations.
Continuing the story…
I opened my eyes and the sun was bright, the birds were singing a new song and so was I. I was with him most of the night, but it just seemed like a few minutes.
It is so hard to believe that was over twenty years ago, so much has happened. Legal issues were resolved, a marriage took place and that joy, that amazing joy continued.
Six months after giving my life to God I knew that I had been called to Christian Ministry and I did attempt to fulfill that call by way of distance education.
You know it is funny we keep asking God “please reveal to me your plan for me” We seem to act as if only God would show us, we could accomplish what he would ask. We seem disappointed when he does not grant our request in the way we think the message should come. I now realize if we know what he is going to do we will just get in the way. We need to walk with him every day. Through the journey, the experiences, desires and direction of his voice we find the desires of our hearts in Christ. But that starts every day by just coming to Christ as a willing vessel, a container desiring him and open to doing what he truly desires to do with us and through us.
The attempt was made, the learning disability was still evident failure became evident and I simply gave up. This time I had an amazing Lord that just comforted me, brought me closer to him and continued to reassure me this was not failure but part of an amazingjourney. I had learned early that we are not called to accept Christ and go back to the mundane. We have been called to go on an amazing journey an incredible adventure with Jesus Christ and on March 11, 1986 that’s exactly what started. All of this was fine except for one simple thing when I stopped theological training I removed from my heart a seed that he planted that cool March night so long ago and still the calling lingered.
I recently read about a discovery of a small leather pouch that contained some seeds that were carbon dated back some twenty five thousand years. As an experiment, scientists planted two of those seeds and they not only germinated they actually grew. Isn’t amazing that God would take a seed removed for twenty years and just bless it and make it grow and bring it to full maturity.
Over the past two years I took the seed I had removed from heart and placed it back in the Lords fertile soil. It is amazing that He is doing the same with the seeds planted in me.
If you would have asked me two years ago if I would consider to once again take the educational steps required to become a Pastor, I would have certainly answered with a resounding NO!
Over the past twenty years I have come to really know God through his word. God sent me amazing Pastors that were not consumed by the trap of wanting to please people and just be liked, tell captivating stories, and yield to the temptation to fill the pews. But instead, to wholeheartedly teach the living word of God. That Word, that living Word has changed my life forever and brought me in close fellowship with Christ.
But still I have that sense of total inadequacy, knowing that I am the least of those that have received my particular calling. The Lord has shown me over the past number of years it is in that weakness of my own inadequacies and by being a useable vessel… that in that weakness his power will be perfected. Simply not by my own strength and power but by being dependant on Christ, with no other earthly explanations, I will fulfill God’s plan for my life and compete the race with his grace.
So now the next chapter opens, and the journey continues.
Steve
Addendum…from March 11, 1986 on…
Later in my journey I would learn about an amazing God given grace. By its very definition means undeserved favour, to understand grace is to understand the total and complete love that God has for us, and is the beginning of understanding salvation in Jesus Christ. The biggest misconception I made in life was to think that I would be judged based on my deeds either found worthy to get into heaven, or found wanting. I had not realized that in fact we all have a decision to make in life. We will choose to open this incredible gift of salvation and live a life with God right here and now. Or we will choose to live a life on our own, a life separated from God. In that choice we make in life we will live out in eternity. The Lord told me many things in that time and he had shown me certain aspects for the plan for my life, but I didn’t comprehend it at all. I just wanted to bask in that amazing light, that amazing presence, that amazing love.
I have spoken of the Holy Spirit a number of times in this Blog. In our very beginning in Feb 2006 – I began to share intermittently of His work in revival.
In our prayer we sometimes ‘sign off’ by saying, “In the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit”. But He is far more than a rubber stamp at the end of an official request to God. For the most part His job as part of the Trinity is very quiet and unassuming. He is a person different from the other parts of God – unique and able. His main task is to draw people to and reveal people to The Father – God.
These short paragraphs will begin to describe the ways that we become aware of His work in our lives. Yet, even having said that; He is unseen. It is His work that we see – not Him.
In our church this fall we have been looking more closely at the Holy Spirit. While beginning this study I have invited different people to write out a testimony of how they encountered the Holy Spirit. For the next few postings our Blog will publish their stories.
Then most important things that can come from this adventure this fall is for you to have a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. Even as you read what has happened to each person – you will be encountering the Holy Spirit as well. No – you do not have to be a “church goer” or even attend church regularly to encounter the Holy Spirit. You may well have had this happen in your everyday life – and not even recognized it.
The first account is of Steve. I know Steve very well. Steve is a very big man and rides a motorcycle. He hangs with ‘motorcycle people’. Now let’s allow the Spirit to do His work. Steve – please take this space.
Steve speaks…
It was a cool March night as I was heading through the United States towards Maryland.
This trip was unlike any other, as I was counting down the miles to my own death. You see, things in my life had progressed to a point that life itself had become a no-win proposal.
The years of alcoholism and other abuses had taken a significant toll. Even before that a learning disability seemed to haunt every effort for success. Life no longer had meaning, or happiness, only the daunting reminders of inadequacy, despair and transgressions against others. Especially this night, for in the morning I would answer to authorities for further transgressions that would most assuredly remove the only thing of which I still possessed – liberty.
Through the night I thought of the childhood memories, the awkward teenage years, and a dawn into manhood that was plagued with heartache and disappointment. The thought of what was to occur filled my head, my parent’s reaction, those that knew me… They all seemed so distant so long ago as the miles clicked away. My destiny was an open piece of guardrail followed by a two hundred foot plunge onto a rocky embankment, peace at last.
At twenty miles… the emotions were felt rushing through my head like a whirlwind. The feeling of the end soon coming was overwhelming. I pulled onto a shoulder to sufficiently medicate myself for preparation for the uncontrolled acceleration and speed followed by the end.
As I had shut off the car and placed my head on the steering wheel the thoughts pulsed through my head and the realization came, I can actually do this.
I think everybody is hard wired to struggle and fight for every breath of life to the very end, nobody really wants to die. But for some life itself with its cruel inhumane tendencies become simply too much and we cannot see a way to continue.
In the darkness, that lonely spaceless void I could feel death so near, so chilling. “I don’t know if there is a God, but if there is I need you right now” The words came from my mouth void of feeling or any emotion for that matter.
You see I was not expecting an answer, only the taunting of the still lonely darkness. But to my utter amazement, confusion, and bewilderment the answer came. Pictures flashed through my head… back when I was six accompanied by this feeling. That feeling, so hard to describe in fact quite impossible to articulate. The flashes continued through my life, so many times, so many people sent to me along the way. The answer was there all along; I was so blind trying in my own strength to find my own way and to heal my own hurts, navigate my own destiny. I had not realized and I had no idea that was the voice of a “Savior” that had already died for me so that I would have life, and not just life, but life more abundantly, a life with him.
God spoke to me in those moments….and I knew it would be alright – from then on. I continued on the journey south. I met with the authorities and confessed my “sin”. Miraculously – they let me go. I returned to Canada and home. In Canada I confessed. I was charged and convicted for what I did wrong. I really don’t want to dwell on the ‘crime’. The story is too long to tell here – but God intervened over and over again – and I am today free! Completely FREE… WOW!
I do want to say that on March 11, 1986 at 2:45 A.M., on a country road somewhere in Maryland, I traded in a worthless life in total chaos for a life with Jesus Christ and a joy that has proven to surpass all understanding. That night I felt myself die and also felt a resurrected life begin as the Holy Spirit entered my very being. I was changed forever.
Pause to explain….
You see there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is based on the world, your own situation in life. Joy is this amazing God given peace that passes all understanding and comprehension always there even in the worst of situations.
Continuing the story…
I opened my eyes and the sun was bright, the birds were singing a new song and so was I. I was with him most of the night, but it just seemed like a few minutes.
It is so hard to believe that was over twenty years ago, so much has happened. Legal issues were resolved, a marriage took place and that joy, that amazing joy continued.
Six months after giving my life to God I knew that I had been called to Christian Ministry and I did attempt to fulfill that call by way of distance education.
You know it is funny we keep asking God “please reveal to me your plan for me” We seem to act as if only God would show us, we could accomplish what he would ask. We seem disappointed when he does not grant our request in the way we think the message should come. I now realize if we know what he is going to do we will just get in the way. We need to walk with him every day. Through the journey, the experiences, desires and direction of his voice we find the desires of our hearts in Christ. But that starts every day by just coming to Christ as a willing vessel, a container desiring him and open to doing what he truly desires to do with us and through us.
The attempt was made, the learning disability was still evident failure became evident and I simply gave up. This time I had an amazing Lord that just comforted me, brought me closer to him and continued to reassure me this was not failure but part of an amazingjourney. I had learned early that we are not called to accept Christ and go back to the mundane. We have been called to go on an amazing journey an incredible adventure with Jesus Christ and on March 11, 1986 that’s exactly what started. All of this was fine except for one simple thing when I stopped theological training I removed from my heart a seed that he planted that cool March night so long ago and still the calling lingered.
I recently read about a discovery of a small leather pouch that contained some seeds that were carbon dated back some twenty five thousand years. As an experiment, scientists planted two of those seeds and they not only germinated they actually grew. Isn’t amazing that God would take a seed removed for twenty years and just bless it and make it grow and bring it to full maturity.
Over the past two years I took the seed I had removed from heart and placed it back in the Lords fertile soil. It is amazing that He is doing the same with the seeds planted in me.
If you would have asked me two years ago if I would consider to once again take the educational steps required to become a Pastor, I would have certainly answered with a resounding NO!
Over the past twenty years I have come to really know God through his word. God sent me amazing Pastors that were not consumed by the trap of wanting to please people and just be liked, tell captivating stories, and yield to the temptation to fill the pews. But instead, to wholeheartedly teach the living word of God. That Word, that living Word has changed my life forever and brought me in close fellowship with Christ.
But still I have that sense of total inadequacy, knowing that I am the least of those that have received my particular calling. The Lord has shown me over the past number of years it is in that weakness of my own inadequacies and by being a useable vessel… that in that weakness his power will be perfected. Simply not by my own strength and power but by being dependant on Christ, with no other earthly explanations, I will fulfill God’s plan for my life and compete the race with his grace.
So now the next chapter opens, and the journey continues.
Steve
Addendum…from March 11, 1986 on…
Later in my journey I would learn about an amazing God given grace. By its very definition means undeserved favour, to understand grace is to understand the total and complete love that God has for us, and is the beginning of understanding salvation in Jesus Christ. The biggest misconception I made in life was to think that I would be judged based on my deeds either found worthy to get into heaven, or found wanting. I had not realized that in fact we all have a decision to make in life. We will choose to open this incredible gift of salvation and live a life with God right here and now. Or we will choose to live a life on our own, a life separated from God. In that choice we make in life we will live out in eternity. The Lord told me many things in that time and he had shown me certain aspects for the plan for my life, but I didn’t comprehend it at all. I just wanted to bask in that amazing light, that amazing presence, that amazing love.
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
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