I share a similar experience, but never considered it "filling". I was away on business and attended an Episopal church next to the building I was doing work in. The service was quite impressive, with the processional and all, but during the singing of several hymns the tears were just streaming down my cheeks. I was recalling the crucifixion of Christ, the great sacrifice that he made on our behalf. I looked around, and no one else seemed to be tearing up, so I felt a bit out of place, wondering what someone might think if they saw me, like maybe I was in crisis and needed some intervention, or something. Anyway, it certainly was an faith confirming and affirming experience.
Perry
From: Terry Clifton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Getting to know you. Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 16:01:48 -0600
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 3/28/2004 7:04:26 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Hey John:
Having been in the same predicament in my early years, I think the term "target" is a vivid and accurate description of your experience. Could you perhaps define this filling that you experienced afterward? It might be that many of us have experienced the same thing but are unable to put a name on it or describe it.
I assume that God is the senior partner?
Yes, God is the senior partner. As so many of these testimonies go, my filling came unexpectedly. After I left the church service, I got in my little Camaro and started down the drive to the main street some 100 years away. I became so overcome with emotion, that I had to pull over and wait. The biblical word is "filling" that is exactly what it was -- / I was simply full of emotion. / Being macho is or was a big deal to me. Emotions are always resisted. But no more. In fact, I cannot be involved in a song service with any dynamic to it at all without being overcome -- filled . Eph 5:18-19 talks of being filled with the Spirit when we sing and make melody. I believe that tongues is a present time gift, but not for me. Filling, however, is an occurance that is intended for us and happens to more ooften than we know.
there were no lights, no warm feeling, no great sense of peace -- you know, all the things you so often hear (and I am not challenging those things). It was like I had been hit with a ton of bricks -- I am driving, I get emotional, I am overcome with those emotions, I pull over and wait -- spending that time talking with God and things in regard to filling have been different ever since (Dec. 1997 -- almost exactly 40 years after my baptism as a 12 year old, Dec. 27, 1957).
I was one of those guys who thought I needed tongues. I did everything known to modern man to receive that gift. Lance talks about bias and how it relates to what we believe. Well, since not receiving that gift, I look at some scriptures very differently than I used to. Anyway, I don't want to get too wordy. Does his answer your question?
John
Yes, it does, and I appreciate your honesty and openness. If it were proper for a Christian to envy, I would envy your ability to get such a filling from a sermon or a song. I guess I am just not built along those lines. Compared to me, Mr. Spock of Star Wars fame would be an emotional person. Normally, I just have to take God's word as truth and let it go at that. There is never an accomanying feeling . If He says I am saved, I accept that as a fact, even though I may not feel anything that validates or enhances the statement. There are a couple of exceptions to the foregoing however. On two occasions I have felt absolutly compelled to go and tell someone about our Lord and attempt to win them to Christ. On both occasions, the individual made Jesus their Savior, and I wanted to jump up and down and praise the Lord for seeing fit to use me as His messenger. That is unusual for me. Both those men are dead now. I look forward to seeing them again some day.
I wouldn't worry about the tongues thing. Paul said it was the least important of all the gifts. Thanks again,
Terry
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page – FREE download! http://toolbar.msn.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
