Faithwoman

Ok, so on my second day at work, a girl I worked with who is a Christian invited me to prayer evening at her church. With all the stress I was under, I thought how super! I can go and relax and talk with God.

I got directions to the church. It started at 6:00 Pm. It was a huge , beautiful church. I found a seat. The music started playing which was nice, then I heard all of this .. I call it muttering.. there were some men walking around the church muttering.. well I believe they must have been speaking in tongues.. I kept hearing all these strange things. As I sat with my eyes closed and tried to concentrate on praying, I just kept hearing all of this. I opened my eyes and looked around. There were people wandering up and down the aisles.. these men kept "talking"..

I could not relax.. or concentrate on my prayers to the Lord.. For the last 15 minutes.. they gathered in a large circle. The Pastor gave some praises and thanks.. and others gave praises and such and these men were still saying these strange things.. The Pastor then said as he was praying he felt there were some folks in the room praying for relief of pain. Two women stepped forward.. one had a migraine all day.. the Pastor put his hand on her neck and said yes I feel it and so does God.. now feel God release the pain..here he is.. and he was saying oh yes god.. etc.. he said I feel it being released don't you.. he then told the woman to turn her neck side to side.. and she did and said it was better.

The other woman had back and leg pain.. again he placed her hand on her back and told her to relax and feel God in her.. he kept praying and then he had another woman come up and put her hands on both sides of this woman.. he then had her bend forward.. she kept stretching.. she said the grinding was not as bad.. he then had her walk back and forth across the room.. then had her run.. she said it felt better. As he walked back to the front of the church.. he was praying and a few times spoke in tongue. I guess that is what is was. I had never heard it before..

It was sooooooooooo strange.. First of all, I thought I read somewhere or heard.. that some people are given the gift of speaking in tongues.. however there is suppose to be an interpreter? I did not think it was for show? .. this was so bizarre! I am not judging.. I just observed..

Funny as I sat there.. I kept hearing a voice in my head that was saying Get up.. I thought I am not getting up and walking around.. after I got home.. I really think the voice of saying Get up.. was telling me to Get up and leave...

Ok so I experienced this different prayer evening.. It is not something I will go back to.. I would not take my family there as it was strange and different.. I was invited to go to another church in the city.. I came right out and asked the woman if they speak in tongues there and she said yes.. when the Pastor tells people to go in their prayer mode.. there are some that speak in tongue.. she said her husband was blessed with this gift.. but she was not..

Ok Bondman.. can you please explain to me what the heck was going on?
This is the wild story I told you I had to tell.

Thanks!
Robin

Faithwoman

SweetSurrender

Ephesians Ch 4
21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

So this is ACTION that WE have to take!!

I think I found the answer I asked about Holiness was in the above-verses. But I don't think, according to your answer, Bondman, we can actually become Holy in this life. Only when we meet Jesus in person when we live with Him in Heaven. Thanx for these posts.

FaithWoman, sounds like this church was a little confusing. Only the members understand what is going on. I wonder what denomination it was. The name of the church, and if any actual teaching went on there.

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"Do not imagine that you must comprehend or understand it all before you seek and find it. For those who wait on Him, God will do more than they can conceive." Andrew Murray

Faithwoman

I removed the name of the church that I had orginally put here .. per a PM of Bondman.. ..

Bondman

I perfectly understand what Robin has written. However I'm choosing not to answer here because no matter what I think or said it could upset someone, and in so doing breach CFS Rule 3, and specifically Rule 3b of this very best of Christian forums that I've ever found, and whose rules I agree with and will always strictly adhere to.

3.2b ChristianForumSite.com has a wide variety of members from around the World. This Forum does not allow the elevation of one Christian belief system over another. This is a violation of Regulations 3.1 and 3.2 in demeaning and belittling the beliefs of other Christians while promoting another system so as to create an atmosphere of superiority. Any such posts or threads will be removed and a reminder, warning or ban issued as necessary.

I've sent a PM to Robin aimed at helping her with her concerns and upset. Any other folks who may feel similar or have queries are absolutely free to PM me.

Aside from that, may I please ask that there be no further posts on the subject.

Thanks!

- BM

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Faithwoman

Thank you! I removed the name of the church from post 604.. thank you for the reminder of the rules..

Robin

Bondman

Excellent, hon! This is protecting our forum and all the good people here to the very best of our ability.

- BM

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Staples1973

this reminds me of an experience i had aprox 18 mnths ago. my normal church i consider conservative in prayer type etc so when i went along and expereinced adiff church where they prayed in tongue i was to say the least taken back

i often think of that experience and now 18mnths later im tempted to go back and experience it again

Bondman

I can see what you're saying, hon, but holiness, righteousness and godliness are very closely related, and we CAN have a measure of these before heaven. In fact we MUST, cos we're commanded to be holy as He is holy! - and God's not in the habit of commanding something that's utterly impossible for us! We just need HIM. HE is holy. He lives in me. In as much than as I allow Him to live out that life in/through me, then I have holiness!!

I agree that ultimately we'll be holy as God is holy when we've stepped through death into eternity with Him. That's what I look forward to! But meantime, it's our duty of LOVE to Him to get as much right-living/righteousness - similar to holiness - into our lives as we possibly can!

THAT will please Him greatly!!

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Bondman

TONGUES

Let's please drop commenting on this subject for the time being, as this can be contentious and upsetting to different folks here.

I will do my very best soon to do a message from the NT on this subject so we can get as balanced a view and understanding of this - that we may all keep the BONDS OF LOVE here in The Inner Room.

THANKS GUYS!

- BM

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