Happy Birthday to Me!!!

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        Today is my birthday and I turn four. Yes, you read that correctly, four. 
        Four years ago today, I had an unexpected encounter with the Holy Spirit. That encounter, which started on a Friday evening and continued throughout the weekend, started me on a journey to discover the "more" of God.

        For me, it was an amazing revelation, that throughout the years, I had ignored, rejected, or credited Holy Spirit encounters to other events in my life. But that night, He was sneaky. He used the life story of a young man named Seth Dahl to catch my attention. And through that man's testimony, made me realize that God loves me and has pursued me through space and time in order to have a relationship with me.

        Did you know that the Creator God of the universe is pursuing you? He wants a relationship with you? He is patient and He is kind. because He is love.

        I had resisted this crazy Pentecostal or Charismatic experience because I didn't think it was real. Somehow I had placed a value on my Methodist/Wesleyan upbringing as the "real deal". But you know something? I found out, shortly after that weekend, that both of the Wesley brothers had had powerful Holy Spirit encounters in 1738 that changed their lives and their ministries forever. This Pentecostal or Charismatic life was very "Wesleyan".

        Several months after my encounter, I had lunch with a pastor friend, Richard Neusch. He taught me a very important lesson that day. Our Christian pursuit is not about whether we are Charismatic or non-Charismatic, it is about our identity - primarily our identity as children of God the Father.

        This seemed like a "duh" statement, but the more I reflected on what Richard had said, the more I realized that I had never thought of God in that way. Somehow, I had always seen God as unreachable, untouchable seated on His throne way up high, with a lightning bolt in one hand. He may very well control the lightning, but that is a Jovian or Zeusian view of our God.

        Jesus taught us to pray in this way, "Our Father...", not, "His Father". I know that some who read this may not have known their earthly father or may have had a poor relationship with their earthly father. But, I also know that we can have a perfect relationship with our heavenly Father. For me, this is one of the best parts of the Gospel (or good news) message - that Jesus came to restore my relationship with the Father in heaven.

        On that weekend four years ago, Seth made a very profound statement about the Bible. He said if you read the Bible but don't know the author then put the Bible down and go get to know the author. Please don't misunderstand what Seth said. He never said that the Bible is unimportant or to disregard the Bible. But if you're reading and studying the Word and you don't have a relationship with God - you're relationship with Him is much more important. Once I learned that and started to apply it in my life, I found that when I did read and study my Bible, that God was there with me - opening my eyes to His teaching. Opening my heart to His heart. I started encountering Jesus in parts of the Bible that don't even mention His name.

        There is more to God than what many of us have experienced. There is more to God than Sunday School and Sunday Service. There is more to God than potluck suppers and mission trips. All of these are important, but if you don't know the Author, please take time to put the book down and go get to know Him.

        I had always heard stories about people who had radical conversion moments and thought I could never have one because I grew up in the church. But four years ago today, Holy Spirit grabbed hold of my heart and filled me with such intense joy that I didn't want to let go. But John Wesley was just shy of his 35th birthday when he encountered the Holy Spirit and younger brother Charles was just 30 when he had his encounter - and they were both professional ministers!

        I also believe that having such an encounter with the Holy Spirit isn't a "once-and-done" event. If you read the book of Acts carefully, the Holy Spirit came several times and filled the same believers over and over. This is another example of the "more of God".

        If you have never had such an encounter, I pray that God would reach out and fill you to overflowing with His love and goodness. If you have had an encounter, but didn't realize it was God, I pray that God would do it again. If you have had an encounter then I pray that God would renew you and refresh you with the power of His Holy Spirit.

        I am thankful to God for patiently and lovingly pursuing me throughout time and using people like Seth and Richard to guide me and teach me.

        I may be a crazy Charismatic now, but remember, it's not about the signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts - it is first and foremost about my identity as a child of God - a son. And God has filled me to the point where I can no longer be quiet about His goodness - I must be about my Father's business.

        If you would like to read more about my conversion night, please read about it on my blog.

        If you would like to learn more about my journey and how you can come along - please private message me.

May God bless you on your personal journey to experience and encounter His "more".

Your brother in Christ,

~~Ken

P.S. To learn more about Seth, please visit his website - SethDahl.com
To learn more about Richard and True Life Fellowship, please visit TrueLifeRR.org