I Know That God is Real, Part Two

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Jim Jarrell September 21, 2017 - Filed in Teachings - #Christian  #bible  #miracles  - 2,353 views

  I Know that God is Real, Part 2 from Jim Jarrell on Vimeo.

  My goal in doing this series is to allow everyone to see what God can do with just one life. Like I said before, there are so many people who say there is no evidence that God even exists. My life seems to be living proof that God can and will change a persons life!

  Everyone who heard the video that I did before should understand that we started attending this church regularly. Actually, almost every time the doors were open. I had no idea that the next three years would be a time of training sent from God Himself. I do understand how hard some of this is to believe, but all of this happened to me. So much of what I was taught has turned out to be untrue.

  Over the next two months or so, I heard a lot of teachings about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Acts 1:8; “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The Apostle Paul said in 1^st Corinthians 12:4-11; There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

  I not only heard the teachings but I saw the manifestation of these gifts more than one time. One thing that fascinated me was this pastor seemed to be able to manifest all of these gifts. In a personal conversation, I had the opportunity to ask him about this. I understood from reading this passage of scripture that these gifts were to be given to individuals. He explained to me that he believed that God had allowed him to demonstrate all of these gifts so that he would be able to teach on them. I do not think I have ever met anyone quite like this pastor.

  Over that time I received probably three or four prophetic words about becoming some kind of prophetic evangelist. This was very hard for me to understand. I knew who I had been before coming there and I truly did not understand that God calls the most unlikely people into His service. Then the pastor of this church started telling me that I would start to hear the voice of God. He must have told me this three times or so, but I have to confess that I really did not believe him.

  One Sunday morning we had a visiting speaker come. He was teaching on what the body of Christ needed and as he spoke the most unusual thing began to happen. Every time he would express what he saw the body needing, I heard another male voice say “enthusiasm”. The first time this happened, I looked around me to see who had said enthusiasm in a male voice. There was no one, I seemed to be surrounded by women. The very next time he said the body needed, I heard the voice say “enthusiasm” again. This time it scared me a little. This went on for the entire service, every time this guy would express the needs of the body of Christ, I would here the same voice say “enthusiasm”, it must have happen seven or eight times.

  As soon as the service was over, I went to the pastor’s office and closed the door. The last thing I wanted to happen was for some one to hear me talking with him about hearing voices. To say I was afraid is to put this mildly. As I told the pastor about my experience, he started to laugh. He said I told you that you were about to hear the voice of God. He asked me if anyone else had heard the voice and I told him I did not think so. He said, please go home, find the word enthusiasm used in your Bible and I would like for you to tell every one about your experience next Sunday. I had never spoken in front of a church before, to say that I was a little nervous does not do justice to how I felt. But I reluctantly agreed and went home. I wish everyone could have heard the conversation in our car on the way home. How do you tell your wife that you are hearing voices that can not be seen and no one else can hear?

  I was carrying an NIV translation of the Bible at the time. I not only found out that the word enthusiasm appeared only two times in the entire Bible, but it was used both times on the same page. I also found out that the word only appears in the only translation of the Bible that I was carrying, the NIV. It does not appear in any other translation into English that is out there. God really does know how to get ones attention.

  The following Sunday after worship, the pastor explained to the people there what had happened to me and asked me to come up and speak. Speaking to a group of people I had only known for 2 months was hard enough. But then I had to explain to them about hearing a voice that very few have ever heard, that took a few minutes. After explaining hearing the voice and what God had said, I read 2^nd Corinthians 8:16&17. The Apostle Paul wrote; “I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.” Then I went on to read 2^nd Corinthians 9:2; “For I know your eagerness to help, I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them into action.” I went on to explain what I think enthusiasm means, and how it change the atmosphere around us. I truly believe that God was saying if we want to see Him move, we should act like it. Our showing enthusiasm for Him must inspire Him some how.

  As I finished speaking that morning, I did the strangest thing. Without any forethought at all, I said; “Someone here this morning is suppose to baptize me in the Holy Spirit!” Those words just came out of my mouth, and a little lady on the second row said; “It’s me!” This little lady came up and laid her hands on my head and just started praying in a most unusual language. Sure enough, the Baptism happened, without any provocation, I started speaking in a language I had never learned. I had no idea how much that experience would change my life, but it opened up a new world to me. I hope in my heart that everyone listening to me will have that same experience. I can assure everyone that when this happens, you will never question is God real again.