our friend, Holy Spirit.
The first encounter I had with the Holy Spirit was in May 2021 (as mentioned in my about me). It was like any other weekend. Memorial Day was approaching, and I was packing for my Seattle trip with my roommate and good friend. But for some reason, my soul was filled with sadness that day. I’m not sure why, but I felt particularly down. I was in my dream apartment, with the degree, job, and certificate I had worked so hard for. I had everything I thought my heart desired, yet I still felt empty. But while in that room, I remember "Champion" by Dante Bowe playing. I closed my eyes, began to weep, and decided to just spend some time with God. Suddenly, as I closed my eyes, a penetrating WHITE LIGHT filled them, and my hands began to raise on their own. The tears quickly turned to laughter as I felt peace, love, and joy—complete. It was as though my entire being was being lifted off the earth. It was like receiving a heavenly hug, better than any earthly pleasure I had ever known. I opened my eyes, and whoa... I was still on earth, but that experience marked the beginning of my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The next encounter I had with the Holy Spirit happened in January 2022. I had just returned from Nigeria and had been curious about speaking in tongues for some months. While I was in Nigeria, a prophet spoke over me, prophesied about my longing to speak in tongues, and laid hands on me and anointed me. But when I returned, I still couldn’t speak in tongues, and I felt SO discouraged. The enemy came at me with thoughts that I was a fraud. But about a week after I came home, I had a dream. In the dream, I was back in Nigeria, and the same prophet was speaking to me. He told me, "Speak!" (in tongues), and I replied, “I can’t.” So again, he says, “Speak!” And again, I reply, “I can’t!” This sequence happened a few more times. He then asked me, “Why?” and I said, “Because I’m too in my head, I’m too in my thoughts.” He then looked at me and said, “Speak in your thoughts.” In that moment, I started to hear tiny whispers in my head. It started light but then became louder and faster until it translated to my mouth! And y’all, I KID YOU NOT, MY MOUTH WAS MOVING LIKE A THOUSAND WORDS A MINUTE!!! I woke up from the dream, fully aware I was in my bedroom and I couldn’t move, but MY MOUTH WAS STILL MOVING SO FAST THAT MY ENTIRE BED WAS VIBRATING!!!! And no, not shaking like a seizure, but more like being plugged into an electrical socket—I was vibrating, and so was my bed! The sensation stopped, and I felt what I can only describe as a holy glow ✨ LOL. I had truly been touched by a supernatural God!!! I couldn’t believe what had just happened. It was around 6 am, and I needed to get out of the apartment and go for a walk to keep my sanity. There was a lake just outside, so I took a walk just to make sure I was still alive. But my God… when I got back, I decided to pray. During that time, my heavenly language arose, and I spoke in tongues for the very first time.
The encounters I had with the Holy Spirit remind me of the Book of Acts during Pentecost.
The Book of Acts is by far one of my favorite books in the Bible, and it’s a powerful reminder of the transformational work of the Holy Spirit, the importance of unity in the body of Christ, the reality of suffering for the gospel, and the overwhelming grace of salvation through Jesus Christ. As we live out our faith, may we embrace the call to intimacy with the Holy Spirit, stand firm on the truth of God’s Word, and remain faithful in the face of resistance. For, in the end, we are called to shine as lights in the world, just as Isaiah 60:1 declares: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."
Embracing the Holy Spirit and Walking in Unity
The Book of Acts presents a powerful testament to the movement of the Holy Spirit within the early church and its profound impact on believers' lives. One powerful story involves Peter, the same disciple who once denied Jesus, stood before the Sanhedrin, and was rebuked for his lack of faith when he sank while walking on water. Despite these failures, Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit, becoming a bold advocate for Christ. His journey teaches us that the Holy Spirit is not just a force but a person—someone we can grieve, lie to, or be empowered by. Being as analytical as I am, I struggled with this understanding. It wasn’t until I began to understand the personhood of the Holy Spirit and just talk to Him as a friend that a deeper revelation of this came.
A stark example of the Holy Spirit’s personhood is the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:3. They lied to the Holy Spirit about the money they received from selling property. Peter rebuked them for this deception, asking, "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" The consequence was immediate death, a vivid reminder of how seriously God takes our actions and intentions. This story emphasizes the importance of living with the understanding that God's Spirit dwells within us, guiding how we speak and act.
The Power of Unity
In Acts 2, we read about the powerful unity that marked the early church. On the day of Pentecost, the believers were gathered in one accord, and the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Acts 4:32 tells us that they were "of one heart and one soul," freely sharing their possessions. This unity was a catalyst for tremendous growth and impact. Imagine the Kingdom of God advancing when believers come together in true agreement! However, the Book of Acts also addresses a dangerous spiritual weapon—jealousy. In Acts 5:17-18, the Sadducees, filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles, revealing how jealousy can derail the mission of God. Whether it’s envying someone else’s spiritual gifts or their success, jealousy can be a killer. It's a pattern often seen in spiritual warfare, as seen in Acts 17:5, where jealousy stirs up mobs and disrupts the spread of the gospel.
Suffering and the Gospel
Western Christianity often paints a picture of Christianity that is easy, safe, and full of peace. However, Acts presents a much different reality. Being a follower of Christ involves suffering—a continual dying to self. In Acts 5:38-41, after being beaten for their faith, the apostles rejoiced, seeing their suffering as an honor. Similarly, in Acts 16:22-23, Paul and Silas are thrown into prison, but instead of cursing their fate, they pray and sing hymns. Suddenly, the ground shakes, and the prison doors are opened. This moment of suffering transforms into a breakthrough, as God's glory manifests, setting them free.
The Beauty of Grace and Salvation
In Acts 16:29-34, we witness the jailer’s conversion. The jailer, who had once been the one to imprison Paul and Silas, is now saved—along with his entire household. This powerful story demonstrates the grace of salvation, not just for one person but for their whole family. The jailer's call for lights in the dark prison is a metaphor for how Jesus, the true Light, illuminates our hearts in the darkness of sin. The beauty of this story is that salvation is not just a personal experience but one that can impact an entire household.
Grace through faith is a central theme in Acts 15. Here, Peter declares that the Gentiles are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the law. This moment redefines salvation for the entire world, demonstrating that God does not show favoritism. Just as Peter stood firm on the truth of God's Word, we are called to stand firm on the written Word of God, as Jesus did when He combated the devil with "It is written."
The Importance of Intimacy with the Holy Spirit
In Acts 19:2-6, Paul encounters believers who had only received John’s baptism, which was a baptism of repentance. He baptizes them in the name of Jesus, and they receive the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. However, speaking in tongues is not the definitive sign of being baptized with the Holy Spirit—intimacy with God is. Many Christians live without a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit, but our prayer should be to know Him intimately. Just as the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13 tried to cast out demons using the name of Jesus without truly knowing Him, we are warned against relying on the faith of others. We must experience Jesus for ourselves.
Embracing the Upper Room
In Acts 20:7-12, we encounter a powerful story of Eutychus, a young man who falls asleep during Paul’s long sermon and falls from a window, dying. But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, raises him from the dead. This story illustrates a generation that needs to experience the Upper Room—a place of intimacy and encounter with the Holy Spirit. Our hearts must be aligned with God’s heart, desiring to dwell in His presence daily, for it is in His presence that we find healing, breakthrough, and deliverance.
The Power of Midnight
Finally, there is something profound about the concept of midnight. I don’t know about you, but I was raised to be home by midnight. My mom would always say “nothing good ever happens after midnight.” In growing in fellowship with church and prayer groups I also learned that the hours between midnight and 3 am is referred to as the witching hour, it’s when the forces of darkness are being cast into the world. What’s unique is that in Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas’s midnight in prison turns into a moment of praise and worship, shaking the very foundation of their circumstances. What seemed like the darkest hour became a moment of breakthrough, as God’s glory filled the prison. As we walk through our own midnight moments—those seasons of darkness and bondage—we must remember that it is in those times that God can bring forth His greatest breakthroughs. Our praise and worship in the midst of suffering invites His manifest presence - His Spirit to bring freedom.
Every morning, I wake up and greet the Holy Spirit! And even though there are moments when I feel alone, I know deep down that I’m never truly alone. The Holy Spirit, my comforter and friend, is always guiding me and has truly become my bestie—though I’m sure He gets tired of me trying to do things my own way sometimes (tsk tsk). I ask Him what outfit we should wear to work, and sometimes I give Him suggestions, but it turns out He’s WAY better at fashion than I am, HA! I ask Him what He wants to eat, where He wants to go—and He always comes through with the best ideas. It might sound a little crazy, but hey, this is my reality! And if I’m crazy, well, like the Apostle Paul said, I’m crazy for the LORD! 🙌🏾
It’s my prayer that everyone experiences the baptism of the Holy Spirit and builds a relationship with Him. There’s nothing on earth that compares to it! Thank you, HOLY GHOST!!
Amen.
