Part 1. My testimony
Remembering The Glory!
In my early years of seeking God, there were times when Gods’ presence came so real and glorious. I didn’t understand what was actually taking place, but I clearly knew, it was real and wonderful. But that Holy presence didn’t stay, the joy and peace and happiness that would come over my heart, was un-describable. I had never meet anyone who was experiencing that same thing. However, I was told by several it wasn’t real, or it didn’t happen. Some implied that it was experience was a thing of the past, and not available to us anymore. My answer to them was, if I punched you in the nose, would you know it? Then I told you it wasn’t real, or didn’t happen, or that was a thing of the past and doesn’t happen anymore! Which would you believe? Your bleeding nose or my rhetoric? People didn’t like my answer, but the reality was there. It didn’t help when I couldn’t explain it, but I knew it was real. I kept seeking more of God, and those heavenly visits kept happening.
It was during this time, someone recommended to me reading a book called “they knew their God” by Edwin and Lillian Harvey. It turned out to be a set of six short books. Each book recorded different peoples experience with God. Each person possessed a power and a relationship with God, that others could not understand. And they all were experiencing exactly what I was trying to get people to discover for themselves! I was greatly impressed and encouraged by their stories!
Another thing that spoke to me was their testimonies started around the year 1308 and up until 1968! WOW!
THAT had my attention! (I only have the first 4 volumes) WWW.harveycp.com.
It was starting to look like those experiences were truly a thing of the past. But that didn’t answer the question of how come I was experiencing it now? I really did not know. But I was convinced it was till happening today. Even if I couldn’t find it anywhere else. it was real and up to date!
At that time, we were attending some other denomination in Aberdeen. The pastor assured me there was no such thing. and if I ever found it, then come back and let him know! That church was willing to give me any certificate, degree, or diploma it had, if I thought it might help. But I told him I didn’t want anything they had to offer, I wanted God, and I couldn’t find him there. The church board, had a secret meeting on how to get me away from my foolish notions. Then they had another mtg and called me to come over right away. They said to discuss something of importance. I went there not knowing what to expect. But found it be a “let’s crucify robert in every way” mtg, and destroy this notion he has in his head. However, it had the opposite effect. I was more convinced than ever, that I was on the right path. Later on, I did find what I was looking for in God. But when I went back to that pastor, he again assured me there was no such thing. I continued searching for more of God, and that church continued roasting me because of it.
Time went on, and one day, things began to happen that set-in motion, the answer to my quest! I had met by divine appointment, a man who had such a presence of the Lord about him, that I was astonished and much refreshed! I establish a friendship with him and his family. Our families became very close.
But his conversations were filled with big religious words like regeneration, (fixing a generator? What’s that have to do with anything?) Carnality: ( somebody else I didn’t know. But he said he was an old man) , dying to self: ( ????). and other odd things I didn’t understand and had never heard of before, or I had a wrong concept of what those words meant. For example: he used the word Sanctify, sanctification. His understanding of the word was miles from anything I knew about. I thought sanctify was to dedicate yourself to the lord. He knew it meant being filled with the holy spirit, with carnality removed. And so it was, I kept asking, he kept answering, and neither one of us was making any sense to the other. I wasn’t getting it, but I could not deny the presence of God he had. So, I kept going back and asking more questions. Even when we had some serious disagreements, he was still very kind and patient with me! he was the pastor of a holiness church, in Aberdeen. So, we started going there. I think we were a big mystery to each other, but we got along ok.
It was a time of growing and change for me and my family. I told him of my experiences with Gods presence. He understood it very well! and said they experience it also! But when I questioned him on what it was about, he would say I needed to get sanctified. (Filled with the holy spirit). I told him I was sanctified, (dedicated myself to God.)
He knew me enough by then to know I was not filled with the holy spirit. For me to say I was sanctified, was very confusing to him.
Later on, he began to tell me about some kind of camp meeting. That took place every year, with many other churches in that denomination attending. It was big event with about three hundred people showing up. There would be special singing, camp meeting preaching (whatever that was.) three times a day, free food, book store, children services and recreation time. He made it sound like it was a great time, but I had some misgiving about it and refused to go. The whole church went, except us. It lasted for 10 days. Finally on the last Saturday of the meeting, my wife and I decided to go and see what it was about!
That’s when our live took a major change and would never be the same again!
We arrived at the camp meeting just before the services started. We had no idea of when the services started, so for us to get there just in time, was an intervention of God. The drive there was about an hour and a half one way. plus, we had never been there before, so for us to drive straight there, on time was amazing!
We went into this barn looking place they called a Tabernacle, (large building used for church services). There was a lot of people there and place was packed, but they made room for us to sit up toward the front. Somehow they knew we were new to all of this. The singing had just started so it was kinda awkward going up front as people moved around so we could have a place to sit. I noticed right away the singing was very different somehow. It wasn’t stacked, or emotional or stupid. It didn’t have all the nonsense that other place had. And the people up front looked like they were all important. And the ladies were all dressed up. Even the ugly ones looked happy. But it was very evident that Gods presence was there!
His presence was so real and strong! Just like I had been experiencing at home! but now there was about three hundred people experiencing the same thing! everyone was on their feet spontaneously. Most were weeping openly with such a radiance of glowing, just as I remember Granny having! There was much shouting of PRAISE GOD or THANK YOU JESUS or Hallelujah!
Meanwhile the spirit was still showing me the difference between what I had seen and known before, compared to what I was seeing now. And what a wonderful difference it was, including the restored peace in my heart.
The atmosphere was still filled and charged with the spirit of God! I began looking around, expecting to see God or Jesus standing in the isles or door somewhere! It was just like I had read about in those books! It wasn’t a thing of the past! It’s here, and its real, and it’s now! The song leader kept leading the congregation in songs out of the hymn book, but the Glory was still there! It wasn’t going away! I was totally caught up in the experience! Weeping tears of joy and saying Praise God! Many were waving their hands in the air, as a sign of worship. And I was one of them!
Then this Guy gets up to the podium and starts talking about his brother, who was going to preach to us. Some guy called Ewald. They didn’t look anything alike, as brother always do, but who am I to question!
This guy’s big brother, must have had a set of lungs made out of leather! He began preaching, and it was very interesting. I don’t think this was his first-time preaching. but then he started talking about me! Telling everyone all about my sins, right in front of everyone! He came up with this weird name of carnality again, but it was really obvious, he was talking about me! Somebody had tipped him off about my being there. Obviously, my pastor and this guy had been talking! I was considering clobbering this new pastor, right after we get out of here.
Imagine that! Going all that way to get there, and getting dry roasted like a coffee bean, and ready for the BBQ sauce!
Then God stepped into my world! I was a sinner, seeking God in my sinner way. With my sinner thinking, and handling things in my sinner way! But God wanted to change me, from the inside out! But that didn’t make sense to me, because I was already told by a somebody in back in our denomination, I was already “Sanctified.” (Dedicated to God.) I didn’t go to the alter that day, although the invitation was given, and a great host of people went forward. I didn’t go because I couldn’t make any sense of what God wanted me to do. if I was already sanctified, why go forward, and ask for it again? Looking back, I didn’t understand salvation very well either. I wasn’t even a candidate for being sanctification. However, I was a good candidate for getting saved, or arrested for clobbering some preacher.
I had a lot to learn about this church and this thing they called holiness. Including what it really means to be sanctified! But God was putting things in motion for getting me out of sin. He started it with this thing called “the Glory.” That thing I had been experiencing but didn’t understand. His presence wasn’t being known to me because I was so spiritual or good, because I wasn’t either one. It was his mercy in showing me something that I knew was real, and would create a hunger in me. this hunger went deeper than my darkness, but it was something I would grab onto, it would lead me out of my dark world.
I knew it was real, it’s not a thing of the past! And it’s for anyone who is willing to pay the price to get it! My seeking had reached a new level, and I must press on to get it! With God as my helper and guide, I was determined to find my way, to the end of it!
I clearly remember when I got sanctified! I will never forget it!
There comes a time when you get sick of yourself, hungry for God, and willing to pay whatever price he may require. This is that pearl of great price, Jesus referred to in Matthew 13:45-46.
Within the price of being filled with the spirit, there is a cross. Are we willing to let God take control of our lives? Are we willing to allow him to crucify anything he finds in us that will separate us from him?
Are we willing to make choices that are contrary to our will, and do what we know God wanted instead?
Brokenness, humility, and obedience, are the keys to heaven. those keys were hung on three nails for you.
If we are not willing to do the same for him, we cannot be his disciple.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
We face our crucifixion in horror. We leave it in Resurrection power and glory!
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