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Originally Posted by Aquila
Amen. Great post.
I've also experinced the gift being "turned on" and functioning over a period fo time. For example, when me and my girlfriend were out witnessing with church friends and passing out tracts, I pressed very deep into prayer and I felt the gift begin to flow. For the next three hours or so I was able to just "know" who to talk to and zeroed in on a number of backsliders from the church who had been Holy Ghost filled, including a back slidden daughter of a Pentecostal pastor. Several times when I was talking to them I got the "impression" that they had been hurt, sinned and were ashamed, or became disillusioned about the Christian faith. I was then able to respond to their need without knowing them from Adam.
As the feeling of this gift lifted we decided to shut it down and head home rejoicing.
The gift can work on demand. It can also be entered into and allowed to flow over an extended period of time. One simply has to be prayerfully in alignment with God's will for that time and place.
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I remember having my first vision at age seventeen, I think. My pastor had passed away from cancer and his son-in-law became the new pastor. During that time, I had been experiencing panic/anxiety attacks, so I was occasionally taking anxiety medication. I remember laying one my bed one night and feeling the necessity of praying. I did not feel like praying so I turned on a sermon to substitute prayer and get some sleep. I laid there and finally gave in to prayer after not being able to sleep.
As I was kneeling, here is what I began to see: There was a young man and he held a staff with his right hand. This young man then walked onto the entrance of this large field of wheat. This field of wheat expanded beyond what the eyes could capture.
I then asked the Lord, am I this young man? I then heard, “the name of Jesus shall be your staff.” I then proceeded to lie down and immediately fell asleep. In the morning, I awoke and sought the definition of “staff.” A staff defines as a weapon, an aid for walking, or symbol of authority. I then said to myself, self, Jesus is all three.
I immediately called my pastor to tell him, and he asked if was still taking my medication. That was his only question. Anyway, he is a good man, but it did hurt. I later left that church.
Regards,
Jacob's Ladder