Have you experienced a whole new degree of sanctification, since you were born again (John 3)?

Question

I was born again at age 25, and served the Lord for 10 years.At age 43, I came back to the Lord.Three years later I was kneeling in prayer alone at my bed and began to speak in tounges.After this, I experienced a greater degree of spiritual strength that I had not had before.My Bible understanding was increased, I wasn't as easily tempted with my temper, it was much more under control.I was still being tempted with addictions, but now I hated all of that stuff.Please don't think that I am boasting here.This wasn't something that I did, it was something that I had wanted for a long time.I give God the credit here.How many others have experienced the same? Please let the Spirit lead you while answering?

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE QUESTION BEFORE ANSWERING, THANK YOU.

safelytrust, I was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and some sexual addictions. I was not doing these things while serving the Lord, but was being tempted everyday with them.

Answer 1

Yes, it changed my entire life! I'd been a baptized “Christian” for as long as I can remember. I'd always "tried" to do “good” things for the Lord--but never quite got there because I was trying in my own "fleshliness". Yes, I was working for the Lord—but His power was not behind it. When I was born again everything changed; my heart, my life, my soul, my very innermost being. Everything became “for Him”. He is my purpose in life--my direction--my goal. Everything I do, I consider Him.

The major sins I fight are ugly pride and slandering or listening to slander/gossip. After the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Lord showed me (in no uncertain terms) that the *only* reason I could be what I am, is that He has blessed me--oh so abundantly--every step of the way. This humbles me in a way that nothing else could. (Where would any of us be without His blessing?) The other thing is that when I am sinning, (and before I ask forgiveness) there is a part of me that literally hurts. This (His loving warning) also helps me stop while I am saying something wrong--and sometimes before I sin.

After being born again, I couldn't keep quiet about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There was no question! Everyone knew I was a Christian because being born again gives an unbounded boldness. (Like Peter after the first Pentecost Acts 4:31) Acts 1:8 says “But when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power and will testify of me…to the farthest parts of the world.”

Being born again literally made me feel like a child again. Do you remember how exciting everything was when you were a child? That’s how it was for me when I was reborn spiritually. I became so excited and enthusiastic about the wonderful love of God. I became excited about Jesus dying on the cross for everyone—even if they didn’t know it. Not all understood this boldness—and some were put off by it. But how could I help it? All things of God began to spark my interest—and I wanted them to spark everyone else’s interest as well!

Finally, being born again also gave me a hunger for the Word and for company/fellowship of other true believers who understand God’s power and have also been born again. There is a spiritual link between true believers that warms the soul in a way that cannot be explained.

(((Don & Paula))) I love you! :-)
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Answer 2

I was borne again 30+ years ago just before my 25th birthday and yes, God created a new person in me.

A little over a year later, at a bible study that had nothing specifically to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, God suddenly touched me and I began to weep uncontrollably like a baby, a very loud, very big baby.
As I tried to stop myself, I suddenly broke-out into tongues, then in English I began to tell everyone in a stern voice, to worship God.
When the whole thing was finished, I had so much love in me for everyone in the room that I went around hugging everyone.
That night, I had not even been thinking about being filled with the Holy Spirit. But a few nights before I had practically begged God to give me the power to be a witness for him.

Later, while reading what Jesus said before he ascended, I realized that having the power to be a witness for Jesus is the purpose of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

You know, I spoke in tongues before I ever heard of tongues. I quit doing it because I thought it was silly, until somebody told me about tongues, and I went, "Oh, I've done that!"

I was born again at the age of 21. I did OK for a while, and then I went through a dry spell, and I spent 14 years in a spiritual desert. Then about 7 years ago I was fretting over money problems, and the Lord said to me "Matthew 6:33. You know this stuff. Why aren't you doing it?" This was actually before I learned how to hear his voice, yet I knew where this voice came from.

I have been in constant growth ever since that point.

Answer 4

When you say you hated all that stuff can you specify exactly what you hated? Are you talking about hating those things that you once did?

It is wonderful that you have experienced the Spirit of God and speaking in tongues. My experience was the same. God did a wonderful work in my life and after that my life has never been the same. It is important to give all the glory to the Lord lest we be lifted up in pride.

Keep on following Him!

Answer 5

I think it has to do with personal experience, and usually not a very pleasant one. There is a clash of pride and humility, and you make a decision to come forward and accept a higher level of spirituality than you understood It is like coming closer to an inevitable conclusion, and we are all led there, and we either accept it or reject it. And when you finally come to that place and that time in your life when you can no longer hide your head in the sand, or you are tired of being in the same old rut, or if you are thinking: "Is this ALL there is?" Or you are between the proverbial rock and a hard place, and you start to do alot of thinking about your life...I think that in any event, you are led to where you are in order to experience a spiritual renewal Where you put aside the old self and take on the new.

Answer 6

My story is almost identical to yours. I was saved when I was 20. I had a terrible first 10 years of being a new Christian. I was badly abused by other "believers". During that time, the Lord gave me the gift of tongues while I was praying in a field, I think for strength also and to show me He was with me despite what my tormentors said. It helped but finally after 10 years of being hated without a cause by my own siblings, my own family claiming to be Christians who I loved with all my heart but found out they were jealous of me, I fell away for 7 years, not from the Lord but from my morals. But the Lord understood what happened to me and loved me so much through that time I fell away. The fact that He loved me so much during that grace period brought me back to Him in a mighty way. That was 15 yrs ago. Since then I feel very strong in Him. No one could ever do that to me again and have it weaken me the way it did when I was young. He promises to always use what other people intend bad for us to our good. I will attest to that in my own life. I reaped such great treasures through my terrible trial. All the glory for anything I am today belongs to Him!

Answer 7

Yes I have experienced that gift and it is uplifting to say the least.
I love to take communion also. It strengthens me a lot. Jesus said if we don't take it we will be weak. So there is power in taking it. God bless your walk with him and may he help you to grow strong in his ways and trust him with your life as you make your journey from here to heaven.

Answer 8

Good for you. I'm glad turning your life over to an imaginary figure gives you some sort of non-accountability which lends itself as strength. Bravo.

Answer 9

cool

Answer 10

every day.