Legacy · Q&A
Seeking the Holy Ghost and Assurance

Question:
I desperately want to receive the Holy Ghost and to know that I'm saved. I
believe in Jesus. I know he can do all things just like he did many years ago when Israel crossed over on dry ground. I've been baptized in Jesus' name, I've repented of my sins, I've been to the alter so many times, yet I don't seem to be able to receive the Holy Ghost. I'm a shy person who grew up attending a Baptist Church, I've been attending a Pentecostal Church for the last several years, which has greatly helped me to grow closer to God and Jesus, but I want to receive the Holy Ghost. In a Baptist Church you are taught to pray silently, and my pastor says I've got to pray out loud. I have great trouble doing this partly because my family thinks I'm crazy. They make fun of me when I pray, read my Bible and they say the Holy Ghost is not real, but I know that it is real, and I desire to be filled with the Holy Ghost. What advice can you give me?
Alicia Peters
Answer:
Hi Alicia,
Its great to hear from someone who has the kind of desire that you're expressing. You are absolutely right, Jesus is the "same yesterday, today and forever," as we are told in the Bible. God has never changed, and the experience for which Jesus lived and died and rose again, that we might have, has never changed since He sent it back from Heaven on the day of Pentecost. He will be as real with you as you are with Him. He desires the most intimate relationship with us that can be experienced. Just open everything up to Him about yourself: your needs, your faults, your fears, your confusions, and all of your desire toward Him; and He will open Himself up to you. Get alone where you won't be distracted, and just let it all out to Him in whatever way you feel most comfortable with.
And don't feel that you have to pray in any certain prescribed way; but rather allow yourself to open up to Him as you feel best. I've been filled with the Holy Ghost for twenty five years, and I feel like praying different ways at different times, but I always spend adequate time praying in the Spirit (in tongues) every day. Also don't let your mind be on speaking in tongues when you're seeking the Lord. That will come when you have yielded over all of yourself to the Lord. In fact, some people don't immediately realize that they have or are speaking with tongues upon receiving the Spirit. The Lord actually spoke to my wife in her mind, and told her "Listen to yourself," when she first received the Spirit. She then realized that she was speaking in tongues. She didn't immediately realize
it because she was so focused on just drawing nigh unto Jesus.
Don't be discouraged, and don't allow yourself to get into strifes with
your family about what you are doing, because it will only bog you down,
and push them further in the opposite direction. If you would like to have
any tapes of our ministry, whether broadcasting, or actual worship/prayer/bible study type meetings that we have in our home, just let me know and send me a mailing address that I can send them to. I hope this has helped some, and just let me know if I can help any further. We will be praying for you, and just remember that Jesus really wants you to have this beautiful experience with Him. Its worth persevering for. Just don't hold any part of yourself back from Him, and don't hold on to anything or anybody in your heart, which is to say don't prefer anything or anyone over Him in your heart. May God bless you richly.
Sincerely,
Lary
A Lost Sheep Found
Solomon's Grief
Follow-up:
Comment:
Thank you for replying to my email. I will try your suggestion. I think I will order some tapes in a week. I'll look at the links at the bottom of your email and let you know which tapes I want. Thanks again. May God richly bless your ministry.
Alicia Peters



