CHAPTER 1

Spiritual Christianity

By William M. Beecham

John 16:12-15 "I still have many things to say to you,but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit oftruth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; forhe will not speak on his own, but will speak whateverhe hears, and he will declare to you the things that areto come. He will glorify me, because he will take whatis mine and declare it to you. All that the Father hasis mine. For this reason I said that he will take what ismine and declare it to you."

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

I experienced a miracle when Jesus entered my life. Jesus healed mysoul when I experienced Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I want everyoneto know the wonder and joy of it. There are no words to describe it,although I want to try.

I had felt a general desire to love as the Great Commandmentinstructs. During 2003, I began reflecting on what it means to love.There are definitions of love that are comprehensive from thestandpoint of human experience. We are human. We tend to formaffectionate and 'loving' attachments with others, even with animals,especially when we are close to them day to day.

But, how does human love help me to love God? We do not seeGod, hear God, nor do we know God—we feel separate from God.Spiritual love for God puzzled me.

I began to take more seriously the commandment to love God. I wasperplexed—humbled—when I realized that I had too little guidanceabout how to love God. Spiritual love to me was more of a nounthan a verb.

Grace is an unmerited benefit, offered from God before we knowthe ways of Heaven. Grace from God gives us a chance to do thingsright. Grace gives sinners a chance to want the right wants in life.When we pray, it is his grace that we receive.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

I thought about the lack of instructions about how to love. Ithought about Jesus. I just started talking aloud, as though Jesus werelistening. Really, I was grumbling about the dilemma. I quite earnestlydescribed my problem:

Jesus, I want to love you and do not know what to do. If youwant me to love you, please show me how, because I do notknow how. And, I want to.

Jesus responded just at that moment. Boom! He touched me! I hadnot quite finished my sentence when he touched me. I felt love forJesus and grace from Jesus. Wonderful, wonderful!

It was like an explosion within my consciousness, and I lostawareness of the world around me. My heart burst. I overflowed withwonder and delight. I didn't know what to do next. I tried to lovemore, but my will failed me—I probably was out-of-body. My tearsovercame me. I surrendered. There was no fear. Jesus loved me! Itrusted him. It was so intense!

My eyes fill with tears again and again to this day as I recall it. I amamazed—totally blown away. I remember where I was standing.

Jesus came in to me. Jesus came to stay in my heart. Immediately, Ifelt connected to him. I felt safe. I felt loved. I felt peace. I felt Jesustouch me in my soul, not just for a moment, but a sustained touch.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you,no one can see the kingdom of God without beingborn from above." Nicodemus said to him, "Howcan anyone be born after having grown old? Can oneenter a second time into the mother's womb and beborn?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no onecan enter the kingdom of God without being born ofwater and Spirit."

Love became a verb for me. My life suddenly divided itself intobefore and after. It was better than a thousand beautiful sunrises. Itwas better than anything and everything.

I again appealed to Jesus, a day later. I prayed again, as before, that Iwanted to love him and did not know how. Jesus touched me again,though the next time I felt calmer. There was a third time, then afourth time....

Pretty soon, I got to know Jesus' presence as the Holy Spirit. Sincethen, I have lived my life in daily contact with the Holy Spirit. Icannot say I have become accustomed to the Lord's full presence,but there are degrees of the Lord's presence that make daily lifemanageable, from my point of view. The Lord's presence can betotally overwhelming.

I am his servant and I know that none of this is about me. I likebeing Jesus' servant. My work in the mental health field gave melots of contact with others who were also asking for help. I foundthat Jesus would help others through me, provided that I practicedhumility. Having met Jesus, I prayed,

Jesus, I humbly surrender all I thought I knew about happinessand success. I want to serve your truth.

I went about my business with renewed knowledge that Jesus is myfriend. When I take a minute to reflect, I reflect on Jesus and againthere he is. When I have a question, I ask Jesus and he tells me.

Now whenever I remember to look, Jesus is there. It takes just asecond or two to clear my mind, and Jesus is there. He waits for me,and he smiles when I look. Gratitude still overcomes me and bringsme to tears, sometimes lots of tears. Look at the abundance of grace,look at what God has done!

I know his presence by the love I feel, the warmth in my heart, andthe sense of peace he gives me. I know his presence by the guidancehe gives me. I know his presence by the truths he shows me. I knowhis presence by how he helps me to love others. I know his presenceby the sense of purpose he gives, a sense of spiritual direction—heknows where he is going. Others told me they could hear Godspeaking through me. Others told me they have seen light comingfrom my face and around me.

I had felt alone during the previous moment. The Holy Spirit camein and my...