Sunday School Take-Over by Jenna Vick Silliman

I was raised in a Catholic family that went to mass on Easter and Christmas, so Sunday school was not part of my life. I became a Christian when I was 16 through the youth group called Young Life. Though I have attended church all these years, I never experienced Sunday school very much. However, around 1989 I my husband Cliff and I visited a little church that had a Sunday school class with a book study going on about living life full of the Holy Spirit. The chapter mentioned speaking in tongues. The teacher asked if anyone in the class spoke in tongues. Cliff and I raised our hands. The teacher asked Cliff to tell the class about it. Cliff spoke for the whole hour with a full discourse with Scriptures from the book of Acts on being baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues and he shared his Jesus People days story and what happened to him. At one point Cliff asked me to share how I received the gift of tongues, so I gave my testimony as a part of the class too. (Note: For my testimony on receiving the gift of tongues, here is the link:  http://thedanceoflifewithjenna.blogspot.com/2012/09/more-of-holy-spirit-filled-life.html  ) We didn’t plan on a Sunday School Take-over—it just happened. Hahaha! 

My husband and I both enjoyed remembering that day over twenty years ago. That is our favorite Sunday school class memory, but a runner up would be another week in the same class when the pastor’s wife shared about speaking in tongues while she was in Israel and someone recognized the language she was speaking and wrote down the interpretation for her. She still had the ragged scrap of paper and read it to us. It was a beautiful prayer and it was also speaking of our glorious love relationship with the Lord Jesus.

To me the best part of any class, book, or lecture is the stories people tell about what happened to them. I have found that testimonies, or stories of real lives, are extremely powerful, moving, and life giving. They are also memorable!

MORE of the Holy Spirit Filled Life by Jenna Vick Silliman

I had been a Christian for several years when I first heard about becoming “Spirit-filled” and “speaking in tongues”. A friend in college, Glen, who I met at an Inter-varsity Campus Fellowship Meeting, whispered to me, “There’s more!” Glen invited me to a meeting at a Pentecostal Church in San Jose, California. I remember two things, people singing in tongues and the altar call. At the conclusion of the meeting people lined up for prayer and the laying on of hands. One after another people went down—straight backwards! Glen encouraged me to go forward. A skeptic, I replied, “I will NOT go down.” He said, “Oh yes, you will--the Holy Spirit is strong!” Determined to stay on my feet, I went forward for prayer. Sure enough, I went down. I was “slain in the Spirit” against my will. I don’t even remember doing it. Bewildered I sat up and grinned sheepishly at Glen. On the drive home He gave me another challenge—to read Acts and all the verses in the New Testament on the Holy Spirit. Each day I read in my Bible a little more about the Person of the trinity I knew the least about.

My friend Linda and her husband also shared with me they had discovered, “There’s more.” She had a special sparkle about her that was new and she was especially full of joy when she told me how she had gotten a prayer for “the Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and how she and her husband prayed in tongues and how beautiful it was to pray in this spiritual, angelic, heavenly language. She astonished me by letting me know she’d been praying for me that I’d receive the gift too. They led worship with guitar and singing at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto at their Sunday night Body Life Meeting where many Stanford College students attended. They were asked to leave the worship team because they did not believe in speaking in tongues. She told me they were actually glad because they were free to start helping lead “Spirit-filled worship” at another church.

The summer of 1978 I had completed two years of Canada Community College. I moved into The Birch House in Redwood City owned by a minister who rented out rooms to Christians. I rented the upstairs bedroom for $100 a month and commuted to San Francisco on the train for a clerk-typist job in an insurance company. The train station was two blocks from The Birch House, so that was convenient. As soon as I met Debbie, who rented the room across the hall from mine, she got out her guitar and began to sing a song she wrote and she said “The Holy Spirit fills me as I lead others in worship.” She invited me to a coffee house where Christians fellowshipped called “The Way Inn” where she led a singing and worship time. She introduced me to three guys that looked like hippies and had recently taken over the ministry of “The Way Inn.” (One of whom, would become my husband, Cliff Silliman.)  Debbie said, “They are Spirit-filled-speaking-in-tongues-Jesus-people too.” She said it like it was a normal part of following Jesus in a Christian’s life. They made me want more of the Holy Spirit too.

My younger brother was into using drugs and got into trouble shop-lifting and using drugs. He was put into juvenile hall. We did some family counseling and I remember praying for him a lot during that year I lived at The Birch House. One morning I remained kneeling by my bed after I had finished praying for my brother. I still had such a burden on my heart, but I didn’t have any more words that I hadn’t already prayed. I said to God, “If praying in tongues would help, I would like to receive this gift.”

On a Sunday night a few weeks later, in October 1978, my new friend, Debbie, invited me to go to the Assembly of God Church where Rick Howard would be speaking. He said, “I do not want to major on a minor topic in the Bible, so I only speak on this topic about once a year. Tonight I am teaching on how to receive the gift of tongues.” I knew God was answering my prayer. I felt like the preacher was speaking straight to me!

At the conclusion of his teaching, he said, “Often when you receive the gift of tongues you will have some strange words or syllables in your head. On faith just speak them out and don’t try to reason it out. It is kind of like walking on water. You have to trust the Lord to give you what He promised. If you ask for a loaf of bread, Jesus said, He will not give you a stone. We should come into His Presence expecting to receive. Come into the prayer room if you would like to receive your special prayer language.” When I went inside, there were about ten Christians already kneeling in there praying aloud and some were praying in tongues. I took a spot on the kneeler and Rick Howard began to go around laying his hand on each person’s head and praying for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and to receive the gift of tongues.

I have to back up in my story for a minute and tell you about a park in that area. It was called Gloria Duncan Park. The guys at The Way Inn were joking around about the name one day and said it reminded them of speaking in tongues. In unison said, “Shawn-da-la Bawn-da-la! Snatch-a-banana! Gloria Duncan!” It made us all laugh and was fun to say, so we all said it.

However, It wasn’t funny when I knelt in the line-up in that prayer room seriously seeking to pray in tongues. Sure enough all I could think about was “Shawn-da-la-bawn-da-la.” However, I made up my mind to be brave and just speak it out. As soon as I felt that hand on my head and spoke out those silly sounds, it was like someone had turned on the hose of a fire truck—a torrent of tongues poured out of me! I just kept praying in tongues and praying in tongues and was flooded with the joy of the Holy Spirit. It was so fun and so amazing I didn’t want to stop. Debbie prayed in tongues too and we started singing and praying together as she drove us back to the Birch House. We told everyone how I had gotten the gift of tongues that night. One woman freaked out like we had lost our minds and left to go hang out with her sane friends.

I have shared this testimony many times and have enjoyed the overflowing Presence of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues for 34 years now. What I have learned is that the more we pour out this amazing LIFE and the more we need, the more the Lord gives us. He delights to give us all we need for life in Him, and more, so we freely share with others. What my friends told me back in 1978 is true—THERE’S MORE!

The Cords of Human Kindness

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. ” Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend.

For the past few weeks, Kingdom Bloggers has been reviewing the gifts of the Spirit, according to Paul’s list in Galatians 5:22. Paul is distinguishing the authenticity of those who claim to be followers of Christ--those who truly have the power of the Holy Spirit should be exhibiting fruits like love, peace, patience and kindness. Earlier in his letter to the Galatians, Paul instructed these believers to “love your neighbors as yourself” (the Great Commandment, Matt. 22:37-39).

This week, we examine kindness. In the Greek, the transliteration of the word used for kindness is “chrestotes,” which means goodness, kindness, mercy: what is right. Kindness is always the “right thing.” The quote from Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend is, I think, an apt description of kindness--an effort to lighten the burdens of others.

Sometimes, that kind of effort means giving a smile and forbearance when a sharp word might be deserved; giving up a restful afternoon to instead help a friend in need; biting your tongue instead of criticizing. There are countless ways to show kindness. How often do we instead display the opposite?

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6:14

I have a friend with an amazing capacity for kindness toward animals--she foster-parents dogs that most of us would consider dangerous: pit bulls. The incidence of dangerous pit bulls, however, has more to do with the individual owner than inherent traits in the dog, and with breeders who deliberately try to create a more aggressive animal.  

What about people? Studies have shown that effects of abuse against children is cumulative--these precious ones experience more depression, mental health problems, suicide attempts, physical and emotional symptoms, and engage in more high-risk behaviors. 

“You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.” Job 10:12

Kindness (goodness, love and mercy) from adults toward children goes a long way in producing a stable, contented society. Just as cruelty to animals produces aggressive, defensive behaviors in them, so may cruelty and neglect produce children of its own kind.

I have some distinct memories from childhood of kindnesses shown: a relative praying over my injured hand, an aunt who loved to hang out with us, my grandmother slipping me some money to buy something I wanted, a teacher encouraging me in my creativity, my mom talking to me on the phone every day after school from work. Kindness builds cumulatively.

Kindness is not necessarily “niceness.” Sometimes the kindest thing is to be lovingly honest or direct, even when doing so may mean incurring the anger or wrath of the other person. God does that with us--it is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). He truthfully reveals to us our faults and failures, yet at that very same moment, tells us of His great love for us.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4

Gifts for the Common Good

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit...Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:1, 12).

Every believer is the recipient of at least one spiritual gift freely given by God. A gift can’t be conjured up, or willed or merited: it is by His wonderful grace that we receive these good gifts to serve Him and the Church.

I have taken more than one spiritual gift inventory, but, as Nora Ephron famously wrote, “I remember nothing.” I honestly don’t remember what these inventories revealed, probably because after reading the results, I was busy chasing after toddlers. What became a more effective method of determining how God gifted me to participate in His kingdom was trial and error over time.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Our spiritual gifts may be deeply entwined with our natural strengths, but when we are empowered to follow God, our natural gifts take on a whole new dimension and meaning. I have found that to be the case for me.  I have been singing and writing since I was a small child--I was no prodigy and didn’t have much guidance or know-how for expanding those gifts beyond the usual, but they were definite areas of interest and strength.

As I grew as a believer, my natural gifts took on a new dimension. For instance, I discovered I could not only enjoy worship (which I did not early on, because I was reserved and too embarrassed to show my joy) but I could also lead worship effectively. Through being mentored and encouraged by more experienced worship leaders who saw in me what I could not, I was able to step out in faith and discover how God could use me to help the Church to worship. Taking risks is an important part of growing in the gifts God gives.

My ability to write is intertwined with gifts of teaching and guidance.  I want to encourage and help others to grow in the Word, in their faith and in individual growth and empowerment.  The trial and error method continues, as I seek God’s guidance for specifics on how I am to use these gifts.

Last year I created a weekly summer Bible study that combines my love to write, to teach and to serve/be hospitable: I host “Stories on the Porch” at my home, complete with a front porch, an original Bible study, scones and tea.  Those attending asked me all year if we could do it again, and now it is an annual event.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

For those who struggle in identifying the spiritual gifts God has given them, I suggest seeking the insight of a trusted, mature believer. Inventories are also a good tool, but so is listing one's passions and interests, and the gifts/talents inherent in those areas. No one is left out from participating and expanding God's kingdom--and as long as we grow our gifts in love and service to others, we bring glory to our generous Creator.

The Tag on the Gift says My Name…but Underneath it says “Do Not Keep”

As the title infers, we are given gifts, by the Lord, for the common good, to prepare God's people for the works of service, to benefit and build up the Body of Christ as a whole.

I have posted a webpage at the end of this post, which has a clear explanation of Spiritual Gifts.

There are three categories of gifts.

Ministry Gifts …which reveal the plan of God.

They usually are a full time office or calling. As of now, I have no such calling, but if I did, I could picture myself as a Pastor.

I see a Pastor as leading, tending to, protecting and even sometimes correcting the sheep (the people) in his or her fold.

Manifestation Gifts …which reveal the power of God

I have operated in Prophecy (not the office of a Prophet)…Speaking in Tongue…Faith…Healing…Words of Knowledge.

I would say the strongest are Prophecy, Healing and Words of Knowledge

For a while now, I have been able to give personal Prophetic Words to people. I now carry a stack of index cards to church. I do so because the recipient can have a record of what I have written. In the past, when I personally, have been the recipient of such words, I have often forgotten them. Just a note, they are not directional or corrective, but always edifying and encouraging.

In the same gifting, the Lord has made room for me to give Public Prophetic Words to the Congregation. If I am at my Home Church, we have a Prophetic Team in place, where I can check out what I feel the Lord is saying. They can agree or disagree, as to how they sense the Holy Spirit moving.

If I am at a Church that is not my own, I must ask permission, from the Pastor to give it.

I do not take these gifts lightly, especially the Public Declaration.

I have a deep desire to see people healed. In addition to physical healing, I seem to be more focused on emotional or inner healing. This has come from the promise, in the Word of God that says…”what the enemy meant for harm, the Lord will use it for good.”


I have suffered from depression and had several suicide attempts.

Depression issues have plagued our family, along with alcoholism. This has been true of my husband’s as well... Sadly, I have a brother who has suffers from schizophrenia, for many years. There have been 5 suicides in my family. I WANT to take back that which has been stolen from my family. I want to come along side of others who have suffered in this way.

When I pray for people, I am often given a Word of Knowledge. An example of this happened when a woman came up for prayer, for her son who broke his leg. She, of course, was asking for healing for him. However, I could not get away from a nagging feeling that there was something else
I was then lead to tell her what I sensed the Lord was saying to me. I said “I sense the Lord is saying, for me to tell you, that you are a good mother” Well, torrents of tears came from her eyes. THAT is what she needed to hear, as she was feeling very guilty about the circumstances that surrounded his accident.

So you know I am not infallible, just this past weekend, I was at a Ministry Training School. I spoke to a woman, what I thought was a Word of Knowledge. I was WAY off. The teacher corrected me loudly, in front of everyone. It was embarrassing but I quickly got a hold of my emotions and said to myself, I am here to learn.

I learned a lesson…you have to be careful in what you say.

Motivational Gifts …reveal the personality of God

For the many Motivational Gifts Tests that I have taken, I am always off the charts, with Mercy being my identifying gift. It seems that I was born that way (duh). I cannot seem to withhold mercy and compassion. I have a deep desire to have others know of the Lord’s unconditional love for them.

What comes in second is Encourager/Exhorter. I just love to encourage. Along with the cards I have already mentioned, I have been making sets of cards for different women. There are 30 cards in a set and the Lord will show me who to make them for and what to say. I draw a picture on each one (that feeds my artistic leaning) and write personal words on each one (That satisfies my prophetic and writing gifts) I have experienced much pleasure doing them. 

It was recently suggested to me, to have such cards printed up professionally and sell them I am praying for the means to do this.

I would imagine if we really thought about the ways that the Lord uses us, it might seem like we’ve always been that way... It is naturally supernatural.

In closing, I know you’ll agree that Bach was given a huge gift of talent to pen scores of incomparable music. He regularly inscribed, at the beginning of his scores, the letters J.J. which stood for Jesu, Juva or “Jesus help.” At the end of a composition, he often wrote S.D.G for Solo Deo Gloria or “To God Be the Glory”

Gifts from God were never intended for us to hold on to or to brag about, but to freely distribute to whosoever needs them. That would be in and out of the church walls.

Let’s all roll up our sleeves….get rolling…. press in and don’t faint ... be bold, as we use them. Most importantly, let us make sure that God gets the glory, whether they come through our mouth or hands or actions or through another.

Pedestals are bad news…for us and for others.

Linda Maynard

http://christianity.about.com/od/holyspirittopicalstudy/a/spiritual