We regularly had Bible studies during our deployments, and we frequently had a significant number of people present who were recently converted. As always, we presented the question the Apostle Paul presented to disciples he encountered in his journeys:

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2)

The Rock of Gibraltar
March 24, 1979

We enjoyed seeing this tangible manifestation of God’s presence and power, as He would visibly and undeniably reveal Himself to these new converts. This “Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4) was a tremendous encourager and strengthener of our faith, and it was all so simple…a mere explanation from the scriptures about the Holy Spirit baptism…and He would come! There was no waiting. There was no agonizing. He would always come and fulfill his promise to these eager and hungry souls.

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“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” (Ps. 81:10)

One evening there was a young man who was so greatly moved by the Spirit of God that he continued in worship for several hours. His heart was so overwhelmed with the presence and love for God that the praise and worship poured out of him for several hours in one long stream of nonstop adoration.

I can still remember that young man trying to talk to me and tell me that he had to go on watch in a few hours, and that he couldn’t do it if this praise was flowing out of him like that. He was also greatly trembling from the presence of God’s power, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his duties while in such a state! (The presence of God subsided enough for him to go on his watch without it being noticeable to others.)

It was so amazing to see people who had never been to church their entire lives uttering exclamations of praise and adoration to Jesus without having any knowledge of how to do such a thing. It was all an internal Holy Spirit-inspired and directed praise. These were people who just days before were totally lost, and now they were one of us—truly born again!

An oiler refueling an aircraft carrier at sea.
March 1979

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (Jn. 7:38-39)

God wants to do this again. He’s waiting on us to thirst for Him!

“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; ⁴ They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.” (Isa. 44:3-4)

I want to explain a problem that can arise during a revival, and any time an immature person is rapidly inserted into a position of spiritual authority—it has to do with pride.

“Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” (1 Tim. 3:6)

The Barry during an at-sea refueling operation.
The oiler is about 50-75 feet to the left.
March 1979

On some occasions, when we were preparing to share the Word of God with these new believers about the Holy Spirit baptism, all we had to do was open our Bibles to the first verse we were to use to teach them, and immediately… the Holy Spirit would fall on them! This caused me to become upset at God for immediately baptizing people in the Holy Spirit like that. The reason was because here I was, trying to stand out as a spiritual leader, and I wanted everybody to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but only after I taught them from the Bible what it was all about, and then only after I laid my hand upon them for them to receive it. I wanted people to know through whom this power was coming. It was then that God bypassed me and just started doing it without my direct involvement!

To this day people will receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit when I pray with them, and there’s no need for me to lay my hands on them. God wants me to never forget Who this power comes from. He’s still at work trying to keep me humble!

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