MAKE IT REAL

by Ken Simmons

Recently I was speaking with a close relative who expressed her concerns that although she believed that Jesus was the son of God, she had difficulty in relating to that faith and making it real in her life. Of course I could have begun by quoting scripture to her – such as, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,” but I felt her concerns were ones that I could relate to on a more personal level.

As a young man I struggled with the same questions, as I too believed Jesus was the son of God, but He was not real in my life. I saw so much phoniness around me, and there was so little in “the church” that I could relate to. None of it seemed real. 

It was during my search that I came across several young people whose lives had been radically changed by having an experience with Jesus. There was *Larry Reed, who’d spent 16 years as a heroin addict, and also had spent most of his adult life as a prisoner in San Quentin. Larry was rough and tough around the edges but when you got close to him the man radiated the love of Jesus. In fact, often when Larry spoke of his Lord his eyes welled up with tears. 

Then I began to meet others, whose lives were so similar to that of Larry Reed, whose lives seemed to be on “on fire” for Jesus. They had a passion, and for them their faith was real. For them, they hadn’t found “religion” -- they’d found Jesus. Finally, I'd found what I was looking for . . . People with a real, living faith! 

I also noticed that these people, who had such a living faith, talked about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. To a person they all expressed that it was when they received this baptism in the Holy Spirit that their faith came alive. They had become powerful, passionate witnesses for Jesus and they felt that winning souls was the most important thing in life. 

Within a few months I again met Larry Reed at a church meeting in Orange, California, and I approached him with a head full of questions, particularly about this baptism in the Holy Spirit, when Larry simply motioned “sshhh” with his finger over his lips and he gently reached out and put his hand on my forehead. 

To describe what happened next in any way other than transformational, even explosive, would be an understatement. 

Immediately I felt a bubbling up within me, starting in the belly, and it began to gradually rise up until I thought my chest would explode, and before I knew it I found myself on the floor – flooded with light! It wasn’t until later that I learned that the scriptures say, “Out of thy belly shall flow rivers of living water” (see John 7:38, KJV) 

When my eyes were open all I could see was light – and when my eyes were closed, all I could see was light. It was then that the Holy Spirit began to move through me in a way that could only be described as supernatural – over, and over, and over again – breathing in and through me. 

Next, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, letting me know that this was the same spirit that entered the tomb where the dead body of Jesus was placed, and breathed into Him the breath of life. That revelation was overwhelming and life changing.  

During this same time I began to speak in an unknown tongue, in a language I had never heard before, and my superstitions and pre-conceived ideas about speaking in tongues disappeared immediately. 

Following the events of that night things began to radically change in my life. For the first time the Word of God came alive to me, and I began to understand it as never before. I began to receive revelation about the true meaning of events in the Bible and how they relate to my life. 

Next, I was suddenly being supernaturally led to people, all of whom needed something from the Lord. For some, it was salvation – the born-again experience, while for others it was being set free from demonic powers in their lives. This happened so many times I lost track. There were times when I would find myself in the presence of someone and the evil spirits would begin to react and speak out, often manifesting themselves in ways that could only be described as demonic. 

Manifestations such as these were something I never sought, and would have normally tried to avoid, but once someone was set free it was one of the most glorious and joyous experiences imaginable, because – they were set free! 

Soon afterwards a man named Dick Mills called me out at a Teen Challenge meeting in Anaheim, California and said, "Son, get your affairs in order. God going to send you across the country to begin a great work." The rest is history. (You can read about it in my true life story, "The Prodigal Diaries"). 

(NOTE: Please make it priority #1 to find a group of true believers. In such a group you will find fellowship and people who will love you. However, if you find yourself in a similar situation as I faced, unable to relate to a real, tangible faith in Jesus, I encourage you to seek this intimate experience with the Holy Spirit. It will forever change your life.)  

*Larry Reed went home a few years ago. I can only imagine the joy he felt when he met Jesus face to face.