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Bishop Romualdo speaks with Mrs. Heloisa

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Bp. Romualdo: Hello, Mrs. Heloisa, good afternoon

Mrs. Heloisa: Hi, bishop, good afternoon

Bp. Romualdo: Mrs. Heloisa, I hear that you want to share your experience with us?

Mrs. Heloisa: Yes, bishop, it was amazing. I was listening to your radio program just now and I found myself smiling for no reason. I came to know the Gospel in 1997 through another denomination. But I’ve only come to understand the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit two months ago. I stopped going to church for some time. Meanwhile, I had a son, who unfortunately died when he was two years old, with my first husband. We got divorced because I found him in my house and in my bed with another woman. Even though I was suffering terribly, I didn’t quit. But I didn’t understand that I needed to be seeking something of greater importance. About two years ago, I came back the Universal Church. I got remarried and we’ve been together for 4 years. I’ve only come to understand my need for the Holy Spirit about two months ago. I even told the pastor, “Pastor, my son’s death wasn’t what caused me the most pain because I returned him to the Lord”. When I say that I returned him to the Lord, it’s because he was only two years old and I know that he went straight to heaven, to His glory. What hurt me the most was not having the Holy Spirit. My sentimental life didn’t cause me that much pain either because through the therapy of love meetings, I met my present husband. I persevered until I finally got him. Yet, there was still something missing. That is, until I recently figured it out. It was the presence of the Holy Spirit. I began seeking Him during the campaign of the Daniel Fast. I sought His presence; I sacrificed, both financially and spiritually. I even sacrificed having any type of intimacy with my husband during the 21 days of the fast. I sat him down and told him what I was willing to sacrifice in favor of receiving the Holy Spirit. After I told him what my material sacrifice was going to be, he said, “Are you crazy? You’re acting on your emotions. What if nothing happens? You’ll be disappointed and frustrated!” I said, ‘No, God’s Word will not return void. Andre, you’re lucky to have come to know the Gospel now and already understand the need of receiving the Holy Spirit. I’ve known the Gospel since 1997, I’ve lost so much and only now I understand how much I need the Holy Spirit’. So, I sought and sought the Holy Spirit but I ended up not being sealed on the 17th. I must confess bishop; I even sat on the opposite side from where I usually sit in the Joao Dias cathedral because I was dying from embarrassment. I thought to myself, ‘Oh my God, I’m so embarrassed. What am I going to do when the bishop calls those who haven’t been sealed to come forward; I’m going to have to go back up there again. They already know who I am because I practically live in church. I’m here every day’. I was so embarrassed that I switched seats and decided not to go up when the bishop called. From that day forward, every time I went to church, I wanted to sit down and speak with the pastor but I was terribly embarrassed. On the 29th I went to church and I said to myself, ‘I’m not leaving here today without speaking to the pastor’. While I was in church, I was fine but as soon as I stepped outside, an internal conflict began brewing within me. Bishop, you can’t imagine how much I cried when I got home. But it wasn’t my tears that moved the Lord’s heart because I know that’s not how we call His attention. I was revolted and so, I humbled myself before Him. I asked Him, ‘Lord, I must have done everything wrong during this campaign because if I had done things correctly, You would have sealed me’. So, on the 29th, I went back and spoke with Pastor Marcelo. I poured out my soul. I said, ‘Pastor, I can’t seem to overcome my flesh. I participated in the campaign….’ And the pastor said, “Listen, right now He’s there, at your side but soon He’ll be inside you. We don’t receive Him because of merits, we receive Him because of His mercy. We are all sinners and have flaws”. I said, ‘Pastor, that’s exactly it. I don’t think I’m worthy of receiving this blessing’. Well, we spoke and then I left. Bishop, I was visited unexpectedly on the 30th by two assistants from my evangelization group. When I saw them through the peephole, I quickly cleaned up the house. I wasn’t expecting anyone but I was pleased to see them. God works in mysterious ways. My husband was sleeping and I thought, ‘Oh Lord, why now’. They began talking and that’s when she said, “Yesterday, when you went to speak to Pastor Marcelo, He was by your side but now He is inside you”. Bishop, I began overflowing with joy; I laughed, I cried. Meanwhile, my husband was still sleeping. I thought, ‘My God, if this man wakes up, he’s going to be furious’. But I know that I was sealed right at that moment, right there in my house. It was a blessing. It was magical; beautiful. Now, I was the temple of the Holy Spirit. When my husband woke up, he was extremely upset. He started asking, “Didn’t you see that I was sleeping? Why didn’t you tell them to come back some other time?” Inside, I thought to myself, ‘How could I possibly ask the Holy Spirit to come back later because my husband was sleeping and I couldn’t receive at that time’. Bishop, I said this to myself because I couldn’t possibly say anything to him at that time. My husband came to know the Gospel through me; therefore, I couldn’t give a bad example. But inside, I thought, ‘How could I tell the Holy Spirit, who I had been longing for such a long time, that I couldn’t speak to Him because my husband was sleeping. And ask Him to come back another day?” Quite the contrary, I said, ‘Come on in Holy Spirit’, and I was sealed right there and then. It didn’t happen when I thought it should have happened. It wasn’t on the 17th, it was on 30th. God didn’t let that month finish without me receiving Him. My husband didn’t speak to me for days. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday passed and he didn’t say a word. Yesterday, when I got home, I asked him to sit down so we could talk. I said, ‘Andre, is everything alright with you?’ I spoke in a peaceful, wisdom-filled voice. In turn, he just started pointing out all of the pastor’s mistakes. I just thought to myself, ‘Oh, no you don’t devil. You’re not going to throw my past in my face because I’m going to remind you of your future. You’re going to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone’. I sat there gathering all of my wisdom and then said, ‘Listen, I’m here at your disposal. I’m here. Whenever you’re ready to talk, please come find me so we could talk’. Afterwards, I prayed about it, but I’m not worried about my marriage, Bishop. It’s like I told you before, I’m not worried. I’m unemployed but I’m happy. I’m going through a rough patch in my marriage, but I’m happy. I’ve already suffered so much. I’ve cried so much and now I’m here laughing. I was ironing in the kitchen, about to start dinner, when I caught myself smiling for no reason. I said to myself, ‘I have to talk about my experience’. I came to know the Gospel in 1997, but that was all I knew. I had never felt anything similar to what I felt that day. And I told God, ‘Unless, You don’t want me as Your daughter, I’m never going to leave Your side’. What a blessing, I’m so happy.

Bishop Romualdo: That’s great, Mrs. Heloisa, thank you for sharing your experience.

Mrs. Heloisa: No problem, Bishop.

Bishop Romualdo: God bless you. That was Mrs. Heloisa’s experience. How about you? I want all those who haven’t been baptized with the Holy Spirit yet, to know that He’s right there with you. Do you believe? Honestly, no matter where you are, no matter what you’re doing, He’s there with you. Whether you’re behind bars, driving in your car, working or lying on a hospital bed, it doesn’t matter. No matter where you are or what you’ve done in the past. The question is, ‘Are you thirsty? Do you believe?’ Therefore, in the name of the Lord Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit. Receive life’s greatest joy. May God’s power come over you. I believe. Receive the Holy Spirit right now. God is with you. You can be sure of that from now on, God is with you. We’ve reached the end of our program. Have a good afternoon. May God bless you all.