Gtcotr/ws012010
Far too many people have made the Baptism of the Holy Spirit all about speaking in tongues. I believe that this is a huge mistake. Not to negate the fact that the New Testament has much to say on the subject of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.
The Apostle Paul said that he spoke in tongues more than anyone else he knew however, he continued by saying that when he was ministering to others he had rather speak ten words which they could understand and benefit from than ten thousand words which the hearers could not understand.
1 Corinthians 14:19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Scriptures clearly tell us not to forbid people to speak in tongues and at the same time the bible establishes guidelines as to when tongues, and other valid ministries, are beneficial and when they are disruptive and counter-productive.
1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
And yet clearly the scripture says not every believer speaks in tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
And one day, when this church age shall have passed from the earth, there will be no gifts in operation at all … however, that day is not here yet!
1 Corinthians 13:8 ¶ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Through the years I have been ask several recurring questions about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. I have attempted to re-focus those questions onto the one story God is telling in the scriptures instead of allowing doctrinal differences divide God’s people based on an inaccurate interpretation of only one scripture or set of scriptures, aimed at proving the point of the interpreter.
People have asked me:
Do I have to speak in tongues? To this I say, “No, but you get to!”
For those who say, “Well, I don’t believe in tongues …” or miracles, or healing or salvation for that matter, I reply: “Don’t worry, it won’t ever bother you” because, Mark 16 says that these signs shall follow all who believe. If you don’t believe it, you won’t receive it! Simple as that!
Nonetheless, despite those who have misinterpreted and/or misused the scriptures concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, along with those who are just simply afraid of the subject or ignorant of the scriptural importance of the Baptism, we must still face the fact that the both the Old and the New Testaments have much to say on this matter.
Beginning long before the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, God had a plan live and move and have His being in and through His children. The very life that Adam awakened to was breathed into him by the Spirit of God. Let’s look now at some of the foundational scriptures concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and see if they answer our questions for tonight.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
1. What do we get when we receive the Holy Spirit?
Power!
Acts 2
16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’
2. What are some experiences people have after they receive the power of the Holy Spirit?
Prophesy
Visions
Dreams
Wonders
Signs
Others calling upon the Name of the Lord to be saved. Fruit which remains!
3. How does the Holy Spirit manifest Himself through people?
1 Corinthians 12
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Word of Wisdom
Word of Knowledge
Faith
Gifts of Healings
Working of Miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of Spirits
Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
4. How Do I receive the Holy Spirit?
Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Acts 5:32 "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
Are you willing to obey? Have you made Jesus your Lord?
Will you ask? Ask your Heavenly Father to give you the Holy Spirit, and He will.
What can you expect? Power to be a witness, along with the evident manifestation of the Holy Spirit through you as you yield your life to Him.
