Tongues And The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Aug 28, 2018 18:36:57 GMT -5
Cletus, ohms, and 2 more like this
Post by John on Aug 28, 2018 18:36:57 GMT -5
There is a lot of misunderstanding about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. I want to try to address this from the Bible and from my understanding as a Pentecostal Pastor. I was Pastor of a Pentecostal Holiness Church, and am very familiar with what the Bible teaches and what Pentecostals and charismatic churches teach. These two groups are not exactly the same, as Apostolic churches also differ in certain areas. I am not concerned with explaining the differences so much as just showing what the Bible has to say. Let's begin with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me because I go to the Father. John 16:7-16
Jesus considered the Baptism of the Holy Ghost of great importance. It was not some after thought or something that was of little value compared to everything else.
And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-8
Once again, Jesus places great emphasis on the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Before I continue, every born again Christian has a measure of the Spirit, or they wouldn't belong to Christ, but not every Christian has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let's move on.
AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
Before we continue, notice a couple of things. First of all, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues. It was not just some of them that spoke in tongues, but all of them. This event occurred while they were in the upper room, and they all spoke the same language, so they didn't need to speak in other tongues in the upper room to be understood. As a matter of fact, they wouldn't understand other tongues. If this was only for some and only so people of other languages could understand, why would they need to all speak with other tongues while in the upper room?
Apparently, they leave the upper room and go out into the streets, and are still speaking in tongues. As a result, people heard them speaking in different languages. At the time, there were people gathered there from "every nation under heaven" and they heard these men speak "in our own tongue, wherein we were born." They were speaking in real languages, but not ones they had ever learned. The Spirit was speaking through them. What were they speaking? "The wonderful works of God." I am not convinced they were preaching a sermon or anything close to that. They were likely praising God in words they didn't understand, but the people gathered there did. Speaking in tongues was an initial evidence they had received the Holy Spirit, and they were not the only people to experience this.
In Acts Chapter 10, Peter went to the house of a gentile named Cornelius to preach the gospel to him and his family. Notice what it says happened after they believed and got saved. Verses 44-48
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Notice that the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word, not some of them. The Apostles recognized they had been filled because of the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. Once again, this is not the final example we have that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence. We are given a third example. In Acts chapter 19, the Apostles encountered people that believed because of John the Baptist and had received water baptism, but not the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Notice what it says in verse 2-6
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them; the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
It wasn't just a few that spoke in tongues, but all of them as an initial evidence. I would also point out that Simon the sorcerer saw this taking place, and desired the ability to lay hands on people to where they would receive the Holy Ghost. There had to be some kind of evidence people were receiving or he wouldn't try to purchase this ability with money. It is separate from the salvation experience. It is also different from the gift of the Spirit of speaking in tongues. The Holy Ghost himself is a gift from God, but the Holy spirit will then give additional gifts to Christians to use for God's purposes. One is called the gift of tongues and there is also the gift of interpretation of tongues. The Bible speaks of that in Corinthians, and gives certain guidelines for using these gifts so people won't do things that are disruptive and out of order. If a person speaks in tongues, to be in order, there must be an interpretation given. The question came up about all the people speaking in tongues that don't interpret. In Pentecostal churches, the people do not sit quietly while one person prays a prayer for all, but everyone prays in their own words at the same time, and sometimes that is in tongues. These prayers are personal and don't require an interpretation, and are not out of order or disruptive. There is no reason to sit around trying to judge if they are praying in a real language. That is between them and God. We have reason to judge doctrine, not individual's prayer language.
I want to address something else. There are tongues of angels, as Paul mentions them. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, it says, "THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." Paul says in chapter 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." This is the prayer language we receive when we are baptized in the Holy Ghost. That is different from the gift of tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14:3,4, Paul says "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." They are two different things. Paul did not make light of prayer tongues. In chapter 14:18,19 he says, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." Jesus didn't make light of tongues and neither did Paul. Paul is speaking of doing things in an orderly manner. That is all.
As far as being slain in the Spirit goes, I have experienced this many times and have prayed for at least one person that was slain in the Spirit. If you have never experienced it, you wouldn't understand. This is nothing more than going into a trance like state for a time while the Spirit of God ministers to you. Trances are in the Bible. Peter went into a trance and saw a vision that led to him going to preach to Cornelius and his household.
Are there things taking place in the church world that are not from God? Of course there is. I am aware of the church where someone was wearing a dog collar and chain and saying that "where he is I will follow." That was nothing more than flesh. It was a type of word picture. An example like that hardly compares with someone being under the power of God so strong they fall into a trance. I have heard of people rolling on the floor, which led to the name, "holy rollers," but I have never seen or experienced this. I have heard of many different things taking place in charismatic and Pentecostal churches that are questionable, but it is my position that every person that receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues when they are initially filled, and there are numerous examples of this in Acts as I have already shown. I pray in tongues on a regular basis. It is really nobody's place to judge whether it is real or not. I am very careful about judging any potential manifestation of the Spirit. I might question some things within myself, but it has to be completely unbiblical for me to openly attack it.
I am sure this will lead to questions, or I expect it will. Feel free. I will do my best to answer them, but I think I have pretty well made my position clear as to what I believe.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me because I go to the Father. John 16:7-16
Jesus considered the Baptism of the Holy Ghost of great importance. It was not some after thought or something that was of little value compared to everything else.
And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-8
Once again, Jesus places great emphasis on the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Before I continue, every born again Christian has a measure of the Spirit, or they wouldn't belong to Christ, but not every Christian has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let's move on.
AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
Before we continue, notice a couple of things. First of all, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues. It was not just some of them that spoke in tongues, but all of them. This event occurred while they were in the upper room, and they all spoke the same language, so they didn't need to speak in other tongues in the upper room to be understood. As a matter of fact, they wouldn't understand other tongues. If this was only for some and only so people of other languages could understand, why would they need to all speak with other tongues while in the upper room?
Apparently, they leave the upper room and go out into the streets, and are still speaking in tongues. As a result, people heard them speaking in different languages. At the time, there were people gathered there from "every nation under heaven" and they heard these men speak "in our own tongue, wherein we were born." They were speaking in real languages, but not ones they had ever learned. The Spirit was speaking through them. What were they speaking? "The wonderful works of God." I am not convinced they were preaching a sermon or anything close to that. They were likely praising God in words they didn't understand, but the people gathered there did. Speaking in tongues was an initial evidence they had received the Holy Spirit, and they were not the only people to experience this.
In Acts Chapter 10, Peter went to the house of a gentile named Cornelius to preach the gospel to him and his family. Notice what it says happened after they believed and got saved. Verses 44-48
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Notice that the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word, not some of them. The Apostles recognized they had been filled because of the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. Once again, this is not the final example we have that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence. We are given a third example. In Acts chapter 19, the Apostles encountered people that believed because of John the Baptist and had received water baptism, but not the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Notice what it says in verse 2-6
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them; the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
It wasn't just a few that spoke in tongues, but all of them as an initial evidence. I would also point out that Simon the sorcerer saw this taking place, and desired the ability to lay hands on people to where they would receive the Holy Ghost. There had to be some kind of evidence people were receiving or he wouldn't try to purchase this ability with money. It is separate from the salvation experience. It is also different from the gift of the Spirit of speaking in tongues. The Holy Ghost himself is a gift from God, but the Holy spirit will then give additional gifts to Christians to use for God's purposes. One is called the gift of tongues and there is also the gift of interpretation of tongues. The Bible speaks of that in Corinthians, and gives certain guidelines for using these gifts so people won't do things that are disruptive and out of order. If a person speaks in tongues, to be in order, there must be an interpretation given. The question came up about all the people speaking in tongues that don't interpret. In Pentecostal churches, the people do not sit quietly while one person prays a prayer for all, but everyone prays in their own words at the same time, and sometimes that is in tongues. These prayers are personal and don't require an interpretation, and are not out of order or disruptive. There is no reason to sit around trying to judge if they are praying in a real language. That is between them and God. We have reason to judge doctrine, not individual's prayer language.
I want to address something else. There are tongues of angels, as Paul mentions them. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, it says, "THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." Paul says in chapter 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." This is the prayer language we receive when we are baptized in the Holy Ghost. That is different from the gift of tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14:3,4, Paul says "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." They are two different things. Paul did not make light of prayer tongues. In chapter 14:18,19 he says, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." Jesus didn't make light of tongues and neither did Paul. Paul is speaking of doing things in an orderly manner. That is all.
As far as being slain in the Spirit goes, I have experienced this many times and have prayed for at least one person that was slain in the Spirit. If you have never experienced it, you wouldn't understand. This is nothing more than going into a trance like state for a time while the Spirit of God ministers to you. Trances are in the Bible. Peter went into a trance and saw a vision that led to him going to preach to Cornelius and his household.
Are there things taking place in the church world that are not from God? Of course there is. I am aware of the church where someone was wearing a dog collar and chain and saying that "where he is I will follow." That was nothing more than flesh. It was a type of word picture. An example like that hardly compares with someone being under the power of God so strong they fall into a trance. I have heard of people rolling on the floor, which led to the name, "holy rollers," but I have never seen or experienced this. I have heard of many different things taking place in charismatic and Pentecostal churches that are questionable, but it is my position that every person that receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues when they are initially filled, and there are numerous examples of this in Acts as I have already shown. I pray in tongues on a regular basis. It is really nobody's place to judge whether it is real or not. I am very careful about judging any potential manifestation of the Spirit. I might question some things within myself, but it has to be completely unbiblical for me to openly attack it.
I am sure this will lead to questions, or I expect it will. Feel free. I will do my best to answer them, but I think I have pretty well made my position clear as to what I believe.