Stammering Lips and Unknown Tongues
This discourse in Corinthians concerning spiritual gifts is NOT a call to abandon the workings and ministries of the Holy Spirit as some teach. Instead it is a clarion call to embrace spiritual gifts - including speaking in tongues and give the Holy Spirit place in our churches. Paul is not calling for a stop to tongues. He is merely instructing the church at Corinth on order and encouraging the church to operate in the gifts through love - which never fails.
By Chris McDonald
A
Discourse on 1 Corinthians 14
The baptism in
the Holy Spirit is not an option. It is a command of the Lord Jesus to the
believer. Speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence one has been
filled with the Spirit. Once filled, speaking in tongues is only a door into a
deeper revelation and walk with the Holy Ghost.
1
Cor 14:1-4 - Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that
ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto
men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he
speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesies speaketh unto men to edification,
and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies
himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.
Isa. 28:11-13 - For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
The question has been asked a thousand times, why tongues? Some have
spoken despairingly of this great gift by saying it is nothing more than babble,
chatter, or incoherent jabbering. However, one should be very careful in saying
anything about the Holy Spirit – or anything connected to the Holy Spirit in a
negative way. Speaking in other tongues is NOT jabber or babble or incoherent
prattle.
Speaking in tongues is generally a language spoken SOMEWHERE in the world
and known by some people in the world or in heaven. We are given insight to this
when it states that there were devout men from EVER NATION UNDER HEAVEN, (and,
of course, this referred to the world known in those days). It says they had
come together and were confounded because “how hear we every man in our own
tongue, wherein we were born?” It then goes on to list the people who were
there – Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and at least 13 additional nationalities.
Yet all these disparate people said, “we
do hear them speak in our (own) tongues the wonderful works of God.” Now
these individuals were not preaching to these people to be saved. They were
merely praising the Lord in other tongues. They were speaking a language they
had not learned. Some skeptics have tried to explain this away as some language
the 120 had just learned. In other words, the 120 had suddenly become linguists
and were praising God in other languages other than Aramaic, Hebrew, or Greek
– the common local tongues. This is not true, however. These were uneducated
Galileans and were NOT students of languages. They were mainly blue-collar
workers – fishermen by trade.
This is the way it ALWAYS is when people speak in tongues. There are
hundreds and perhaps thousands of languages and dialects in this world, and many
of them sound very strange to our ears. They are not strange, of course, to the
people who routinely converse in them. It is always a language spoken somewhere
in the world but not known by the individual speaking in other tongues. If you
will notice, when it came time to preach to these people about the Lord Jesus
Christ and give an invitation to be saved, Peter did not continue speaking in
tongues. He then preached in the common language of the day, which was either
Aramaic or Hebrew. Of course, all those present understood it. It was not the
same language they heard when the people were praising God earlier. That was a
supernatural utterance given by God.
I want to mention this one thing before we go any further. For those
reading this who are quick to judge tongues and their significance for today, I
would ask one simple question. What type language do you think is going on in
heaven? Do you think God just speaks American English? Do you think He speaks
only in YOUR dialect? Paul mentions “tongues of men, AND OF ANGELS.” The
language of heaven is the language of the Spirit. The language of the Spirit is
given to a believer when that believer is baptized, or endued with power from on
high. When this occurs, that believer speaks in a heavenly, or angelic language.
To answer the question why tongues, let’s look at four key things to
know about speaking in other tongues.
It
is always a Supernatural Utterance
Speaking
in tongues is always a supernatural utterance. It is exercised by faith, but it
is not of the individual’s doing. It comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and was
promised as long ago as Isaiah who said it would bring a rest and refreshing for
the weary heart and soul. You cannot teach someone to speak in tongues. Abuses
in this area make it hard to tell people there is a real experience from God.
You can’t turn it on and off like a faucet. The Holy Spirit will GIVE the
utterance; you must give the Holy Spirit the voice.
Speaking
in Tongues Is Always Given By God
Careful
reading of our text infers that when men speak with other tongues, it is
actually God speaking through them to the people. This is exactly what happens
when the GIFT of tongues and Interpretation of tongues as outlined in 1
Corinthians 12 is in operation. Even when the individual believer is speaking in
tongues in a devotional way, it is the Lord speaking through him. Why? We'll get
to that in a minute when we discuss the reasons why it is important for you to
speak in tongues.
Speaking
in Tongues is Universal
This
is single evidence the world over. It is not the evidence for one country and
something else for another as some foolishly try to insist. It is the same
evidence everywhere. It was the same evidence in the New Testament days as it is
today. It is the same across the world and across the years – which makes
excellent evidence – if one is willing to view this experience without
prejudice.
Speaking
in Tongues is Instantaneous
The
moment the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes to the individual, he starts to
speak with other tongues. It happens that same way with everyone. It’s not
something that involves interaction with other individuals. It is strictly a
personal experience between the individual and God. It always happens
instantaneously, the moment the baptism in the Holy Ghost occurs. Cornelius and
his house were saved and filled at the same time.
It Ushers In The Holy Spirit
From
reading Acts 2:4 it is very apparent that the moment individuals were filled
with the Holy Ghost they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave
them the utterance. If tongues do serve to usher in the Holy Spirit, it becomes
of extreme importance in this great work of grace in the hearts and lives of
believers.
It
is a Refreshing to the Believer
In
Isaiah 28, as he gave prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit (in verses 11-13 –
as quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14), Isaiah mentions something of extreme
importance. He said, “This is the rest
wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing.
Once
you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues
on a regular basis you will fully understand this verse. It is like a spiritual
recharging of one’s spiritual batteries. It is what Jude referred to in the 20th
verse of his book when he used the phrase, “building
up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” It
lifts one up spiritually.
It
Helps One to Pray
When
Paul wrote to the church at Rome, he spent an entire chapter (8) on the will of
God, intercession and the important role the Holy Spirit plays in this.
Rom
8:26-28 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And
he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The
Greek says this of the “groanings that cannot be uttered” in verse 26 –
“which cannot be articulated in a normal or natural voice.” This refers to
speaking with other tongues. It helps us to pray. When we don’t know how to
pray about a certain situation, it is often because we don’t recognize the
complexities of the problem. God does. The Holy Spirit does
Thus,
when we go before God in the natural, we can ask for what WE see as the
solutions – but which, in fact, aren’t. As we pray in the Spirit, or in
other words in other tongues, it is not only a great refreshing, but a great
assurance knowing that the Holy Spirit is praying through us and He is praying
according to the will of God. He says things to the Heavenly Father that we
would not know what or how to say in our human, natural ability. The Lord Jesus
makes intercession for us in heaven. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us
here on earth. Glory to God. And that intercession is ALWAYS according to the
will of God. Because of this, we know God hears us and will answer the request
we ask since it’s being asked “IN HIS WILL.”
I
Jn. 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
It is a Sign to the Unbeliever
This
term “a sign to the unbeliever” has a number of meanings. One of them is
that it is a sign to the unbeliever that individual speaking has been baptized
in the Holy Spirit. In other words, speaking in other tongues is just the sign
we’ve been discussing. It is a manifestation of the power and presence of God.
It is a sign that God is working mightily and that the unbeliever should get
right with God.
It
Edifies the Believer
1
Cor 14:4 - He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that
prophesieth edifieth the church.
Paul
said in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that a person speaking in tongues is edifying
himself. He did not say this was wrong. Speaking in tongues strengthens the
believer, builds his faith, and lifts him up – and not in selfishness. The
Holy Spirit never does that. The Holy Ghost always does this in a healthy manner
– and never makes a mistake by edifying the believer in a way that would
corrupt the carnal ego.
It
is a Divine Form of Communication
1
Cor 14:14-15 - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my
understanding is unfruitful.
What
is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
When our spirit unites with the Holy
Spirit and the Spirit of God prays through us it is a direct line of
communication to God and us. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, our understanding
may be unfruitful, but there are times when we need to get a hold of God
immediately. Paul said there would be needful times to pray both in the Spirit
and with our own understanding. When we are praying in the Spirit, even Satan
doesn’t understand what we are saying! Think about it. The only time when the
enemy cannot interfere with the flow of prayer between you and God is when
you’re praying in the Holy Ghost.
Doesn’t this make the arguments
against the Holy Spirit seem so childish? We’re fighting the very one thing
that can connect us to God and get an answer to our needs as the church. No
wonder the enemy has blinded so many to this experience and deluded others into
attacking it. You need the baptism in the Holy Spirit! You need to be filled
with the Holy Ghost as they were on the day of Pentecost. You need this
experience. It’s for today!
Do
All Speak with other Tongues?
A lot of confusion arises over Paul’s statement to the Corinthians that he would rather speak five words of understanding in his own language than 5,000 in another tongue. Many have taken this and argued that this validates the fact that some will not speak in tongues because not all will be given the “gift.” Others say, “well, you’re not supposed to speak in tongues if you don’t have an interpreter. The Bible says, if a man don’t have an interpreter present, he should just keep silent.” Sad to say, that’s what most of us do – except when we’re cutting down our neighbor and preacher. We tend to have a great capacity to worrying about an interpreter present when we’re gossiping and backbiting with our tongue. As I heard one Baptist preacher say in a recent revival meeting as he was lampooning this experience – “many can’t control the things they say in English, why would God want to give them the gift of saying more in other languages?” What he said was true, but it’s sad he was saying it in a defamatory way about speaking in other tongues. Why do we attack the things we don’t take the time to understand? If we don’t understand it, THEN KEEP QUIET ABOUT IT
Devotional Tongues and the Gift of Tongues
We teach and preach that every
recipient of the Holy Spirit, without exception, speaks with other tongues as he
is baptized in the Holy Spirit. However, the initial physical evidence of this
experience (as recorded in Acts 2:4) should not be confused with the experience
and operation Paul spent three chapters on in 1 Corinthians 12-14. The GIFT of
TONGUES and INTERPRETATION of TONGUES are two of the nine gifts of the Spirit.
Admittedly, everything received from God is a gift. But there is a difference in
the devotional, infilling of the Holy Spirit, in the personal life of the
believer, and the use of tongues in corporate gatherings where the Body of
Christ comes together to be ministered to.
1
Cor 12:10 - To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues.
A person who speaks in tongues every
day of his life (and he should do this) may never be used in the gift of
tongues. A person who is used in the gift of tongues should pray that God also
give him the gift of interpretation. These experiences are similar, yet
different. One is for your personal worship. The other (1 Cor. 12) is for events
that transpire when the Body of Christ comes together in corporate worship. When
the Bible says, “not all speak with tongues,” it’s not saying that when
you’re baptized in the Holy Ghost you won’t speak in tongues. It’s saying
that the Holy Spirit has given special gifts to people in the body and some may
be used in the gift of speaking in tongues to the Body and some won’t.
When we say the gift of tongues,
we’re talking about the experience where the Spirit of God moves on an
individual, and that person gives a message in the body from the Lord. When the
person finishes speaking the message in tongues, another should interpret what
has been said. If an interpretation doesn’t come forth then the body has not
been edified because NO ONE HAS UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS SAID.
When Peter preached the message of
Pentecost, he had just come down from the most powerful outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in the history of the church. Yet, when he addressed those gathered, he
didn’t give the message in tongues, he spoke in his natural language so that
all could understand. This is what Paul is referring to when he says, “I would
rather speak five words of my own understanding.” He goes on to say, “I
SPEAK IN TONGUES MORE THAN YE ALL” and “I WOULD THAT YE ALL SPEAK WITH
TONGUES.”
1
Cor 14:4-28 - He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he
that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues,
but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that
speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive
edifying.
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I
profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge,
or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound,
whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it
be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the
tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye
shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the
world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the
meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that
speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous
of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is
unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with
the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he
that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks,
seeing he understands not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks
well, but the other is not edified. 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.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children,
but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues
and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not
hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that
believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that
believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come
together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those
that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if
all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is
convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart
made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report
that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together,
every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a
revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any
man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and
that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him
keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
If a person is just speaking in his own
devotional language, worshipping the Lord, there is seldom a need for
interpretation if ever. The GIFT OF TONGUES is not in operation. Sometimes in
worship situations a person hears someone speaking in tongues and wonders what
is called for. I’ve been preaching at times when the Spirit of God will give
an utterance through me of worship. I’m not giving a “message” in tongues,
I’m worshipping the Lord. When I do this, there is no need to stop the message
and get an interpretation. I had a lady just recently watch a video of a message
I preached some years back. When I was preaching I began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. I was not giving a
“message” in tongues. So, I didn’t stop to get an interpretation of what I
was saying. Seeing the video, her comment to my wife was, “He was speaking in
tongues on that video and that’s wrong since he didn’t have an interpreter
present.” No, it wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t addressing the congregation in
other tongues. I was praising the Lord. I was addressing the congregation in
English.
On the other side of this coin, I’ve
been in Pentecostal churches where the preacher cannot even finish his message
because every one wants to interpret every utterance in tongues he gives. The
gifts of the Spirit are given for our edification, comfort and MATURITY in the
Lord. They are not a sideshow to show off our spirituality or lack of common
sense. Paul said that unless he spoke to them by revelation, doctrine and in
their own understanding he would be speaking into the air and would seem to
those who don’t know any better like a barbarian.
1 Cor. 14:6-12 - Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues,
what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by
knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life
giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the
sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give
an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle. So likewise ye,
except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known
what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many
kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that
speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so
ye, Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to
the edifying of the church.
Paul is not arguing here against
speaking in tongues. He’s setting forth guidelines for those who would be used
in the gift of tongues and interpretation. Many argue against the entire
experience of tongues with these scriptures. A Spirit-filled person should speak
in tongues every day of his life, and he may well do so and STILL NOT HAVE THE
GIFT OF TONGUES. Personal worship of the Lord is done many times in private, but
at times it is done in public gatherings, such as a prayer meeting or worship
service. When this happens and a person is praising the Lord in tongues, no
interpretation is necessary.
All Spirit-filled brethren should use
tongues daily in their prayer life, but not all will minister in the gift of
tongues. Paul was giving correction, not a stoplight. The Corinthians had
allowed confusion to intrude into their worship services. Paul was saying,
“Let it be done in order.” He wasn’t telling them to stop it!!!!!
1
Cor. 14:18-24 - 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. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye
children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of
other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that
will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to
them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for
them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church
be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in
those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But
if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he
is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
Paul quotes Isaiah in the 21st
verse of this expose’ on tongues. He said in the LAW it is written and YET FOR
ALL THAT THEY WILL NOT HEAR ME.
Tongues
are for a SIGN
It is never
proper to speak in tongues without LOVE. Paul said without the love of Jesus in
our hearts, all of our tongue-talking and prophesying comes across like clanking
sounds of brass and cymbals. In other words, our actions to our fellow man speak
louder than our words do while we’re in church. We may brag about how we speak
in tongues but the fruit of one’s walk with the Lord is the love he or she
possesses when the rubber hits the road.
There are many who have allowed
bitterness and hatred to seep into their hearts even AFTER they have received
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. God is love, and walking with HIM means a
Christian must walk in Love and LOVE DOETH NO ILL TO ITS NEIGHBOR.
Many in the Pentecostal world love to
boast about the gifts of the Spirit that operate in their life. It is possible
for the Christian walk to then become an ego trip – a compulsion to be seen
and heard when functioning in the gifts of the Spirit. In this case, love is not
present as it should be, and these people can sometimes even speak harshly of
others. If the heart of a person is not right, he is in a dangerous situation
trying to operate in the gifts of the Spirit until the matter is prayed through
and victory is won. The enemy loves to exploit our spirit man in this area.
Untold harm has been done to others by someone claiming to be
“spirit-filled” but yet is filled with all types of malice, hate,
unforgiveness and bitterness towards others. Many times the reasons most don’t
want this experience is because they have seen such a display of demonic
emotion. THIS OUGHT NOT TO BE!
Another time it is not proper to speak
in tongues in corporate gatherings is when speaking in tongues will disrupt what
the man of God is saying. There are times when the Spirit of God is moving in a
service and someone interjects something that completely interrupts the preacher
and the flow of the service. There are other times when these interruptions come
at the right time, such as the interruption at the house of Cornelius. This
generally occurs in smaller gatherings such as home groups and other meetings
like that. When people do this, they just say, “I couldn’t help myself.”
They use the phrase, “I didn’t want to quench the Spirit by not speaking
out.” This is usually not a matter of “quenching the Spirit,” but
controlling the flesh. The HOLY SPIRIT is NEVER THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION.
Paul said if the whole church comes together speaking in tongues and
unbelievers are present, they would think us all mad unless there was order to
what we were doing.
1
Cor 14:23-33 - If therefore the whole church be come together into one place,
and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or
unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and
there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all,
he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so
falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a
truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a
psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an
unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course;
and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in
the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak
two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that
sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one,
that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets
are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Again, Paul is not throwing a blanket
on tongues and saying it’s wrong. He’s saying, “Use some common sense and
GROW UP.” God will arrange a proper moment for you to give whatever it is the
Lord wants you to give. When delivering a message, there is no need to shout or
deliver the message in a special tone of voice to make it sound “spiritual.”
The “flesh” induces many of these things, and instead of helping the Holy
Spirit, it hinders Him. Remember that He, the Holy Spirit, is subject to YOU.
These are areas where obedience to the word of God is paramount to our spiritual
growth in the gifts of the Spirit. If the Bible says let our messages in tongues
are spoken by two or at the MOST THREE, then that’s what we should do. When we
stray away from this, we open the door to the enemy and HE WILL COME IN and
bring confusion.
Some boast that in THEIR church, ten,
twelve and even twenty messages are given a service. This isn’t proper and
unscriptural. The Holy Spirit should lead every thing. In smaller groups, such
as home groups they may be variations, but in PUBLIC CORPORATE WORSHIP, it would
be wise to OBEY THE WORD OF THE LORD! The problem with Pentecostals is the same
problem with most Baptists – TRADITION. Our tradition in Pentecostal circles
puffs us up and blinds us from reproof while the tradition of Baptists blinds
them to their need to speak in tongues and be baptized in the Holy Ghost. We
both do this to our own destruction.
In Closing
I didn’t get into other
manifestations of the Spirit such as laughing, being slain in the Spirit, divine
healings and trembling under the power. My brother Todd has wrote a wonderful
article on that on the web site and I encourage you to read it entitled
“Thoughts on Gold, Laughing and Shaking.” It will encourage you and
challenge you about some of the phenomenon going on around the country in some
churches right now experiencing revival.
Before I go, I do want to say this.
Some of you reading this are at a crossroads. You have been saved by the blood
of Jesus. If you died or Jesus came right now, you’d be taken to heaven to be
with Him eternally. You love Him with all your heart. For whatever reason,
ignorance, fear, traditional teaching or just unbelief, you have not received
this experience we have talked about and you want to. It’s just a matter of
asking and allowing the Holy Spirit to anoint you with power. It’s already
been paid for, just as your salvation was paid for at Calvary. In a later
journal we’re going to talk about receiving the Holy Spirit. You don’t have
to beg God for this experience!! He wants to baptize you with power. He wants
His Spirit to come upon you just like it did His Son, Jesus Christ some 2,000
years ago. Glory to God!!
The only prerequisite for receiving the
baptism of the Holy Spirit is salvation. Nothing more, nothing less. You can’t
make yourself anymore worthy to receive this blessed gift than you are now.
However, two factors that will keep you from receiving are basically unbelief,
and not yielding our tongue to the Lord. The matter of unyieldedness usually
comes in a form of unforgiveness as well.
We are taught from a child to “stand
on our own two-feet.” At the moment of seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
we all feel a strange pressure growing within ourselves, a force demanding
expression. It is at this moment, we need to let go and allow that expression to
come forth.
The
Holy Ghost Will Not Speak For You
The very
moment a believer asks the Lord Jesus to fill him with the Holy Spirit God’s
promises will work. Down inside there will be words or phrases or sounds that
will start to form and seek expression. The Holy Ghost is giving utterance. That
is as far as the Holy Ghost will go! The rest is up to you the believer. This is
the point where you must take over and open your mouth and speak those things
and voice the sounds crying out for expression within you.
I’ve never met two people with the
same prayer language. I’ve never met two people with similar expressions. We
are all different. God created us that way. You’re experience may not be like
mine, but YOU WILL SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES! Ignore the voice of the skeptics and
Satan telling you “this surely isn’t the way it should sound.” THIS IS THE
HOLY GHOST giving the utterance. Just open your mouth and start to speak.
You’ve asked you’re Heavenly Father for the Holy Ghost, He won’t give you
a stone or a serpent instead
Glory to God. You retain full control
of all your faculties at all times. The Holy Spirit does not impose. He
suggests. He leads. And no leading of the Holy Spirit will cause you to do
anything improper. By the same token, He will not FORCE you to speak in tongues.
Notice the passage in Acts 2:4 – THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK with other tongues and
the SPIRIT GAVE THEM THE UTTERANCE. The Spirit plays a role in this experience,
BUT YOU PLAY a role too! Just relax and allow the Lord Jesus to baptize you in
His precious Holy Spirit. It’s His plan for your life. The only thing left is
for you to step out in faith and receive.
1
Cor 14:38-40 - But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore,
brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all
things be done decently and in order.
Paul said, let him that wants to be
ignorant of these things – BE IGNORANT. This experience is for today and God
is still filling people with the Holy Ghost. If you want to fight it, fight it,
but you sir will find yourself happily fighting against GOD!
To those reading this who are honestly
seeking more of God – believe Jesus wants you to be filled with the Spirit so
you can become a greater witness for Him. The power of the Holy Ghost can change
countries. He can change marriages. He can change schools. He can change
churches. He can change YOU!!
Heavenly Father, we pray for everyone who reads this and is seeking this mighty experience. I pray in Jesus name that everyone reading will be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues and they did on the day of Pentecost; as they did in the house of Cornelius; as Paul did when he received his sight; as those Ephesus believers did that day Paul laid his hands on them; as the people of Samaria did when Peter and John came down and laid their hands on them; Fill them in Jesus name. Remove the doubts and fears and tradition that has blinded them to your will for their life. We bind the voice of the enemy who would lie to them and tell them this experience is not for them. Be filled with the Holy Ghost in Jesus name!!
Read Our Other Journals On The Holy Spirit:
Ruth: Preparation - A Prophetic Word Concerning The Last Days Harvest
Ruth, The Holy Spirit And The Harvest Part One
Who Is This Damsel? Ruth Part Two
Handfuls On Purpose: Ruth Part Three
Filled With The Holy Ghost Part One
Filled With The Holy Ghost Part Two
The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit To The Believer
Which Have Received The Holy Ghost As We
Some Questions About Speaking In Tongues
Stammering Lips and Unknown Tongues
Our Children Will Be Our Judges