One of the main dividing lines in the church today is over the issue of speaking in tongues. Friend, Jesus didn't send back the Holy Ghost to divide the church! He sent back the Holy Ghost to uplift Jesus and convict men of their sin. The Holy Spirit is God and brings with Him diversities in manifestations and ministries. One of these manifestations given to the New Testament believer is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. We believe and teach that the initial physical evidence one has received the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues "as the Spirit of God gives the utterance," as what took place on the Day of Pentecost as well as other places throughout the book of Acts.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As we write this journal we are currently in the season of Shavuot, or Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday is May 27, 2007 and commemorates the giving of the Law by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It also commemorates the great Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell as recorded in our text upon 120 men and women gathered on the Temple Square. What took place that day has transcended Christianity and shook the foundations of the religious every since. Remember this friend. Christianity is more than just a formal exercise of ritual and ceremony. True Christianity is more than just attending a local church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, or even preaching a sermon, as wonderful and honorable as all of that is. True Christianity does not reside in a building, but in the hearts of every true born-again child of God who has come to faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross; we come to Him through the work of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, who MUST be the One doing the bringing!

Many have emotional experiences and think that in itself has "saved" them. Many have went down under a cloud of guilt and shook a preacher's hand and signed a church pledge card, joined a denomination, thinking that this has "saved," them. Many have sat down and confessed their sins to a priest thinking that by confessing to another man in authority that "saves" them. NONE of these things save anybody! Man must be convicted by the power of the HOLY GHOST and brought to saving faith in Christ. We must be BORN AGAIN as Jesus said in John 3. No man calls Jesus "Lord," except through the power of the Holy Ghost. We must have FAITH in Christ and Christ alone to be saved.

Once we're saved however, the work of the Holy Spirit does not cease or stop; His work is just beginning! The next step after salvation for every believer is to be baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues.  Speaking in tongues is the most talked about phenomena in Christianity today. Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement have brought speaking in tongues to the forefront, and these branches of Christianity are without doubt the fastest growing segments of Christianity today. Recent studies indicate that nearly 25% of ALL those who profess Christ as Saviour have been gloriously baptized in the Holy Spirit after salvation with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. These movements are impacting the world even more than the reformation, yet many in these movements have faced some of the greatest persecution and ridicule going back the days of Azusa Street.

Dr. Vinson Synan, whom this writer met once in person in the early 1990s, writes in his great work on the history of the Pentecostal movement that the original theology that laid the foundation for Azusa Street outpouring was not set forth by a Pentecostal, but the founder of the United Methodist Church - John Wesley.

The Pentecostal movement is by far the largest and most important religious movement to originate in the United States. Beginning in 1901 with only a handful of students in a Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, the number of Pentecostals increased steadily throughout the world during the Twentieth Century until by 1993 they had become the largest family of Protestants in the world. With over 200,000,000 members designated as denominational Pentecostals, this group surpassed the Orthodox churches as the second largest denominational family of Christians, surpassed only by the Roman Catholics. In addition to these "Classical denominational Pentecostals," there were over 200,000,000 "Charismatic" Pentecostals in the mainline denominations and independent charismatic churches, both Catholic and Protestant, which placed the number of both Pentecostals and Charismatics at well over 420,000,000 persons in 1993. This explosive growth has forced the Christian world to pay increasing attention to the entire movement and to attempt to discover the root causes of this growth.

Although the Pentecostal movement had its beginnings in the United States, it owed much of its basic theology to earlier British perfectionist and charismatic movements. At least three of these, the Methodist/Holiness movement, the Catholic Apostolic movement of Edward Irving, and the British Keswick "Higher Life" movement prepared the way for what appeared to be a spontaneous outpouring of the Holy Spirit in America.

Perhaps the most important immediate precursor to Pentecostalism was the Holiness movement which issued from the heart of Methodism at the end of the Nineteenth Century. From John Wesley, the Pentecostals inherited the idea of a subsequent crisis experience variously called "entire sanctification,"perfect love," "Christian perfection," or "heart purity." It was John Wesley who posited such a possibility in his influential tract, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection (1766). It was from Wesley that the Holiness Movement developed the theology of a "second blessing." It was Wesley's colleague, John Fletcher, however, who first called this second blessing a "baptism in the Holy Spirit," an experience which brought spiritual power to the recipient as well as inner cleansing. This was explained in his major work, Checks to Antinominianism (1771). During the Nineteenth Century, thousands of Methodists claimed to receive this experience, although no one at the time saw any connection with this spirituality and speaking in tongues or any of the other charismas.

This destroys the mocking by some that tongues began with a few ignorant and uneducated few with mental problems. John Wesley founded the most powerful denomination - the Methodist Church - with the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him that brought preaching that saved this nation's soul in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

With all the talk about speaking in tongues in modern times, very few understand this ministry and operation of the Spirit, which is probably the least understood subject among most believers and is the subject of much ridicule  and some of the most vile statements birthed in the hearts of religious men who search high and low to discredit what is a clear pattern in Scripture as to what the Lord seeks for his children - salvation and the baptism in the Holy Ghost!

If speaking in tongues was even mentioned once in the Word of God it would be an important subject to discuss and understand; however, the Bible mentions speaking in tongues thirty-five times, including the words of Jesus Himself who promised one of the signs that would follow those who believed in Him would be "they would speak with new tongues." That did not mean that speaking in tongues would be a requirement for salvation, but that those who came to Christ in faith would, upon asking, be filled with the Spirit of God.

Mark 16:17-18
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
 

I read an article just a day  before we're writing this that many of the "newer" translations coming our are literally taking this verse out of the context of Scripture. Some translations already have done so trying to remove the idea that part of the New Testament believer's walk with God includes being baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. These SIGNS shall follow them which believe - they shall speak with new tongues.

It boggles this writer's mind how so-called educated men with doctorate degrees can take an eraser, and just erase the thoughts of God as if man has some kind of superior knowledge as to what God is saying. God calls man's wisdom "foolishness," and as Paul said in 1 Corinthians, the "foolishness" of God is WISER than men. Some call speaking in tongues, "foolish," yet God uses it to destroy the wisdom of men! Oh, Glory to God! I feel a shout coming on!

Mockers, hear this writer. Call us who speak in tongues ignorant, demonic, back woods, uneducated if you like; mock, make fun, twist scripture and the truth to your own peril, laugh, lampoon and snicker at all of which I speak. Your problem is the sin of unbelief, plain and simple. I'll take the mockings and false twisting of scripture as a compliment coming from most who if pressed probably couldn't even tell you why they don't believe in tongues other than "I heard my pastor say this," or "I heard a relative say that." I remember coming up against such earlier this year when one lady in the crowd of a small Bible study smirked and mocked what I speak of saying "I watched 'The Exorcist' and the demon possessed girl spoke in tongues; I guess that means it's evil." I could somewhat understand this poor individual's ignorance because she was not saved. What I could NOT understand was the leader of this ministry who was hosting the Bible study who was supposed to be saved and agreed with this woman by laughing at what she said in agreement. God help us.

I was not so nicely asked to leave a few weeks later and not come teach again at this ministry which is ok. I'd rather be looked on as foolish and called names and know that I know that I know that I know I'm born again and FILLED with the HOLY GHOST! I'm not ashamed to say I'm very much PART of "God's FOOLISHNESS" every day of the week and twice on Sunday. We have so-called preachers in this city I live who boast and boast of their education yet deny everything supernatural they can at every given moment they can. They are worse than the Pharisees of Jesus' day who later said the same of Peter and John after they had come from the fresh encounter with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost; calling them "unlearned," and "ignorant," they could only sit back and say "they had been with Jesus."

1 Cor. 1:25 - Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Salvation is God's greatest gift to the world through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's greatest gift to His children, the Church. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost might be also and properly  be called the Baptism of POWER and as such, this experience is an invaluable asset to the Christian committed to seeking the furtherance of God's plan for the world. No, you don't have to speak in tongues to be saved; this experience is for those already saved and wanting to do more for the Kingdom of God than just sit on their thumbs and go through the motions of religion week in and week out. I don't know about you - I want people to say of me, "he's been with Jesus." My Lord, I feel like shouting some more. I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost on those words. Call me unlearned; call me ignorant; call me whatever name you want to call me. I'm not ashamed to tell the reader - I am gloriously saved and GLORIOUSLY baptized in the HOLY GHOST with the evidence of speaking with other tongues.

I know what it is like to feel the presence of Almighty God flow over me like a river; I know what it feels like to have His glory touch me in such a way I have not been able to do anything but lay flat on my face and just weep without being able to say a word. I know what it feels like to speak in tongues to the point I have to go down to my knees under the power and weight of God's Glory. I'm NOT ASHAMED OF THE HOLY GHOST. I'M NOT ASHAMED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE TRUTH OF THIS. I'm not ashamed to take the denominational world, especially the Southern and Independent Baptists to task for their unbelieving, hard-hearted, rejecting attitudes that make claims JUST AS THE PHARISEES OF OLD DID in denying the power of God.

Listen to me Baptists; I love you; What I say is not said in malice or anger but say it I must. Some of you reading this may not agree or have experienced what this writer is talking about. Some may not even want to experience what I'm talking about nor care one iota about anything that is spiritual; that is all fine and good and dandy if that is what your unbelieving heart wants to do and think. Let me warn you however NOT to continue this insidious doctrine and theology that those who speak in tongues are demon possessed as the late evangelical leader who passed away a few weeks ago stated just four months ago before his death. He actually kicked out four students from his seminary when he found out they had spoke in tongues. Keep your mouth off the HOLY GHOST. Keep your mouth and your unbelief to yourself if that is how you feel. You're words are causing others to stumble and you're going to be held accountable before Almighty God one day for what you teach and state to others as "Scripture." Peter said men 'wrestle' the scriptures to their own destruction; I wander how many souls are in hell right now because they sat under preachers who denied the power of God behind pulpits and the Holy Spirit left their church which produced nothing but a building void of God's glory and anointing and convicting power??

I have felt the sting recently of what it's like to come up against this spirit and attitude and it's not pretty. It hurts to hear someone who claims they are saved verbally spouse such stupidity and do it gleefully and cheerfully mocking not only the experience, but equating those who do with drug pushers, alcoholics and whoremongers. This person claims they're saved; I'll leave that between them and God but they are treading on DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS grounds and need to understand that they are precariously close to BLASPHEMING THE HOLY GHOST when they say things like "tongues are of Satan," and "those who speak in tongues are demonic." If that is the case, then Paul was demonic; Peter was demonic; John was demonic; Mary the Mother of Jesus was demonic; Luke was demonic; Matthew was demonic; Mark was demonic; James was demonic! Are you hearing me neighbor? Are you hearing me so-called preacher of the gospel. I'd rather go home to South Georgia, stand in the middle of the barn of my late grandfather's house and listen to donkeys' bray in the middle of a hot South Georgia summer day, than to hear some of the stupidity and moronic chatter that comes from the mouths of those who claim to be so educated theologically, yet have a heart so full of unbelief and arrogance it would choke those donkeys when it comes to the power of God.

We believe every Christian who receives the Baptism in the Holy Ghost speaks in other tongues AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE. We believe speaking in tongues is the INITIAL physical evidence that one HAS received the Holy Ghost. It is certainly not the ONLY evidence, but we believe it is the INITIAL evidence.

Someone emailed us a few weeks back and asked us, "why have you written so much recently on this subject?" The answer to the question is simple and easy - the Holy Ghost dealt with our hearts last Fall to begin writing on this all important subject. We have received several encouraging emails from folks who have received great instruction and guidance on this experience. We believe and teach, that any preacher, any teacher or church, which does not acknowledge and proclaim the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, is at best REMISS in their teaching and will spiritually weaken those who depend on them for guidance. I know that brings loud screams of disagreement, especially from our denominational friends but I don't back away from stating this.  You can have the car but without the key to make the car go - the car is not going anywhere! You can have all your education and all your smarts and so-called human wisdom but NONE of that will bring SPIRITUAL results.

It humors me when people proclaim how these human fads that are sweeping the church are ok because "they are just so uplifting and encouraging and this and that and this and that ad nausea." I don't care how uplifting something is in the natural - if it's not birthed by the Spirit of God - it will do the hearer and the one embracing such foolishness absolutely NO GOOD! IT IS DEATH and it will KILL people if it's not produced by the Spirit of God. It amazes me how churches embrace the error of the Purpose Driven Life module as lambs going to slaughter yet have convulsions when the matter of tongues are brought up among their midst. God help us. We're not serving Rick Warren; we're not serving John Maxwell. We're not worshipping as 12-step program or the local rehab center's technique. We're worshipping the Risen Christ, the Lamb of Glory, the Baptizer in the HOLY GHOST with Fire.

Luke 3:16-17
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
 

Sending a Christian into the world without the Holy Spirit is about like sending a soldier into battle without a weapon!

When a person is saved, he becomes a Christian just as a person becomes a soldier the moment he is sworn into the Army. But the inductee is not ready for battle until he has basic training and has been issued his weapons. And the Christian is in the same condition at the time of salvation. If he isn't encouraged to receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost, preparing him for the ever-coming and the ever-continuing battle against Satan, is being sent out into a battlefield WOEFULLY unprepared. We were told recently by someone they didn't "need to speak in tongues to pray," brushing aside the importance of this great experience available to ALL who will believe. This individual made the experience of tongues to be no more than "gibberish, and babble," as they put it and saying "the only people I know who speak in tongues are speaking in tongues one minute and smoking crack the next."

I'm sure the Holy Spirit was very pleased with this individual insinuating that all those who spoke in tongues are no better than a person who smokes crack or someone who is clearly not saved but because this individual has a heart full of unbelief themselves and would never change their opinion even if someone came back from the dead and told them otherwise. This individual quoted one or two scriptures, twisted them in a negative way to make it seem the Bible was discouraging speaking in tongues when in fact there are THIRTY-FIVE verses and passages of Scripture - both in the OLD and the NEW Covenant relating to this great experience!

What this individual did insulted the Holy Spirit and this writer as well. I have put the situation under the blood and I pray for the person's soul but friend hear me and hear me well.  If you don't understand the ministry of tongues it's best to keep your mouth shut about it and simply acknowledge your ignorance before the Lord. He has a way of answering those who humbly admit they don't know everything there is about certain doctrinal issues, yet but don't want to find themselves fighting something that is of God by labeling it of Satan or lumping those who speak in tongues, as this individual did, with those who are not even saved and basically insinuating a correlation between such and those with serious spiritual and mental problems. What else could this individual mean?

I'm here to declare to you that MILLIONS have been gloriously baptized in the Holy Ghost and are not crack addicts, prostitutes, whoremongers, and any other type of emotionally-disturbed people. These millions include MANY in the early Church who were present on the day of Pentecost including PETER, John, James, Luke, and Mary the Mother of Jesus. Later, the Apostle Paul received this glorious experience after the Lord sent Ananias to him to lay his hands on him to "receive his sight and receive the Holy Spirit." He did not lay his hands on the Apostle to be saved - that had already took place on the Road to Damascus. Paul received the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues - AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD GAVE THE UTTERANCE.

Acts 2:4 - ...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance.

Paul said under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in 1 Corinthians - "if any man wishes to be ignorant (speaking of spiritual gifts and in the 14th chapter he as addressing tongues and prophecy) LET HIM BE IGNORANT!" This subject should not be cast lightly aside as unimportant to the Church. God does not fill His book with things of minor importance. Many people who have never spoken in tongues speak as though they're experts in this field, when in reality they teach only from theory AND NOT from Scripture.

Who should know more about tongues: those who speak in tongues or those who don't? Well, shouldn't we learn from those who do speak in tongues!? Since I do speak in tongues, I feel that I can bring scriptural wisdom with experience in this article. This column will clarify common misunderstandings and show the importance and benefits of speaking in tongues.
 

What Good Is Tongues?

The Apostle Paul writes, "He who speaks in tongues edifies himself...I would like every one of you to speak in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:4,5). With these positive statement about tongues, the question must be asked, "why do so few Christians speak in tongues?"  I believe the answer is because there is very little sound, logical and scriptural teaching as to the scope and value of speaking in tongues.

Recently I spoke to a group of widows of deceased veterans and shared my testimony on how God saved and filled me with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. After the talk, the number one question most in the group asked was on speaking in tongues. One inquisitive student asked, "What does speaking in tongues do for you?"

I answered, "It does exactly what the Bible says it does: He who speaks in tongues edifies himself." The word "edify" means to "build up" or "charge up"--much like charging up a battery. We all need a spiritual charge. All of us at times feel spiritually drained. One of God's ways to charge your spirit is through speaking in tongues. This charging up is spoken of in Jude saying that "build up our most holy faith," through praying 'in the Holy Ghost.' Paul said in Romans that the SPIRIT HELPS us to pray with "groanings and moanings that cannot be understood." This intercession is according to the WILL OF GOD!

Jude 1:20-21
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Romans 8:26-27
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. [27] 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.

Many people inaccurately define speaking in tongues as "speaking gibberish" or "talking nonsense." The truth is, speaking in tongues is the most intelligent, perfect language in the universe. It is God's language.

What language do you suppose people speak in heaven? Languages are given their name based on the countries they come from. For example, English comes from England. Spanish comes from Spain. Italian comes from Italy.  Well, where does tongues come from? It comes from Heaven! Tongues is the heavenly language. It is what is spoken in heaven; the only difference is that the people in heaven understand what they are saying. Here on earth Paul says, "For anyone who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understand him; he utters mysteries with his spirit" (v. 2). This evangelical leader who passed away and fought this with all his might found that out about 2 seconds when he entered heaven the other day. I can assure you the angels were not speaking English.

1 Cor. 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.

The Rev. Tom Brown  of El Paso, Texas, whose website I came across made this statement about tongues which I say a hearty "Amen" too:

"Jesus says that those who believe in Him will "speak in new tongues" (Mark 16:17). The word "new" means appearing for the first time. No one had spoken these languages before. Contrary to bad theology tongues is not an ability given to preach the gospel in the language of foreigners. This would make tongues 'old' languages. It is only appropriate that 'new tongues' should be spoken by those of the "new birth." It is natural and normal to speak in the language of your birth. We are born again from above, therefore we should speak the language from above--that language is called 'new tongues.'"

Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

It is God's wish and command that EVERY Christian should be filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, any one working against this infilling, whether consciously or through erroneous doctrine, is in effect working at cross purposes to the will of God! Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Acts 1:8 that we shall receive POWER after that the HOLY GHOST comes upon us!

Acts 1:8
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.
 

We need POWER if we are to work effectively against the perverting destructive conspiracy promoted by the enemy. Anyone hindering the Christian in any way, as he enters this battle, is tacitly working FOR Satan, even though he might be appalled at the thought of doing so.

If one will think of what Jesus said they will see too that the promise in Acts 1:8 was part of the LAST message Jesus preached to His disciples before He was taken away:

Acts 1:4-9
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. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. [6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] 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. [8] 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. [9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The Lord's last message was confined to the subject of the Holy Spirit Baptism this was a historic occasion. The Lord was leaving the earth. His lifetime of work completed, He was about to depart for Heaven where He would remain for about 20 centuries! This would be the last time He would be physically present to advise His disciples and other followers. This unique situation stamps His words with unusual importance. He might have spoken of prophecy, salvation, worship, and a myriad of other things - but He mentioned NONE of these things. Being God, who knew and knows everything, He told them they should attempt NOTHING concerning the salvation of the world, until they would receive the PROMISE of the Father.

Acts 1:4
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.
 

In view of the dramatic circumstances surrounding this pronouncement, we can assume that EVERY word contained within these verses, was among the most important ever uttered by our Lord and Master. We have written several journals looking at how the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation even though we fully recognize that the Spirit of God DOES do a work in ALL believers at salvation! Salvation equips us to enter into the presence of God after mortal life is over; the baptism in the Holy Ghost equips us to live faithfully (and happily) during those years BEFORE we go to be with God.

To willingly eschew this God-given assistance, is to HANDICAP at best, ourselves and those we may teach and preach to, throughout our Christian lifetime.

Yet despite clear scriptural guidelines and TRUTH that the Bible lays out for those willing to take the time to study, great controversy swirls about the Baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. It is not surprising, perhaps, that this should be so. Satan hates, with all his being, seeing individuals and churches transformed and set on fire by the filling of the Holy Spirit and revival. It is not surprising he would promote doctrines suggesting this phenomenon "is not for today." Believe me, if the devil had his way and say, it wouldn't have been for ANY day. But SCRIPTURE DOES NOT AGREE with what Satan tries to promote with his false doctrines. Misguided Christians who ADMIT tongues were an evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost during the apostolic days, say, "It ended when the last apostle died, this isn't for today."

My response to that is simply this - did the HOLY SPIRIT end His ministry to believers when the last apostle died??" Of course not and for one to remotely believe such foolishness would be absurd to even entertain. It's just as absurd to take something foretold by the prophets that would take place all the way through the Great Tribulation period and Israel's travail in returning to Christ and say it all ended 2,000 years ago when there is NOT ONE SINGLE SOLITARY SCRIPTURE to back such claim up! NOT ONE!

Joel 2:28-29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] 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.
 

Through Joel, Almighty God SPOKE concerning a great outpouring of His Spirit "upon ALL flesh," which was quoted by Peter during His great sermon at Pentecost:

Acts 2:17-21
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And 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 that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Father further confirms this again in Acts 2:38-39:

Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
 

What promise was Peter referring to?? THE PROMISE OF JOEL 2:28-29 and that which he had spoke under the Spirit's unction and anointing in 2:17-21! This would be to YOU (those living in Jerusalem at the time), and to your children (generations that would follow), and to ALL that are afar off (MEANING THE GENTILES which includes every single one reading this journal), and as MANY as the Lord our God shall call! If you've been born again then you've been called and are a candidate to receive the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost!

This does NOT sound like an offer with an expiration date stamped on it! Why does Satan fight so hard to discredit the Baptism? Because the enemy knows far better, sadly than most Christians know, the frustration he faces when the mighty Holy Ghost power falls on an individual or a group. Ineffectual, Christ-denying "churches," are suddenly turned into bastions of POWER for the Lord shaking the gates of hell to its core and seeing souls saved, believers delivered, sick bodies healed and demonic bondages BROKEN - all by the power of God.

Weak and frightened Christians become raging lions in the cause of Christ. People who couldn't be persuaded to tell others about their Saviour are suddenly turned into adept and dedicated witnesses. Backsliding Christians suddenly straighten out their lives and become examples of righteous Christian living! This does not take place because of man-made fads or slick written books detailing how we can grow our churches through slick marketing schemes! This comes as a result of HOLY GHOST POWER that is available to ALL those who will but believe and receive!

The HOLY SPIRIT is the single most important factor in the world today, as far as the church is concerned. WITHOUT HIM the church becomes nothing more than what is has become today - a marketing scheme that circumvents the Cross and the power of the Holy Ghost. With the HOLY GHOST, we become effective, dedicated, productive cross-bearers for Christ!

And again just to make it clear, MILLIONS are receiving this glorious experience all over the world from ALL denominations with very few exceptions.

The Utterance of Tongues

This writer wants to make two things crystal clear through this journal: speaking in tongues is NOT a requirement for one to be saved; we're not saved because we speak in tongues but because we've placed faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and have repented of our sins and are TRUSTING daily in His Finished work on the Cross; secondly, and this is just as important to realize, speaking in tongues is NOT in itself, life-changing, or all-important. What IS important is YIELDING our most unruly member, the tongue, to the control of God's Spirit. I heard someone say the other day the hardest things the Holy Spirit deals with in controlling us as believers are our tongues and our wallets!

James 3:1-8
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [3] Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. [5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles'! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: [8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
 

It is very similar to salvation. The act of PUBLICLY confessing our acceptance of Christ by walking forward to an altar, accomplishes nothing in itself. One must be BORN AGAIN by the Spirit of God to be saved; we're not saved because we come down and shake a preacher's hand and sign a membership pledge card as so many sadly think. However, it is crucially important within the context of our ACKNOWLEDGING the Lordship of Christ. One could say, public acknowledgement of our acceptance of the Lord isn't that important but Jesus said otherwise:

Matthew 10:32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Our willingness to yield our unruly member, the tongue, to the Holy Spirit is exactly parallel to the act of walking forward at the time of salvation. The new Christian in the first instant of submission is embarrassed, frightened, and reluctant to get up out of his seat and make a public display of his surrender to a greater power. He could submit to the Lord quietly in his seat and be as committed as he is when he walks to the front. But the act of coming forward documents the moment. It serves as a tangible, definite dividing line between the prior indecision and the new commitment.

Giving up our tongues and voices to the use of God's Spirit is the same principle. "Speaking in tongues," sets on apart, not only from the unsaved, but from other Christians as well. Relinquishing our will to God, to allow this radical departure, serves as a sign. A sign not only to ourselves, but to God as well, that we finally ready to yield our will to Him. This is the foundational and fundamental reason tongues are important even though the reader must understand there is MUCH more to the baptism in the Holy Ghost than just speaking in tongues.

Never forget this. The Bible is God's Holy Inspired Word, written by the Holy Ghost as He moved upon men of old. The Bible must be the Christian’s final authority on any topic or manifestation for it is the Bible that was given by inspiration of God. One's denomination and church, one's opinion (past, present and future) or one's pastor may not be inspired by God even though he may speak eloquently and sway the crowds with his brilliance. God is not looking for eloquence behind the pulpit; He's looking for Holy-Ghost filled preachers to stand up under the anointing of the Spirit and declare "thus saith the Lord," no matter the cost or how many religious devils may get stirred up in the process. Tongues is not an issue in the mind of God!!! He ordained it to be a means of speaking to His people in ages past according to the great prophet Isaiah, yet, as the prophet also stated, "they would not hear."

Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] 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.

The "they" in this passage was National Israel at the time and carries with it prophetic overtures to the coming Tribulation period, but it also carries a warning to the modern church world which as by and large rejected the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost. Despite a clear statement that this is a "REST" and a "REFRESHING" millions within the denominational world refuse to believe and "yet will not hear."  For the child of God there is no greater joy of refreshing that one being baptized in the Spirit! One simply cannot live for God without the ministry and help of the Holy Ghost. One simply cannot experience the Rest wherein we rest in the Finished work of Christ except through the power and ministry of the Holy Ghost. One simply cannot experience true abundant life except one experience the infilling of the Holy Ghost who alone fills one's heart with an intimate love for Jesus Christ and burns within us a Godly zeal to live righteous, holy lives before the Father.

One may ask, "well are you saying if I reject tongues I'm rejecting the work of the Holy Ghost?" Well, how can you not be? We can't pick and chose what ministries of the Holy Ghost we want to operate among our churches and which ones we want to resist and reject.

Let's just put it this way. Number one, we do not believe that a person has to speak in tongues to be saved. Many believers have come to Christ in faith but have not sought after the baptism in the Holy Ghost for a myriad of reasons. I am thinking of a well-known Baptist evangelist who has been dead many years now whom I respect and read behind often. He loved the Lord with all his heart but never felt there was a need for him to go on and receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Did I think the man was saved? Absolutely! He preached the Cross as the only way for men to be saved and did not flinch from that one iota. I cannot help though but wander however what the Lord would have done through him had he believed to receive this glorious infilling of the Spirit. Tongues are not an issue whether one is saved or not. There are some denominations that make that an issue but they are just as wrong as those who outright reject and deny that tongues are needed for the believer today.

There are many diverse and different ministries of the Holy Ghost without a doubt but there are none so polarizing as speaking in other tongues as the spirit of God gives the utterance. I can't help but think that if I were Satan I would want to create as much polarization as I could over this because when ANY believer kneels down and prays in the Spirit, they are wrecking havoc on his kingdom!!!! I go back to the sardonic tone of the individual who said, "well I can pray without speaking in tongues. We don't need any of that for God to hear us." That attitude is one that lays bear the motive of those who don't believe!

I’ve come to realize that if a person has legitimately made up their mind they are not going to believe in this experience (speaking with other tongues when filled with the Holy Ghost) then it may be wise to not waste your time or theirs in discussing this with them. If someone came back from the dead and talked to them, they would not believe. Jesus said, Blessed are those who HUNGER AND THIRST after righteousness. If one is not hungry and thirsty for more of God, one will not be filled. Speaking in tongues will not catch anyone off guard. No one can make you thirsty and no one can make you hungry.

We have just begun this discussion and we will pick up this in part two of this journal as we look at several passages in the word of God that deal with the all important question, "do all speak with tongues?" which was asked by the great Apostle Paul in the Holy Spirit's discourse with the Corinthians through Paul on Spiritual gifts.

1 Cor. 12:30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

In this passage, Paul is talking about public ministry gifts that are manifested in the church, "as we come together," not the private devotional and intercessory work of the Spirit in the believer. ALL can speak in tongues if they so desire and ASK. NOT all who speak in tongues will be used in public utterances and interpretation.

1 Cor. 14:26 -  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. [27] 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. [28] But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Paul clearly tells us that if we come together and someone gives a public utterance in tongues "as the Spirit of God," speaks through us in other tongues, let there be the purpose of LOVE and edification of the church. There is NO where in this passage where Paul is discouraging speaking in tongues - he even says if there is not an interpreter (v. 28)"let him keep silence IN THE CHURCH AND let him speak to himself AND to God. What was he saying there? Simply, without an interpreter, that individual's message in tongue will not edify anyone and it will be better for him to keep quiet or if he wishes to worship in tongues let him do it "to himself AND to God."

That tells me that God is not upset with us worshiping in tongues because by doing do we are PRAISING and SPEAKING to HIM! READ THE BOOK and stop listening to the lies of the devil child of God. NOTHING in this passage Paul is not talking about tongues as the initial sign of the baptism in the Spirit, nor is he talking about tongues as a private, devotional, prayer language.  You can recognize this by simply looking at the language Paul uses concerning speaking in tongues. In this chapter he calls speaking in tongues "different kinds of tongues" (see 12:10,28). "Different kinds" means "not the usual." The usual kind of speaking in tongues is a language no man understands or interprets. However, speaking in "different kinds" of tongues enables the speaker or someone else to recognize the meaning of the tongue and thereby interpreting it.

So when Paul ask the question, "Do all speak in tongues?", he is referring to the public manifestation of tongues which enables a person gifted in interpretation to speak out the meaning of the tongue. Not all have been given this gift of "different kinds" of tongues, even those who are baptized in the Spirit and speak in tongues through their private prayer language.

I ask you today, "what is holding you back from receiving the baptism in the Holy Ghost?" What has caused you to not believe in this mighty offer of God's power to you child of God? Fear? Unbelief? The teaching of your pastor? Whatever it is today it's not worth not receiving this glorious infilling of the Spirit. I am not here to play patty cake with you; YOU NEED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

The SPIRIT OF GOD gives the UTTERANCE! These utterances are not from Satan, not from man, not from some gibberish and babble as some sad folks may surmise. Let the unbelieving stay in their unbelief if they wish; we can't force anyone to believe; to be frank God can't make us do that either. That is OUR part in this great fight of faith. The SPIRIT OF GOD gives the UTTERANCE! He gave the utterance 2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost and He has been giving the utterance ever since. He wants to fill you today with overflowing. When you came to Christ at salvation, the Holy Spirit baptized you into Christ; when you get baptized in the Holy Ghost, Jesus is the one who does the baptizing! That's powerful. In these last days where apostasy reigns and every demon of hell has been unleashed upon Planet Earth we need something more than a book report on Sunday to get us through. We need the power of Almighty God. The power of God is found in the preaching of the Cross of Christ which includes the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues.

As I close, I will address the article at the top of this journal briefly. It's sad to see a denomination that claims so many members deny the power of God without conscience and problem yet embrace every new age nuance out there. It's sad to see a denomination reject the ministry of the Spirit in speaking in tongues yet face an onslaught of child molestation among its clergy that is rapidly reaching epidemic levels as the Catholics have experienced through the years. It's sad to see those who claim so much educated be so DUMB and STUPID when it comes to spiritual matters with God. I don't mean that last statement to be unkind but neighbor it's getting late. It's time we stop beating around the bush and get to the brass tax of seeing God move in our nation and world. The clock says "ten to midnight," if not later and without the help of the Holy Spirit we are doomed to lose an entire generation to the powers of darkness.

Zech. 4:4-6
So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? [5] Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. [6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

It's not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT saith the Lord. I say this to the Pentecostal world which is rapidly losing its way walking down the same path as the denomination world. If we continue to exchange the enduement of power from on high with psychology and these same self-help programs the other denominational world has embraced our fate will be the same as those who have went into full apostasy! As the song says, I have decided to follow JESUS, NO TURNING BACK." I've not decided to follow any man or movement or church. I am a member of the TRUE CHURCH whose Head is CHRIST, not the Southern Baptist Convention, the Assemblies of God or the Church of God as so many try to act and claim. Jesus is the Head of the Church and He wants to baptize you today in the Holy Ghost! Praise God. Let that become a reality this Pentecost season 2007.

Questions, Comments, Posts:

ChrisMcDonald@spiritjournals.com

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