"the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." Acts 13:52
Last week I said that we would talk about the power of the Holy Ghost. But I don’t want to rush this teaching. Some people want to rush to get to the end but not me, I want it all – the forward, the preface, the beginning, the middle and the end.
We ended on tongues, but there is more to say in order for us to have full clarity on tongues; the language of God’s spirit. Let’s start with the types of tongues. Tongues can be ‘other tongues’ – this is what happened on the day of Pentecost –but also be a language not known to man. This is called an unknown tongue:
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. (1 Corinthians 14:2)
Even when we pray:
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1 Corinthians 14:14
The sign of tongues received through baptism in God’s Spirit has many purposes in our lives. In I Corinthians 14 these purposes of tongues are listed:
Prayer to God: Verse 2
Ø Self-edification: Building up yourself and increasing spiritual knowledge. Verse 4
Ø When interpreted they edify the church: Verses 12-13
Ø Intercession: Verse 14 (See also Romans 8:26-27)
Ø Sign to unbelievers: Verse 22
Ø Fulfillment of prophecy: Verse 21 (See also Isaiah 28:11-12)
Ø Praise: Verses 15, 17
¨ Every Christian has God's Spirit
One of the most common objections is that every Christian receives God’s Spirit when he is converted. . . He doesn’t need any further experience to receive the baptism of God’s Spirit. But consider the examples of people in the New Testament who were true believers. The apostles had repented of their sins and believed Jesus was the Messiah. They had witnessed personally and accepted as true the facts of His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus told His followers:
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:5)
The promised experience of being baptized in the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
Although the apostles were already Christians it was not until the day of Pentecost that they were filled with [baptized in] God’s Spirit.
The people of Samaria heard the Gospel preached. They believed and were baptized in water, but they had not received God’s Spirit:
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)
If people received the Holy Ghost when they received Jesus in their heart, it would be foolish for Apostle Paul to ask this question. The fact that he asked it makes it clear that people become believers without receiving the baptism of God’s Spirit. Even if a person receives the baptism of God’s Spirit at the same time he is converted, it’s still a separate experience from that initial realization that Jesus is the only one who can save.
The ministry of God’s Spirit can be observed from the very creation of the world. The Old Testament speaks of God’s Spirit coming on Israel's spiritual leaders. God’s Spirit is also operative in the life of a sinner to bring him to Christ.
But these ministries of God’s Spirit are different from being baptized with God’s Spirit. Jesus made that clear when He said:
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know Him: for He dwelleth with you [presently], and shall be in you [in the future]. (John 14:17)
God’s Spirit was with the disciples at that time, but not yet in them. Remember, they were filled [baptized] with God’s Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
God’s Spirit is WITH the sinner to draw him to Jesus Christ. But this is not the same as being IN him.
In Old Testament times the power of God’s Spirit came upon spiritual leaders at special times. In the New Testament this power was given permanently to believers.
Another objection to tongues has come through misunderstanding of a question by Apostle Paul. In I Corinthians 12:30 he asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" The answer to his question is "No, all do not speak with tongues." But Apostle Paul is not speaking here of the experience of being baptized in God’s Spirit. The discussion concerns the gifts of God’s Spirit which are used by the believer in the church.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:27-28)
Apostle Paul is speaking of gifts which may be used by members of the church. One of the gifts of God’s Spirit is "diversities of tongues". It’s an ability to give special messages to the church in tongues through the power of God’s Spirit.
Although everyone experiences the sign of tongues when baptized in God’s Spirit, not everyone receives the special gift of diversities of tongues.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11)
If a believer asks God for something, just like a good earthly Father, God will not let him receive anything that will harm him.
¨ Emotional Experience
Another objection to tongues is that it’s an emotional experience. Many believers who receive the baptism of God’s Spirit emphasize their own emotional reactions to the experience.
The word "joy" in Scripture is closely associated with God’s Spirit.
We read that "the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." Acts 13:52
Some people react with great emotion to the joy which comes with the baptism of God’s Spirit because they are naturally more emotional than others. They may shout, laugh, or experience sensations in their physical bodies that cause them to run, jump, shout, scream, laugh, cry, etc.
But these emotional reactions are not the sign of baptism in God’s Spirit. The confirming sign is speaking in tongues. The evidence is power. It’s not necessary to show great emotion such as laughing, shouting, dancing, etc., to be baptized in God’s Spirit. How one reacts emotionally to the joy this experience brings is often related to his individual emotions.
But we don’t criticize those who have joyful, emotional reactions to God’s Spirit. The Bible records emotional reactions of those who had a powerful experience with God. People trembled, fell prostrate on the ground, shouted, rejoiced, and danced before God.
It’s interesting to observe the emotional reaction of people to various athletic events. They will yell, laugh, jump up and down, and express much excitement over a sports game. How much more excited we should be over a gift like God’s Spirit which accomplishes so many purposes in our lives, brings great joy, and equips us with power to reach the world with the Gospel.
The Psalmist, King David agreed. He presents a picture of joyful, loud, emotional worship of God:
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalms 95:1-3)
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalms 150:3-6)
You do not have to fear that the baptism in God’s Spirit will cause you to do something improper or lose control of yourself.
Apostle Paul said there were times to "keep silent" and "hold your peace" in regards to speaking in tongues (I Corinthians 14). He would not make these statements if God’s Spirit caused people to be out of control. The Bible says:
And the spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets. (I Corinthians 14:32)
This means that any gift God gives is subject to or under the control of the user. God does nothing improper . . .
...God is not the author of confusion, but of peace... (I Corinthians 14:33)
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