How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit and Speak in Unknown Tongues

"Ye come behind in NO gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Corinthians 1:7

THIS MEANS ALL THE GIFTS ARE HERE UNTIL JESUS RETURNS!!



Dear Reader, If you are ready right now to speak in tongues, click here. God bless you!

 

Here we go again -- another check list of how to be baptized with or in the Holy Ghost. (Yawn)

There are countless sources in stores or on Google with a five, seven, ten step, etcetera approach to receiving this filling of the Spirit.

Firstly, many folks declare their love for God the Father, and love for Jesus the Son, but these same folks don't want to get any closer to the third Person of the Triunity, Who is the Holy Spirit. Receiving the filling of the Holy Spirit isn't all about YOU and your preferences; it is about serving others to the maximum by the unction of God.

This enduement with power known as the 'anointing' is freely, readily and plentifully available to ALL those BELIEVERS who ask. God does not anoint flesh; therefore to be a candidate for the filling of the Holy Spirit, one must first be baptized into the earthly Body (Church) of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co:12:13 - "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

At salvation one enters into the Spirit as the Spirit enters into us or as we drink in the Spirit. Jesus knocked on the door of our heart; we opened our heart; the Spirit, Christ, the CRIO, the anointing came into the heart. This first baptism named 'salvation' is NOT the FILLING or OVERFLOWING of the Spirit. It is not the 'upon' baptism. Salvation is baptism into Christ, into the omnipresent Holy Spirit. The 2nd baptism, the 'filling' and 'overflowing' is the baptism WITH or IN the Holy Ghost (KJV) or Holy Spirit.

(At this time, we will not talk about water baptism which does not save, but is something that saved believers do.) Although God is sovereign, the normal chronological pattern of receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit is AFTER salvation. Hence, the Father urges, bids, and encourages us to ASK for this baptism. God does not always force it upon a believer. Though we are servants of the Lord, we can still retain a measure of free will for an indeterminate season, but He WILLS that you ALL (believers) speak with tongues. God still loves YOU if you don't speak in tongues, but HOW MUCH do you love HIM if you refuse to speak in tongues when He has made it available to ALL?

Secondly, a person has to release all fears, pre-conceptions, pride, laziness, false teachings, lies, and even depart from people who hinder your pursuit of God -- even 'nice' folks!

Thirdly, and lastly, one must get in a position where they can receive this Gift of God, for if you are NOT willing to change anything, obviously nothing will change. What's that old saying? -- something like -- "The definition of insanity is when someone keeps doing the same thing over and over again, and yet expects different results!!" -- Now, we're not talking about steady hard work, or continued prayer, or good deeds; but we're talking about expecting God to move, when you refuse to move. You may have to move some things in your mind, or move your body to a new locale. One or both.

Why is venue, i.e. place of church attendance, so important? Answer: God anoints His pattern. When Moses built the tabernacle according to the pattern God showed him, upon completion, the cloud of the Glory of God (the Holy Ghost) filled the tabernacle. God doesn't powerfully anoint churches that don't obey God's pattern. Jesus could do few miracles in His home town, because they didn't believe in Him. You are not likely to receive the filling of the Holy Spirit in churches that are against it, or in churches that are ignorant about it. You are not AS LIKELY to receive the filling of the Holy Spirit by yourself alone, as you would be in an anointed church, because the filling of the Holy Spirit often comes by the laying on of the hands of the elders who have already received this baptism themselves. God can also anoint objects, even when nobody is present, that is, His Spirit can reside in or on inanimate things such as Elijah's mantle or Elisha's staff or an unoccupied sanctuary which God has ordained and anointed because the founders followed God's direction. The Church that the Lord chooses is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

The anointing flows from the Head of the High Priest Jesus down the Body. It starts with Jesus, and flows down to the leadership, and from the leadership to the rest of the church. The anointing oil was also put on the thumb, because the thumb will touch the other fingers. You only need to anoint the thumb to anoint all the fingers.

So we're talking about beliefs, attitude, and even venue, whichever is applicable; often all three need to change, but certainly beliefs, and likely --your attitude.

If you've never heard of the filling of the Holy Spirit you may be one of the blest few who only need to hear the full Truth. New believers are often in this class. "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost!" Acts 19:2.

 

Questions & Answers About Filling with the Holy Ghost

1. The Spirit first came at Pentecost in Acts 2, or so some say.

Answer: a.) Unlike the other answers below -- this answer is lengthy. Please bear with me: -- The Spirit was always here. God's Spirit fills the heavens and the earth, and holds all things together. In the Old Testament, the chosen men of God, that is, prophets, high priests, and kings -- had the anointing of the Spirit UPON them. Believers didn't have the Spirit of God WITHIN because the blood of bulls and goats etcetera does not avail. It was needful for Jesus' blood to be shed and placed on the mercy seat in Heaven in order to appease God's wrath against sin.
When Jesus rose that morning, Mary could not touch Him (except for His feet which would be washed in the Heavenly laver); Jesus told her not to touch Him (Jn 20:17) till He ascended to His Father and put His blood on the mercy seat. We're not talking about the Ascension forty days later, but His quick trip to Heaven and back on Resurrection Day. When Jesus upon the evening of Resurrection Day appeared to the disciples in John 20, He commanded them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" v.22. This is a command from the Lord in the imperative; they DID receive the Holy Spirit WITHIN. The non-pentecostal church(s) teach that Jesus merely opened the eyes of their understanding, but this is not true. Why? --
He then says, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." v.23. Now, forget about the Catholic and other denominations' teaching about priests or pastors remitting sins. Only God forgives sins, BUT if you are saved, that is, if you have the Spirit WITHIN, you can remit the sins of those who have personally sinned against you, or retain them if you refuse to forgive them, which really means that you're not saved if you refuse to forgive. When we pray "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors", this means "he who is forgiven much, loves much". The disciples could not remit others' sins, unless the disciples were saved, i.e. forgiven. They became "new creatures" in the Lord in John 20. -- Born again -- regenerated by the Holy Ghost. They in fact now had the Spirit within.
However, in a broad sense, you can 'remit' ALL sins indirectly by preaching the gospel to a sinner if he so chooses to accept salvation, in which case again it is Jesus Who is doing the remitting. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1Tim2:5. Priests and pastors cannot directly remit your sins. You must have a personal relationship with Jesus by allowing Him to become your Lord and at that time receiving the indwelling Spirit of Christ which He gives you at salvation. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me." Rev.3:20. (Sup means to fellowship with Jesus and the Father God).

b.)  Fellowship with Father God only became available to humans when the veil of Jesus' flesh was torn, allowing us to enter into the Holy of Holies WITH our Friend and Advocate, Jesus the High Priest -- into the very presence of God His Father. Jesus and the Father have ONE Spirit, the Holy Spirit, through Whom we can now enter into the Heavenly throne room. Before the resurrection of Jesus, those that died in the Lord could only go to Paradise, but not into Heaven into the presence of the Father God. Now we DO have access to Heaven.

The earthly veil (wall of separation) within the Jerusalem Temple  was destroyed by the earthquake at Jesus' death on the cross; This graphically illustrates that saved people can fellowship with the Father through Christ.  Likewise, the veil over Moses' face is removed Spiritually by the ripping apart of the veil of Jesus' flesh, whereby believers through the Spirit can now face God without fear of death. Lastly, the barrier between Jews and Gentiles has been removed for all Jews and Gentiles who accept Him as the Christ or Messiah.

c.)  So, the disciples were ALREADY saved before Pentecost. They had been saved for 47 days, that is, from the resurrection 3 days after Passover til Pentecost. That's 47 days. They received Christ WITHIN in Jn.20:22, and later received Christ UPON at Pentecost.  At Pentecost, they were filled to overflowing.

Luke 24:49 KJV: "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." 

Acts 1:8 KJV: "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." Notice the preposition UPON as compared to the absence of the word "IN".

2. Some say, "At salvation you got ALL the Spirit you'll ever receive."

Answer: You may refer to #1 above. Some call the Baptism with the Holy Spirit the "2nd Blessing". OK, the term '2nd blessing' is not in the Bible, as the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible. We're simply saying that salvation is one experience and the baptism with the Holy Ghost can be a subsequent  experience which may or may not occur at salvation depending on God's sovereignity and the circumstances. In Acts 8, after Philip preached, the new believers of Samaria received Jesus Christ within, but did not receive the Holy Spirit UPON until Peter and John came to town ...

15 "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

Notice that the Spirit fell UPON them. How do we know they already had Christ WITHIN? Answer: Philip had already baptized the new believers with water.  An experienced evangelist does NOT baptize UNbelievers with water. Philip was NOT a novice. Also notice that Simon the bad guy SAW something that caused him to KNOW that the new believers had received POWER. One could reasonably postulate that they spoke with unknown tongues and prophesied. SEE also Acts Chapters 2, 10, 11, and 19.

Let's go back for a second: - V.14 "... When the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John." Why were these two apostles sent? Answer: Because the apostles in Jerusalem knew the believers of Samaria needed the power of the Holy Spirit, and went to Samaria to make sure. The apostles knew that the baptism with the Holy Ghost is often SUBSEQUENT to salvation. Remember that the evangelization of Samaria by Philip is AFTER Pentecost, so even according to mainline evangelical Christian theology, the Samaritan believers would-have-had-and-did-have Jesus in their hearts; verse 14 says that Samaria RECEIVED the Word. They had Christ the Spirit within before Peter and John showed up on the scene! "To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons [adopted] of God." John 1:12. (<<brackets are mine.)

Lastly, in addressing the excuse, "At salvation you got ALL the Spirit you'll ever receive," -- Notice at times in Acts you will see a verse stating, "...And Peter filled with the Holy Ghost", or "...And Paul filled with the Holy Ghost" -- What does this tell you?  Answer: They suddenly became MORE filled with the Holy Ghost than they were the second before. God wouldn't command us in Eph.5:18 to "be filled with the Spirit" if we're always filled to the maximum.  We are to grow in the grace of God and in the power of His Spirit. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God ..." Jude 20,21

 

3. "Tongues talkers are just being emotional."

Answer: They are being emotional, but not JUST emotional. There is a source of this joy, and substance to it. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God is Love. The joy of the Lord is my strength. What makes the Lord happy makes me strong. The Holy Spirit has emotions: He can be grieved. God has sorrow, he has compassion; and on the negative side -- God is angry with the wicked every day. Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. God is a jealous God. The zeal for Thy house has consumed Me. And if peace can be a 'feeling', and a 'feeling' is an emotion, then you can add peace to the list of emotions in and by and of the Holy Ghost. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace ..."

4. "Spiritual gifts passed away in the 1st century after the Church was founded."

Answer  a) : To believe this, you have to have your head in the sand, or you must believe that all miracles are of Satan. The facts say that Spiritual Gifts exist today, but even if the devil can do the miraculous (and yes, he does), it is only to counterfeit God's miracles. The devil is a created being and the devil's power came originally from God. So God can do bigger and better things than the Devil. Consider Moses' rod turned into a snake that ate up the snakes of Pharaoh's magicians, proving that God's miracles are greater. Furthermore, God's ministers bear forth the fruit of righteousness. By their fruit shall you know them, whether it be good or bad.
What Scriptures, if any, do the detractors of Gifts use to justify the claim that the Gifts are obsolete? --
"...Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away, For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." 1Cor.13:8,9
"But when that which is perfect is come; then that which is in part shall be done away." 1Cor.13:10
Answer  b) : Knowledge hasn't ceased; it is increasing according to the Book of Daniel ("knowledge shall increase"), but common sense and current events also tell us that both secular knowledge and Spiritual knowledge are increasing. Prophecy has not ceased. There will be the two prophets in the Book of Revelation Chapter 11.  Acts 2:17-21 says,

"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:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Note: The moon will be turned into blood before the great day of the Lord!

Even the Southern Baptist denomination (which opposes the present existance or availability of a 'modern day' Gift of prophecy in the Pentecostal definition) believes in the future restoration of the gift of prophecy during the last seven years before Armageddon.

Even now, in Muslim countries where the Gospel is illegal, Muslims are being converted by visions of the Lord Jesus Christ without the involvement of a human messenger. It happened to Paul (Saul of Tarsus), so yes, there is a Biblical basis for present-day visions.
At any rate, knowledge surely has not ceased; therefore tongues have not ceased. Last, but not least -- this writer speaks in tongues, and I ain't just making it up, I wasn't taught it by a man or woman, I'm not overcome by emotion, and I'm not possessed by the devil because I know that My Redeemer Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and He's my Lord. Amen. A man with experience has more credibility than a man with a thousand sermons. 

I didn't just read about it; I've been there and done that.

Answer c)  Let us take another look at 1Cor.13:10 "But when that which is perfect is come; then that which is in part shall be done away."

The Baptists say that the Bible is the perfect thing, and now it is 'come'. However, if a person keeps reading, 1Cor.13:12 says, "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

So it is clear that Jesus is 'that which is perfect' for we'll one day see Him face to face. See also, 1Jn.3:2 -

"... It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

V.12 says we know in part now, referring to the the 'word of knowledge' which is only a fragment of knowledge, but when we see Jesus, we'll know more fully. Partial knowledge exists at present, as does tongues presently. Tongues will not be necessary when we can speak to Jesus face to face. Lastly, I'd like to add that when 1Cor.13:11 says, "When I became a man, I put away childish things," this is not to say that the Gifts of the Spirit are childish. It is saying that we are being built up "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." Eph.4:13,14. As a matter of fact, it is the Gifts themselves, the 9 gifts of 1Cor.12 and the Leadership gifts of Eph.4:ll that are bringing about this maturity and unity shortly before the return of Jesus. One of the greatest examples of DISunity is this quarrel about the Spiritual Gifts and Pentecost today. The future mighty out-pouring of the Spirit will sovereignly end many such debates!

5. "That's fine for you, but I don't need none of that stuff!"

Answer: Spiritual gifts are given by God to minister to the Body of Christ and to bring glory to God. There ought not to be an issue about whether or not you need that "stuff". It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ! (But incidently, you DO need the baptism with the Holy Spirit; you just don't know it yet. "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself" 1Cor.14:4; and again, "...building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God ..." Jude 20,21) -- Building up yourself so you can help others too. Pray in tongues so you can graduate to prophecy, but don't stop speaking in tongues. Speak in tongues AND prophesy. (If a man is against tongues, his prophecies are false.) Many denominations call preaching "prophecy", but they preach against tongues. This is not of the Spirit of the Lord. God is not divided.

6. "All Christians cannot receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, only certain people."

Answer: That debatably may have been true in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament the Bible says:

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar off..." Acts 2:39;

"These signs shall follow them that believe ..." Mk.16:17;

"God is no respector of persons..." Acts 10:34;

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon EACH of them." Acts 2:3

"And they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." v.4

"I would that ye ALL spake with tongues ..." 1Cor.14:5

"Forbid not to speak with tongues" [1Cor.14:39] -- As an individual, I am my own worst enemy at times; I should not hinder myself from speaking in tongues because of laziness or fear of man; neither should you prevent your own self from speaking in tongues. If you apply this verse to yourself, it means all have the potential ability to speak in tongues, because each can forbid him/herself, but the Lord doesn't want you to forbid yourself, because "I would that ye ALL spake with tongues ..." 1Cor.14:5.

 

7. "Jesus never said we should speak in tongues."

Answer: Jesus said in Mark 16 "...they shall speak with new tongues..." The devil tried to eliminate this from many modern English translations. Some preachers that don't use the KJV are not aware Jesus said the above statement. God is capable of preserving His Word.

8. "There is only ONE baptism."

Answer: There is one baptism that saves. - 1Cor. 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body."
There is a plurality of baptisms. -  SEE Heb.6:2 "... doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands ..." Note the "s" on baptisms.
Some of these baptisms are the baptism of Moses, the baptism of John, baptism into Christ by the Spirit (i.e. salvation), water baptism, baptism with the Holy Spirit, baptism with fire, and baptism or "cup" of "suffering" (Mk.10:38).
We are baptized by the Spirit of God into Christ's Body, the Church, at salvation when we first believed.
We are baptized by God the Son and God the Father when we are baptized with the upon baptism of the Holy Spirit.
(Please allow just a brief  digression here about water baptism: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mk.16:16.  So the criteria for damnation is UNBELIEF. Water baptism doesn't save -- It is a believer's baptism. If you believe, get baptized. You'll be glad you did.)

9. "You can have your gifts, but I have love."

Answer: God is Love, and the Holy Spirit is God. The Gifts of the Spirit can never be opposed to Love. If a man wants to love God and love mankind, he should be supportive of the Gifts, and covet the Gifts. 1Corinthians 13, the "Love Chapter" is sandwiched between Chapter 12: "Intro to Gifts", and Chapter 14: "How to Operate in the Gifts with Love". Love isn't listed among the Gifts; it is a fruit of the Spirit which ALL should have; one is not given the option of choosing between love and tongues.
Imagine a person in the process of dying with cancer. A man's "love" may comfort the sick person, but love will not heal him. The sick man needs the Gifts of healing, and the best way to love the cancer victim is for us to seek the "best" Gift needed at the particular time -- the gifts of healing.

10. "It's of the Devil."

Answer: If a preacher says the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues is of the devil, we should hope and pray that he is speaking from the point of ignorance, for if he truly believes that tongues, divine healing, and the sign of slain-in-the-Spirit is of the Devil, that man is not far from the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Lord may call his idle words to account this very day. His soul is in danger of perdition. Remember, the Devil hates the Spirit too. Get out of the Devil's camp!! Despise not prophesyings!! Forbid not to speak in tongues!! Quench not the Spirit!! The Pharisees hated Jesus because He healed people and cast out demons. The Pharisees could not.
The Pharisees said in Jn.9:24, "We know that this man is a sinner." (They were talking about Jesus.)

The healed man replied in Jn.9:31, "We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, Him he heareth."  "If this Man were not of God, He could do nothing." - v.33.

"We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 5:32
"When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them." Acts 5:33.

11. "Tongues divide(s) the Church."

Answer: In the Book of Acts, tongues UNITED the Church. At Babel, God divided the people, and at Pentecost in Acts 2, God UNITED His people, beginning again to restore the Tabernacle of David as these visitors to Jerusalem heard the 120 disciples speaking the native tongues of foreign lands, though the Galilean disciples had no way of knowing these languages other than through the instantaneous Supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Later, in Acts 10 and 11, God used tongues as a sign to the Jewish Christians that the Lord was adding Gentiles to the Church. Now, salvation by the Jewish Messiah was of the Jews (Jn.4:22), but not ONLY for the Jews. The Jews accepted the Gentile believers when they heard them speak in tongues.
Ignorance of tongues and rebellion against tongues has divided the Church. This is the work of the enemy of our soul, Satan. He does not understand tongues, and he hates tongues and he hates the Holy Spirit. It's not just about tongues, but it is about what tongues represents -- the eventual and certain defeat of the Devil. The express purpose of the manifestation of Jesus and manifestations of the Holy Spirit is to destroy the works of the Devil. - 1Jn.3:8

12. "We don't want disorder and confusion in our church."

Answer: There is already DISorder in the church if there are NO gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1Corinthians Chapter 14 tells us how to use the gifts so there is not confusion when we obey the Lord by moving in the Gifts. Confusion is no excuse to discard the Gifts. They should be regulated by leadership, not eliminated. The "regulation" of Gifts by the elimination of Gifts is called "throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water". It is better to have a little fire to put out, than NO fire at all.

13. "I'm not mature enough or good enough to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost."

Answer: None is good but God alone. We're all sinners saved by grace. Spiritual gifts are for the immature to mature the Body of Christ. They are to edify (build up) the Church. We prophesy in part. We move in whatever gift it may be "in part". We won't be completely mature until we see Jesus face to face.

14. "I'm afraid I'll get a demon if I ask for the Holy Spirit."

Answer: If you believe Jesus Christ shed His Holy Blood dying for your sins and believe that He rose from the dead, and you have repented of your sins by allowing Jesus Christ to be your LORD, then you are POSSESSED by God your Father. Nothing UNCLEAN can pass through the Blood. Does the devil believe Jesus died and rose from the dead? Yes, but the devil has not allowed Jesus to be Lord over the devil's will. But if you have surrendered your life to Christ as Lord, He is your Savior, and the Spirit of Christ dwells within you. Nobody can pluck you out of the Father's hand. You are engraved upon His palm.
It is the Father Whom we ask for the baptism with the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus Christ:
Luke 11:10-13
10 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

Is this Scripture above about Salvation, or is it about receiving the 'subsequent' baptism with the Holy Spirit?

Answer: It is about asking for the baptism with the Holy Spirit. WHY?

At salvation you do NOT ASK the Father for the HOLY SPIRIT. No, you ask JESUS for forgiveness, salvation, a clean heart. You ask Jesus to come into your heart. WHO comes into your heart? Answer: the Holy Spirit. But did you ask for the Holy Spirit? NO, you asked Jesus to forgive you and to come into your heart.

Believers ask the Father for the Holy Spirit to come UPON them or to FILL them AFTER Jesus the Christ has already come within. Jesus opened up our line of communication, our dialog, with His Father. Now we "pray [to] the Father".

When you trust God your Father in asking for the Holy Ghost, He wraps a cocoon of protection around you so no filthy demon can break the PROMISE of the Father. You will receive the baptism with the Spirit of God.

When you DO speak in unknown tongues for the first time, the devil will immediately tell you that those tongues are of the devil. Is the devil's kingdom divided? Hey, think about it -- if tongues are from the devil, why does he hate them so bad? Why do most pastors forbid tongues, and why do pastors fail to even tell congregations that tongues are for today? Why do teachers say that tongues are KNOWN tongues when the BIBLE says they are UNKNOWN tongues? That's a big difference! A known tongue can be learned and taught. The unknown tongue is a supernatural utterance given by the Holy Spirit.

To sum up Question #14 above -- Why do we give the devil the glory by fearing Satan more than God? Why do we imagine we may pray to the Father, but then the devil supposedly can intercept this God-ordained Holy prayer resulting in us receiving a stinking demon??

Nonsense!! If you ask for a fish or the Holy Spirit or anything from God the Father, you won't get a serpent. It pleases our Father to give good gifts unto His children.

"Fear not them which kill the body, but are NOT able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy BOTH soul and body in hell."

 

15. "Pentecostals are just a bunch of show-offs!"

Answer: Until Jesus returns there will always be manifestations of the flesh, as well as true manifestations of the Spirit. Some men do things for their own glory, and some men do things for the glory of God. We will all stand before the judgment seat of God, and our works will be tried by fire. Wood, hay, and stubble shall be burned up. That which is of God our Rock shall remain.
Samson obeyed God for a while. He had been keeping a vow not to cut his hair. His great power was linked to his hair. When he cut the covering of his hair he was disobeying God; he was no longer showing submission under God' authority. When his hair grew back, his anointing came back with it.
Similarly, pentecostals that disobey God by 'showing-off' or serving themselves can lose the anointing upon them for a season, until they re-submit themselves to God.
A person may or may not be showing off, but that ought not to stop you from moving in the Pentecostal power of the Holy Spirit. The presence of a hypocrite in church is no reason for you to eschew the pentecostal church. The tares will grow with the wheat until the end.

16. "These Pentecostals act like they're drunk."

Answer: On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the 120 believers were accused of being drunk also. The Gifts operate by love; love does not behave itself unseemly.

"Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit" - Eph.5:18

How to Speak in Unknown Tongues

"I would that ye all spake with tongues ..." 1Cor.14:5

 

When the believers in Acts Chapters 2,10,11, and 19 spoke in tongues, the speakers did not expect an interpretation; neither did they know such a gift as 'interpretation of tongues' existed. Paul taught about the interpretation of tongues years later in his first letter to the Corinthians. The only record in Acts regarding  the tongues being understood---appears in Acts 2. Even among Pentecostals, there is an argument about how these tongues were understood that day in Acts 2 ---  supernatural understanding or natural understanding?  We won't broach that subject here.

We can always learn and grow more in Christ. If a denomination told you that you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, yet they discourage you from speaking in tongues or being near anyone that speaks in tongues, please be humble and receive the free gift He desires to give to you. Our pride is our own worst enemy! The Lord exalts the humble. Pride frustrates grace. The only way to receive from God is to humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Tongues isn't salvation. It is for persons already saved. It is a Spirit-given prayer for inner edification, so you can in turn edify others in love.

 

Denominations and churches that omit tongues from their services and meetings may use some of the 16 excuses above. Those that grudgingly admit that there may be tongues today severely limit tongues especially for this following reason: They believe that ALL tongues must be interpreted, if the tongue is overheard. This teaching comes from inexperience; inexperience in the Gifts is naturally expected in a church that is anti-tongues. It is circular reasoning. A church against tongues will never learn how to allow the Lord to move amongst the congregation in the Spiritual Gifts. It saddens the Lord Jesus Christ that "tongues" have become this gargantuan barrier in the Body of Christ. Because tongues are so easily and commonly received of all gifts --- these tongues have become a sign of whether a church has any of the gifts AT ALL! This is why people get so angry about tongues. It's pride again! Tongues is a litmus test in the Spirit realm of how much or how little a church is seeking the Lord Jesus Christ! -- But tongues should not cause pride among the possessors; neither should tongues anger those who've yet to receive; Why? -- because tongues is a GIFT! A gift is not earned. The way to receive the grace of God is to humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

 

Those that have moved in the power of Pentecost for many years know that there is a gift of tongues sometimes referred to as the "prayer language" or "sign" of having received the UPON-baptism of the Holy Ghost, as compared to the OTHER kind of tongue that is one of the nine gifts in 1Cor.12:8-10. The first tongue in the sentence above edifies only the speaker. It is the 'sign gift'. The tongue listed in 1Cor.12:30 is a 'congregational' tongue for meetings; this gift edifies MORE THAN the speaker himself, that is, WHEN it is properly interpreted by the 1Cor.12 gift of interpretation.

That word, 'interpretation', is important. Why? --because the spiritual tongue is NOT translated ... it is interpreted by God! God gives the meaning. Hence, the meaning of a paragraph (or more) in tongues may be a few words in a known language; or the meaning of a few words in tongues may be a paragraph(s) in a known language.

The interpretation of the tongue equals the benefits of prophecy, but the interpretation is NOT always prophecy. Prophecy is God speaking to man through man; tongues is man speaking to God by the enablement from God. The interpretation of a Public tongue can reflect either of the two: God speaking to man, or man speaking to God. The Private tongue known as the 'prayer language' is not interpretted, but it is prayer, praise, blessing, thanks, declaration, and songs, from man's heart unto God.

1Cor.12:28-30 says: 

28 "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.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"

The answer in the context above is --- all do NOT speak in tongues as a GIFT FOR THE BODY; and that specific Gift is also the tongue that MUST be interpretted.

HOWEVER the "sign" gift of having received the filling or over-flowing of the Holy Spirit is the "prayer language" available to all for each believer's personal edification, building up yourself on your most holy faith. Why? -- The Lord wants all believers to be built up by praying in the Holy Ghost. God loves you as much as He loves the famous preacher. You may not ever be a famous preacher, but you all can speak in tongues if you simply ask the Father. But there is one last innocent misunderstanding or hindrance that we need to address right now, which is the crux of this paper. Hopefully it will change your life:

 

There are people who have genuinely sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in unknown tongues AND have NOT received the 'sign' of tongues --- These same people often quit seeking because of a simple common misconception --- THEY EXPECT GOD TO MOVE THEIR TONGUE FOR THEM!!

NO! God gives YOU the utterance. He gives YOU the ABILITY. But YOU have to by faith move the muscles of your lips and tongue and jaws, and force the air up with your diaphragm through your vocal chords, which you must vibrate, and touch your tongue to your palette and teeth and move your lips. Do not expect to hear or see words in your mind; speaking in tongues is directly from the heart, by-passing the understanding.

 

Herewith let me give you my brief personal testimony; I believe it will greatly assist all those with a pure heart seeking to speak in tongues:

 

 When I got saved it was like getting shot out of a cannon. I felt the Holy Spirit come all over my heart like tender warm oil. I knew I was on the fulcrum of a decision and needed to let the oil of the Spirit into my heart. It was my last chance! 

Simultaneously I knew that this  meant surrendering the control of my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. When I did surrender, then I knew I knew I knew God personally, and that I was from henceforth a changed and forgiven person with a 'clean slate'.

'Fortunately', or better said, I was 'blest' to be saved in a church that believed that a saved person should ask for the UPON baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was already "in" me, but not "upon" me.

In the next few weeks I asked the Lord for this many times. Twice I had the elders of the church lay hands upon me that I might receive this Gift of the Spirit upon me. You can in your own study look up the Scriptures regarding laying on of hands. I felt the power, but did not speak in tongues.

One day I was sitting in my car alone asking God and myself why I hadn't received tongues yet. I was taught correctly, so I fully believed that tongues is for all believers because God loves us all and wants all to pray to Him supernaturally in those times when our mind doesn't know how to pray. I know that the Father wants to give good gifts to His children, and "Ye have not, because ye ask not." 

Well, I had asked with a pure heart and clean motives. Therefore I very simply concluded that I must have ALREADY received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. I didn't need to feel the 'power' come upon me. The power was ALREADY there, because I asked, and this is something in God's perfect will that He wants ALL to have.

Now, you need to know that I have always had an inferiority complex, so if you'd told me that 99% of Christians can speak in tongues, I would've assumed that I'm the one per cent that is going to be skipped. But since I was told and believed that tongues is for ALL, I reckoned it to be just as God has written. I already HAD tongues, because I had asked Him for tongues.

So by faith I began to move my tongue, lips, and pushing the air up my throat, vibrating my vocal cords. (And if you whisper the tongues, you don't even vibrate the vocal cords.) Tongues flow up straight from the heart, not from the mind, so don't expect to see, hear, or imagine words. When you speak in tongues -- you know you know you know you have the 'sign' of tongues, just as you know the Bible is Truth and that God hath raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

So my prayer for all of you readers is that you'll continue to ask the Father for tongues; The Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus! Infinitely! Jesus loves you as much as He loves John and Paul! Infinitely! So right now thank and praise Jesus and Your Father for their countless blessings toward you.  Now, move your tongue by faith, not waiting to feel something. Feelings often come later, but the Gifts of the Lord start with faith, function by faith, until one day we see the object of our faith, Jesus, the Finisher of our faith.

 

"Word from the Lord about Tongues"

"101 Reasons to Speak in Tongues"

"Tongues Finally unify the Church"

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Q's and A's Re: Tongues | Tongues: Validity & Function | How to Receive the "Upon" Baptism with the Spirit | Slain in the Spirit? | How About Holy Laughter? | Manifestations of the Spirit | Experiences with the Lord | Apostles, Tongues & Miracles | Surprising Pentecostal Quotes! | Controversial Apostle Topics | Buy the book: "70 Reasons for Speaking in Tongues" by Dr. Bill Hamon, $16 plus S&H from http://christianinternational.com | More About Holy Laughter | The Fate of the Pharisees |  Modern Pharisees  |  Ten Ways to Stop Holy Revival  |  I Need Tongues You Need Tongues We All Need Tongues | Is Speaking in Tongues Least of the Spiritual Gifts? | Unpardonable Sin

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