I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me
is mightier than I,
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire!
Matthew 3:11
"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." An action? Well, it's obviously an experience, but what about a sign? What about proof that it actually happened or that it is actually occuring? How do you know if you have been filled by the Holy Spirit? Are you filled with God's Holy Spirit the moment that you first *believe*? "Baptize" and "Believe" - these are both verbs, action words. These are events, if you will, that do not take place unnoticed or unconsciously.
I have spent many hours over the past year studying this very topic. This article I have written deals with the results and discoveries from my studies and from my own personal walk with God. I admit that I was quite surprised with my findings as they were not what I had initially expected. I thank the Lord for the revelations that He has given me through His Holy Spirit.
* * *
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
-I Corinthians 12:1
What can we denote from these words spoken from the mouth of the apostle Paul? "I would not have you ignorant." I truly believe that the topic of spiritual gifts is of vital, yes - vital importance. We should never just assume when it comes to Biblical teachings, especially if there is controversy amongst denominations. As individuals living for Christ, we must know the Scriptures for ourselves. We must search out the Scriptures for ourselves in order to make sure that what we are being taught is actually what Jesus taught. We need to start setting aside some of our ingrained opinions to really take a look at what God really has to say. We need to stop believing only what we want to believe and we need to stop hearing only what we want to hear.
The subject of speaking in tongues has been much debated. One church teaches that it no longer applies while the other teaches that it is the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Both, in essence, are opinions. What we need to know is this: which teaching is based upon a proper Biblical foundation?
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
-Acts 2:1, 4
In the New Testament, Acts chapter two, ten and nineteen clearly show that speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. Check this out:
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: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
-Acts 8:14-19
Simon the Sorcerer would not have made such a request unless he had witnessed something powerful at the moment the men had received the Holy Spirit. He saw them speaking in other tongues because otherwise, how would he know that the men had been filled?
While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as come with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
-Acts 10:44-4
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
-Acts 19:1-6
Clearly, if you study the book of Acts and I have laid out several Scripture passages, you will see that the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit was speaking in tongues. It is at this point that the misconceptions begin. It has been taught that the gift of tongues was given on the Day of Pentecost so that men of different nationalities and languages could understand the gospel being preached. That seems to make sense but guess what!? It is not backed by Scripture. The truth?
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.
-Acts 2:14-16
After Peter had finished preaching in his own tongue, three thousand people understood and did as he said and were baptized in Jesus' name. (Acts 2:38-41) Where the idea came that Peter preached in tongues, I do not know as I cannot find a single verse to back this notion. This teaching about tongues is widely accepted but as you can see here, it has no scriptural foundation. This is just one of many clear indications that speaking in tongues was not just for the day of Pentecost or for the early church only. As the Apostle Paul said:
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all. Yet in the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
-1 Corinthians 14:18-19
Peter did not preach in unknown tongues that day, he used his own language.
Speaking in tongues was for some other purpose and based on the Scriptural teachings throughout the entire New Testament, there is no reason to believe that speaking in tongues was only supposed to be for the first church. But, you say, in 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul says that "Whether there be tongues, they shall cease". From this verse alone it is taught that tongues no longer apply today! How sad to believe this teaching when if you were to just read the next few verses, you would see a serious error in this teaching: "These shall pass away only when that which is perfect is come." (1 Corinthians 13:10) "That which is perfect" is Christ. He has not yet returned so therefore, based on this Scripture passage, speaking in tongues should not yet have ceased! If Paul had literally meant that tongues would cease after a short while, then why did he devote the entire next chapter to teaching exclusively about speaking in tongues?
Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This 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.
-Acts 2:38-39
If the Bible teaches that the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit, of being filled with the Holy Spirit, is speaking in tongues, and since it doesn't at any time teach otherwise or state that this would no longer apply today, then why do so many churches teach that you are filled with the Holy Spirit at the first moment in which you "believe"? This teaching also is without Scriptural foundation. In fact, the Scriptures teach quite the contrary. Here is one example:
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
-Acts 10:1-2
This man was a definite "believer". However, though he was a "devout man and one that feared God", he did not yet know about the Holy Spirit. Cornelius is a prime example because many people today, initially come to Christ before learning of the Holy Ghost! It is usually not until afterwards that they are taught about Holy Ghost. So, if you come to know Jesus Christ but do not come to an understanding of who the Holy Spirit is until later, as many do, at what point then are you filled? Cornelius was a believer and since this was after the day of Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit had been poured out, would he not therefore have already been filled with the Holy Spirit if the teaching is true that you are filled when you first believe? And the question also begs to be asked: why would God fill you with His Holy Spirit and then not let you know that you've been filled?
Like Salvation, are you immediately *saved* the moment that you come to an "understanding" of Salvation? No, you must go through the steps, or the actions, if you will, that bring you to that place of Salvation. i.e. acknowledgement of Christ's gift and sacrifice, repentance, etc. So, why would you be immediately *filled* with the Holy Spirit the moment that you come to an "understanding" of Him?
After receiving a vision from God, Cornelius went to see Peter and told him of his vision. Peter spoke to Cornelius and his family of all that had taken place.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
-Acts 10:44-46
How can anyone possibly teach that you are instantly filled with the Holy Ghost at the moment in which you first believe? The Scriptures don't support this! If Cornelius was not automatically filled, then when did Christians supposedly start becoming automatically filled?! This false teaching has deceived so many Christians and as a result, many have been robbed of an incredibly fulfilling relationship with God because they inaptly believe that they are already filled with the Holy Spirit! We cannot deny the Scriptures!
, except for Acts 2 where tongues of fire and rushing wind are described too.
