Are Tongues Initial Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Hello how are you. I probably shouldn’t have sent that last email as it really isn’t all that relevant to us. I guess that type of theology  interests me. Anyway, I do have a valid question on the baptism.

I’ve read much from Gods word and other books and I was wondering if you believe that tongues are the initial evidence of the baptism? I had previously received a counterfeit baptism in which demons forced me to speak in guttural languages because I had believed false doctrine.

It seems that there were times in my delusion that I had the Godly gift as well. I presently speak in tongues now at my own will and in total consciousness as the Spirit gives me utterance. I believe it is the Holy Spirit because I’ve been seeking God about this matter and I don’t get any kind of “check” in my spirit. I don’t know if some people get more of a baptism than others or what. I do know that I have all of the Holy Spirit I’m ever going to get residing inside of me but I couldn’t say that Godly tongues were initial in my case. I probably should have someone test the (s)Spirit to be sure even though I have faith that it is the Holy Spirit.

The fact of the matter is tongues isn’t even of that much importance to me. It is a Godly gift but much more is to be desired in the greater gifts. The fact of the matter is that it’s a constant filling we need as to not fulfill the desires of our flesh. I one time experience won’t cut it. Sorry for talking you ear off. I’m an  inquisitive person and there’s not a whole lot of people I can talk to about these issues. Thanks and I hope to visit soon. ( Trying to get through  this college thing!)

RESPONSE:

The Baptism, huh?  Well, I’m glad that you have been baptized in the Spirit, because it’s really difficult to discuss this topic with someone who has not.  To tell you the truth, I have three books on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and I have to admit that I’ve only read one.  Let’s do a quick fundamental check, and then walk through the Self-Study Bible Course by Derek Prince on the results of the Baptism.

First off, to address your comment regarding, “I don’t know if some people get more of a baptism than others or what.  I do know that I have all of the Holy Spirit I’m ever going to get residing inside of  me but I couldn’t
say that Godly tongues were initial in my case.”

Eph 1:13-14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (KJV)

If you’ll recall, Christ was crucified for our sins, and was buried, and on the third day he was resurrected in body.  His promise to us was:

John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (KJV)

He promised us eternal life.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)

Now the problem is, where is Christ now?  How can he fulfill a promise to us when He’s no longer here?

John 14:16-20
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 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, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (KJV)

Jesus promised that when he left this earth, that another would come, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of Truth, to abide with us forever.

Going back to Ephesians chapter 1, “ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”  Why is the Holy Spirit called “that holy Spirit of promise”? Because the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, sealed in us, is the promise
to us that Christ will return and redeem us unto eternal life, as he promised.

It says in Ephesians 1:13, that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.  Verse 14 goes on to state that the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance.  Earnest is a practice of Roman Law that the Apostle Paul
was comparing to in explaining our promise of redemption.  In our modern day, earnest is still used in real estate when purchasing a home.  When you buy a house, you sign a contract and you state, “I will pay for this house.” But to back up your word, you put up what is called “earnest money” which is a sizeable amount.  The reason for this is that it backs up your word and gives the seller a sense of trust that you will come back on the closing date and pay the full payment of the home.  The way earnest money works, is that once you’ve given your word and handed over the earnest money, if you change your mind and no longer wish to purchase the home, the seller gets to keep the earnest money for their troubles.

Paul says that we were sealed with the Holy Spirit, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”  Jesus gave us his word that he would come back for us one day, and redeem us unto eternal life.  As earnest, He has indwelt us by His Holy Spirit, sealing us.  So let’s play out the logic.  What if Jesus changes his mind?  What if we sin so bad that Jesus doesn’t love us anymore after realizing what a mistake he made when he promised to redeem us unto eternal life?  What would happen if Jesus decided to forfeit on this deal of eternal life  with us?  Well, that would mean that we keep the earnest.  And what is the earnest?  The Holy Spirit.  And we know that God is one (Mark 12:29;Gal 3:20).  He is immutable–he cannot be divided.  Therefore, the earnest, the Holy Spirit of promise, is ours until the day of Christ’s return when he ultimately completes the redemption of our mortality for immortality in Heaven with him forever.  The promise of eternal life.

Now with all that stated, let’s go back to your statement…

“I don’t  know if some people get more of a baptism than others or what.  I do know  that I have all of the Holy Spirit I’m ever going to get residing inside of  me but I couldn’t say that Godly tongues were initial in my case.”

How much of the Holy Spirit do you have?  Does the scripture say that you have a part of the Holy Spirit?  Do the scriptures speak of multiple earnests?  Multiple indwellings?

What did Jesus have to say about how many times the Holy Spirit can regenerate us by indwelling us and making us Born Again?

John 3:3-8
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (KJV)

We cannot crawl back into our mother’s womb and be born a second time, can we?  Neither can we be unborn, and then born again, and again, and again. We are born once in the flesh.  We are born once in the spirit.

Therefore, when we believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, our propitiation, the one to take our place who shed His Blood for our sins, when we believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead and
professed Jesus as Lord, we became born again.  At that moment in time, our unregenerate spirit was regenerated and made new (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10), and we were sealed, our spirit was sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13-14).  We did not receive a part of God.  God in his fullness, indwelt us by His Holy Spirit.

Col 2:9-15
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (KJV)

So…

When we became born again, we received the entire Holy Spirit, not part.  It wasn’t partial earnest, and then a little more partial earnest.  It was the earnest in full.

Let’s walk through the chapter on the results of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by Derek Prince in his self study Bible Course:

“The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a supernatural enduement with power from heaven to equip the Christian for effective witness and service.  It is attested by speaking in a language given by the Holy Spirit, but unknown to
the one speaking.  It enables the Christian to build up his own spiritual life by direct and continual communication with God, and is the gateway into a life in which both the gifts of the fruits of the Holy Spirit should be manifested.  In the New Testament church, this experience was considered normal for all believers.”

1.  What happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost when they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4)
Acts 2:4
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (KJV)

2.  Through whose preaching did the people in Samaria come to believe in Jesus Christ?  (Acts 8:12)

Acts 8:12
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (KJV)
3.  When Peter and John came down to Samaria, how did they pray for the Christians there? (Acts 8:15)

Acts 8:15
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (KJV)

4.  How did the Christians at Samaria receive the Holy Ghost? (Acts 9:17)

Acts 8:17
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

5.  How did Saul of Tarsus (Paul) receive the Holy Ghost? (Acts 9:17)

Acts 9:17
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

6. As Peter was preaching to the people int he house of Cornelius, what happened to all who heard him?  (Acts 10:44)

Acts 10:44
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (KJV)

7.  How did Peter and his companions know that all these people in the house of Cornelius had received the Holy Ghost? (Acts 10:45-46)

Acts 10:45-47
45 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.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (KJV)

8.  What question did Paul ask the disciples at Ephesus? (Acts 19:2)

Acts 19:2
2 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. (KJV)

9.  How did these disciples at Ephesus recieve the Holy Ghost? (Acts 19:6)

Acts 19:6
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (KJV)

10. What happened after the Holy Ghost came on these disciples? (Acts 19:6)

Acts 19:6
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (KJV)

11.  How much did Paul say that he himself spoke in tongues? (1 Cor 14:18)

1 Cor 14:18
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: (KJV)

12. Write down 3 things that a Christian does when he speaks in an unknown tongue? (1 Cor 14:2,4)

1 Cor 14:2
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. (KJV)

1 Cor 14:4
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (KJV)

13. If a Christian prays in an unknown tongue, what part of him is then praying? (1 Cor 14:14)

1 Cor 14:14
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (KJV)

14. How did Jesus say that the true worshippers should worship God? (John 4:23-24)

John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)

15. How does Jude exhort Christians to build themselves up in their faith? (Jude 20)

Jude 1:20
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (KJV)

16.  When a Christian speaks in an unknown tongue, what may he pray for next? (1 Cor 14:13)

1 Cor 14:13
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. (KJV)

17. In a public meeting where there is no interpreter, how may a Christian speak in an unkown tongue? (1 Cor 14:28)

1 Cor 14:28
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. (KJV)

18. Did Paul say that he wished that all Christians spoke in tongues? (1 Cor 14:5)

1 Cor 14:5
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (KJV)

19. How many Christians did Paul say may prophesy? (1 Cor 14:31)

1 Cor 14:31
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (KJV)

20. Should Christians be ignorant about spiritual gifts? (1 Cor 12:1)

1 Cor 12:1
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (KJV)

21. Make a list of the 9 gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-10)

1 Cor 12:8-10
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (KJV)

22. Make a list of the 9 fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)

Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)

23. Should a Christian have spiritual gifts without spiritual fruits? (1 Cor 13:1-2)

1 Cor 13:1-2
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (KJV)

24. Should a Christian have spiritual fruit without spiritual gifts? (1 Cor 12:31, 14:1)

1 Cor 12:31
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (KJV)

1 Cor 14:1
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (KJV)

25. Write down 3 supernatural occurences that will result from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the end of this age. (Acts 2:17)

Acts 2:17
17 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: (KJV)

26. Write down 5 different spiritual contributions that a Christian may make at a meeting with fellow Christians (1 Cor 14:26)

1 Cor 14:26
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. (KJV)

The end of the chapter covers the answers, and gives a little further explanation.

Basically, it boils down to this:  we are to seek the spiritual gifts that God makes available to us by His Holy Spirit.  Why?  So that we may be more effective in our witness for Christ.

Remember…

Heb 2:4
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (KJV)

And Paul emphasises that our witness for Christ is not to be based upon peotic and influencing arguments, colorful stories and analogies, great dissertations on the theology of Christianity, but to manifest the power of
God on this earth that people will recognize that there is a God in Heaven who sent his only Son to die for them.  And of all the people that could have made very eloquent and power speeches soundly based upon the scriptures with great wisdom, would have been the Apostle Paul who was very well educated under his mentor Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).  But with all those pedigrees under his belt, what did Paul say?

1 Cor 2:1-5
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (KJV)

“…my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

And yet Sunday after Sunday, we hear sweet speeches, sermonettes given by pastorettes, including readings from poems, 3 point sermons, lofty acclamations, and all by well trained seminary students, and what do we have today in the Body of Christ?  A lot of dead churches. Since when did preaching leave the trail that the Apostle Paul blazed for us?  “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”  Where is this in the church?

And you have to stop and rub your head and wonder why, why it is, that the majority of the “Christian Church” believes that the gifts are “not for today.”  As soon as they allowed the devil to steal them out of the church, the power of God left with it.  Dead churches breeding dead Christians whose faith rests upon their sacred pastor, rather than upon the power of God who can save the them to the uttermost.

Tongues is important.  Every gift of God should be treasured.  Tongues can do what no other gift can.  It has it’s place, just as the others do. But the reason that it should be accepted gratefully and then us encouraged
to strive for the other gifts is because all the other gifts HELP OTHER PEOPLE.  Sure, tongues can be interpreted, but how often does that happen? Have you spoken a Word of Knowledge to someone–out of the blue told them something that no one in the world knew except that person, and God?  Have you watched their face light up in amazement as it’s the exact thing they needed to hear, and God touched them through you.  How about healing?  How about Words of Wisdom?  Tongues is a very wonderful gift, but as we follow Christ’s example in dying to self, we are to consider others more important and seek to bless them.

I think I might have told you this before, but I picked up some demonic tongues as well in the Charismatic circles I ran in before coming to Hegewisch Baptist.  I sought the Lord about it, and didn’t use them for a
long time.  Then I realized that by not using the gift God had given me (out of fear), the devil had one in stealing from me a blessing the Lord had for me.  So I asked the Lord to expose any demonic tongues in me, and did He ever!  As I was praying for one of the men in church in tongues, the demons startled cackling!  They laughed and laughed at me.  They said, “Do you know what you’re saying?  You idiot!  You’re helping us.  You’re saying, ‘Run, Run, the Holy Spirit is coming!’  Man was I ever shocked.  And I had all along realized that there were certain words I tended to repeat.  Well, this was them!  And to top it off–those words were in perfect Latin!

I was all the more fearful to speak in tongues, but the Lord kept encouraging me to do so.  I got prayer for the demonic and got some deliverance and went back to praying for others.  Soon, as confirmation and encouragement, the Lord brought people my way that interpreted my tongues for me.  One man that I was praying for looked at me and said, “Do you know what you’re saying?”  Of course, I didn’t.  He said, “You are really making the demons mad.”  So of course, I took the bait and asked what it was that I was saying.  He said, “You’re asking the Lord to break the necks of the demons!”  Boy, was that encouraging and boy did I praying tongues after that! On another occasion, we were praying for a man whose spirits had clammed up
and they simply weren’t budging.  I started praying in tongues and that man sat straight up with eyes as big as saucers in stark fear as he stared wildly at me while I was speaking in tongues in prayer.  He immediately began coughing and gagging and got tremendous deliverance.  Do I know what I said?  No.  Do I need to know?  Not in that case…I’m sure it was down right cruel to the demons!

It’s good to listen for the “check” in your spirit.  That’s really good.  It’s also good to pray for others, and ask the Lord to expose any wicked thing within you as David did in Psalms.

Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

He will.  Remember, he promised:

Phil 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (KJV)

Thanks for the question.  This really encouraged me to dig in God’s Word and remind myself of how good our God is, that he did not leave us defenseless on this earth to be beaten silly by the demonic, but has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.

2 Pet 1:3-8
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

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By Admin in Questions on October 14, 2011