WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

by

ALAN CAMPBELL B.A

(The contents of this article are based on Bible Studies given by Pastor Campbell at Open-Bible Fellowship, Belfast.)

INTRODUCTION

In the closing months of 1900 Pastor Charles Parham established the Bethel Bible School on the outskirts of Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A. It was there that he challenged his thirty-four students to search the Scriptures for evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His students were soon in agreement that the outward physical evidence of such an experience was the glossolalia or speaking in tongues. At a New Year Service to usher in 1901, Parham prayed for a young student named Agnes
Ozman, he laid his hands on her and she began to speak in a language she had never learned or heard. Over the next few days
Parham and other members of the students body had the same experience; the Pentecostal movement had begun. Soon it was
to spread to the British Isles, Scandinavia and across the English-speaking world.

Sadly after almost a century the concept of an experience subsequent to conversion, commonly known as the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit, and accompanied by supernatural phenomena, remains a source of deep rooted division amongst Evangelical
and Fundamentalist believers. This has been exacerbated in recent years by the emergence of the Counterfeit Catholic Charismatic Movement, which together with the excesses of the inappropriately named “Toronto Blessing”, have helped to confirm the fears and prejudice of so many sincere Christians. At a time like this, when apostacy deepens almost daily it is more
vital than ever that true Bible Believers be united to resist the advances of Romanism, Modernism and Ecumenism, we felt it
needful to put these studies into booklet form, not to create controversy but to explain to our friends within the wider Protestant and Reformed community what we believe regarding this vital topic, ever mindful of the injunction:

“To give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” - (I PETER 3: 15)


PREDICTED BY THE PROPHETS

In the Old Testament Prophecy of Jeremiah we read the wonderful promise that Almighty God was to make a New Covenant
with His Israel people:

“Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers ... which my Covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel, after those days saith the Lord: I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts: and will be their God and they shall be my people.” - (JEREMIAH 3: 31-33)

Jeremiah's contemporary Ezekiel expands further by stating:

“A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you! and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them.” - (EZEKIEL 36: 26-27)

Just as there was a physical sign in the flesh of the Old Covenant, namely circumcision, so in like manner there is a physical sign in the flesh of receiving the New Covenant blessing of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the Glossolalia or "speaking in tongues" even as Isaiah predicted:

“For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.” - (ISAIAH 28: 11)

PROCLAIMED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

The Lord Jesus said concerning John the Baptist that there was no greater one, born of woman. He was full of the Holy Spirit
from his mother’s womb and was the Herald, preparing the way for the coming Messiah. This was what John proclaimed to
those he preached to on the banks of the River Jordan, almost two thousand years ago:

“I indeed baptise 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 baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” - (MATTHEW 3:11)

“I have indeed baptised you with water: but He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” - (MARK 1: 8)

“John answered saying unto them all, I indeed baptise you with water, but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” - (LUKE 3:16)

John clearly pointed forward to the Lord Jesus not only as our Saviour/Redeemer - but also as our Baptiser with the Holy
Ghost.


PROMISED BY THE LORD JESUS

If the word declared by John the Baptist and by the Old Testament prophets is not sufficient to satisfy the sceptic, surely
the words of the Lord Jesus Christ should be enough to settle the matter once and for all. As you will see there is no doubt that
Jesus promised the power of the Spirit to all who will believe.
Let us look at these precious promises.

(1) “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name(Jesus) shall they cast out devils, they shall SPEAK
WITH NEW TONGUES; they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not harm them; they
shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” - (MARK 16: 17-18)

These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus in the context of the great commission to go and preach the Gospel. So that
Gospel was obviously inclusive of the signs listed. The fact that miraculous signs would follow the preaching of the true Gospel
is further alluded to by the writer to the Hebrews. He states that the spoken word was confirmed in the following way:

“God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.” - (HEBREWS 2: 4)

(2) ‘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)

Here the Holy Spirit Baptism is spoken of by Jesus as the “promise of the Father” and He states that it will fill them with dynamic power.

(3) “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send Him unto you." - (JOHN 16: 7)

(4) “Verily, verily I say unto you that he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father ... and I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive ... I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” - (John 14: 12-18)

(5) ‘And being assembled together with them (Jesus) 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. For John truly baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence ... 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 unto the uttermost part of the earth.” - (ACTS 1: 4-8)

These are unbreakable promises to every believer, to whom this same Jesus promised eternal life. Why must puny men seek
to eliminate these promises in order to make the Bible conform to their own pre-conceived theological viewpoint?


WHY DIDN'T JESUS SPEAK IN TONGUES?

Although we have just read the words of Christ concerning the Baptism of the Spirit, there will be those who oppose the experience, who will say: “Then why did Jesus not speak in tongues Himself?’ Whether the question be genuine or not it needs to be answered and this we will seek to do.

(A) The Lord Jesus was the Son of God, the express image of the invisible God. The Bible tells me that: “in Him dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” - (COLOSSIANS 2: 9)

As such therefore He knew all languages, for Him it was unnecessary, for He was all-knowing.

(B) Since the Gift of Tongues with Interpretation was given to operate within the Church which is the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head; and since the Church was not formed until the Day of Pentecost some fifty days after the Resurrection, the question of the Lord Jesus, speaking in tongues does not arise.

(C) The Lord Jesus had a perfect tongue without evil or guile. In contrast the Bible says that our tongues are full of unruly evil and deadly poison (JAMES 3: 9). Our tongues therefore need to be tamed. As a new creation we need a new tongue to praise our Lord. Jesus did not need this new tongue but you and I do.

(D) Finally as we have already seen, the prophets foretold and predicted the Baptism of the Spirit - with the “stammering
lips and another tongue” to Israel not to Israel’s Messiah.


WHAT DO YOU MEAN - INITIAL EVIDENCE?

In our accounts of the Pentecostal outpouring in the Book ofActs, I have referred to the Glossolalia or speaking in tongues as
the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit Baptism. This is quite accurate, and Scriptural so to do. Just as circumcision of the flesh
was the outward sign of the Old Covenant, so there is an outward visible manifestation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, sealing us into the New Covenant. It is the speaking in tongues, the stammering lips of which the prophet spoke.
However let me stress that whilst tongues are the initial evidence they are not the final evidence. As we go deeper into our walk with the Holy Spirit, as we climb the ladder of spiritual maturity I would expect to see other gifts and graces being made manifest in the lives of Spirit-filled believers. I would expect to see a spiritual transformation of life conduct and character. The
initial evidence of the Holy Spirit Baptism is certainly the tongues of I Corinthians 12, but the ultimate evidence is that the life of such a one measure up to the standards set in I Corinthians 13.

If the believer manifests all of the Spiritual Gifts listed in I Corinthians 12: 8-10 but fails to manifest the Spiritual Graces
or Fruits listed in Galatians 5: 22-23, it would be rather like a bird trying to fly with one wing. The true Pentecostal message is
one of balance rather than one of excess.

MANIFESTED AT PENTECOST AND THROUGHOUT THE EARLY CHURCH

Let us now see how these wonderful promises were fulfilled. There are several incidents in the Book of Acts which tell us
what happened when the Holy Spirit came.

(1) THE DAY OF PENTECOST

‘And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all of one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them 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)

The one hundred and twenty obedient followers of Jesus, tarrying in the upper room at Jerusalem had received the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit, and the outward sign or initial evidence was the speaking in other tongues.

DRUNK OR FULFILLING PROPHECY

So great was the commotion or disturbance that was created by this miraculous phenomena, that the crowds thought the Spirit
filled Christians were drunk:

‘And they were amazed and were in doubt, saying one to another what meaneth this? Others mocking said these men are full of wine.” - (ACTS 2: 12-13)

However Peter was quick to respond to them by pointing out very forcefully that what they were seeing and hearing was the
beginning of the fulfilment of the words of the Old Testament prophet Joel. Peter stated:

“Hearken to my words; for these are not drunken as ye suppose - BUT THIS IS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL — and it shall come to pass in the last days (the Christian era of prophecy) saith God, I will pour out 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 my Spirit.” - (ACTS 2: 15-18)

THE WONDERFUL RESULT

As a result of this first outpouring of Holy Spirit power, thousands of Israelites of the Diaspora, gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Pentecost, were able to hear in their own language the Gospel being preached:

“The multitude came together and were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another; Behold ate not all these which speak Galileans? and now hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born.” - (ACTS 2: 6-8)

The result that they were pricked in their heart or as we would say they were convicted of their sinful lifestyles; religious though they might have been, Israelites though they might have been, it was not enough. They cried out:

“Men and brethren what must we do?”

and Peter replied using the keys of the Kingdom:

“Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (on account of) remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.” - (ACTS 2: 37-38)

As if in anticipation of those who would rise up to say that the experience of the Holy Spirit Baptism had ceased and was given only to convince the people of these days; Peter went on to say:

“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.” - (ACTS 2: 39)

Here we note the Holy Spirit Baptism was not limited to those present in Jerusalem at that particular Feast of Pentecost. It was
to:

(A) Your children — descendants, succeeding generations up to and including the present time.

(B) All that are afar off — These were the divorced, dispersed and scattered Israelites of the Diaspora, the same people James
described in his Epistle as the “Twelve Tribes which are scattered abroad.”

(C) As many as the Lord our God shall call.

If God has called you, and drawn you by His Spirit to the experience of salvation by repentance and saving faith in the blood Christ shed at Calvary if you are indeed one of the elect — then this Pentecostal blessing is still for you today
It was this old time Apostolic power preaching that saw three thousand saved in one day.

(2) THE REVIVAL IN SAMARIA

In the eighth chapter of Acts we read of a great religious revival or spiritual awakening, taking place in the city of Samaria. It had resulted from Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and many had repented and been baptised in water in the name of the Lord Jesus. Mighty miracles of healing took place and when the news reached the church in Jerusalem, they sent the Apostles Peter and John to Samaria.
What was their purpose in going? To pray for the new Christians to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. When we read the story it becomes quite clear, that we did not receive all God had for us, at conversion/repentance, or even when we were baptised in water. Let us see what the Bible tells us.
Peter and John when they were come down to Samaria:

“Prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen on none of them: only they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.” - (ACTS 8: 15-16)

So it is Scriptural for the ministry to pray for and lay hands on believing, baptised Christians that they might receive the Holy
Spirit Baptism.

(3) THE HOUSEHOLD OF CORNELIUS

In the tenth chapter of Acts we read the wonderful story of the conversion to Christ of the Centurion Cornelius and his house-
hold at the city of Caesarea. The very way in which Peter had been led to go from Joppa and preach the Gospel to him was
miraculous in itself. Let us pick up the story as it reaches a dramatic climax. Peter has just proclaimed that sins can be forgiven those who believe on the Lord Jesus:

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word, and they of the circumcision were astonished as many as came with Peter that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” - (ACTS 10: 44-47)

Let me ask the honest seeker after truth just one simple question; How did Peter and his associates know that Cornelius and
his household had received the Holy Spirit? What was the immediate, initial evidence?
Answer: THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES.

(4) THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

In the nineteenth chapter of Acts we read that when the Apostle Paul reached the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor (modern
Turkey) he found a small number of people described as disciples. This would indicate that they were already Christian, certainly in the sense that they had repented, been converted and were seeking to follow the Lord. That being the case Paul put a strange question to them, but one we could repeat to so many dear people in the churches today.

“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.” - (ACTS 19: 2)

So much for receiving everything at repentance as so many claim and teach today. Having discovered that they were baptised after the manner of John the Baptist for repentance, Paul rebaptised in Jesus’ name.

“When they heard this they were baptised 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 in tongues and prophesied and all the men were about twelve.” - (ACTS 19: 5-7)

From these obedient Spirit-filled men grew the Church of God at Ephesus, as Paul’s anointed preaching turned the city upside
down; converting the practitioners of magic, and the followers of Diana the Goddess/Queen of Heaven, in addition to many
healing miracles.
Let me once again ask; how did Paul know that they had received the Holy Spirit after he prayed and laid hands on them?
Answer: he heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES.
It was to this Ephesian church that Paul would later pen his Epistle in which he clearly taught a post conversion/repentance
experience, which we know to be the Holy Spirit Baptism. Let us read what Paul said:

“That we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ. 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 the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory.” - (EPHESIANS 1: 12-14)

Remember all these events were happening at Ephesus, in 54 A.D. some twenty years after the Day of Pentecost.

THE TIME OF RESTORATION

There are many sincere Christians today who believe and teach that the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit were for the
early church only Once the Christian Church became established and the Canon of Holy Scripture agreed, they believe that
the supernatural manifestations that we find recorded in the Book of Acts ceased. This is not the case. What in reality happened was that once the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the State religion, multitudes of pagans who had never been truly begotten by the Spirit of God, flooded into the church bringing their false and Babylonish doctrines with them.
Their errors were “Christianised” and in time became the new and accepted orthodoxy, giving rise to the development of the
apostate religious system known as Roman Catholicism. As error was brought into the church, so the gifts and manifestations of
the Holy Spirit receded, but never ceased; as we will subsequently show, they continued amongst the remnant witnesses, throughout the Dark Ages. They were always present amongst those whom the Roman Church branded as heretics.

At the Reformation, God began a process of restoring truth to the Church. Just as it had taken several centuries from the Apostolic era to the Dark Ages for truth to be covered over, so it would take centuries to unveil and restore those same Apostolic truths, in preparation for the return of Christ.
Just as a little stream flows down from the hills to form a mighty river which in turn flows into a great ocean, so God has been causing the Biblical pattern to be restored.

To Martin Luther was revealed the great revelation of Justification by Faith Alone. To John Calvin and John Knox, the
essential truth of the Sovereignty of God in Election and Predestination. To the early Baptists came the revelation that
water baptism was for repentant believers and by total immersion. To John Wesley came the truth regarding sanctification, ad
so it was that at the beginning of this century Almighty God began to restore the New Testament experience of the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, to the Church which is His Body.

Commencing with Charles Parham and the students of Topeka Bible College, Kansas, U.S.A., the outpouring was soon to take place at the Anglican Church of Rev. Boddy in Sunderland, England, amongst the miffing community at Kilsythe, Scotland,
in Scandinavia by the instrumentality of Pastor Barratt, and across the entire British Isles by the ministry of God’s anointed servants George and Stephen Jeffreys. Today Pentecostal believers number millions, in such classic Pentecostal groups as the
Apostolic Church, the Assemblies of God, Elim Pentecostal Church, and many others.

It is of special interest that many early pioneers of this Pentecostal experience were convinced believers in the Anglo- Israel Message George Jeffreys, the Williams brothers, Charles Parham, F. Bosworth, to name but a few It is also of interest to
note that as with the glorious Reformation itself, the restoration of the Pentecostal, power, gifts and anointing came first to the
nations of regathered Israel, namely the Celto-Anglo-Saxon, Dutch, Scandinavian and Germanic peoples of North Western
Europe, who by the beginning of the twentieth century had spread in fulfilment of prophecy to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and white South Africa.

That God restored the Pentecostal blessing to these nations was a fulfilment of the prophecy which states:

“Fear not 0 Jacob my servant and thou Jesurun whom I have chosen; for I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring.” - (ISAIAH 44: 2-3)

‘And the remnants of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.” - (MICAH .5 v 7

Show me the nations who accepted the Reformation, the Open-Bible, and the Protestant Faith, who have taken the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, and whose people rejoice in the Pentecostal blessing, and I will show you the so-called “lost tribes” of Israel found.

THE TONGUES THAT NEVER CEASED

Those who deny the present reality of the Holy Spirit Baptism, and who teach that all supernatural manifestations, especially
the glossolalia or speaking in tongues ended with the close of the Apostolic era, make great play upon the following verse:

“Whether there be tongues they shall cease.” - (I CORINTHIANS 23: 8)

It is a very dangerous thing to seek to build a doctrine around one isolated verse, and in this case only part of a verse, especially when it is taken out of context. The verse in question does indeed state that a time will come when tongues, prophecies and imperfect human knowledge shall pass away. However this is not to happen until:

“That which is perfect shall come.”- (I CORINTHIANS 15: 10)

This is not in reference to the coming of a full and complete Canon of Scripture, as the cessationists say, but rather it refers to the return of Christ in all His kingly glory. The clear context is in reference to the Second Advent for just two verses later we
read:

“For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, now I know in part but then shall I know ever as also I am known.” - (I CORINTHIANS 13: 12)

Not only do we have the Biblical evidence that tongues never ceased, but in addition to this we have the evidence of Church
History; let us look at some examples.

1) Eusebius — An early church historian wrote and quoted in “Ecclesiastical History” pages 111-112:

“Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts ... the Holy Spirit also wrought many wonders as yet through them.”

2) Justin Martyr, around 150 A.D.

“Come into our assemblies and there you will see Him cast out demons, heal the sick and hear them speak with tongues and prophecy”

3) Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, writing around 180 A.D. says:

“We hear many of the brethren in the Church ... speak in all tongues through the Spirit and having prophetical gifts.”

4) Tertullian — eminent church historian who lived around 200 A.D. - speaks of the spiritual gifts still operating in his day,
especially amongst the Montanists.

5) The Early Church Martyrs slain by Pagan Rome “spoke and sang in unknown tongues” according to Dean Farrar in the book “Darkness to Dawn”.

6) Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople whose life and ministry spanned the close of the Fourth and the beginning of the
Fifth Century stated:

“Whoever was baptised in Apostolic days, he straightway spoke with tongues."

With the rise of Papal power in Europe and the onset of the Dark Ages, the Bible became a banned book, the church substituted Babylonian error for Bible Truth, and the true followers of Christ were persecuted. Truly the lamp of God did burn but dimly and the powerful gushing flow of God’s Spirit was reduced to a tiny trickle, yet even then tongues never ceased.

From the Twelfth to the Fifteenth Centuries, there continued to be outbreaks of glossolalia amongst those faithful pre- Reformation witnesses, the Waldenses and Albigenses.

7) Martin Luther — According to Dr. Theodor Sauer in his book “History of the Christian Church”, the great Protestant Reformer was:

"A prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues and interpreter in one person endowed with all the gifts of the Spirit.”

8) Phillip Schaff - in “The History of the Christian Church” claims that speaking in tongues continued to appear from time to time during religious revivals amongst the Quakers, Huguenots and early Methodists.

9) The Huguenots - During the time when these French Protestants were being cruelly persecuted by the Roman Catholic King Louis XIV during the late Seventeenth and early Eighteenth Centuries, there was a great move of the Holy Spirit amongst the so-called “Church in the Desert” accompanied by speaking in tongues, and other supernatural manifestations.

10) John Wesley — Supports this contention when replying to Dr. Middleton who had written against the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the founder of Methodism states in the mid-Eighteenth Century:

“Sir, your memory fails you — speaking in tongues has been heard more than once, no further off than the Galley’s of Dauphany”.

11) Thomas Walsh — one of Wesley’s foremost preachers wrote in his diary, 8th March 1750:

‘This morning the Lord gave me a language that I knew not of, raising my soul to Him in a wonderful manner.”

12) Charles Finney — the great Nineteenth Century Revivalist wrote:

“I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit ... I wept aloud with joy and love and I do not know but I should say I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart.”

13) D. L. Moody — John Davidson. an intimate friend of the world-renowned evangelist claimed that he also enjoyed the Gift of Tongues:

14) Dr. F. B. Myer — after a visit to Russia in the late Nineteenth Century, wrote to the “London Christian” magazine claiming that amongst the Baptists of Russia and Estonia he witnessed marvellous manifestations of Spiritual Gifts - including speaking in tongues.

We could go on to look at other examples but these will suffice to prove that from the Upper Room in Jerusalem in the First Century to the outpouring at Topeka Bible College at the start of the Twentieth Century - TONGUES NEVER CEASED.

DOWNGRADING TONGUES

In an effort to discourage Christians from seeking the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, some preachers seek to downgrade the experience by stating that it is the least of all the Spiritual Gifts listed in Corinthians, and therefore by implication it is not worth seeking, or of causing division in the Church. Let us dismiss this by quoting the words of the Apostle Paul:

“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 5)

Paul may be stressing the importance of one ministry gift overthe other, but he is certainly not rejecting the experience as so many do today, for he goes on to say:

“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 18)

Such a testimony would be enough to have Paul excommunicated or disfellowshipped from many of our Evangelical and Fundamental Churches today. How sad that we cannot stand united in the face of Romanism, Modernism, Ecumenism and the Charismatic Counterfeit, instead of dividing over an experience clearly taught in God’s infallible word.

Furthermore the Bible clearly teaches that tongues are set in the church. The Greek word in the original manuscripts translated as “set” is “tithemi” which means to 'appoint', to 'ordain' or to 'settle'. So it is quite clear that God has appointed, ordained or settled tongues within the Church, not for a few years but forever until Christ returns. Hence Paul clearly declares:

“Forbid not to speak in tongues.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 39)

Some of the confusion that exists is due to a failure to understand that there are:

DIVERS (DIFFERENT) KINDS OF TONGUES

It becomes quite clear as we study the New Testament that there are indeed divers or different kinds of tongues.
Pentecostals have often brought confusion upon themselves by failing to differentiate.

(1) TONGUES AS THE SIGN OR INITIAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We have covered this in detail already. It is our conviction founded on Scripture that all those baptised in the Holy Spirit will
speak in tongues as an outward sign or evidence. This does not mean however that all of them will go on to exercise a tongues
ministry in the local Church.

(2) THE GIFT OF TONGUES

We find this as one of the nine gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit listed in I Corinthians Chapter 12. Strict guidelines are given in I Corinthians Chapter 14 as to how and when this Gift together with that of Interpretation of Tongues, should be operated in the local church, assembly or fellowship. (This will be the subject of a subsequent booklet on Spiritual gifts.)

(3) TONGUES FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 4)

This is not tongues and interpretation to edify the Church, this is the praying, praising and communicating with God, which edifies and lifts us up and strengthens us as individuals. Our opponents will of course make great play of the fact that the word UNKNOWN is not in the original Greek text. Thus they insist the reference is to known languages. However the sense becomes quite clear if we go back a couple of verses and read:

“He that speaketh in an (UNKNOWN) tongue speaketh not unto men but unto God howbeit in the spirit he speaketh
mysteries.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 2)

Here we see why the translations added UNKNOWN because quite clearly this is communication not churchwards with interpretation to edify the body of Christ, but Godward, the individual speaking mysteries, that require no interpreter.
Such tongues should be kept for our private prayer and devotions. It has all too often been the case that a well meaning
Pastor or elder, inexperienced in such matters will hear tongues in a meeting and without ever waiting to discern whether they
be praise or a message to the body, will come forth with an interpretation. This is certainly not of the devil as our opponents
state, even though it may be carnal and show a lack of discernment.

I trust that all will give careful consideration to this, and so give no opportunity for the opponents to blaspheme or to seek to
discredit the work of God and the moving of the Spirit.

To conclude this section of our study let me sum up by saying again, that whilst all should speak in tongues as the sign or evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit, they will not all have a ministry of tongues, but may well go on to exercise any one of the
other gifts such as the ability to prophecy discern spirits, etc.

WHAT BENEFIT IS IT?

I often find that having spent considerable time to convince someone of the present day reality of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and having answered their many questions from the Scriptures, they will then respond by saying, as a final attempt to escape from their spiritual dilemma: “what the good of it anyhow?” Let us therefore list the benefits.

(1) IT IS THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

“For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord your God shall call.” - (ACTS 2: 39)

The Baptism of the Spirit is God s gift to you, it is like your Salvation, absolutely free, it is your promised inheritance. If I were to tell most Christians that they had come into an earthly financial inheritance, that thousands of pounds, perhaps property or jewellery was waiting to be claimed at the bank, they would let nothing hinder them. Why hold back from claiming the promise
God has made to you?

(2) IT IS THE SEAL OF YOUR REDEMPTION

“Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” - (II CORINTHIANS 1: 22)

“That ye should be the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ. 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 the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory” - (EPHESIANS 1:12-14)

‘And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” - (EPHESIANS 4: 30)

The Seal of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will finally make it into God’s Kingdom. It is the earnest guarantee, it is the basic downpayment, first instalment or foretaste of the glory that is yet to be. I place a stamp on a letter to guarantee delivery to the destination. God does the same with us. Prophecy speaks of this company who have been sealed with the Seal of God in
contrast to the Mark of the Beast. Thus we read:

“He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that havc charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. And behold six men came from the way of the higher gate ... every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen with a writers ink horn by his side and they went in and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub ...and he called to the man clothed with linen which had the writers ink horn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, go through the city and smite, let not your eye spare, neither have pity - slay utterly ... but come not near any man upon whom is my mark.” - (EZEKIEL 9: 1-6)

That shows just how vital the mark or seal of God will be to us in the coming days.
Again we read:

‘And I looked and, lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with Him a hundred and forty four thousand having his Father's name written in their foreheads ... these were redeemed from among men being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” - (REVELATION 14: 1-4)

The Seal of the Spirit is an essential for those who would attain to the prize of the high calling, that of ruling and reigning
in the Kingdom.

(3) IT GIVES US POWER TO SERVE GOD

“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.” - (ACTS 1: 8)

The disciples who had cowered behind locked doors following the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, now spoke the word with
holy boldness. Fear went out when the Holy Ghost came in. Peter who had once denied his Lord with oaths and curses, out
of fear of a servant girl, now stands up and declares to thousands that the only way of salvation is through this very Jesus who the Jews crucified and who is now risen from the dead.
What changed and transformed Peter? the Holy Ghost power.

What it did back then at Pentecost it will do for the most weak and feeble Christian today. This message of the Kingdom is a
Gospel of Power.

(4) IT WILL LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.” - (JOHN 16: 13)

If we desire to receive truth and walk in the light, if we would seek to avoid the awful apostacy and doctrinal error of these last
days, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for it is He alone who leads and guides us into all Truth.

(5) IT HELPS TO BUILD OUR FAITH

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 4)

That little word EDIFIETH just simply means that we build ourselves up, we strengthen ourselves in our faith, we develop spiritual strength when we speak in tongues and develop our life of prayer and praise. We who have received the Baptism of the Spirit and all that goes with it, have an inner source of spiritual strength which helps us in the heat of the battle, in the struggles of day-to-day Christian living.

(6) IT DESTROYS THE YOKE OF SATAN

‘And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken from off thy shoulder and his yoke from off thy neck and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” - (ISAIAH 10: 27)

The receiving of the Holy Spirit in all of the fullness sets the spiritual captives free. The Holy Spirit breaks bondages, destroys the yoke of bondage, oppression and depression which the devil would seek to bring upon the children of God. The Holy Spirit burns up the remaining dross in our lives and helps us to get victory over besetting sins. How can you still say “what’s the good of it?”

(7) IT DEVELOPS A LIFE OF PRAYER AND PRAISE

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” - (ROMANS 8: 26)

“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.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14:2)

In those dry and difficult times when it seems we just cannot pray, the Holy Spirit within takes over and speaks in that language we never knew or learned. Often the Spirit takes control of our speech causing us to pray and intercede for people and situations of which we have no normal knowledge. The Spirit lifts us up into heights of prayer and praise, we commune with our
God in a language heaven hears although on earth it is unknown and when this feeble tongue would fall short of words with which to praise Him, the Spirit takes control.


HOW AND WHY TO SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

(1) BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS IT

‘And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” - (EPHESIANS 5: 18)

This is not a suggestion, some sort of optional extra, some type of dessert for Christians if they feel like it. Rather to seek to be
filled with the Holy Spirit is the direct command of God.

(2) DON'T FEAR IT

‘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 gifts to them that ask him.” - (MATTHEW 7: 7-11)

We quote this passage in full because so many of God’s dear people are being frightened by pastors and preachers who tell
them not to seek the Baptism of the Spirit, not to be prayed for and have the laying on of hands, in case they receive a demon or unclean spirit. What unscrupulous and reprehensible methods are resorted to by those who cannot refute the Pentecostal experience from Scripture.
A human father will not give anything evil, harmful or dangerous to his children when they ask for food. That being the case, there is no way that our loving heavenly Father would allow any Christian seeking a deeper experience of the Spirit to receive something evil or devilish. Such a suggestion impugns the honour and integrity of Almighty God.

(3) DON'T WAIT TO BE GOOD, HOLY AND SPIRITUAL

Many sincere Christians, seeking the Baptism of the Holy Spirit have got a mistaken idea that they must try and work really hard to become very good and super spiritual before God would consider them as suitable candidates for receiving.
Nothing could be further from the truth; just as it was in regard to your salvation, it is not a matter of works or deeds or even prayers. You must come “just as you are,” it is the Holy Spirit Baptism that will make you a better, holier more victorious Christian. If you are already all of these things, you would not need the Baptism of the Spirit.

(4) SEEK THE GIVER NOT THE GIFT

We must have the right attitude when seeking the Baptism; we must not seek, in order to glorify self, or to exalt ourselves above others. We must not seek the Baptism, so that we can have "speaking in tongues” or any of the other gifts, as if they were spiritual toys. We need this power to change and revolutionise our lives. My advice to all sincere seekers is to be HUMBLE, PATIENT, OBEDIENT.

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Being saved as a teenager and knowing the truth of the Israel-Identityl message, I began to attend Bible Studies on the subject of Prophecy at the Revival Hall on the East side of Belfast. My only problem was that these people were Pentecostals who spoke in tongues, which ran contrary to everything I was taught at my own Church where speaking in tongues was forbidden. However after some time I reached the conclusion that if the folks at the Revival Hall were correct about the Israel message then they must also be right about the Pentecostal experience and so I began to seek for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was prayed for many times in many places without anything happening. I suppose looking back, I thought I could receive in secret, and nobody at my own Church would know One night I and a number of our own young people were attending a Pentecostal service at the old Faith Tabernacle, where an evangelist named Bryn Jones was preaching. As the meeting drew to a close he began to pray for people. Many were being healed, baptised in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. I thought - “not tonight, not in front of all these people”. Minutes later Bryn Jones revealed my very thoughts by the Word of Knowledge - he said it was my night for receiving, it would never come again. I went forward, he laid his hands on me and began to pray, a deep heat came over me, a sensation like needles and pins came all over my body, into my mouth and I began speaking in tongues, - I had received my Baptism in the Spirit; God was indeed faithful, He had kept His promise, I had received my Seal just as the Bible said.


CONCLUSION - FORBID IT NOT

As I draw this study to a close, I can do no better than point my readers to the words of the Apostle Paul which stand above
all the words and teachings of mere fallible men:

“FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES.” - (I CORINTHIANS 14: 39)


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