The Baptism With The Holy Spirit

There are five instances recorded in Scripture where the baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred. These are all found in the book of Acts. There are three times where Scripture clearly states they spoke in other tongues. It is a fact that three times gives us proof that people receiving the Spirit speak in tongues, the Bible says "In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established," 2 Corinthians 13:1; Deuteronomy 19:15.

We will examine these three definite witnesses, as well as two others, which we can assume, correctly, to be also witnesses. There are five occasions we will observe in Acts.

The First Time. This is in Acts Chapter 2, particularly verse 4. It was on the Day of Pentecost. The eleven and others were willing to obey Jesus. They believed Him when He said they would be baptised in the Spirit. We too, must believe and not be full of doubt!

On The Day Of Pentecost, which the Jews were still celebrating, the one hundred and twenty disciples were all together in an upper room. Suddenly, from heaven came a noise like a violent, rushing wind, filling the whole house where they were sitting. They were not even kneeling! There is no mention of any acts of religion!

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributing themselves, resting on each one of them. The tongues of fire are never recorded as being repeated on later occasions. The Presence of God was manifested in the Old Testament Tabernacle as fire. Here, the Holy Ghost appeared in a mystical fashion in "tongues of what appeared to be flame, separating so that one settled on each of them," TCNT translation.

Throughout the Old Testament (Old Covenant) times, fire was a significant manifestation of the Presence of God, on Mount Sinai, in the Tabernacle of Moses, in the consumption of animal sacrifices and fire also came down from heaven in response to the sacrifices of individuals, such as Elijah, Gideon and Manoah. In Acts 2:3 we note the cessation of the Old Covenant in the final appearance of visible fire. There are two Covenants, one of Law and one of the Spirit as specified in 2 Corinthians 3.

The New Covenant of the Spirit began in Acts 2:4, and the literal fire and visible manifestation of "tongues of fire" became "speaking in tongues" for all times under this New Covenant. Instantly they were filled with the Spirit. This resulted in inspired utterances of speaking in other tongues. Praying in tongues is part of the filling of the Spirit.

Relevant Points In Acts 2 we note:-
    a. They were all filled with the Spirit.
    b. They began to speak with other tongues. They began. They began to speak and with other tongues This was the prophecy of Joel 2:28, "upon all flesh".
    c. It was the Spirit who was giving them utterance.

Every time someone is baptised in the Spirit, to this very day, everything in a, b and c, will be repeated.

The following factors are noticed:-
        i. There was great noise.
        ii. This caused crowds to gather around the place where they were.
      iii. They were bewildered. The supernatural acts of God are so foreign to mankind that even the most godly will marvel at his "strange" acts as the Scripture calls them.
        iv. Some heard someone speaking in his own language. There are fifteen kinds of people mentioned, Therefore at least fifteen kinds of languages were spoken. The scriptures do not say how many other languages were used.
        v. They could hear them glorifying God.
        vi. The scripture does not say they were preaching in other tongues or that the listeners understood that they were preaching to them.
        vii. In that crowd of many thousands, it would have been impossible for them all to hear amongst the one hundred and twenty voices speaking loudly in another tongue, a sermon or teaching in any specific language. The languages given by the Holy Ghost were not for preaching. There were those who caught enough of their particular language to hear that the speaker of that language was glorifying God. A few thousand people would be unable to hear languages spoken at the same time by one hundred and twenty people.

Sometimes we ourselves have heard people being baptised in the Spirit speaking English, which language they did not know. It has indeed glorified God and His works.

Some people even though perplexed, wanted to know what was going on. They were the genuine inquirers, as we see in verse 12. Some in verse 13, were mockers. We know that there are some, even believers, born again, who do likewise today.
Mockery and scorn say, "It is of the Devil." How can we attribute the wonderful works of God to the Devil?

Also, the onlookers thought that the one hundred and twenty were drunk, full of sweet wine. This was only because they were speaking languages the onlookers knew they had never learned. A drunk person often will speak incessantly.

At Pentecost also, Isaiah 28:11,12 was fulfilled. God said He would speak through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, "but they would not listen." Paul quoted this in 1 Corinthians 14:21. In verse 22, he writes, "Tongues then are to interest unbelievers" or as another translation reads, "Tongues are to attract unbelievers”. There we who believe in speaking in tongues have the greatest miracle in our midst for attracting unbelievers to become believers. It is not healing and miracles of healing but speaking in tongues that Paul says will attract unbelievers to become believers. Many come to meetings to get healed but never believe in Christ.

After all this happened, Peter, who doubtless had been speaking for some time in other tongues, stood up to preach. He did not preach in other tongues. Peter used the common every-day language, probably Aramaic, when he preached to them.

He showed, Acts 2:16,21, that this outpouring had been promised by the prophet Joel 2:28,29, "'And it shall be in the last days', says God, 'That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even upon My bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit, and they shall Prophesy'."

This promise was not just for the Jews. It was also for the Gentiles, for whoever would call on the Lord in faith for salvation.

"And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.", v.21.

     a. It is for the last days. Are we not living in the last days?
    b. It is to be a general outpouring, for all mankind. Therefore, it must extend to this day and generation. The term "all mankind" cannot be said to have been exhausted at the time of the outpourings in the early church.
    c. This would include supernatural utterance with visions and dreams that are not ordinary. These supernatural things are for the last days that began on the Day of Pentecost. We live in these last days.
    d. He promised to pour His Spirit out upon His bond slaves.
    e. All of us preach Romans 10:13 to unbelievers so they can be saved. In our day and generation, "Whoever will call upon the Name of the Lord (which means Jesus, our Jehovah is salvation) will be saved."

"Whoever calls on the name of the Lord" was quoted by Peter in Acts 2 for the same period as "the last days," when God promised to pour out His Spirit. We call on His Name today. Therefore, all of us have the right to say that God wants us to be filled with the Spirit today, in the same way in which they all received on that Day of Pentecost.

In verses 38, 39, Peter states that all His hearers were to repent in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, which we believe is for our day and generation.

He said for them to be baptised in water. We accept that also is for today. He promises them, those who would obey these injunctions, that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as he and the others had received it . That also must be for today.

He states further that the promise is "for you," that is those who were listening. "And your children," this being the next generation, which certainly would extend beyond the times of the Apostles, "And for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."

We, today, are "far off," in a different generation than those of that day. Many of us are geographically far off. We in this day, have been called by the Lord our God, and certainly are included in the "as many." Therefore the promise of the baptism in the Holy Ghost is for us today.

The promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for you. It is for you who believe in Jesus, who have at some time or other, called upon the Name of the Lord for salvation.

Acts 8 Explained

The Second Occurrence of the baptism in the Spirit is when Philip went down to preach Jesus Christ in Samaria. Signs followed his ministry and many miracles and healings took place. So great was the operation of God that it appears the whole city turned to Christ. Then Philip, verse 12, baptised them all in water.

These people were saved, believers. They were born again. Otherwise Philip would not have baptised them.

The Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the city had received the Word of God. They knew that as yet, the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of these new converts, yet they anticipated the promise was for them also. These Samaritans were already saved, and baptised in water. Two apostles, Peter and John, were sent down.

Peter and John laid hands upon the people so they would receive what they had experienced, apparently doing so one by one. The people "received the Holy Spirit." By now it would have been some days at least since they had all accepted Christ and been born of the Spirit. The news had first of all to reach Jerusalem. Then it would have taken some time for the apostles' journey.

Therefore, it was definitely a different experience from that of being born again, as it took place sometime afterwards.

In Acts 8:18, it is clear that it was not just a "faith experience" where one by faith assumes God has given something in spirit only, is evidenced by the fact that "Simon saw... that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of... hands".

Our natural eyes do not see what takes place in the spirit realm. We can only see what takes place in the realm of the senses that our bodies possess. He obviously saw them using their mouths to speak in tongues.

Our assumption that in Samaria they spoke with tongues even though it is not stated, is a certainty.

The first outpouring of the Spirit with the first class of people was manifested with tongues of fire. This time, there were tongues without manifestation of fire. They received the infilling of the Holy Ghost which is expressed in the supernatural Holy Ghost inner fire-provoking and fire-kindling Spiritual experience, flowing out by speaking with other tongues in prayer, praise, worship and intercession.

Speaking in other tongues will always accompany being filled with the Spirit as a day to day experience. It is the only Scriptural and common manifestation that follows a new infilling of the Holy Ghost.

The third instance of someone being baptised in the Spirit is in Acts 9:1-18. This was in the case of Saul.

The Third Occasion. Saul had a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. He did not know who He was. In his sinful state, he fell to the ground, or "was slain." On hearing the Voice say, "I am Jesus". He obeyed Him and went into the city where he prayed for three days.

In this manner Saul was saved. Thus he became a believer. He was born again. Also, he was struck blind. Then the Lord sent Ananias to him, Acts 9:10-16. In verse 17, he prayed for Saul, so that he might regain his sight, and be "filled with the Holy Spirit".

At this time, having already believed, he received this different experience of being "filled with the Holy Spirit." This was three days after his conversion. This infilling of the Holy Ghost was what happened to the others in chapters 2 and 8. Chapter 8:18 and 19 uses the words, "the Spirit was given" and "Receive the Holy Spirit".

It states in 1 Corinthians 14:18 "I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all." That was not the Gift of Tongues. It was the measure of his spirituality (the place of the Spirit) in his private prayer life. This should challenge all believers. If he spoke so continuously in other tongues in his prayer life, so should we.

His name changed from Saul to Paul. His life consisted of much praying, singing and praising in other tongues. This speaking in tongues is a prayer or worship language given for the use of the believer through the baptism in the Spirit, which is granted by Jesus, the Baptiser.

The Fourth Occasion is in Acts 10. Peter was given a vision. He obeyed even although it was contrary to his Jewish beliefs.

In the gathering with Cornelius, a Gentile, were his relatives and close friends. Peter commenced preaching the gospel. Verses 44-48 show how the "Holy Spirit fell upon" all those who were listening to the message.

Obviously in their hearts the people believed in Jesus as they listened to Peter preaching the gospel of Christ. God bypassed the act of baptism in water immediately after conversion, as He did in the case of Paul, Acts 9:17, 18. As they were sitting and listening they were baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Peter and his friends knew the "Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also, because they heard them speak with tongues." This was an outpouring similar to what took place on the day of Pentecost. They were speaking with tongues and exalting God. How do we know? Because those who were with Peter heard them speaking with tongues.

They called it "received the Holy Spirit just as we did." It was a tongues speaking experience. Then the new believers were baptised in water later.

When Peter was explaining this outpouring to the apostles and brethren in Acts 11, he said this, in verse 16, "Then I remembered the word of Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit'."

He tied it in with the words of Jesus. In verse 17 he says "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us..." This clearly indicates that Peter now recognised the same promise given to Jews was also for Gentile believers. See Acts 15:12.

So far, on these four occasions there is evidence that they spoke with tongues as they were baptised with the Holy Spirit. Twice the scriptures emphatically state that they did indeed speak with tongues.

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established."

There is no verse in the whole of the New Testament where it indicates even any one person was baptised in the Holy Spirit, unless he or she spoke in tongues.

The Fifth Occasion is in Acts 19:1-6 where about twelve men were shown that they must receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Paul had gone to Ephesus. He found some disciples. He knew these were believers in Jesus. He discovered they had been baptised in water according to John's baptism. These verses show you do not have to speak in tongues to be saved.

It was obvious to Paul that they lacked something, so he questioned them as to whether they had received the Holy Spirit, or he could have heard about Apollos, Acts 18:25,26. "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" Some translations say, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"

The question would have been senseless if Paul thought that to believe in Jesus as Saviour was to automatically "receive the Holy Ghost." There is still a lack today in believers who have not received the Holy Ghost in this way.

Paul knew that they did not know about the Person of the Holy Spirit, He realised their baptism in water lacked something. Even though they had received John's baptism, he rebaptised them in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then he laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them, or as one translation says, "descended on them".

That they spoke with tongues and prophesied is clearly stated.

The verbs are in the imperfect tense and indicate that these happenings are to be for a very long time in history.

These believers experienced what the disciples had in Acts 2:4, when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.

Many a person has said, "I am baptised in the Spirit, but I don't speak in tongues yet." To that brother or sister we say, "Praise God, you have been anointed by the Spirit. Thank God He is real to you and has blessed you. Right now you can receive the Bible way."

A believer may have received many blessings from the Lord without speaking in tongues. The Father desires to bless His children. If he does not speak in tongues, the believer needs to add a far greater dimension of the supernatural. He should receive the baptism in the Spirit, which always is to include speaking in tongues.

Some have great objections to speaking in tongues. They consider it peculiar. Yet those very same Christians, together with those of us who speak in other tongues, all believe implicitly the Word of God is the Revelation of God Himself. We believe it is infallible.

Consider the peculiar things many of the prophets were required to see and do.

Sometimes people say, "God will give it to me when He is ready," or, "I will get it in God's timing." The Bible says, "behold now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation," 2 Corinthians 6:2. The baptism is included in the salvation blessings. The time to receive is now. God's timing is now. That we are to speak in other tongues is the evidence of scripture.

It has been my personal experience that many believers need to have the baptism in the Spirit ministered to them. Some will receive as they pray alone.

That Paul ministered the Spirit when he laid hands on the Ephesian believers, is revealed in Galatians 3:5,6. He says, "He therefore who ministers to you Spirit, and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ...even as Abraham believed God." He did this, even as Abraham (not God) believed.

Paul's ministry to others was through faith, not because of obedience to the Law. The same Greek word for "ministereth" is used in 2 Corinthians 9:10; Colossians 2:19 (translated "supplies"); 2 Peter 1:5,11 (translated "add").

Also, by the Spirit, we work the miracles. 1 Corinthians 12:10,28; Acts 6:8; 8:6,13; 19:11; Revelation 13:14; 19:20; John 14:12. Paul "worked" miracles, as in the above-mentioned verses. Therefore, if a man "works miracles," a man "ministers the Spirit." Of course, we know that this is the operation of the Holy Spirit through us.
There is an idea around the world that we can "impart" something to others. Different preachers are trying to "impart" being slain, laughter, the anointing or healing, We cannot impart anything from God as they are trying to do. They take this idea from certain teachings regarding the "laying on of hands" on the animal in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 16:5-10.

It was done on the annual Day of Atonement, when one goat was sent out into the wilderness, a type of Jesus. The sin of the people was laid upon it. This could not mean that everyone's sins were in actuality put upon this goat. It meant the goat was taking their place in sin with its guilt.

Jesus, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, also took our place of sin with all its guilt. Sin was not imparted into Jesus. We must understand Scripture correctly. Therefore, let us understand that we do not "impart" any spiritual blessing "held" by ourselves into others. However, Satanic demons can come into such an impartation from a person and that would be as the preacher or person knowingly or unknowingly acts from the soul.

Rather, a preacher must "minister" which means "render aid or service to a person." We render service to others by the laying on of hands in the Name of Jesus as He works through us by His Spirit so that Jesus Himself imparts whatever He wills according to the Word. This can be healing, the outpouring of the spirit or other spirit-ual gifts.

Acts 3:6 is not speaking of an impartation. It reads, "'I do not possess silver and gold but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.' Then he grasped him and helped him up".

This is what he had - the possession of grace and spiritual gifts, 2 Corinthians 6:10. By virtue of the power and authority of the Name (not by virtue of what was resident in Peter) the man walked. The "name" stands for the revealed nature, character, office and authority of Jesus Christ and what He is.

Peter "spirit"-ually stood in the Presence, nature and authority of Jesus Christ. The power of Christ flowed into the man, out from the innermost being of Peter where the Spirit of God abides. Peter did not impart this but his word was with power because of the Person and Presence of Jesus Christ by His Spirit, Who then acted in healing. Peter could be said to have "healed" the man, but it happened as described above.

Does not the same thing prevail when it comes to believing on Christ as Saviour? Do not the majority of those who come to Christ do so because someone or some preacher has ministered the Word of God and salvation to them? When believers are baptised in water, are they not ministered to? Is not the Word of God ministered to God's children for spiritual growth? The same applies in the matter of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Many times people who have been unsuccessful in receiving have said to me, "Maybe God does not love me," or "Perhaps I am too great a sinner," or "Could it be my involvement with the occult in days past that stops me from receiving?" Sometimes they remark, "Perhaps it's not the right time? I must await God's timing."
Then, on other occasions, I have met up with believers who are working for God, living a holy and Christian life. They are faithful in church attendance, reading the Bible and praying. Still, they have not yet received.

Because they know their lives up to that point show certain maturity, many times they settle for the opinion, "Everybody is not supposed to speak in tongues when they receive." Some will even say, "I did receive - without speaking in tongues."

To all of these precious ones let us say, "Yes, speaking in tongues does accompany being baptised in the Spirit." "Yes God does love you. You have not failed Him. His Blood has washed you clean. The occult involvement is of the past and has nothing to do with your not yet receiving. 'Now is God's time'. You can receive right now, because the Bible says, 'Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation'."

As most people need someone else to minister them the baptism in the Spirit, it is for us who minister to ensure that we experience the anointing, know the right ways and say the right things.

Three times in the New Testament we find the expression, "The just shall live by faith." Being baptised in the Spirit occurs in the realm of faith. It is not by works of any description. Prayers, praise or fasting are not the means. Can we pray ourselves into becoming saved? Must we not "believe in our hearts"?

We are saved by grace through faith and we are baptised in the Spirit by grace through faith.

How are we to minister the baptism? Through the gifts of faith and miracles.

The gift of faith apparently operates in such a way that the person being ministered to receives Divine-given faith. I have often seen people receive who have said to me, "I didn't really want it," or "I didn't believe I would receive it."

After many years of our waiting on God, it has now become normal in the meetings that one hundred per cent of those coming forward receive the baptism at that time.

All receive through faith and the Gifts of the Spirit working through us.

In Acts 1 "They tarried”. Jesus commanded His disciples to "tarry" until they were endued with power from on high. This they did. They had to tarry or wait for the coming of the Day of Pentecost, so that the Feast of Pentecost could be fulfilled.

After that first outpouring, no one in the book of Acts ever tarried. We do not need to tarry. The early Pentecostals, of whom I was one, did not know any other way. So we tarried. However, it is not scriptural.

The disciples were tarrying or waiting for the Holy Ghost to come from heaven. Their tarrying was not a measure undertaken by them to receive. It was done at the command of Jesus.

Why were they required to tarry? They were tarrying or waiting until the Day of Pentecost came. The outpouring of the Spirit was to be the fulfilment of the Feast of Pentecost.

On that glorious Day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven to this earth. He has never left the earth. He has been here all through the centuries until now.

Therefore, we do not need to tarry for Him to come. We do not seek for Him to come down from heaven. He is here. The Comforter has come. We spread the tidings round, "The Holy Spirit has come. He is here. We do not have to 'tarry' or 'wait' for Him to come."

The practice of tarrying came into being in U.S.A. in the early 1800's under the Primitive Methodists. They "tarried" for the supposed "blessing" of tearing up the roots of sin from one's nature. They called this blessing, the "baptism of the Spirit." They had wonderful and powerful meetings.

It is amazing that God blesses people who follow Him despite the error and confusion in their doctrines. God delights to bless His children. The early Pentecostals to a large degree followed on from Methodism and Holiness preachers.
Fasting and praying, the singing of choruses, crying, shouting, and repetitive praise such as "Hallelujah" are forms of works, when they are used as efforts to receive anything from God.

Let it be understood that by faith one simply receives. God is the one who gives, but we must receive.

Satan knows the power of the church lies in praying in other tongues, and in the operation of the Spirit’s gift. He opposes it. As the Spirit of God manifests Himself through the believer in praying in other tongues, according to the will of God, the Father above hears and answers the cry of the Spirit.

The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These weapons are supernatural. One of them is prayer in the Spirit which includes praying in other tongues.

Believers need never fear they could receive a demonic spirit as they seek God for the baptism in the Spirit. This is an impossibility if they act according to the Word. With full assurance of faith believers approach the throne of God. Obedience to the Word of God ensures that it is God who responds. Following exactly the Word of God and its promises assures us that God will answer according to that Word. 2 Corinthians 1:20, "For many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the Yes that fulfills them. Hence it is through him that we affirm our amen in worship".

Paul was not guilty, in verse 17, of forming plans on worldly principles. There can come into the church such plans or "moves." The false apostles in that church were doing such things, with many people accepting them as true apostles. Let all do as Paul did by following the Word of God and preaching Jesus Christ. He did not follow preaching philosophy, psychology, humanism or prosperity, laughter and falling over instead of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit that includes speaking with other tongues.

Power

For many years there has been a major emphasis on Acts 1:8, where Jesus promised, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses”. Truly, we should place emphasis on this verse.
Unfortunately, I with others, did not check the real meaning of “power” in the Greek. It has been the custom to infer that we are all to have a power that should produce “signs and wonders” and “healings, miracles and raising from the dead”. This has meant that most have never understood the real meaning of these blessed words of Jesus to us. The fundamentals in relation to the wonderful outpouring of the Spirit have been lost to us.

The actual meanings from a dictionary of “power”, “dynamis” in the original are – “potential”, “power in reserve”, “power to do miracles” “authority”, “mighty work” and most importantly, “the miracle itself”.

When we look at all these meanings, we are faced with the fact that the doing of miracles is mentioned only once. “Potential” in the main would refer to what happens in our inner beings, Ephesians 3:16, “that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit”.

“Power in reserve” can be seen as showing that this power as mentioned according to Ephesians, is abiding within the recipient, ready to be initiated as the need arises.

“Power to do miracles”, the only reference to anything like signs and wonders, implies that Christ’s miracle power is available when needed and should I say stirred up? See 2 Timothy 1:6, “Stir up the gift that is within you”. The gift of the Holy Spirit is to be stirred up according to Jude 24 by “praying in the Holy Ghost (other tongues)”. Praying in tongues is a miracle and other miracles involve any gift of the Holy Spirit that is the enabling to bring miraculous help to those in need.

“Authority” must relate to Romans 5:17, “If, because of one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

“Mighty work” has reference to every work of power that the Holy Spirit is able to perform within us and through us to others. Within us would include all works of sanctification, holiness and the fruits of the Spirit, while mighty works through us to others must include everything the Spirit can do through us in all kinds of blessings to others.

We have been blinded by the notion that “power” refers only to wonderful healings and miracles.

In actuality, to see people born again and filled with the Holy ghost, is far more glorious than seeing the lame walk and the blind see with other kinds of healings. We ourselves have seen much of both.

“The miracle itself” to my being, portrays the very power that Jesus was speaking about. That power is in the miracle of speaking or praying in other tongues.

Because Jesus said this, we should respond by saying, “Yes, Lord, I believe that this miracle of speaking in other tongues, is the supernatural miracle that we all must emphasise. Therefore, Lord, I will put my belief into practice and pray much in other tongues, even as the apostle Paul did”. He said in 1 Corinthians 14:18, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you”.

The message from the Holy Spirit comes across the centuries to us today, "and you shall receive the Holy Spirit. For the promise (Acts 1:4; 2:4,16,33,39) is for you and your children, and for all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself".

He is not talking about salvation, or the born again experience. He is explaining what they themselves had experienced as related in Acts 2:3,4, which was the gift of the Holy Spirit. Regarding salvation, he said they were to repent and be baptised for the remission of sins.
 

The baptism in the Spirit is the promise of the Father. It is to be received after the experience of salvation. This can be for instance one minute, one hour, one month or one year after.

To receive let us look at Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

So you must make the request, "Lord, I ask for the baptism in the Spirit." Then on the authority of the Word of God, you believe you have it already, before there is any sign or feeling.

It does not depend on our feelings. We do not know the Holy Spirit is in us because we "feel" it, although feelings do get touched. We know He is there because God says so.

Neither does receiving the baptism necessarily depend on our "desire." I have known folk to receive who had no desire as they later told us. Feelings are not to be the basis for receiving and neither can desire be such. It is the touch of the Holy Spirit in lives that is all important.

What is required is obedience to the Word of God which commands us to "Be being filled with the Spirit," Ephesians 5:18 (Present Continuous Tense in the Greek). Their being filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost involved their speaking in other tongues.

After that, we must pray often in other tongues to receive "a continuous supply of the Spirit”, Philippians 1:19, or "the giving of the stored wealth of the Spirit." As we believe we reach out in faith. Our wills obey God. We do what the apostle Paul did. He said, "I will pray with the Spirit," 1 Corinthians 14:15 .

The emphasis is always to be on obedience, faith and the will and not on feelings or works of religion. As well, we should realise that the baptism in the Spirit is not meant to be the culmination in the experience of the believer.

The baptism in the spirit is one experience. It is not the culmination. Rather it is to be the entrance into a rich life in God. We are to be so filled with the Spirit of God that it is our common experience to be praying to the Lord in other tongues.

The experience of the baptism is the "sealing" spoken of in Ephesians 1:13-14, "In Him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, and had believed in him were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit."

After the Ephesians listened they believed and were saved according to Romans 10:9. They then received the promise of Acts 1:4. A seal is an imprint made upon wax. The baptism is the imprint made upon us who have God's great salvation. It shows clearly that He owns us.

It is a definite experience. It continues on from the salvation experience. Another translation reads, "You believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the Holy Spirit, which he had promised."

The Holy Spirit is in every believer. We are born of the Spirit. Isaiah 12:2,3 teaches us that the Lord God "has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." There is within each believer, a well of salvation. The well is the Spirit of Christ. In John 4:14, Jesus told the woman of Samaria, "The water that I will give will become a well of water springing up to eternal life." This comes as the Spirit, as clearly shown in Romans 8:9, "But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him".

The baptism in the Spirit concerns not a well but a river. Doubtless the river flows from the well or spring within us. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:37-39 as the ritual of pouring out water by the priests was taking place, Jesus stood up. He called out, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink... Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive."

We ask Jesus for the baptism. We believe we have received. We drink in the Spirit from the Lord Jesus Christ. Then a river begins to flow. It is the river of the Spirit. It flows from within us.

We do not wait for the Holy Spirit to come from heaven. He descended on the Day of Pentecost.

You have asked according to Mark 11:24, so "All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you."

Further, you have believed that you have received. Now has come the moment to "drink." With your Spirit, drink of the Holy Spirit, in an act of faith and deliberate action. The Holy Spirit is flowing like a river as you drink.

The promise of the Lord in Isaiah 59:19 is "He will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Spirit drives."

James 2:26 says, "Faith apart from works is dead." In many places, I have seen local pastors and believers acting faith on the lame, for instance, who have been commanded to walk in the Name of Jesus.

I remember doing this myself. There was a woman who was lame. We said, "Walk, in Jesus' Name." Then, she was encouraged to commence walking in Jesus' Name. As this person responded in faith, she began to walk. She was totally healed. Faith acts.

So also with the baptism in the Spirit. To receive there has to be the moment for faith to act. The "works" of faith are not the religious or spiritual efforts that stir up emotions, faith or feelings. It means to do the "action" of faith.

It has nothing to do with repeating "Hallelujah," "Thank you Jesus," or the singing of choruses as a means of receiving the baptism in the Spirit, which are in effect, "works of religion" as also is fasting. Religious works are almost void of the Holy Spirit. They are not the operations of faith. Romans 14:23, "for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin”. It is not necessary to even attempt to "bring down" the anointing! The anointing, the Spirit of God Himself, is in every believer, 1 John 2:27. To do these things is really an effort to get oneself into a so-called state to receive, or even worse, attempts to move God to act. Such works are dead works of religion.

We draw near to Him and touch Him. We are drawn into His Presence, or we move into His Being in Spirit. Another truth is that He, by His Spirit IS within us. You seeking believer, must act, with faith.

In Acts 2:4, Luke relates, "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and (they) began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Let us note:-
    a. The Holy Spirit does not speak.
    b. We must speak.
    c. To speak we must use our voice box, tongue and lips.
    d. As we began to speak, the Holy Spirit is there to give utterance.

They obviously did not say repeatedly, "Hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord" at that time in their own language. They began to speak in tongues.

They began to "speak" in other tongues. That is all the Bible says. Speaking is not shouting or whispering. It is to use a normal voice in speaking. It is not wrong to shout or whisper but the most appropriate thing to do is to speak.

There is no mention of an accompanying shaking, clapping, jumping, laughing or crying. The Bible sign is to speak in other tongues.

Some do become quite emotional. That could be due to former demonic influences in their lives or former hurts, scars and a history of emotional upset in their lives. Then again, others may laugh, which could be the natural result of their experience. The main thing is to speak in tongues. When a person newly receives, one allows a certain freedom of action and expression even if it disturbs others.

If demons automatically go out when the person begins to speak in tongues, and there is a brief period of shrieking, yelling, screaming, or even of falling down, the one ministering quickly commands demons to leave and never return, in Jesus' Name. Then the person must be encouraged to speak for a long time in other tongues.

If correctly taught, most people will speak in tongues easily, in a moderate tone of voice and with a fluency that should accompany the new language of the Spirit.
The beginning of speaking in tongues should be extended as soon as possible into speaking, with faith and the will, many new words. Just speak and keep on speaking in tongues.

To be Pentecostal is to speak in other tongues, according to Acts 2:4. Saying "Hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord" does not make a person Pentecostal. Clapping the hands, laughing, falling over, shaking or yelling does not make a person Pentecostal or Charismatic. People can do all the above things and it will not make them one bit Pentecostal.

According to the Bible, we can only be called "Pentecostal" if we speak often in other tongues and go on to the Gifts of the Holy Ghost as shown in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14. The Bible sets out the experience on the Day of Pentecost as being the Pentecostal way. They spoke in other tongues. Peter emphasized also the need to repent, believe and to be baptized in water. Pentecostal people will experience Galatians 3:1-3 in their churches as well as 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. The "Pentecostal" believers of those days were to obey all the epistles. Pentecostal believers and in fact all believers should obey also.

"Hallelujah" is not speaking in tongues. To speak in tongues to the Lord is a far greater experience than repeating "Hallelujah".

To someone who has spent a lifetime amongst Pentecostals and Charismatics, it is obvious the use of "Hallelujah" has taken the place of a fundamental and wide operation of the Spirit of God. This lack is in both individuals and churches.

We should mention stammering. It does happen sometimes that the person begins to "stammer." This is because they refuse to speak. To speak, one has to use one’s tongue, lips and voice.

Isaiah 28:11,12, "Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, 'Here is rest, give rest to the weary, And, Here is repose'." It has a connection with speaking in tongues. As mentioned elsewhere, Paul quotes this passage in 1 Corinthians 14:21,22, referring to tongues.

According to Scripture and experience, praying in the Spirit is a wonderful spiritual, emotional and physical rest. The peace of God can fill the pray-er, through this rest and this repose. God has promised in Hebrews 3 and 4 that there is His spiritual rest for the people of God. It is rest from works for salvation and from walking in salvation. There is rest from worry and in trouble, rest in the Lord for victory over sin. Added to this is the wonderful rest a believer can experience often in prayer in other tongues.

The person who begins to stammer should persevere with a definite speaking by using tongue, lips, mouth and voice. Then he will find himself speaking a clear language.

In verses 10 and 13, we read, "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here, a little there, so that they will go and fall backwards, be injured and snared and captured." The message became one of law and doing, falling backwards and in captivity, instead of hearing and receiving the outpouring of the Spirit and receiving rest in the Lord.

It is very strange that the Bible says, "They will go and fall backwards" as being something contrary to the will and way of God. This was because they did not receive the right message, which was being filled with the Spirit with speaking in tongues as the only sign and general phenomenon.

Falling backwards, as commonly occurs is not a sign of the blessing of God, according to this scripture. One practice is to always have a "catcher" so that they will not hurt themselves! These verses in Isaiah mention this - "go and fall backwards and be injured - and snared." In any case, throughout Scripture, when people did fall at the presence of God or angels, they fell forwards on their faces. They were then set on their feet.

Sometimes people try to teach believers to speak in tongues. They should be told to speak in tongues by the Spirit. When believers are told to say, "Hallelujah" or "Ba, ba, ba" they may find it difficult to speak proper tongues by the Spirit.

There are times when a person does not wish to leave the area of his mind and/or soul. He should be taught to use faith and to act in the area of his spirit.

Shaking, jumping, loud clapping and other strange emotional clamour show a lack of surrender to the Holy Spirit within. Speaking in other tongues is what is from the Holy Spirit.

We all are creatures of soulish emotion. Emotions are part of the human make-up. However, the Holy Spirit flows from our innermost being, meaning the spirit not the soul, John 7:38,39. The "innermost being" (inaptly translated in the KJV 'belly'), is the area of our spirits and is not the source of the soul or its emotions.

The Bible sign of being filled with the Spirit is speaking in other languages and not shaking, falling over, jumping, slapping, laughing, crying or any other emotional activity. Paul said, "My spirit prays". To receive blessing only in the soul or emotions, stops the person from receiving proper infillings of the Holy Ghost.

In Acts 2:4, "they began to speak in other languages". It is clear from this verse that they spoke in other languages only. They were sitting. They did not even use "Hallelujah".

They were speaking from their spirits by the Holy Spirit, in other languages. Each received a language and not two or three words. Each received a language from the Holy Spirit specifically for that person. Each language is different.

Also, it is good to remember that a foreign language always sounds strange to our ears. It often does not even sound like a language! Praise God for the way He works.

The Bible does not say we must speak at length in tongues to be able to say, "I have received." In fact, one translation of Acts 2:4 says, "They began to speak short, pithy sentences." Receiving means there is also the miracle of speaking in tongues.
The sign we have received the baptism in the Spirit is that we speak in other tongues. This is the heavenly gift to us.

You must drink in the Holy Spirit with your spirit. At that moment, the Spirit begins to flow like a river from within. You believe it, despite any lack of feeling. We are not operating through emotions but through faith.

As you drink, the Spirit gives you His empowered ability to speak in tongues. You are still in the realm of faith and now in the control of the Spirit. By an act of faith, with an act of your will, you begin to speak in tongues. The voice box, tongues and lips have a miracle happen to them. You must open your mouth and with your will determine to use your voice box, your tongue and your lips. You cannot speak two languages at once. You must stop your own language, Tamil, including "Hallelujah”. You begin to speak only other tongues.

At that very second, the Holy Spirit will act in response to faith. The supernatural words begin to flow. Miracles have taken place. Besides the miracle that is the Person of the Holy Spirit, there is the miracle of speech and an unrecognised miracle in the brain. The Spirit of God has caused the right side of the brain to produce speech while leaving the normal left side used in speech, to remain dormant. It is supernatural prayer. There is a deep miracle of the Spirit's flowing from within.

Oh, marvellous grace! As you do your part, which is as described, the Holy Spirit does His wonderful, supernatural act. He gives you "utterance" because He is filling you and flowing like a river from deep within your inner most being. The Holy Spirit gives you the power to speak unknown languages.

The words and language come from the mind of the Holy Spirit and not from our minds. There is sometimes ecstasy which is supernatural.

We do not understand a word we are saying. We will never understand what we say unless a supernatural interpretation in our own language is given to us. Our spirit is praying, not our minds. As the Scripture says, "No man understands" - including the one speaking, 1 Corinthians 14:2.

Sometimes mankind has made such a god of his intellect that the value of the spirit is disregarded. Our spirit is that part of us which God has created to communicate with Him.

Also, cannot the Holy Spirit produce far better prayers and worship from His mind, through our spirits, than ever we can produce from our own minds?

Once we begin to speak as the Spirit is flowing and giving the utterance, we must keep on speaking in tongues. Do not stop speaking. The Spirit will not cease His flowing in this way as long as by faith we keep on drinking of the Spirit. Faith continues to receive. Faith yields to the Spirit. Faith speaks in this supernatural way of new tongues. It allows the Spirit to give more words.

Faith and submission to the Spirit is what is required of us. This means that we speak in tongues, as this is what the Spirit desires. To submit to Him in this instance means that we speak as He gives the words.

Every person is different. Some will receive without showing any emotion. Let me say that once their praying has finished and they start sharing their experiences their faces show evidence of the glory of God. There is joy, an emotion! A point is that we receive an experience in the baptism in the Spirit, whether having emotion or not.

We as believers in Christ are to have experiences.

After believers receive the Holy Spirit as they did in the early church, the Scripture brings assurance that, "the anointing which you received from Him abides in you," 1 John 2:27. That anointing regarding truth stays, as well as the anointing in the baptism of the Spirit.

The ability to pray or worship in other tongues remains. We note that one is required to stir up the gift of God that is "in you", 2 Timothy 1:6. You must stir it up, by faith. Paul said, "I will pray with the spirit," 1 Corinthians 14:15. The will wills to pray in this way. Faith acts. The Holy Spirit flows.

It is for you to follow what has been ministered above. You can drink of the Spirit and immediately begin to speak in other tongues. The Holy Spirit who is in you as a well, will begin to flow like a river.

Sometimes there is confusion about the difference between the gift of tongues and the tongues we receive when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Some think the gift of tongues is the tongues language spoken in accordance with Acts 2:4. Because of this they have settled for an experience without speaking in tongues as a sign they have received. They argue that they received the baptism in the Spirit, but there were no tongues. It was not necessary, they say, as not everyone receives the gift of tongues.

They are correct in saying that not everyone receives the gift of tongues. Reading the list set out in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 makes us all aware of the fact that the ministries and gifts are distributed to each one "individually." Also the Word of God clearly states "to another" is given one gift and "to another" is given perhaps some other gift.

Regarding the gift of tongues, we read, "to another various kinds of tongues." This gift of tongues is indeed a gift, not received by all, but a gift given by the Holy Spirit.

The baptism in the Spirit is a gift also, but it is Jesus Christ who is the Giver of the baptism and not the Holy Spirit. John prophesied that One was coming after him, who would, "baptise you with the Holy Ghost and fire." Luke 3:16, Jesus is the Baptiser.

The accompanying feature of the baptism is that, "they began to speak with other tongues." As the two gifts, the baptism and the gift of tongues are given by two different Persons of the Godhead so the features of each are different.

The Baptism in the Spirit provides a supernatural prayer and worship language. It is directed to God. This will be until Jesus comes or we die. It is meant to be used and increased thus continually edifying the pray-er. This language flows from within, "Out of our belly shall flow rivers of living water," K.J. John 7:38." "Belly" is sometimes translated "heart" which is the Bible term for "spirit." The original Greek for "innermost being" (belly) comes from the Hebrew word used in Exodus 17:6, for the water coming "from within it," i.e. the rock that was smitten. "Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, (the interior cave of the rock)". This portion was probably read at the Feast that Jesus attended. The expression "from within him," relates to the interior cavity of the rock, from which the water came. "Innermost being" has no connection with the stomach. It is applied first of all to Christ Himself, then to the man whose thirst He quenches, and whom He indwells by His Spirit when he is born again. It has a far deeper meaning than from the "stomach" of a person. Quite often prayer in this supernatural language is activated by the person's will.

The Gift of Tongues is a different anointing. It comes upon the person There is a different touch of the Spirit which is distinguishable from the usual. There generally is a conclusion of this tongues language within two or three minutes. It does not come from "within" as occurs in the speaking with tongues that came as an accompaniment to the baptism in the Spirit. Rather it would appear to "come upon" the person.

It is not a general bestowal as is the baptism. Only the minority of God's people receive this and many more should receive this Gift of Tongues. In relation to the baptism everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour is supposed to receive, could, and should receive the tongues language.

Jesus is the one who gives the baptism in the Spirit as an experience. As with all gifts, one must receive it, or take it, through faith or by the means of faith. Not in faith. "In faith" could imply it is merely in the realm of faith, and to such an extent that it remains hidden in the mists of obscure "spirit," wholly a mystical experience without any substantiality or tangibility.

"Through faith" implies the manner in which it is received. It points to an experience that is tangible, evident and can be heard, invading the area of the senses from the spirit realm.

As has been proved in the earlier chapters of this book, the baptism with the Spirit is accompanied by "speaking in tongues," similar to the first experience of it in Acts 2:4. These tongues are the "sign," some would say "evidence," that the person has definitely received the baptism.

When we receive the born again experience, there is great evidence, as the scriptures state in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." There is also evidence when we are baptised in the Spirit. That is speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues as a prayer or exercise in worship can happen any time throughout the day or night. This ability imparted when baptised in the Spirit. It is often as one wills. We decide to sing hymns or choruses, so we sing. We decide to pray in our own language. We do so. We determine to witness for Christ, so we speak about Him to others.

We decide to speak in tongues in prayer, and we do so. It is as simple as that. We cannot, obviate however the glorious possibility that without our knowing why, there will come times of such refreshing from the presence of the Lord that we feel impelled to cry out to Him in other tongues. It seems to be spontaneous. Our hearts are stirred.

It is not merely "speaking in other tongues." It also implies that one becomes so in touch with the Lord that there is a resultant anointing that lifts one up into something sweet and precious that indicates a Presence of the Lord in this anointing. It becomes the very gate of heaven.

Sometimes the quickening of verses of the Word of God to one's heart at the time of prayer results in increased anointing. This kind of praying in other tongues is again a different sphere of the Holy Spirit's operations. We should experience this often.

Through the means of other tongues, oh, glorious sound to the baptised, we pray, we intercede, we worship, we adore, we praise and we commune with the Holy One. Sweet hour of prayer that passes in such a fashion. Speaking in tongues is the supernatural language of the Spirit who inspires this.

God says, in Romans 8:26, "that we do not know what we should pray as we ought.” So we need the mind of the Spirit to come to our assistance. Elsewhere, it is clearly shown that it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us spiritual things.

The carnal mind, which we all have to some degree, is at enmity with God. Should we not leave its reasonings and believe and obey God? He is the one who gave the wonderful promise and whose Spirit infills us so that we speak in tongues. All believers are given the Mind of Christ at conversion. We should follow the mind of Christ and not our carnal minds.

The Gift of Tongues is an entirely different aspect of speaking in tongues. First of all, this kind of "divers tongues" is, as noted in 1 Corinthians 12, a gift of the Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit gives this gift, as He gives the other eight gifts of the Spirit, to those who are baptised in the Spirit.

It is those baptised in the Spirit, perhaps with certain other graces and ministry gifts, who heal the sick, perform miracles, discern spirits, receive words of knowledge and words of wisdom, who prophesy and who are used in the gift of tongues.

When this gift operates, it does so with an anointing that seems to come upon the person for a short time, perhaps two or three minutes. It is a different anointing from the anointing which abides within to "speak in tongues" as prayer etc., which was given at the time of being baptised in the Spirit.

Whereas praying in tongues as a prayer or worship language seems to gush from within, as a gift operating in the church, the gift of tongues seems to operate in a different way.

It does not occur every day of the week or every meeting. It happens on certain occasions.

The gift of tongues should be followed by the gift of interpretation of tongues, Thus there is an understanding given to all the people in their native language.

A sense of responsibility or a fear that it may not be interpreted should not cause the one operating the gift of tongues to hesitate to speak out. 1 Corinthians 14:28 would apply only if a person used the gift of tongues in meeting after meeting, without an interpretation.

We should be eager for the assembly of the saints to receive all that the Spirit would give them. Also, we should not fear but rather have faith that the Spirit will move upon some who would interpret. The one used in the gift of tongues is commanded to "pray that he may interpret," verse 13.

According to 1 Corinthians 14:27 there should be "one who interprets." This can be the person who has just given a "message" through the gift of tongues, or it can be some one else who receives the interpretation by the Spirit. Interpretation is an explanation. According to Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, it is "of what has been spoken more or less obscurely by others." Therefore it is quite in order if the interpretation of tongues is not the same length as the message of the gift of tongues.

The gifts of tongues and interpretation combined are similar to prophecy which is in the known language. The message is directed to the congregation of believers, as well as to any unbelievers who are there. Particularly in both interpretation and prophecy, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between one's spirit and soul (emotions and mind). Both gifts operate from one's spirit and not from one's soul.
In the combination of gifts and also in a message of prophecy, none should be lengthy, unless there is prophecy which occurs in preaching. The gifts should function generally as a short and inspired message for that particular meeting. The gift of tongues coming as a message should be interpreted, 1 Corinthians 15:27,28. In fact, if the person with an utterance, which is the gift of tongues, knows there is no interpreter present, or feels he would not have the anointing to interpret, he should keep silent. In that case, he could speak in tongues quietly to God.

This does not mean to say that we "cannot stop ourselves from speaking in tongues." In a prayer meeting at church or in the privacy of our own homes, perhaps the anointing is so great that we feel we cannot stop ourselves. When we do cease, the anointing lingers, and we want to keep on praying in other tongues.
Always, all things in meetings are to be done decently and in order. God is not a God of confusion or chaos but of order and of peace.

However, at all times, the "spirit of the prophet is subject to the Prophet." We are never out of control of ourselves, neither are we a vacuum.

Speaking in tongues in a church or prayer meeting is not to be forbidden. In fact, the injunction is, "and do not forbid to speak in tongues," 1 Corinthians 14:39. This direction was given for those who gathered together in fellowship. It applies both to the gift of tongues and to speaking in tongues, aloud. "But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner."

Sometimes a person will have a song in the Spirit. It may be in one's native language. However, there are times when it could be sung in other tongues. In that case the person himself or another person would have the interpretation, to be sung in his/her own language. On such an occasion it can be that it is as if the song comes straight from heaven, so rich is the anointing.

Songs that are inspired by the Spirit are mentioned in Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19. In the former, the English translations are "Spiritual songs." However, the same Greek word is used for "spiritual" as in Colossians 1:9. The same word there states Paul's meaning as "by means of all the Spirit's wisdom and insight." This Greek word is the adjective for the Person of the "Spirit." When translated "spiritual," we understand it has to do with the Person of the Spirit. With regard to Ephesians 5:19, the actual meaning is "Spirit" songs.

The mention of "hymns" in both portions relates to 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26. It would appear that such singing was spontaneous. This singing in verse 15 might be understood (their own language) or it might not be understand (other tongues). This singing with the Spirit was a totally "Spirit" kind of song. It is mentioned again in verse 26, When the church came together for meeting, different ones were to bring such a "Spirit" song or hymn or even a teaching, revelation, tongue or interpretation. We have fallen far short of this in our meetings, have we not?

Perhaps we should add that love and courtesy will always consider the brethren. Both the gift of tongues and speaking in tongues, two different anointings, are meant to be used and useful in the assembly of the saints.

The great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, is placed between chapter 12 on spirituals and chapter 14 on prophecy, tongues and Church order. Therefore, its main import is meant to concern those specifics.

"Love poured out in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT who was given to us," Romans 5:5, that is supernatural love, is to dominate all "spirituals," including Gifts of the Spirit and Ministry Gifts of Christ. His love is to control us particularly in all situations regarding prophecy, tongues and church order.

Love is not a gift. LOVE is the WAY. 1 Corinthians 12:31.
The gift of tongues is to be sought after. We are told to "set your hearts on possessing the greater gifts," 1 Corinthians 12:31 (Barclay). We are commanded in chapter 14 verse 1 to "desire earnestly spiritual gifts." How obedient are we?

We should seek to interpret. The gift is to operate mainly in the assembly of the saints. It can operate in our private prayers also, with interpretation.

It is for the benefit of the saints. Therefore when assembling together it must be interpreted, "so that the church may receive edifying," 1 Corinthians 14:5.

If one receives this gift, he should pray that he can also interpret, 1 Corinthians 14:13. Being zealous to receive this gift, we should seek to "abound for the edification of the church."

These gifts, as also the others, are meant to operate in the church today. They were never dispensed with by God so as not to be operative in this our day. They were placed in the church, to be there until Jesus comes.

It is advisable when operating this gift, never to give more than three utterances, 1 Corinthians 14:27. In general meetings as described in the fourteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians, the idea is that ordinary members, who are not the ministry gifts of Christ, Ephesians 4:11, should not monopolise the gifts in the meetings. Love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, 1 Corinthians 13:5.

There are limits to the usage of the gift. It should be obvious that one meeting could not be taken up with incessant operations of this gift. However, would that there were such an effusion of the Holy Spirit that the whole assembly became full of the Spirit to such an extent that they were willing and able to be used there and then in the gifts of tongues, interpretation or prophecy!

The purpose of the manifestations of the Gifts of the Spirit is to edify all. To this end the things that are done must be intelligible to all and performed in love that thinks of others.

Intercession

The grace or the ability of speaking in tongues is not a gift of the spirit. It is the expression of being filled with the Spirit. It first occurred with the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost. It was to be the doorway into a lifetime experience of being filled with the Spirit.

The command is, "be being filled" "by spirit" (Greek), or as other translations say, "but be filled with the Spirit," or, "but be getting filled in Spirit," Ephesians 5:18, "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and songs spiritual (singing and psalming with the heart of you to the Lord)". It always includes much praying in other tongues as in Acts 2:4.

We can worship with Spiritual songs given by the Spirit, in other tongues or in one's native language. They are from the Holy Spirit, as we are filled with Him. They are not necessarily songs or hymns from any book.

We sing songs that can never be added to the Bible. However, we can sing songs in the Spirit that relate to our experience in the salvation of the Lord and in the promises of God through Christ who Is the "Yea and Amen".

Regarding devotional speaking in tongues, it is addressed to God, whether as worship, or whether in prayer, or in intercession, 1 Corinthians 14:2. This kind is not speaking to men. No one can understand, neither the hearers nor the one speaking.

What a miracle this is that can occur so often in the believer's experience! Can we not see the hand of our supernatural working God in this supernatural kind of praying? While speaking in tongues, one's spirit is praying. The spirit is closer to God than is the natural mind.

We should often be worshipping in the Spirit, from our spirits. Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:15 said he would pray with the spirit and sing (or worship) with the spirit. He also used his mind, which in this sense, because the chapter concerns supernatural operations, can only mean the mind inspired by the Holy Spirit to utter words from the spirit.

There are also the words of Jesus, John 4:24, when he said that the time was coming and indeed then was, when they who worship the Father shall worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. How often do we personally or as an assembly, worship God like this? Paul states in Philippians 3:3, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

Praying in other tongues means that in one's spirit, one speaks mysteries, 1 Corinthians 14:2. There are mysteries of God that have never been revealed. Indeed eternity itself will never reveal to us all that God is. We are incapable of knowing many things. Therefore the Spirit reveals to our spirits glimpses of Him as He is, showing some mysteries of His glory, of His "Shekinah Glory."

Mysteries of the Cross of Christ, of the Blood, of Christ and His atoning work, of heaven, of the church and of our future state, possibly come into this kind of praying. 1 Corinthians 2:9 states, "but just as it is written, 'Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him'." Mortal minds can never gain a full insight into the things which are eternal and of the age to come.

Our human minds even with the illumination of the Holy Spirit are limited. We are confined to the realm of the senses, history, intellectual understanding, tradition, perception and knowledge among other things. We can read the Bible, with varying degrees of spiritual understanding. We can be diligent Bible scholars and students having a wide grasp of its contents, and yet find ourselves admitting, "there is so much of the spiritual realm that we do not understand".

Countless are the requirements for intercession in the eyes of God. Souls are going to Hell. Churches need revival. People need Christ. Pastors need supporting in prayer. We must acknowledge our inability in this regard. The Spirit helps us in our infirmities because we do not know to pray as we ought. His mind knows and He also knows the will and mind of God. He is within us to flow out in mighty intercession to bless others in other tongues particularly which are words from His mind. The prayer of intercession is a vital one. Romans 8:26, "... the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us, with groanings too deep for words."

I have come across two or three translations that can be paraphrased thus: "We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the mind of the Spirit knows, and with words from His mind, He Himself makes intercession for us."

We now look at: another English translation "His Spirit within us is actually praying for us. God understands the Spirit's intention as He prays." Again, "the Spirit Himself is pleading for us," or "the Spirit intercedes," another translation, "that earnestness which cannot be described by words from our minds, no, but the Holy Spirit's mind can." Now we have Way's translation, "His Spirit too, for His compassion matches our yearnings, is ever taking our human frailty by the hand. We are not even sure what blessings should rightly be the object of our prayers". This is surely the Spirit motivating our prayers as we pray, and as we pray in other tongues.

We who have known what it is to intercede long and often in the Spirit, particularly in other tongues, know very well that this is so. Intercessions like these have been evidenced over the years as being very fruitful.

A very important factor in speaking in other tongues, is that the person edifies himself or herself, 1 Corinthians 14:4. Nowhere else in Scripture is there given a way whereby a man "edifies Himself." This is not selfishness. It is unselfishness. The self does not like to have the spiritual man edified like this. 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Should we not take heed and ensure that we do as the Word says, which is to edify ourselves by speaking in tongues? It builds our faith. Then we can bless and love others all the more.

As we pray in other tongues, often we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:18. We, through this, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord the Spirit. Praying in tongues amongst other things, translates us "into the glory".

In the Old Testament the Children of Israel experienced the manifestation of the Shekinah glory of God on numerous occasions. They saw it at the door of the tabernacle. It filled the temple of Solomon at its dedication, so much so that the "priests could not continue to minister," 2 Chronicles 5:14.

Isaiah in chapter 6 saw the Lord in His glory, high and lifted up. He said, "The whole earth is filled with His glory." Christ in His incarnation was the manifestation of that glory.

Daniel in visions and dreams, chapter 7, saw the Ancient One on his throne, and he also saw the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.

Ezekiel saw the glory of God. In chapter 3:12, the "spirit lifted me up," he relates, continuing with "and I heard behind me the voice... 'Blessed be the glory of Jehovah as it rose from its place'." In verse 23 he says, "there the glory of the Lord stood."

The Shekinah glory of God descended on the Day of Pentecost to take its abiding place as His Presence amongst us. We do not see with these eyes a pillar of cloud or of fire. We do not have visions like Daniel did.

Instead, we have the Shekinah glory of God within us in the infilling of the Spirit. In this way now, His glory is to fill all the earth. We are of the earth, earthy. He fills us individually, and this glory spreads out from us, who are but earthen vessels, to the multitudes of earth.

The Children of Israel and the priests, prophets and kings, to a degree had glimpses of His glory. They saw it with anointed eyes.

What God has done and will do for us in this, even our day, far exceeds what He did in theirs. Therefore, the evidence and tangibility of His glory should be all the more experienced and revealed to and in us, in our day.

1 Corinthians 14:4. Praying in tongues builds faith. We all need to be edified so that we can edify others through faith, by witnessing, helping, encouraging, loving, teaching, rebuking, healing the sick and being used in our own personal ministry. However, in the assembly, we all would do well to desire earnestly to prophesy and to do so. The one who prophesies edifies the church.

Praying in tongues means that one's spirit is praying, 1 Corinthians 14:13, and that is the deepest part of our being. When Adam fell into sin, he became soulish, being a slave to his low passions. God wants us to be controlled by our spirits.

Praying from the spirit is a higher form of prayer than from the mind or soul. We must not visualise as if occultic, or imagine a spiritual object. The god we imagine is one of idolatry, not the true God.

The Holy Spirit is the anointing. He will work through us in prayer, intercession and worship in supernatural ways that are most beneficial to us personally, to the church locally and worldwide and to individual Christians. It will bring much glory to Him. Even our minds are to be blessed for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind.

We need faith to pray in tongues. We always receive the "promise of the Spirit by faith," Galatians 3:14. It also gives us faith, and "Without faith it is impossible to please God," Hebrews 11:6.

It helps us to progress to spiritual maturity. Although like Paul, we count not ourselves to have already "attained or were already perfect; but I am striving that I may reach that for which Jesus Christ appointed me," Philippians 3:12.

We have begun with "Spirit-ual" things, which have come by the Spirit through the obedience of faith. We must go on and continue in this way. We should not wish to remain in the external forms of our Christian faith.

Neither should we wish to end with things of the flesh, Galatians 3:3. Paul asked the Galatians in that condition, if they were bewitched, a word closely allied to the work of demons in witchcraft.

The Lord Jesus wants us to bear fruit. Some of the fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:18-22 doubtless are found in all believers. The Holy Spirit works in each believer.

It is reasonable to say that praying in other tongues should and does facilitate a greater growth of these fruits. These are not to be confused with ordinary human qualities, manners, courtesy or ethics.

It will bring an anointing of worship on congregations. Many people, who have been baptised in the Spirit, and many churches believing in this experience, are not free in worship. The reason is that seeking the Lord, coming into his Presence and being "filled with the Spirit," praying in other tongues, has not been faithfully pursued. Often they think worship is given by a congregation through the music and singing of bands. Jesus said to worship in the Spirit, not with music.

Many times there are weaknesses, complexes, areas of darkness, hurts or memories in the soul, foibles and tendencies to certain sins. We need to be cleansed of these by the blood of Jesus, through faith. Acts 15:8,9 speaks of the therapeutic and cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to do this. There is a powerful praying in the Spirit that can accomplish this. It brings deliverance to the person. Then it is not necessary to try and cast out the spirits that may intrude into the soul area.

Praying in other tongues consistently regarding problems will help get the problem out of the person.

Praying in other tongues as a cleansing sees souls purified, with the emotions cleansed and purified. This gives the Holy Spirit to be our Intercessor before God so that Jesus Christ our Intercessor in heaven, can bring to bear on our lives the redemption of His Cross. It is all through the Blood of Jesus.

Many new converts come to Christ from desperate past situations. Praying in tongues is very effective as a cleansing agent. The individual increases in his maintaining a whole and healthy mental attitude. It could be said that people who are experiencing this cleansing as the Spirit acts within them and they are filled with the Word, have renewed minds.

In Romans 1:11, Paul wanted to "impart some spiritual gift" to them. This was not an "emotional" gift, or one that was of or from the soul. Paul wanted them to receive "Holy Spirit' manifestations that came from the Spirit of God to and through their spirits. They were to be "spiritual" people, i.e. "people of the Spirit of God." The Holy Spirit works primarily on, in and through our spirits not souls. Our souls need the fruits of the Spirit to work from our spirits into the soul. When that happens, we are "putting on the new man" from within our spirits.

Also, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit continually is to bring about a growth in holiness so that the soul acts according to the Spirit filled and Spirit controlled "new creature."

Quite often, believers who are baptised in the Spirit are not living up to the initial experience. Much of the time, their praying is rarely in other tongues. Stating one is baptised in the Spirit is no criterion that one is progressing in this way and experience.

Because at some time a person was baptised in the Holy Spirit does not necessarily mean that forever after they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The initial experience needs to be repeated often.

Also, we cannot ignore the virtue of obedience to God, nourishment from the Word, fellowship with the saints, consistent walking with God, seeking His guidance, witnessing, serving Him and striving to please Him. These are also essential. We need the Word of God, not psychology.

There is a parallel verse to the one in Ephesians on being filled with the Spirit. It is found in Colossians 3:16. From this we conclude that being filled with the Spirit also includes having the Word of God dominate us. I quote - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." The basis is the Word and the Spirit, not experience.

Other tongues are involved in the aspect of worship, of intercession and communion with God. One has merely to hear worship from a person "in the Holy Ghost" or in a meeting where all the saints are involved in this, to see the emptiness of approaching worship without it. It is empty for us. On the basis of John 4:24 how empty does God consider it?

We are told to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, through praying in the Holy Ghost, Jude 20. Is ordinary praying synonymous with "praying in the Holy Ghost?" It would appear not. We build ourselves up in this faith by praying in other tongues as the word directs, being filled with the Spirit.

Sometimes we feel dry. Then is the time to draw nigh to God, to stir up the anointing of prayer that is within, and to discover that the Spirit soon brings a new freshness. This is the touch of God, the glory of God. It glorifies God.

We can receive yet more languages in prayer. Each time this happens there is a new and different anointing. Operations of the Spirit placed in us by God, according to His purposes. It will take us from one anointing to another, and each anointing we receive "abides within." This is intended by God to be repeated continuously. It opens doors in the realm of the Holy Spirit into new areas both for oneself and for others, including assemblies. It is the manifestation of revival power, and certainly invokes a revival atmosphere. It brings in many souls, as has been proved all over the world.

Praying in tongues will lead us into the operation of some, or even all of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit as the occasion arises. We are commanded to chase after, to pursue, to covet gifts of the Spirit. Dare we neglect these commands which are given in 1 Corinthians 12:31, and in 1 Corinthians 14:11? Once a gift of the Spirit has been manifested, it should be our joy and responsibility to continue to operate it.

Praying in tongues is supernatural, but it does happen in a natural way. We will, we speak, using our vocal chords, tongue and lips. It takes faith to begin to speak and it needs faith to continue speaking in other tongues, until the stage is reached where it is supernaturally natural!

Love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Without a doubt, praying in the Spirit also accomplishes this in an ever-increasing capacity and manifestation. It depends on us whether we continue walking in the love so gloriously shed abroad within, operating through the supply of the Spirit.

Is there any more wonderful act that one can perform as a Christian than to speak to God, whether in prayer, intercession, communion or worship? We are told to be followers of Paul even as he is of Christ. Let us ever strive to emulate him in his prayers. He prayed in tongues "more than all" in the Corinthian church.

It was not until the time when The Didache was composed, about the beginning of the third century, that fasting was used in connection with even baptism in water. The Didache is the earliest writing on baptism, and came out of a remote part of the church.

The fact as in Acts 9:9 that Saul did not eat for three days before his baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit, does not mean that he was fasting before baptism. If he were fasting, we must remember that he was a Pharisee. That sect were always fasting, as the gospels indicate.

Later on in the third century, some writings state how that after water baptism, the candidate was anointed with oil and upon the laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit clothed him.

It is not necessary to fast but two gifts of the Holy Spirit are involved in the ministering of the baptism in the Spirit. They are the gifts of faith and of miracles. The gift of faith in the one ministering results in the baptism of the Spirit in the person being ministered to. The gift of miracles through the one ministering produces speaking in tongues in the one being ministered to. You should believe for those Gifts.

The one who is to minister must be a frequent pray-er in other tongues. If not, it is almost certain that he will not be able to help anybody else and rather could be a hindrance. Quite often the people receiving the baptism do so because of the gift of faith and miracles that operates through the servant of the Lord ministering.

This gift would be the gift that operates to bring about speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is a "sign" and Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." All operations in the outpouring of the Spirit are supernatural and miraculous.

Much needs to be said about the prayer life of the person ministering. We should be ever increasing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Word. There must be a praying in the Spirit (in other tongues) continuously and often. This entails praying deeply in the Spirit and receiving new anointings which often brings about yet another introduction into a language never before prayed.

In this manner, one builds up oneself in the most holy faith, Jude 20. An edifying of oneself enables the liberty in the Spirit to flow to others, 1 Corinthians 14:4. Faith is developed in this way, as such is needed to pray often from one's spirit in tongues, without knowing intellectually what one is praying.

It takes faith for gifts of the Spirit to become operative. Romans 12:6, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, some have the gift of prophecy, according to the measure of faith". Let us not despise the grace of God or His gifts, whatever form they take, and however His gifts to us operate. If God has used us even once in any way, He has given us an impartation that remains within until we leave this earth. It is up to us to encourage that impartation to develop and grow. The anointing we have received within, abides.

Timothy was somewhat timid in the use of certain gifts of ministry. Paul said, "I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and a discipline." He was instructed elsewhere to participate in the prophesying that had gone out over him. Therefore, he was required to stir up all the Gifts of Ministry and also of the Holy Ghost, including prophecy, that God by the Spirit had already granted him. Each believer should stir up continually each of his gifts.

People filled with the Spirit are to go and tell out the gospel. This is done in the power of the Spirit. We go in the way Jesus commanded without any need to cast down strongholds of Satan or Prince Demons. He just said to go and preach the gospel. Millions have been born again without anyone doing such things.

The true position is this. Jesus was accused of casting out devils by Beelzebub, as related in Luke 11, sets events out like this. First of all, in verses 9-13, Jesus affirms that whoever asks, receives. Then He promises good gifts to God's children who ask the Father, and singles out the giving of the Holy Spirit.

In Daniel chapter 10 there is the account of the prince of Persia withstanding the One who came to bring Daniel an answer about his people. This One was the Angel of the Lord, the manifestation of the Eternal Son of God.

The prince of Persia was the powerful spirit that stood beside the king of Persia and that kingdom to influence them against Israel. They directed against Israel the power existing in their heathendom. The Angel of the Lord came to dislodge this prince spirit from his position against Israel. That concerned the history of the various kingdoms arraigned against Israel.

It can have no connection with the giving out of the gospel in the power of the Spirit by the messengers of the church of Jesus Christ. We have no need to bind those prince spirits over cities to get people saved. The Lord Jesus Christ has dislodged the complete power of Satan, his principalities and powers from heathen and ungodly nations. The power of Jesus Christ has bound the "strong man." His total control of those nations is "paralysed," and many of their peoples are saved through the preaching of the Cross in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are in a different dispensation. We are not natural Israel.

The Son of God has been incarnated and does not appear as the Angel of the Lord. Instead, He has sent another Comforter, the Holy Spirit in us. The weapons of our warfare; the power of the preached gospel, prayer in other tongues in ones language by the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the anointing, the Word of God, the Name of Jesus and the preaching of the Message of Salvation and Truth pull down the strongholds of Satan in the lives of saved and unsaved.

Jesus, related the parable concerning the strong man when He cast out a dumb demon, in Luke 11. Jesus was accused of doing this by the ruler of demons. He answered by pointing out the folly of a kingdom fighting against itself. His casting out demons was accomplished by the "finger of God."

Jesus, acting in the power of the Spirit as stated in Acts 10:38, was bringing in the kingdom of God. He was the "someone stronger" than the "strong man" who is Satan. Jesus attacked the devil, overpowered and bound him, then entered his house and took away from him all his armour. He did this on the Cross, Colossians 2:15. Now, He distributes the plunder, the souls of men, Luke 11.

Satan is paralysed. He was made powerless, Hebrews 2:14. If Satan is bound, do we need to bind him? Are we not commanded to "cast out devils," to "resist the devil" and to "tread upon serpents?" Luke 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you," see Mark 16:18; Matthew 10:8; James 4:7.

Many believers love to "bind" and "loose." This is taken from Matthew 18:17,18. However, this action is to be done to a believer who is offending. Apparently the true translation of verse 18 says "I tell you truly, all that you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and all that you allow on earth will be allowed in heaven".

The power of God is manifested today first in speaking in tongues. Then it can be manifested through the Gifts of the Spirit and preaching the gospel.

The person baptised in the Holy Spirit has received the power of the Spirit to win others for Jesus Christ. This cannot be emphasised enough. We are to minister to others, saved and unsaved.

In particular, each person who is baptised in the Spirit should exercise faith to go out and win souls, knowing he has the power of the Spirit to do so. He can win souls through this Holy Ghost power.

There is not a recorded instance in the New Testament of the possibility of being baptised in the Spirit without speaking in other tongues. Therefore we feel bold to say categorically that it was the customary practice for believers to receive the baptism in the Spirit as a distinct experience and in so doing to speak with other tongues. They were filled with the Spirit and they spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.

It is interesting to note that all the books of the New Testament were written by those who had the baptism in the Spirit and spoke in tongues.

One of the purposes of God's giving the baptism in the Spirit is so that we can worship in the Spirit. This is what Jesus told the woman of Samaria.

He told her in John 4:23,24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth".

Jesus announced the introduction of a new kind of worship. Until that time, the worship of the Old Testament was on a different level.

First of all, there was the worship of the Patriarchs, such as Abraham. Then there was the form of worship given to Moses for the nation of Israel. Lastly, there was the kind of worship enjoyed by King David.

The first mention of "worship" in the bible is found in Genesis 22:5 when Abraham the Patriarch, took Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice, and he said, "I and the lad will go yonder and worship."

The Hebrew word used means "to bow oneself down" "to prostrate oneself" or "to worship." In fact, that is the meaning of worship wherever it occurs in the Old Testament in relation to the worship of God. It obviously involved a literal falling down prostrate.

When they gathered together all the elders and spoke to them and did signs in the sight of the people, they all believed, Exodus 4:31. Then "they bowed their heads and worshipped." They were still in the land of Egypt. When Moses instituted the Passover, Exodus 12, "the people bowed their heads and worshipped."

Their nearest approach at that time to New Testament worship occurred in Exodus 15. Moses and the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord (Jehovah).

It began, "I will sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song... Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea... Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders...?"

Once the Israelites were across the Red Sea, Moses their leader was given the Law on Mount Sinai. The ceremonial law was the means whereby they as a nation could approach God.

When this covenant with the people was sealed, in Exodus 24:1, Moses and the priests with elders, worshipped afar off. We can picture the scene as they bowed down before the Lord.

They were to worship no other god, Exodus 20:3,5. God was the One to be worshipped, Exodus 34:14, "for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Before the conquest of Jericho, when Joshua was contemplating its capture, a man stood before him with a drawn sword. He was the Commander of the army of the Lord. This was the Angel of the Lord, who was the Captain of the army of the Lord of hosts and who was equal with God. This army consisted of angelic beings, Joshua 5:13-15.

Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped. He did not fall backwards. He paid this Being deep reverence. He recognised the Man was a superior being. He was yet unaware of this Being's greatness.

Then it was revealed that the One who revealed Himself to Moses as God in Exodus 3:5, was present with him there. Moses was told, "Put off your shoes from your feet; for the place where you stand is holy."

Joshua's worship was by the posture of the body and concerned material things. His shoes were removed.

We look at the story of Gideon, Judges 7. He went down at night to the camp of the Midianites by Divine direction. He heard one soldier relating his dream of the Israelites' victory to another. Then Gideon worshipped.

Finally, in the Old Testament era, we come to the worship of David and that which he instituted for his nation. We look at the chronicles of his life for this.

God's anointing came upon David when Samuel visited Jesse's household on instructions from the Lord, 1 Samuel 16. When David was finally brought before Samuel, the Lord said to the prophet, "Arise, anoint him." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him to be king. He was anointed by man with oil, a material substance.

At the time of Old Testament worship when David's Tabernacle had been built, he introduced music, choirs, dancing and prophesying. See - 2 Samuel 6:13-17; 1 Chronicles 15:1, 7,8, 16-19, 37; 16:7, 39-42; 23:5; 25:1-8; 2 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Samuel 23:12; 22:1, 50; 6:21. David is known as the "sweet singer (psalmist) of Israel," 2 Samuel 23:1.

After the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit of the Old Testament has come to us as the Holy Spirit of the New, the same Person but now living in us and being poured upon us as the new Spirit of Christ. Christ is now the fount of the Holy Spirit of God.

This also applies to worship. Therefore, to take worship under David's Tent or Tabernacle as an example of worship for today is to undervalue and underrate the Holy Spirit in His working today.

With regard to the New Testament all believers are to be filled with the Spirit to worship, John 4:24. This is one reason He "has made us kings and priests serving His God and Father," Revelation 1:6.

On the Day of Pentecost they were filled with the Spirit within. It was more than a "coming upon" them. We also are to be filled with the Spirit, speaking in tongues. Our task is to be overcomers and kings in the kingdom of Christ in this world through the anointing of the Spirit.

These orders of worship about which we have been speaking, have all passed away. There has come the great outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon all flesh.

The church of Jesus Christ, washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, is to worship according to the New Testament command. Previously the mystery of the gospel was hidden. Now this mystery is revealed. It has brought about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through believers in Christ.

I wonder how desirous we all are to enter into the New Testament manner of worship in spirit and in truth? Or are we all clinging to much of what was intended to pass away?

The great outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost heralded something far greater than ever David experienced, despite all the wonderful anointings upon him. It brought the power of Pentecost, which was speaking in other tongues. History records that in the first one hundred and fifty years of the church, two procedures were followed in the service, amongst others. One was that all believers prayed out loud together in other tongues. Another procedure never to be missed was that all believers worshipped out loud together in other tongues. This went on for one hundred and fifty years, John, the last of the Apostles, had long since passed away. This alone proves that speaking in tongues did not cease with the apostles as some try to tell us.

Jesus said of John the Baptist, Luke 7:18, "Among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." John was the greatest prophet until Jesus the Messiah came. Yet all now in the kingdom of God are greater than he, with greater blessings.

The position and work of John the Baptist with its great importance was still under the old order of things.

With the resurrection of Jesus Christ came the new order under the New Testament or Covenant. The weakest believer in Christ occupies a far more glorious spiritual position than any under the Old. He is heir even in this world to much greater spiritual blessings.

Let our vision be on what God is doing and wants to do in this dispensation. David inaugurated a form of worship that inspires us to press on to the new ways of the Holy Spirit.

Worship as performed by the Patriarchs has been done away. That which was instituted by Moses under the Ceremonial Law has passed away. Also the worship initiated by David belongs to a past dispensation.

At the present time, in this age, God delights in our worship in the Spirit and in Truth. He desires to see us entering into His courts, not only with praise, but also with worship in the Holy Ghost. Sadly, so few experience this continually.

Today, the courts of the Lord are the true Sanctuary in heaven. This is in contrast to the courts of David's day, which were those of that king's material tabernacle. We have an entrance into the heavenly courts by the Blood of Christ. There we are to worship in the Spirit.

We are shown by Jesus' words that we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

There is a difference between a deliberate entering into praise and that of beginning to worship in Spirit and in truth. If we pray often in the Spirit, in other tongues, and worship in the Spirit, our experiences of worship, alone and in fellowship with others, will deepen.

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, the veil of the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two from top to bottom. This was done by the hand of God. He was showing by this action that the old ordinances were done away with.

He was pointing to an accessible Holy of Holies, not a carnal one on earth, but the true one in heaven. God makes this plain in the book of Hebrews.

We are shown that we are able with confidence to draw near to the throne of grace in heaven, Hebrews 4:15,16. There we have a high priest, seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. He is a minister in the sanctuary, the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord, Hebrews 8:2.

The ultimate of heavenly action by the saints as shown in the book of Revelation is worship to the Lamb of God. It is not "feeling good in oneself." It is not manifestations of the glory of God. It is not the wonderful sight the saints view. It is worship itself of the One who is the Light and Glory of heaven. See Revelation 5:8-10; 21:22,23. The saints on earth join with the saints already in heaven, in worship.

The first covenant was not faultless, and therefore the new covenant was needed, Hebrews 8:7. Still in the book of Hebrews, in 9:1, we see that the first covenant had ordinances or regulations of divine service.

Its sanctuary was a sanctuary that was mundane, material, earthly or worldly. Also, this was a temporary kind of worship.

In Hebrews 10:1 we read, "The law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities." "Shadow" really means "foreshadowing".
The reality had not yet arrived. The form of worship throughout the whole of the Old Testament era was a foreshadowing.

The reality of the worship had not yet arrived. The "good things to come" were all that Jesus Christ came to bring through His death and resurrection. This is the New Covenant, to be written on our hearts. It is a covenant of the Spirit, and not of the Law or written code. Albeit, there was a splendour in the old period, but the new far excels the old, 2 Corinthians 3.

The present new covenant has a splendour that far surpasses the old. It is also permanent. Under this new covenant we have turned to the Lord, who is the Spirit, "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." In this we behold the glory of the Lord.

A new way of worship has been opened to us. Its most important element is that of worshipping in other tongues. The old way of the Old Testament is one of material externals. The new worship is to be that of internal "Spirit-uals," 1 Corinthians 12:1. Despite this new way of worship in Spirit and Truth as revealed by Jesus to the woman of Samaria, we, today, often love to follow the Old Testament externals, even to the extent of sometimes using incense and priestly garments. Many of God’s saints have popularised music that removes the Scriptural order of worshipping together in other tongues. We should not despise the "grace of God" in this way. His grace has given us the gift of the Spirit that should result in prayer and worship in other tongues in the meetings.

It is as the Lord said in Isaiah 29:13, "these people draw near with their mouths and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote," or "their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men".

All the males in the nation of Israel bore the physical, external mark of circumcision. Now, he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart not the letter, Romans 2:29. Thus we are the true nation of Israel who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:3, Galatians 6:16. God has brought us into a far more glorious way of worship, in the Holy Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 12 to 14, Paul shows the way they worshipped and were to worship. It is to be with holiness in love. All are to participate audibly at some time in the service, through prayer and prophecy. True worship is in the Spirit and it involves spiritual conduct of all as members of the Body of Christ. This is to be particularly when they celebrate communion, as shown in 1 Corinthians 11.

It includes the manifestation of the nine gifts of the Spirit in the meetings and the participation of all, male and female, in the exercise of different gifts. The manifestations of the Spirit are to have variety and they are given for the good of the whole Body. Some members are to give revelations, prophecies and/or teaching. All are to be involved.

Finally, worship in the assembly of the saints is to be decent and orderly, without excess and is to be understood by all present. There should be no distinction between the brothers and sisters. All participate and all learn.

Together believers are to offer worship in the Spirit. The medium can be other tongues as they raise their voices in words or in songs of the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who is to operate through all.

It is obvious that our churches fall far short of such a standard of dynamic power.
There is no emphasis in the New Testament on the playing of musical instruments. The importance in prayer and worship is that the blood-washed saints are to use their voices to God. The worship is to be in "Spirit and in Truth".

Other tongues enables us to enter into anointed praise and a deeper worship in the Spirit, even singing together worship in other tongues. Then we together are experiencing being lifted up in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, which is a spiritual thing and other than being earthly.

Worship is directed solely to God. Therefore, when all are worshipping in other tongues, it does not matter if no one can understand with the mind.

There is something in this that cannot be explained to those who have never experienced it. Once experienced, no one can ever be satisfied to worship the Lord in the old, cold, formal, religious and carnal way. We are not encouraging emotionalism. Rather it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit imparted in worship so that we worship in the Spirit and in Truth.

Those of us who have known worship in the Holy Ghost for almost a lifetime, would shout it out on the roof tops, "Jesus Christ is King. He is risen. He lives in our hearts. He has filled us with the Holy Ghost. We know, yes we know, the beautiful anointing and marvel of worshipping Him in the Holy Ghost."

When the Jews complained because His followers were crying out to Jesus, "Blessed be the king that comes in the name of the Lord," He said that if they became silent, the stones would cry out, Luke 19:40. Will you not raise your voice in praise and in worship in the Spirit to the Lord of glory?

If you are baptised in the Holy Spirit, why not start praying before the Lord in other tongues? Begin to worship Him as you sing in other tongues. Heaven will fill your being. You will be lifted up into heavenly places and His precious anointing will flow all over you.

Although praying in tongues is supernatural, it does happen in a natural way. The vocal chords, the tongue and lips, move naturally as in speech. They move supernaturally as we are given the language by the Spirit. He produces the words.

A time of worship in the assembly often includes a time of prophesying. All should seek this gift. Moses said when Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them," Numbers 11:29.

Even in David's time there were musicians who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, 1 Chronicles 25. There were those who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the Lord.

We are to worship under the new covenant. This is something different from what they enjoyed in David's time. That time and his tabernacle can never be restored, as a means of worship.

David's tabernacle is restored in the bringing in of Gentiles to the Kingdom of Christ. In Amos 9:11,12 God promises, "On that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen... and rebuild it as in the days of old; and all the nations who are called by my name," and in Acts 15:15,16 James quotes and relates it to the bringing in of the Gentiles as in verses 12-14 Barnabas and Paul told of God's wonders among these Gentiles.

Pentecost is about "speaking in tongues," as in the New Testament, and never about music or the saying of "Hallelujahs".

God promised in Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do a new thing." Let us seek Him for this new thing in the Spirit as we worship. We should experience far more than what they did in David's time.

Should we who live in a far more glorious church in a far more marvellous day experience less than they do? Unto us is given the promise for the last days. Joel prophesied that on both men and women God would pour forth of His Spirit and that they would prophesy. This was the anticipated promise.

We are currently in the time of the promise. To us is given the greater glory for which they looked, 1 Peter 1:11, "...the Spirit of Christ... indicated... the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory."

It is true that as we worship in the Spirit there should also be prophecy. We are commanded to "Chase after spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy." There awaits for the church of God such a glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All should worship God in the Spirit. All can be prophesying.

Often we have ministered to churches where the majority or even all were baptised in the Holy Spirit after we preached. We then led them into worship in the Spirit. For this, the preacher or leader must have the anointing. He generally is to lead them into this kind of worship. They cannot go beyond their leader.

God desires a people who will worship Him and who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Let us enter in with all of our hearts. This is what He requires.

The outpouring of the Holy Ghost should lead us to worshipping in the Spirit in other tongues and to prophesying which includes prophetic songs. Come, let us be filled with the Spirit and worship the Lord. Let us excel in the gifts of the Spirit. Let us win many souls for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The Shekinah Glory cloud of the Old Testament will be no longer be seen today. "Shekinah" means "In-dwelling”. Under the New covenant and the Gospel, the Cloud the Children of Israel saw in the two Tabernacles and Solomon's Temple.
Because we have the New Covenant, the Old Covenant has passed away.

The Cloud of the Old Testament days is to become the Holy Ghost within the believer and the Church. This is invisible. The Holy Spirit is to fill us and it starts with speaking in other tongues. Then the great glory of God is to be manifested by Holy Ghost gifts as the Truth of Word of God is preached.

We should not be looking for the Old Testament Glory Cloud.
We see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in the gospel. We experience more fully the glory of God manifested of old as the cloud of glory when we are filled with the Holy Ghost as in the New Testament' It is not a visible or external cloud. It is within.

The Old Testament temple has finished. In Isaiah 6:1, where the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord, it prefigured the glory of the Lord being in the earthly temple of the Lord Jesus Christ, His human body. John in John 16:41 says plainly that Isaiah "saw His" (Christ’s glory). Jesus went back to heaven. We now are to be the temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Corinthians 6:19, personally and as the Body of His Church. 2 Corinthians 6:16. He is to be within. The glory is to be within and manifested first of all through speaking in other tongues and then His Gifts.

In the Old Testament, God and His glory was in David’s Tabernacle, Psalm 22:3 that reads literally – "But Thou art holy. Sitting … the praise of Israel”. Five other translations in Israel indicate that "You are enthroned as the Holy One, the praise of Israel”, NIV and such as "But Thou, the praise of Israel, dwells in a sanctuary”. Psalm 80:1 bears this out, "You are enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth”.

Millions of people all over the world have the experience of Acts 2:4. They speak in other tongues.