For years, I was like so many of the misinformed, that foolishly deny the present day baptism with the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues. I had been taught badly, and I hadn't taken the time to research the topic in scripture. I have noticed that these people who teach against the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues, usually don't have contact information on their websites. They are only interested in spreading their doctrine, and aren't interesting in learning the truth from scripture.
Here's my story:
One day, many years ago, I was talking with the spirit filled pastor of a baptist church. I explained to him that I believed that spiritual gifts ( miraculous healings, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, etc. ) ended with the apostolic age. That was what I had been taught in the churches, which I had attended, and that was what I had believed, for the 7 or so years previous to that discussion.
I now know that much of this incorrect teaching is the result of a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, which I will discuss in a moment.
After trading a few Bible verses, he brought me to Acts 2:39 ," For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." At that point something happened in my spirit. It was like a shot of lightning going through me. I knew that I had to expand my thinking on this subject.
At this point let me caution you. Never, ever base your beliefs on a single verse of scripture, or even on a section of scripture. The Bible has over 70,000 verses. Use them all.
From that moment on, I began to do what the people of Berea did. I searched the scriptures diligently to find whether the things that the pastor told me were true. That's what you should do in this kind of situation. Don't ever accept anyone's teaching on anything in the Bible without researching it thoroughly, yourself, and praying about it for weeks or
longer. Search the scriptures for yourself. Otherwise, you will end up with a wrong doctrine, and may even find yourself accepting poor religious teaching.During the next three months, after the conversation with the baptist pastor, a number of people prayed for me,- that I might receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues. And, nothing happened. Then one morning about 5 AM, I got up early, and was reading my Bible quietly at the kitchen table, so I wouldn't wake anyone, and a particular verse jumped out at me. I don't recall what that verse was, but I was touched in my spirit. I began to spontaneously praise God, and soon I was praising Him in a language other than any that I knew. This went on for about 15 minutes. I knew then, that the promise was indeed, "for all who are afar off,- as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Since that time we have prayed for many others, and they have been blessed with the baptism with the Holy Spirit also.
We have a tragedy today in many of the churches, which claim to be Christian Churches. The majority today are still trying to do the Lord's work without the baptism with the Holy Spirit. They come up with all sorts of excuses to avoid doing what the Lord told his followers to do. They continually disobey the command to pray in the Spirit. ( Ephesians 6:18, Jude 20,21, and 1 Cor. 14:14,15 ) Jesus told His followers to wait ( before preaching ) until they had been endued with power from on high. Scripture is very clear about what this means. He was talking about the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
One excuse, frequently put forth by those who neglect the necessity for the baptism with the Holy Spirit, is a misuse of a few verses in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13:
8. Love never fails. But whether there are: prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
WHEN WILL TONGUES CEASE? CONTINUE READING!
9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10. But, WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT HAS COME, then that which is in part will be done away.
11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but THEN FACE TO FACE. NOW I KNOW IN PART, BUT THEN I SHALL KNOW JUST AS I ALSO AM KNOWN.
It is impossible to understand the Bible without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is obvious that those, who deny the baptism with the Holy Spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues, don't have the Holy Spirit. Yes, there will be a day when prophesies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away, but that day did not occur in the 4th century AD. It is yet to come!
A discussion of WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT HAS COME: (V.10)
As wonderful as our English Bibles are, THEY DID NOT SIMPLY COME. You see, to ascribe that kind of activity to the Bible is a form of idolatry. Our English Bibles are the result of many years of work. It starts with the selection of what is considered the best manuscripts, out of the thousands of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, that exist, and then constructing a Greek or Hebrew text.
There are at least five different popular Greek texts in existence today. Once chosen, the Greek ( or Hebrew ) text must then be translated into English, or another language. Most agree that the authors of the original manuscripts were inspired by God. We would like to believe that the manuscript selectors, and translators, were also inspired of God, but their occasional errors, and omissions, even though rare, indicate that we need to do more than blindly accept their work. The manuscript selection, and translation, frequently reflect the religious beliefs held by the linguist.
The bad teaching, that denies the present day baptism with the Holy Spirit, is the result of idolatry, the worship of the Bible, rather than the worship of the God, who inspired the writings, that became part of our Bible. People who exalt the Bible, using terms like infallible, inerrant, etc. need to realize that they have been poorly taught, and accept the Bible as God's message to us today, something to be researched and studied,- not something for us to worship. Much of this bad teaching comes from so called " Bible schools " where the students are brainwashed into accepting Bible worship, and the views of the particular denomination, rather than engaged in any real Bible study.
A discussion of PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS: ( V.11 )
Is it a childish thing to Pray in the Spirit ( pray in an unknown tongue ) as commanded by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 and Ephesians 6, and the Apostle Jude in verses 20 and 21 ? No, that is not a childish thing to be done away with. That is obedience to God,- something that Bible worshippers don't understand.
The Apostle Peter said ( Acts 2:39 ) " For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL. " ( NOT JUST THOSE WHOM THE LORD CALLED BEFORE THE 4TH CENTURY AD! )
A discussion of BUT THEN FACE TO FACE: ( V.12 )
If you are an intelligent, thinking person, I believe that you will have to admit that you don't look at the Bible face to face. The only way that you can come up with an interpretation like that, is to idolize the Bible, rather than the God who inspired the Bible authors. In addition, I believe that you will have to admit, that while you may know the Bible, the Bible doesn't know you. The God who inspired the Bible authors knows you. The Son of God knows you.
Our Savior, many times, and in many ways, said, " Receive the Holy
Spirit. " He was referring to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, which was to come at Pentecost. You have a choice. Obey, or disobey!We have since learned, that the biggest hindrance to receiving the promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, is the abundance of bad teaching on the subject. We have ministered the baptism to many, and I don't recall anyone, who didn't receive.
Tongues will indeed cease,- when that which is perfect is come! Come quickly Lord Jesus!
If we can help, don't hesitate to e-mail us, or visit our services at the Mexico Beach Civic Center, on Sunday mornings, at 9:30 AM Central time.
