Holy Spirit - Questions You Might Have

Subject - Showing Scripturally the Working of Holy Spirit

–Tonight we are going to look and see what the Scriptures say about Holy Spirit...not what a denomination or a person’s experience dictates...it must be the Word.

1. What about the initial physical evidence of the baptism in Holy Spirit being speaking in tongues...is this biblical?

Initial Physical Evidence - what happens to a believer when they are first baptized in Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:14 (NKJV) 

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

–When the 120 were initially baptized in Holy Spirit they spoke with tongues...agree? Listen to the promise that was given after they had been baptized in Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:3739 (NKJV) 

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 

38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

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." 

–What promise...the promise they just received. Are there other verses that show believers being baptized (filled) with Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues? Some try to deny this.

Acts 10:4447 (NKJV) 

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 

46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 

47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 

–This is Cornelius’s House initial encounter with Holy Spirit baptism...they get saved...they are filled and speak in tongues... “who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"   Same as Acts 2

–Listen to Paul’s defense before the General Council:

Acts 11:1517 (NKJV) 

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 

16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 

17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" 

–Another place in Scripture of believer’s initial encounter with Holy Spirit baptism:

Acts 19:16 (NKJV) 

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 

2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 

3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 

4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 

–Are there places where people were filled or baptized in Holy Spirit but it does not say they spoke in tongues...yes, but it is assumed!  

Acts 4:31 (NKJV) 

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 8:1719 (NKJV) 

17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 

19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  

–They received Holy Spirit but it does not say they spoke in tongues but I believe the evidence is there...what evidence?

–When Simon saw 18...what did he see? He saw the apostles lay hands on people and something must have happened for him to want to buy it...

–I submit to you what he saw was people speaking in tongues...that was what happened in the beginning and the Promise was for all who followed.  Acts 2:38-39

2. Did they know in the New Testament when someone was initially baptized in Holy Spirit? Yes, they did...every time.

–Today it is so subjective to each person’s experience...I know I was baptized in Holy Spirit because....you fill in the blanks. Here’s the point...is your experience biblical?

–I present to you that they knew in Acts when people were filled with Holy Spirit because they saw or heard them speak in tongues...no one questioned when people were initially filled.

–Shouldn’t we want the original biblical experience instead of some counterfeit encounter or personal experience.

–I do not deny people can be saved and have an experience with Holy Spirit which can be life changing but you cannot say you have been biblically baptized in the Spirit unless you speak in tongues. 

–Sadly, political correctness has crept into the church...people do not like dealing with the messiness of spiritual gifts and Spirit baptism so it is easy to take a non-biblical view or not let them be allowed.

–We must be biblical and we must be Spirit led.

3. The Bible does say that not all shall speak with tongues so how can you say that all of us should?

1 Corinthians 12:2830 (NLT) 

28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 

30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 

–Of course not!!  I guess again you have me! Unless there is a distinction between Holy Spirit baptism and Holy Spirit gifts. One is for public use and the other for private use. Gift of Holy Spirit is Holy Spirit.

–Robert Morris contrasts the grace of tongues (our spirit speaking to God) with the gift of tongues (us speaking for the body for edification).  There is a difference. 

1 Corinthians 14:25 (NKJV) 

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 

Again Holy Spirit baptism is for all believers...as many as the Lord shall call

Acts 2:3839 (NKJV) 

–The gifts are given as God wills...so not everyone will get the same gift.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV) 

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 

4. If you do not receive Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues how would you be able to pray in the Spirit? What would that look like?

1 Corinthians 14:1315 (NKJV) 

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 

15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 

–Paul said (Holy Spirit said) when a person prays in the Spirit that they are praying in tongues and when we pray in our known language we are praying with the understanding.

–Praying in the Spirit (tongues) is not the same as giving a message in tongues...same Spirit but different function...one edifies the body...the other edifies the person praying.

–Praying in the Spirit (in tongues) helps us have more effective prayer:

Romans 8:2627 (NKJV) 

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

Ephesians 6:1718 (NKJV) 

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints 

Jude 1:2021 (NKJV) 

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

–To me this verse answers the question: After receiving “Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues” does the vocabulary grow over time and usage?  Yes, as we mature. You must be intentional to want to grow.

–Can a person have more than one prayer language (tongue)?

1 Corinthians 12:910 (NKJV) 

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 

–Paul believes praying in the Spirit is praying in tongues and so do I.

1 Corinthians 14:18 (NKJV) 

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 

5. Should there be those who speak in tongues during a service?

–Robert Morris said that (in his church) when there are those who are present who are unbelievers or uninformed that they do not allow people to speak in tongues or to interpret.

–That would pretty much mean it would not be allowed in any of their normal services.  He said it would be ok in a small group where all were informed or believers.

–Obviously, we disagree based on the Word of God. We understand a service should not be chaotic or out of order but the gifts are for the edification of the body. What does the Bible say: 

First:

1 Corinthians 14:5 (NKJV) 

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 

–Some think prophesying is better than tongues (gifts) and that is true unless the tongue is interpreted...then they are equal. This is interesting to me...what Paul says:

Second:

1 Corinthians 14:22 (NKJV) 

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 

–Conclusion: If the tongue is interpreted and it is a sign for unbelievers...it should be allowed to flow in a service as long as there is order.

Summary: The reason believers who were baptized in Holy Spirit initially (at the beginning) spoke in tongues was so that they could pray in the Spirit from that day forward and be strong witnesses.

–Salvation is the door into the Christian life...once entering that door the person begins to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling...sanctification.

–Baptism in Holy Spirit is the door into walking in the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, exemplifying the fruit of the Spirit, the door to the gifts of the Spirit. It is not an end-all but a beginning into a supernatural life.

Galatians 5:2226 (NLT) 

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, and selfcontrol. There is no law against these things! 

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. 

How to receive Holy Spirit:

Seek - every day, several times a day ask God to fill you with Holy Spirit...don’t beg...just ask in faith.

Speak - the key here is that when God baptizes you with Holy Spirit you will have to do the speaking. If you are not speaking you obviously will not pray in tongues.

Keep - pray in Holy Spirit every day many times a day so that you stay filled, so that you are constantly praying the will of God, and so you will be effective in witnessing.