Holy Spirit: Real Questions and Real Answers

This second experience of the power of God, which we call the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is given for the purpose of equipping the Christian with God's power for service. It is the spiritual baptism for Jesus Himself, in which He begins to exercise His sovereign possession, control and use of us in supernatural fashion , through the Holy Spirit. By way of illustration, let us point out that the New Testament describes both baptism in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says,

According to Scripture, these two baptism are indicative of two separate, major experiences of the power of God. The first conversion; the sinner's acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior which brings salvation. He (the repentant sinner) gives testimony to his response to the gospel and his acceptance of Christ by receiving baptism in the water for the remission of sins. Here, we see the new belier as the object of God's redemption. But the Lord is not satisfied with our conversion alone; He has promised us power to be His witness. So, a second time we are confronted with the power of God; this time in the baptism in the Holy Spirit through which the Christian is brought into a deeper relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit for the purpose of making him - not an object - but an instrument of redemption.

(1) It is only through this Heavenly gift empowering gift empowering us, guiding us, and transforming us that we have immediate union with the glorified Jesus and are given power power to do His work and His will and to grow up into His likeness. As blessed as was the ministry of Jesus in the flesh, and as glorious as was His redemptive work in Gethsemane and Calvary, and His ministry during the resurrection appearance, all this was preparatory to was given to Jesus with power to impart when He ascended into the presence of the Father, and took His place upon the throne of the universe.

(2) If Jesus had reminded on earth until now, with His power to heal everyone He touched and everyone who mighty miracles, He still could have been only at one place at the time. People in their selfishness would run over each other to get Him. But since He went into glory and received the gift of the Father with power to share it with those who believe and obey, He has become omnipresent. Moreover, He has power not only to be with His disciple always, giving them what to say and what to do concerning everything they need to do unto the end of the world, but also power to come within and reproduce Himself in terms of all the capabilities of each one of us. Now He can give Himself totally to each one of us without neglecting any of the rest of us.

(3) Through ineffable union now, open to every believing and obedient disciple of Jesus, every one of us find himself on the opposite kind of a cross from His. He was put upon a cross of shame; we, through happily yielding and responding to Him, are put upon a cross of agony; He puts us upon a cross of bliss. He was put upon a cross of death; He puts us upon a cross of life. When Jesus hung upon the cross of shame and agony and desertion, He gave up the Holy Breath or Holy Ghost; when we are upon the cross by the Holy Spirit we receive the Holy Breath and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

(5) The Holy Spirit, by revealing Jesus as He is, at the same time reveals us as we are. We are convicted of of sin and incompleteness by seeing His sinlessness and perfection. As we see ourselves as we are, and see him as He is, and make the acknowledgment, the miracles of forgiveness and cleansing and transformation occurs. He does not leave us in our nakedness; He furnishes the covering. He does not condemn us; He comes to our rescue. As we only know the mistakes. So the knowing of Jesus reveals the sin and the lack, and at the same time cleanses us and makes us whole.

(7) Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the body becomes consciously the Lord's. Here it is realized that the Lord is for the body, and the body is for the Lord. We become not only spirit of His spirit, mind of His mind, and soul of His soul, but we also become bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh, hand of His hands, feet of His feet, eyes of His eyes, ears of His ears, tongues of His tongues, and everything of His Perfect Everything. The body will never feel as it should as long as it feels itself. As the body is for the Lord and the Lord for the body, the body only feels as it ought to feel when it is feeling the Lord, and the Lord is never happy about the body except in having charge of it and imparting to it to health and the health and the blessing of His presence.

Certainly the Holy Spirit is present in conversion. Paul says, "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). We know that every Christian experiences a measure of the Holy Spirit's power. But the Scriptures plainly teach there is spiritual power available beyond our experience of conversion. Obviously, Paul converted on the road to Damascus, but the Lord sent Ananias to him to pray for him to get his sight back and to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). And while the Samaritan Christians were soundly converted under Phillip's teaching, still it was through prayer and the laying on of hands that they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

"A man may push his way pass my secretary and come to my office and sit down while I am very busy at my desk. I know he is there, but continue working, not acknowledging that his presence. After a few minutes my telephone rings and someone in the other end of the line asks, 'Have you a man in your office?' and proceeds to describe my visitor. I reply, 'Yes, he is here, but I haven't laid aside my work to welcome him. I haven't received him yet.' "

"But the suppose," Bennett continues, "I laid aside my work and give my visitor a cordial welcome and devoted attention and ask him, 'Why are you here, how may I serve you?" and then my visitor rise on his feet with a glad smile and shake my hand and say, 'Oh, I am so glad that you finally received me, for I have check for you for one million dollars and I want to give it to you. And I have an important message that from a friend whom you haven't see him from long time, plus some others good things I want to share with you, now that you have received me.' "

So it is with many Christians. They have the Holy Spirit present in their lives, but He sits quietly waiting to be received. They have not yet made Him fully welcome, nor given Him the fully attention, nor tried to discover the purpose of His coming, thus robbing themselves of the gifts and powers He wishes to bestow. They are like Ephesians disciples whom Paul asked, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (Acts 19:2).

The New Testament apostle thought so. "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believe?" (Acts 19:2) seemed to be kind of watchword with the early church. And Peter's plea in Acts 2:38 for both the acceptance of Christ as Lord and the receiving of the Holy Spirit is followed by a universal promise: "For the promise is to you and your children and to all that are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him" (Acts 2:39).

Can one receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and not be aware of it? [top]

We know one friend who went forward in a meeting foe what she thought was to be prayer for healing. She had misunderstood the minister's invitation, which had been for those who seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit. As she sat in the appointed place, people gathered around and began praying for her. Suddenly, she felt her tongue begin to thrash around in her mouth and found herself speaking in tongues in the midst of a glorious feeling love and power. But it was only after friend had explained her experience that she understood what had happened. But again, let us stress that such experience are rare.

(2) A second part of the answer is direct to yet another group of people. There are those Christians who seem to feel that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a blessing with God mysteriously and secretly bestows here and there and who wonder if, at the same time their Christian walk or experience, they received this blessing without being aware of it. They wonder if they received the baptism when they accepted Christ or at some point when they have made a special commitment to God. I believe it is fairly safe to say to all such persons, "If you doubt that you've received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, you haven't." This encounter with God's Holy Spirit is too charged with Divine life and power for us to take it for granted or to assume it come to us unnoticed. And this is one of the reasons we look for the manifestation of speaking in tongues. It is concrete evidence that the person speaking has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

(3) A third part of the answer to this question deals with those who have actively sought the baptism in the Holy Spirit, have received prayer for the baptism and have even spoken in a strange word or two in tongues, but doubt that they have really received the baptism. Many, many people experience this problem. they have received the baptism but they are sure of their experience. They haven't spoken as fluently as their friend do, or their experience has not measured up to their expectation. if this is your situation, then let me assure you, yes, you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but the devil's is trying to talk you out of it. If you've spoken so much as one syllable in tongues, claim your experience by faith and persevere in prayer until you become fluent in your new language of praise.

So to summarize: On rare occasions, God does baptize people in the Holy Spirit, and they do not know what happened except that it was wonderful. Secondly, if a person has never sought the baptism, never spoken in tongues, yet wonders if maybe God baptized him without him being aware of it, no, he has not received. But thirdly, when a person actively seeks the baptism and is prayed for to receive, he may receive and even speak a few words in an unknown tongues, yet doubts, then yes, he has received, but the devil is doing his dead-level best to talk him out of it.

What is the evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? [top]

The only clear scriptural evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. The first Christians to be baptized in the Holy Spirit were the 120 gathered in the upper room at the Pentecost. The unique evidence that the 120 received the Holy Spirit was that "they began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4). All the other spiritual gifts, such as healing and prophecy, appear in the Old Testament and in the Gospels. But with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which signified God's Presence in the disciples' lives in a new dimension, God gave a new gift: the gift of tongues.

The book of Acts records five separate occasions when the Holy Spirit was received. On three of these occasions, speaking in tongues is specifically mentioned as the visible sign accompanying the experience:

at Pentecost (Acts 2:4),
at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-46), and
at Ephesus (Acts 19:6).

Fourth, Paul received the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid hands on him and prayed (acts 9:17), and, while tongues are not mentioned at that point, we know they were a part of Paul's spiritual experience by his own testimony: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all" (1 Corinthians 14:18).

The fifth occasion was the receiving of the Holy Spirit in Samaria (Acts 8:14-17). Philip had made converts, and the apostles at Jerusalem sent down Peter and John to pray for their baptism in the Holy Spirit. Whiles tongues are not directly identified in the account here, there was some visible evidence which made Simon the magician want to purchase from the apostle the ability to transmit the Holy Spirit. Many Biblical authorities agree that what Simon saw must have included speaking in tongues.

Then, there is the statement of Jesus in Mark 16:17-18 where tongues are listed along with other supernatural manifestation which were to follow the ministry of believers.

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues... they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover".

So, according to Scripture, the identifying evidence or sign of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit is that of speaking in tongues. While there may be, and frequently are, other spiritual manifestations which accompany the experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues remains the primary initial evidence.

Can I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues? [top]

"With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26), therefore, the answer to this question is yes. However, it is a highly qualified yes! I personally know two people who received the baptism in the Holy Spirit in English rather than with unknown tongues. Both were exceptionally sensitive, prophetic men, true spiritual giants of our times. One is Dr. Frank Laubach, through whom the Holy Spirit manifested Himself supernaturally in English. The other was Rufus Moseley who, some month after his baptism in the Holy Spirit, began speak in tongues and continued to witness faithfully to their value until his death. In a booklet entitled, "How To Enter, Abide, and Increase in Union With Jesus Christ," he makes this excellent statement:

"... My feeling is that we must not be dogmatic and say that no one can have the baptism of the Holy Spirit unless he speaks in tongues. God, of course, can speak in English and in every tongue of men and angels. But He now seems a little more real to me when He speaks in tongues, especially if I am given the meaning of what is spoken. And when an ignorant person speaks in languages entirely unknown to him, it is easy to see that he is not doing the speaking.

The Lord will do wonders for us even if we are prejudiced against tongues, if we are willing to yield at others points. He uses well the all of us that is yielded to Him while he waits for all that is not yielded to be yielded. He doesn't cut us off because we are not yielded at every point, but I have an idea that those of us who have been prejudiced against tongues will be faced around and will like them best of all."

So, we must admit that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit can be received without the manifestation of tongues, but we encourage no one to seek the baptism without expecting tongues. Both are understanding of spiritual gifts and our willingness to receive them affect what gifts and manifestation will appear. Something is missing in your spiritual life if you have received the Holy Spirit yet have not spoken in tongues. Those Spirit Filled Christians who have not yet spoken in tongues will receive a precious added assurance of God's presences and power when they do.

True, speaking in tongues is controversial, but if we are really seeking all God wants to bestow, we must seek God's blessings on God's terms, not ours. It is better to hold to the scriptural pattern that be swayed by human prejudices. All who speak in tongues have the authority of Scripture behind their experience. They do not need to defend their baptism in the Holy Spirit by saying, "Yes, I have received the baptism... BUT... I do not speak in tongues." So, if you tell me you have received the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues, I do not deny your claim. But when you witness to me that you do speak in tongues, I rejoice because your experience is fully consistent with Scripture.

We encourage everyone seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit to seek the baptism on Scriptural terms, fully expecting to speak in tongues when they receive. Those who ask the question, "Do i have to speak in tongues?" make it sound as if they are being asked to swallow an unpleasant dose of medicine. their question indicates they believe tongues is something to be endured rather the enjoyed! Speaking in tongues is a blessed experience! It is a joy and privilege to be able to communicate with the Lord in this new and exciting manner. Someone has rightly said, "You don't have to speak in tongues, you get to!" Or, as Dr. David du Plessis comments, "You don't have to, but you will."

Any person receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit can, from the moment he accepts the Holy Spirit into his life in this new and powerful way, speak in tongues. Sometimes, one receiving the baptism may refuse - because of shyness or fear or false teaching - to yield his tongues and lips at the moment he receives the Spirit and so is robbed of this blessings for days or even weeks. But time again, we have heard the testimony of such persons upon eventually yielding and receiving tongues. They admit that had they not resisted or backed away, they would have spoken in tongues the moment they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

What is "speaking in tongues?" [top]

Speaking or praying in tongues is a form of prayer in which the Christian yields himself to the Holy Spirit and receives from the Spirit a supernatural language with which to praise God. It is a miraculous manifestations of God's power, but one which combines both human and divine initiative. It is truly a cooperation between the Christian and the Holy Spirit. Many people misunderstand what takes place when they hear someone praying or speaking in tongues. They are apprehensive over what might happen to them if they "let themselves go like that" or "let some other power take over." They assume the person is completely passive and that the Holy Spirit is doing it all. This is a completely erroneous impression of what is taking place. The person himself is very actively participating in the experience. As someone bluntly put it, "Without the Holy Spirit you can't, but without you the Holy Spirit won't."

Stated in the simplest way: Man does the speaking while the Holy Spirit furnishes the words. Acts 2:4 says, "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as Spirit gave them utterance." a free translation might read, "they... began to speak as the Spirit gave them words to say." Speaking in tongues is a way of praying which liberates the spirit within and strengthens the Christian in a wonderful manner. The primary purpose of it is for use in one's own devotional life. Careful restrictions are placed upon its public use. (see Corinthians 14:18-19, 27-28).

Why should I speak in tongues? [top]

The most obvious answer to this question is that the Scripture encourage it. Jesus said it was one of the signs which was to follow the ministry of Christians; "And these signs will accompany those who believe... they will speak in new tongues..." (Mark 16:17). And Paul, while recognizing the need for propriety in the public manifestation of tongues, nevertheless urges Christians to receive and make use of this significant gift. "Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts... Now i want you to all to speak in tongues.. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all..." (1 Corinthians 14:1,5,18). As the late Reverend Samuel Shoemaker observed, "The Christian needs every gift God offers."

The willingness to yield our tongues to God may also indicate a more profound surrender than almost any other act. The tongue is the primary instrument of expression of the human personality, and until God has dominion over the tongue, His control over us is relatively slight.

"So the tongue is little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is unrighteous world among world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and had been tamed by humankind, but no human can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison" - James 3:5-8.

In addition, experience shows that prayer in tongues, which the scriptures also refer to as "prayer in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:14-15, Ephesians 6:18), enables us to pray with an ability and authority not our own. We do not always know how to pray in given situation, but holding the need up to the Father, we pray in tongues, knowing that our prayers are guided by the Holy Spirit.

When, we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God... Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God - Romans 8:15-16, 26-27.

Why speak in tongues? Because it grants the Christians a freedom in prayer which enables him to praise God extravagantly, beyond the limiting confines of known speech. Our Lord had nothing but praise for those who worshiped Him extravagantly or served or trusted him extravagantly; the poor widow who gave God all the money she had (Luke 21:1-4), the Roman centurion and his tremendous faith in Jesus' healing power (Matthew 8:5-13) and Mary, who was extravagant in her devotion in anointing Him with precious ointment (john 12:3). Yet, many of us are so stingy and pinched in our relationship with God that any real freedom can come through praying in tongues.

It may help also to realize that there are strong Biblical reasons for speaking in tongues. Dr. Henry Ness, in his booklet "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit," lists twenty Bible reason for speaking in tongues:

1. Speaking with tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance is the unique spiritual gift identified with Church of Jesus Christ. Prior to the day of Pentecost, all other gifts, miracles, and spiritual manifestations had been in evidence during the Old Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, this new phenomenon came into evidence and became uniquely identified with the Church (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12-14).

2. Speaking with tongues was ordained by God for the Church (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:21).

3. Speaking with tongues is a specific fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 28:11, 1 Corinthians 14:21, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-18).

4. Speaking with tongues is a sign OF the believer (John 7:38-39, Mark 16:17).

5. Speaking in tongues is a sign TO the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22).

6. Speaking with tongues is a proof of the resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ (John 16:7, Acts 2:22-24, 32-33).

7. Speaking with tongues is an evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, 19:6).

8. Speaking in tongues is a means of preaching to men of other languages (Acts 2:6-11).

9. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for self edification (1 Corinthians 14:4).

10. Speaking with tongues is a gift for spiritual gift for the church (1 Corinthians 14:5).

11. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for communication with God in private worship (1 Corinthians 14:2).

12. Speaking with tongues is a means by which the Holy Spirit intercedes through us in prayer (Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:14).

13. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for "singing in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:18-19).

14. The apostle Paul was thankful to God for the privilege of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18).

15. The apostle Paul desired that all would speak with tongues (1Corinthians 14:5).

16. Speaking with tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10).

17. The apostle Paul ordered that speaking with tongues should not be forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:39).

18. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a "rest" (Isaiah 28:12, 1 Corinthians 14:21).

19. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a "refreshing" (Isaiah 28:12, 1 Corinthians 14:21).

20. Speaking with tongues follows as a confirmation of the Word of God when it is preached (Mark 16:17, 20).

Is the desire to speak in tongues uncontrollable? [top]

Through erroneous teaching, many people have been led to believe that the Holy Spirit "makes people do things they don't want to do." They seem to assume that the human will and personality are completely shoved aside, or that they are powerless in the grip of the Holy Spirit, and are quite surprised to learn how gentle the Holy Spirit is in His dealings with us.

Speaking in tongues is a method of prayer and praise, and the one doing the praying is a much in control of his speaking as he is when he is praying in English, i.e. je starts or stops at will and decides if and when he is to speak. The scriptures make this obvious since Paul gives the Corinthians Christians clear instructions as to when and where to speak in tongues, advice which would have been useless unless the person himself has complete control.

If any speak in tongues, let there be only two or at most three, and each turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to these verses make it plain that it is up to the person to decide whether he speaks or not and - if he decides to speak in tongues- whether or not it will be out loud or only to himself.

Therefore, we see the desire to speak in tongues is never uncontrollable.

Do you know what you are saying when you speak in tongues? [top]

No, not unless you are given the interpretation by the Holy Spirit. The "other tongues" which the 120 began to speak at Pentecost were unknown to them but recognizable to the amazed listeners who, according to the Scripture, were devout Jews from "every nation under heaven."

"And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God" - Acts 2:7-8, 11.

So, not only did the 120 know the languages with which they were praising God, but the amazed listeners knew they didn't know what they are saying. For them, this was a proof of the miraculous nature of the experience.

When we are worshiping in the Spirit or praying in tongues in our private devotions, there is generally no need for interpretation. This form of prayer is not exercised for the benefit of the intellect. Paul says, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful (1 Corinthians 14:14)." The Holy Spirit knows the content of our prayer for He inspires it; there is no need for us to understand. It is enough to know that God does.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words... because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God"- Romans 8:26-27.

No. not unless you let it. Twenty, even ten years ago, the chances would have been much grater that you would have felt compelled to change churches. Around the turn of the century, when the baptism in the Holy Spirit began a blaze up in the church, many persons receiving it found themselves ostracized from their own congregations. this very fact led to the establishment of many of the present-day Pentecostal denominations. To day, however, it is widely recognized that Pentecost is not a denomination but an experience; an experience of God's power which is being received by people in all denominations.

It is true, however, that over-zealousness or over eagerness in wanting to share your experience may tend to alienate you from some of your church friends. If you are to be faithful witness to What God is doing in your life, a certain amount of this estrangement seems inevitable. But a gentle witness, filled with love, plus a determined effort to avoid all evidence of spiritual pride, tends to meet little opposition. And the joy which this precious relationship with Jesus brings far outweighs any criticism which may come our way.

The only righteousness available to you and me is the righteousness imputed to us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. "For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law" (Romans 3:28). The old heresy of salvation by works often rears its ugly head to rob the Christian of God's promised gifts. What Paul says about Israel is true of many well-meaning church members today who are relaying on their good behavior to save them.

It is not our good works but our faith in Jesus Christ which saves us. Redemption is ours, not by trying, but by trusting. In the same manner, it is by simple trust in God's promise, and not by striving to be "worthy," that we receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we here people say, "Well, I'm just waiting until God decides to give me the Holy Spirit," or, "God will baptize me with the Holy Spirit when He decides I'm worthy." Such people could not be more mistaken! They are being robbed of God's blessing by their own ignorance. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is immediately available to all who humble and sincerely ask in faith.

Obviously, there are many hindrances if one is not in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Unconfessed sin, unchristian attitudes or practices, involvement in religious cults that deny the divinity of Christ, fear, or an unforgiving spirit, all severe hindrances. But i am assuming that this question comes from one who is a Christian in a right relationship with the Lord and who earnestly desires to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Experience shows that there are two major hindrances which block receptivity to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The first is scriptural ignorance. For years the Biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit has been glossed over or ignored by our ministers and Bible teachers. Most Christians are still in the dark concerning what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and His power. Once the same amount of study has been given to the Scriptures dealing with the baptism in the Holy Spirit as the Scripture dealing in water, we will have much more helpful literature on the subject. People will not ask for spiritual power they do not know exists. Many of us are still like the Ephesians disciples who told Paul, "No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit" (Acts 19:2).

The other major hindrance is fear of what others may think or say - fear of public opinion. Until we want the Holy Spirit more than we want of approval of our fellow church members; until we want the power of God more than we want respectability; until we are so spiritual hungry we don't really care what other people think, we may no find ourselves very receptive. Most of us have wanted God on our terms and have steadfastly refused to let Him have us on His terms. For this reason, we find it difficult to move into new spiritual experiences. Many people seem to arrived at the conclusion that speaking in tongues is somehow improper for good, orthodox church members. Perhaps the basic question we need to ask ourselves is whether we want to be prim, proper and powerless, or faithful, yielded and powerful. It seems well-nigh impossible to be both.

There are two basic ingredients involved in the baptism in the Holy Spirit: the readiness of our Lord Jesus to baptize the believer, and the desire and readiness of the Christians to receive the baptism. If you are ready to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, this chapter is especially for you. I suggest that first you read the entire article, then at your own appointed time, in the privacy of your prayer corner, reread the article, carefully in the Holy Spirit with the miracle of praising God in a new language becomes your own joyous possession. Praise God, He is faithful and will not let your desire go unfulfilled. Are you ready?

1. Find a time and a place for quiet prayer and meditation: While it helps to be in the presence of a group of Spirit-filled Christians who can instruct, encourage and pray with you, such a fellowship is not essential. You may receive in your own home. Just fine a place where you can be quiet and undisturbed for a period of prayer and wait upon the Lord. The physical surroundings are not important as long as you can be quiet and comfortable. You may sit or kneel or take whatever position that will encourage your sense of reverence and spiritual expectancy.

The (Jesus) made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves ; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking in the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified , saying "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "take heart, it is I; have no fear."

When Peter saw Jesus approaching on the water he said, "Lord, if it is you. bid me come..." Peter wanted assurance that the miracle he sought was accordance with the will of God for His life. Many people today ask, "How do I know it's God's will that I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?" The scriptures you reread about the baptism make it abundantly clear that the Lord does desire to bestow this gift on every Christian. So accept His will for you in this matter with joy and anticipation, know that His invitation applies to " you and to your children and to all that are far off" (Acts 2:39).

At this point, you may actually feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, physically. His presence may come as a warmth enveloping you, or as a silent powerful Presence enfolding you. You may experience a tingling sensation or a gentle vibration as if touched by an electrical current. But even if you feel nothing, rest quietly in the confidence that the Holy Spirit is now coming upon you in power and is about to furnish you with a new language of prayer and praise to God.

5. Receive and speak the language the Holy Spirit gives: This is the point where your faith and trust must resolve themselves into action. In the Biblical story of Peter's miracle, this is the point where Peter acted boldly and in faith, even as you must. The Scripture simply states, "So Peter go out of the boat and walked..." These few words hold the key! They reveal how the miracle took place, and when you understand this, you have in your hand the key to speaking in tongues.

Before the miracles of God could take place, Peter had to do his part. But peter didn't do anything supernatural, he just stepped out of the boat and began to walk - just as he would have had the boat been pulled up on shore. It was an act of faith and courage, but it was a purely human act. Then, when Peter acted in faith, God moved supernaturally to perform the miracle. As Peter walked, God held the water firm under his feet. Read the story carefully. God didn't lift Peter out of the boat and float him across the waves. Peter walked naturally while God held him up supernaturally. If Peter had waited for power of God to lift him out of the boat and float him across the waves to Jesus, he would still be in the boat today!

So it is with the miracle of speaking in tongues. The miracle is not that you speak; you do your own speaking just like Peter did his own walking. You are to step out with you own lips and voice, just as Peter stepped out with his own legs and feet. The miracles, comes when, as you open your mouth to speak, you trust God to furnish you with a new and unknown tongue. Peter walked - and trusted God to hold the water firm under his feet. You are to speak, trusting God to give you a new language with which to praise Him. Lift up you voice in faith, trusting that as you begin to speak, it will be in a new and beautiful language you have never heard before.

... to be continued.