WHEN BAPTIST FOLK GET FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

{Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?}

PENTECOST AFTER PENTECOST

Acts 19:1-7 (NLT)
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

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ARE YOU SAVED BUT FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING FROM YOUR LIFE?

The Bible Way to Receive The Holy Spirit

In the first chapter of Acts, just before Jesus ascended on high, we see this great scene: "And, being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4-5).

And then on the day of Pentecost: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).

Many years ago, as a young denominational pastor reading the New Testament, the Holy Spirit enlightened me and I was convinced that if I received the same Holy Ghost they received, I would have the same initial sign they had - the Bible evidence - speaking with tongues. I wasn't satisfied with anything else.

Speaking with tongues is not the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Ghost is not the speaking with tongues. But they go hand in hand.

Believers Filled in Samaria
The events in the Book of Acts cover a number of years. Eight years after the day of Pentecost we see Philip carrying the gospel to the people of Samaria:

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.... But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:5-8,12).

These scriptures helped me to see that there is an experience subsequent to salvation called receiving the Holy Ghost. I had been taught that when you are saved you have the Holy Ghost - which is true in a sense. But my denomination taught you had all the Holy Ghost there was. It is important to note that all believers have a measure of the Holy Spirit but all believers are not baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of Speaking in Tongues.

Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). These Samaritans believed and were baptized (Acts 8:12). Were they saved? According to Jesus they were.

There is a work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, but that is not called receiving the Holy Ghost - that is called being born-again, receiving Eternal Life. There is an experience following salvation called receiving, or being filled with the Holy Ghost.

When the apostles at Jerusalem heard of the wonderful things God had done through Philip's ministry in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new converts that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:14-17).

Now some who object to speaking with tongues argue that the Bible doesn't mention the Samaritans spoke with tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. But - it doesn't say they didn't! Students of church history know that the early church fathers agree they did speak with tongues in Samaria.

And it also seems apparent from this passage that they did speak with tongues for: "And when Simon (the sorcerer - see verse nine) saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:18).

"When Simon saw...." the Word says. You can't see the Holy Ghost. He is a Spirit and cannot be seen with the physical eye. There had to be some physical sign whereby Simon would know they had received the Holy Ghost - something which would register on Simon's senses. All evidence indicates the sign manifested was speaking in tongues.

Believers Filled in Cornelius' Household
About ten years after the day of Pentecost the Word tells us about Peter's going to Cornelius' house to carry the gospel: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46).

Reading the entire account of this we see how an angel appeared to Cornelius and told him to send to Joppa, and to inquire in the house of a certain individual for Simon Peter, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." Neither Cornelius nor his household was saved. They were Jewish proselytes. A person can't be saved without hearing the gospel. They didn't know about Jesus. So Peter preached to them. They believed while they were standing there and were born again as Peter preached. Then they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues before he finished his message.

Notice that it was the speaking with tongues that convinced Peter's company that these Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. The Jewish believers were astonished that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles.

Believers Filled in Ephesus
Then 20 years after the day of Pentecost, Paul journeyed to Ephesus. There he met some believers and introduced to them the Person of the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul have passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.... And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:1-3,6).

As we see from the verses above, these believers at Ephesus had never heard about the Holy Ghost. But when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues. Every one of them - without waiting, without praising, without tarrying-was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.

Paul's Infilling of the Spirit
Paul, who laid hands on these folks, was previously known as Saul of Tarsus. The account of his experience of receiving the Holy Ghost is found in the ninth chapter of Acts.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.... And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:10-12,17).

Saul, later to be known as Paul, received the Holy Ghost immediately. He didn't have to tarry or wait. He received instantly.

"But it doesn't say he spoke with tongues," someone might object. It is true it doesn't say it specifically right here. But Paul himself said that he spoke with tongues. He said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18). We know he didn't start talking with tongues before he received the Holy Ghost. It shouldn't be too difficult to figure out when he started. He started when he received the Holy Ghost, just as the rest of us did, for the tongues go along with it.

Speaking with tongues is an initial supernatural sign or evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling. It is the beginning of it all. I have found in my own life that the more I pray and worship God in tongues, the more manifestation of other gifts of the Spirit I have. The less I talk in tongues, the less manifestation I have.

Speaking with tongues is the door into the rest of the spiritual gifts.

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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GIFT OF TONGUES
Bible Text Mark 16:15-18

"Speaking with tongues has nothing to do with linguistic ability; it has nothing to do with the mind or the intellect of man. It is a vocal miracle!"

Central Truth: Divers kinds of tongues is supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker, not understood by the mind of the speaker, nor necessarily always understood by the hearer.

Our study now brings us to the gift of tongues, or “divers kinds of tongues.” The Scripture says, “…to another divers kinds of tongues…” (1 Cor. 12:10). The word, “divers” is italicized in the King James Version, which means it was added by the translator. Actually, the verse reads, “…to another, kinds of tongues…” Later in this same chapter, Paul said that God set in the Church “diversities of tongues” (v.28). Therefore, it would be acceptable to say “divers kinds of tongues,” or different kinds of tongues.

Divers kinds of tongues is supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker, not understood by the mind of the speaker, nor necessarily understood by the hearer. Speaking with tongues has nothing to do with linguistic ability; it has nothing to do with the mind or the intellect of man. It is a vocal miracle!

The gift of tongues is the most prominent of the three vocal gifts or as they are sometimes called, gifts of utterance or inspiration – the gift of prophecy, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the gift of tongues is the best. But it is the most prominent for several reasons.

WHY ARE TONGUES EMPHASIZED IN SOME CIRCLES?

A question asked by some denominational people is, "Why do you Full Gospel people emphasize tongues?" The answer is, "We do not!" There are a number of reasons why it seems that we do.

1. We are often asked about tongues, and are therefore drawn into discussions about the subject.

2. Speaking in tongues is always manifested when people are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

3. Utterance in tongues in a public assembly is the least of the gifts, and is therefore the most widely distributed and most frequently used gift.

4. The gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues is distinctive to this dispensation. We see all the other gifts of the Spirit -- the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, discerning of Spirits, special faith, working of miracles, gifts of healings, and prophecy -- in operation in the Old Testament. In the ministry of Jesus we see all the gifts of the Spirit in operation except tongues and interpretation. The gift of speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues are distinctive to the dispensation in which we live. Therefore, they are more in use.

5. Paul gave prominence to tongues. The reason he did was because then, as now, speaking with tongues was widely misunderstood.

TONGUES A SUPERNATURAL SIGN

Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall speak with new tongues…” One preacher, endeavoring to explain this, said, “This just means that a fellow who used to curse, and tell lies and vulgar jokes doesn’t do that anymore; he speaks with a new tongue.” This argument, however is a little thin, because in reading the entire passage we see that every one of the signs mentioned here by Jesus is a supernatural sign!

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV)

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

No thinking person would doubt that if four of these signs are supernatural, surely the fifth would be too. Therefore, one reason we speak in tongues is because Jesus said this is a sign which will follow believers. It is the scriptural evidence; that this is, IT IS THE INITIAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

One preacher disagreed with this saying, “John the Baptist was full of the Holy Ghost and he didn’t speak with tongues. Prophets of the Old Testament had the Holy Ghost, but they never spoke with tongues.”

I replied, “Yes, but we are not living under the Old Testament Covenant.”

What happened back then is an example for us now. We desire the Holy Spirit in operation in our lives, according to the dispensation in which we live. Therefore, we have to start with the Acts of the Apostles. We can’t go back to the Old Covenant, because we are not living there.

John the Baptist was a prophet under the Old Covenant. Jesus Himself said concerning John, “…Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matt. 11:11).

In this dispensation, we have a better covenant established on better promises (Heb.8:6), and particularly in the area of the Holy Spirit.

TONGUES – A DEVOTIONAL GIFT

We need to put the emphasis on tongues where the emphasis belongs. Tongues is primarily a devotional gift.

When Paul wrote the Church at Corinth, “I thank God, I speak with tongues more than ye all! (1 Cor. 14:18), he was giving them the purpose of tongues and explaining what speaking in tongues would do for them. Tongues is primarily a devotional gift to be used in our prayer life in the praise and worship of God.

Paul was teaching that only a few believers will be used in what we call the public ministry of tongues, because he said in First Corinthians 12:30, “do all speak with tongues?” SOME TAKE THIS OUT OF CONTEXT AND SAY, “SPEAKING IN TONGUES ISN’T FOR EVERYONE! You can be filled with the Spirit without speaking in tongues.” However, we must remember that Paul is talking about the [public] ministry of the gift of tongues, because he began by saying, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28).

Then Paul asked, “Are all apostles, [No, all are not.] Are all prophets? [They are not.] Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? [No, they do not.] Do all speak with tongues [in the use of tongues in public ministry] the obvious answer is no. But again, Paul is here talking about the public ministry.

We should not be too concerned about our ministering in tongues and interpreting [in public ministry]. We should be primarily concerned with maintaining tongues in the place where they principally belong – as a devotional gift to assist us in the worship of God.

Howard Carter said, “We must not forget that the speaking with other tongues is not only the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, it is a continual experience for the rest of a believer’s life, to assist [him or her] in worship of God. It is a flowing stream that should never dry up, and that will enrich the life spiritually.”

It seems to me Paul was saying, that he never used tongues publically, because he said, “I thank God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in this church….” (1 Cor. 14:18, 19). This seems to indicate that Paul’s speaking in tongues wasn’t done in the church. Paul confirmed, “Yet in the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (v. 9).

What he was emphasizing [in this verse] is that tongues is not a teaching gift or a preaching gift. This is not its purpose. If I were to speak in tongues in the pulpit for an hour instead of teaching, it wouldn’t edify the congregation at all. It would edify me, but not the hearers. Therefore, it is more profitable that I teach in a known language in the church.

THE USE OF TONGUES IN PUBLIC MINISTRY

God will use some people in public utterance in tongues, but that is a gift and is not intended for everyone. (This is the mistake the Corinthians were making and one we often make).

Discussing public ministry in tongues, Paul said, “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. (1 Cor. 14:27, 28). In the Greek the words “two” and “three” are personal pronouns and refer to people.

Paul is simply saying that not more than two or three people [being used in the public ministry of tongues] should speak in service. In the next verse, he said, “Let the prophets speak two or there…” There may be more prophets present who could speak but in any service only two or three of them should speak.

We need to be very careful to walk softly before the Lord. We need to remain open to Him as we walk quietly, honorably, and reverently about spiritual matters. And we need to invite the operation of the Spirit of God among us.

Memory Text: “And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall speak with new tongues. –Mark 16:17
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THE APOSTLE'S PRAYER FOR MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT [THAT CONFIRM THE WORD], ENDURANCE, AND UNITY WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST

My prayer is that God, who is generous in gifts, will enrich your Church with spiritual gifts [the 9 gifts of the Spirit as spoken of in 1 Cor. 12:1-11], of eloquence and every kind of knowledge, for this confirms that everything I told you about Christ is true. My prayer is that you will be endowed with every kind of spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. For I am confident that He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. I am confident that God will surely do this for you, for He always does just what He says. He is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with His Son, Jesus our Lord. Finally brethren, I pray that you will stop arguing amongst yourselves and that you will let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I pray that you will be of one mind, united in thought and purpose (1 Cor. 1:4-10).
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An Excerpt from Apostle Terry Angel Mason's New Book:
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SERIES
(Everything you wanted to know about the 9 Gifts of the Spirit but few could answer)
Book Link: https://www.facebook.com/143066979149050/photos/a.143074135815001.2...
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ALSO SEE:
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SERIES
Taught by Apostle Terry Angel Mason
(Everything you wanted to know about the 9 Gifts of the Spirit but few could answer)
Book Link: https://www.facebook.com/143066979149050/photos/a.143074135815001.2...
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AUDIO MESSAGE FROM APOSTLE MASON
{Ye Shall Receive Power}
Audio Sermon Link: http://alovesong.podomatic.com/entry/2007-08-18T19_08_28-07_00

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