RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

 

 THE COMFORTER IS COME.

1. THE VALUE AND USE OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

2. How to receive a mighty baptism in the Holy Spirit.

3. After the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

4. The gifts of the Holy Spirit in Church History.

INTRODUCTION.

God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh as He promised to do before the great and notable day of our Lord's second coming. It gives one great joy to hear that many thousands of God's children in every denomination are receiving the baptism in the Spirit with speaking with other tongues as on the day of Pentecost. Acts.2v4, 16v23,32-40.

However, there is great consternation in some Christian circles, for the experience of the baptism in the Spirit with speaking with other tongues and the other gifts of the Spirit are looked upon by some with suspicion. Indeed, some view Pentecostal Christians in the same light as such heretics as Modernists, Spiritists, Jehovah's Witnesses Mormons, etc. However this charge will not bear the slightest examination, Pentecostal Christians are usually the most Scriptural, consecrated, evangelical, sacrificial and godly Christians that anyone can find. They believe in the inspiration and the infallibility of the Scriptures and that these Scriptures teach the virgin birth, true deity, compassionate humanity, sinless life, atoning death, victorious resurrection, high priestly ministry and glorious coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Indeed, every doctrine that the Scripture and the evangelical Christian holds as "fundamental" and "precious" is held by Pentecostal Christians, and their claim that the Scriptural evidence and support for a present day Pentecostal experience is absolutely unassailable. The critics of a Pentecostal experience are driven to a pathetically superficial misinterpretation of the Scriptures to justify their unbelief.

To strengthen their weak arguments some have felt it necessary to magnify out of all proportion the excesses of a small minority of "Pentecostal failures" or "fringe fanatics" of the Pentecostal experience. But what Christian group has had no spiritual failures? Even the apostolic band could be looked upon as "not of God" by this method of examination. Christ was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter and forsaken by all, and the Bible tells us of many good men who have failed God. Some Christians at Corinth were "Pentecostal failures," but though their lives were deplorable Paul recognises them as God's children and their spiritual gifts as genuine. 1Cor.1v2,7. 3v1-3. Are we to judge the faithful by the failures of the faithless? What kind of justice is that? I do not judge anti-Pentecostal Christians by their spiritual wrecks, indeed, the Bible tells me to sorrow over the fall of a brother and help to restore him. Gal.6v1. Christians who are filled with the love of God do not compile a catalogue of evil, or statistics of evil for the vilification of a fellow Christians. 1Cor.13v5. Mt.5v44-48. Let the tree be judged by its good fruit, not by the fruit that has gone bad, and let the critics remember that Jesus warned that it was very dangerous blasphemy to ascribe the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Mk.3v22-30. We ask, Can Satan be divided against himself? Can Satan possess a person who is born of the Spirit and washed in the blood of Jesus? Never! Never! Jesus promised that this was impossible. Lk.11v9-13. 1Jn.5v18. An apostate Christian may become possessed, but not a Christian who is walking in the light.

We do not over-emphasise the gift of tongues and spiritual gifts, we just give them the place that the Scripture tell us to. It is the critics that say, and quite incorrectly, that this is our only theme, but this is the hobby horse of the critics, for though the Scriptures show that the Pentecostal experience has an important place in the Scriptures, it is Christ that is to have the pre-eminence in all things. Col.1v18. It is the attacks of the critics that drive us to defend the Pentecostal truths that are so precious to us. I hope that this booklet will help to correct some of the unscriptural teaching about the baptism in the Spirit and the gift of tongues that is being taught today. I also pray that these studies will be a blessing to all that read them and that through them many Christians may come to experience their Pentecostal heritage.   W. H. Turner.  January 26th. 2001.

1. THE VALUE AND USE OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

We will now consider the value and use of the gift of tongues as shown by the Word of God and Christian experience. The gift of tongues is the supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to speak in a tongue that is unknown to the speaker. The primary purpose of this gift is devotional; it is intended to be a divine aid to the prayer life. For though this gift can be used by God to speak to people in their own language, the person who speaks in an unknown tongue almost always "Speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands him." 1Cor.14v2. The gift of tongues can also be used by the Holy Spirit to give a message to the Church when it is accompanied by the gift of interpretation. However, only a small percentage of those who speak with tongues have the ministry in the Church of "divers kind of tongues," 1Cor.12v10., and this is what Paul is referring to in 1Cor.12v30., when he asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" It is a proven fact that only a comparatively small percentage of Spirit-filled Christians speak in a tongue that is for interpretation in the Church. The failure to distinguish between tongues that are for private edification and tongues that are to be interpreted for the Church, has caused some critics of the Pentecostal experience to seize upon 1Cor.12v30. as an excuse for not speaking in tongues. However, Paul in 1Cor.12v27-31., is speaking of ministries that God has set in the Church to build up the Church, he is speaking of ministries in the body of Christ. The gift of tongues that is interpreted and ministers to the needs of the Church is an enlargement of the ability to speak in a tongue or tongues, which a Christian receives when they receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

N.B. The apostle Paul places the following limitations on the use of the gift of tongues.

1. The aim in a Church should be public, not private edification. Therefore, we should curtail excessive speaking in tongues and seek God for a prophecy. 1Cor.14v5,18,19. We can use this gift in a Church but we should speak quietly to ourselves and to God. A background murmur in tongues is quite all right as long as it does not hinder others praying or prophesying, for Paul says in 1Cor.14v28. that speaking in tongues in the Church should generally be quietly between ourselves and God. However, on occasions the whole Church may break out in praise and worship and speak or sing in tongues. Acts.2v4. 10v44-46. 1Cor.14v15. This brings us to the second limitation upon this gift.

2. When the unconverted or unlearned in spiritual gifts are present, we must restrain loud outbursts in tongues.

If there is to be a public manifestation of the gift of tongues in such circumstances it should be by tongues and interpretation, and this is quite in order, however, Paul makes it quite clear that prophecy is by far the best gift to manifest under such circumstances. The prolonged noisy use of the gift of tongues when an "outsider" is in a meeting will almost invariably produce consternation and criticism, whereas the use of the gift of prophecy may result in the conviction and conversion of the "outsider." 1Cor.14v22-25. The gift of tongues is only a sign to the unbeliever when he can understand the language.

3. Utterances in a tongue in the Church that are for interpretation should be limited to three utterances. 1Cor.14v27,28.

If there is no interpreter in the Church there must be no public utterances, the person must speak to themselves and to God. If tongues are interpreted only one person should interpret each utterance even though several might be able to do so.

The reasons why some Christians do not want to speak in tongues.

1. Some Christians are ignorant of the great blessing that this great gift can bring.

They say, "What is the good of speaking with tongues? It is the least of the gifts." They feel that it is of real benefit. This attitude shows that a person is ignorant of the Scriptures on the subject, for the great benefits of this gift are clearly shown in the Scriptures. But even if a Christian does not know the benefits of this gift as they are revealed in the Scriptures, they should not question the wisdom of God in the giving of this gift. They should say, "My Heavenly Father has given this gift, so there must be some very good reason for it and some very profitable results of its manifestation, for God only gives good and perfect gifts." James.1v17. The gift of tongues may be the least important gift as regards to public ministry, but it is the greatest gift in relation to the devotional life and prayer life, which is the source of an anointed public ministry, so we can see that there is nothing little about the gift of tongues.

2. Some Christians love the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jn.12v42,43.

Many count the cost of losing their anti Pentecostal friends and so they reject this lovely gift of tongues. The young men who had dictated to the Lord, "We want the baptism in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues," were asked why they prayed in this manner, they replied that it was because tongues were unpopular. It is a sad thing that many Christians are choosing to please men more than God by despising and condemning the gift of tongues given by their Saviour and Heavenly Father. Acts.2v4,33.

3. Some Christians have a fear of the supernatural and they cannot trust God to give them " good gifts."

Just as Israel feared to enter Canaan because of the giants, some Christians cannot trust God to preserve them from the foes and dangers in the spiritual realm, so they prefer to stop in the wilderness instead of conquering their spiritual Canaan. Jesus stated that this attitude is due to lack of faith in our Heavenly Father's love and power. Mt.7v7-11. Lk.11v9-13. Heb.3 & 4. To say that speaking with tongues by a blood washed, Spirit-filled, Christian is "gibberish," or "of the Devil," is to come very close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Nothing could be further from the truth than to call speaking with tongues, "gibberish," those who have been able to understand the languages spoken, say that they are perfect. A ten-year-old girl named Irene Piper was enabled by the Holy Spirit to speak to a Chinese man in his own language. He was told that he was to come to Church and accept salvation. He said that "her accent was perfect, and her forms of speech were so exact that ten years study would not give the average Occidental such knowledge of the language."

Sometimes even Christians who have been filled with the Spirit and spoken in tongues doubt their experience because they seem to repeat again and again certain sentences or phrases in their unknown tongue. These Christians should realise that in their native tongue when they are praising the Lord they do not use an extensive vocabulary. Many Christians just say, "Praise the Lord," "Wonderful Jesus," etc., they do not use a great many words to express their worship and praise. Here is an extract from page 32 and 33 of W.F.P. Burton's book "Signs Following," which shows that on occasions the Holy Spirit may inspire us to speak only a few words, but that these words can reach the highest levels of praise and express the deepest devotion and love.

William Burton writes, "In 1921 the Pastor of a meeting in Toronto, Canada, confided in me, "Brother Burton, there is something I do not understand in our assembly. When the meeting is warmed up to a real fervency of Spirit a woman bursts out into an ejaculation. It never varies, and it seems to me like nonsense. She says in a kind of intonation 'Kalombooo Vidye. Vidyeeee Kalombo.' I don't like to stop her. What would you do about it?' I said, 'Oh, do let me hear it, brother. That is an expression used by our natives in highest respect to their big chiefs.' On my return to Lubaland I was much struck by the monotonous regularity with which the village counsellors keep up an exited 'Kalombo Vidye,' in reverence to their chiefs during sessions of the court, and one can well understand both what an ejaculation of loving worship it was on the woman's part and also how it might have puzzled her Pastor." End of quote.

A diligent use of the gift of tongues in the private prayer life will result in a very blessed and fluent use of this gift. On occasions the Holy Spirit will give a completely new language, which has all the phonetics and rhythm of a perfect and complete language. However, whether the Holy Spirit gives us many, or few words, to express our praise or prayer, the exercise of this lovely gift of tongues will bring great blessing. Let us now go on to consider the blessings that come through the manifestation of this gift of God the Holy Spirit. This will clearly show us why every Christian should desire to speak in tongues, and why God desires that every Christian should speak in tongues.

1. Speaking with tongues brings into play the highest faculty of the Christian, the spirit.

Christ said that we must worship God with our spirit if we are to worship Him acceptably; "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Jn.4v23,24. The most elaborate worship is only a dead form if the spiritual worship that Jesus spoke of is missing. However, the Holy Spirit, by the simple act of speaking with tongues enables us to worship God on the very highest level, it is truly acceptable worship. When the Holy Spirit enables us by this gift to magnify and bless God, and give Him the love and worship of our hearts, He enables us to do the greatest thing that a Christian can do. Acts.10v46. Mt.22v35-40. Mk.12v28-34. The worship of God is the greatest act of the creature, and the use of the gift of tongues enables us to worship God to the limit of our capacity. Eph.4v18. Rom.8v26,27.

We can also pray with our spirit as we speak in tongues, "If I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prays." 1Cor.14v14. We can sing with the spirit, "I will sing with the spirit." 1Cor.14v15. We can bless with our spirit, "Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit." 1Cor.14v16. So we can see that the gift of tongues enables us to worship God in spirit and in truth, the most important act of the Christian life; how then can the Christians who despise spiritual gifts call the gift of tongues, "The least of the gifts."

2. The gift of tongues brings into the personal life the ability of the Holy Spirit.

You are not limited by your own ability, God the Holy Spirit takes our needs, praise, prayer and desires, and the needs of other people and brings them to the Father. When we are praying in tongues we can pray for the deep needs which would shatter or overwhelm us if we knew them. Burdens that would be to great for us to bear, and which would worry or crush us if we knew them, can be brought to God and victory assured through praying with tongues. The gift of tongues is just as important in the personal prayer life as prophecy is in the Church. In the secret place tongues is the most important gift for personal edification, the youngest converts by this gift can build themselves up in their holy faith, and the most mature Christian also needs to build up their spiritual life by the use of this lovely gift of tongues. Jude.v20,21. 1Cor.14v4,18.

In 1Cor.13v1. Paul implies that it is possible for the Holy Spirit to speak in the tongues of angels. If an angelic tongue can express the praise and worship of a great angelic being living in the uncreated and eternal glory of the dazzling majestic presence of God, it can surely express the praise of the redeemed children of God living in this dark world. How wonderful to speak our praise on such a high plane. How wonderful to be freed from the limits of our own small vocabulary and limited eloquence into the excellence and eloquence of earthly and even heavenly languages by the aid of the Holy Spirit. A gift that is of such importance in the prayer life of the Christian should not be disparaged or termed little, least, or unimportant.

3. The gift of tongues nourishes the spirit with Divine truth.

The gift of tongues is a stone of stumbling to many Christians; it is a tragedy that they are not grateful for their Heavenly Father’s provision. Some people have said that the gift of tongues is the least of the gifts, and that it is "infant prattling" and not for mature Christians. The apostle Paul, 24 years after his conversion, was speaking in tongues more than the verbose Corinthians, and he was certainly not immature. 1Cor.14v18. We are told that when we speak in tongues we speak "mysteries," “musteria,” the hidden counsels and secrets of God that were once hidden, but which are now revealed in the Gospel to the children of God. Mt.13v11. Lk.8v10. Rom.11v25. 16v25. 1Cor.2v1,7. 4v1. 14v2. 15v51. Eph.1v9. 3v3,4,9. 5v32. 6v19. Col.1v26,27. 4v3. 2Thes.2v7. 1Tim.3v9. Rev.10v7. Ps.25v14..

Speaking in tongues is an exalted sphere of utterance, we speak hidden and exalted spiritual truths, the hearers at Pentecost called these "mysteries," "the wonderful works of God." They looked upon it as anything but "infant prattling." In 1Cor.13v11,12. Paul speaks of our present limited intellectual knowledge of the future Heavenly "mysteries" as "infant prattling," but he never refers to speaking in tongues in this way. Our minds are limited in their ability to appreciate spiritual and heavenly realities; our spirits are not limited in the same way. Speaking in tongues enables our spirits to appreciate and feed on spiritual realities and Divine mysteries, and our spirits grow through the spiritual truths and blessings that come to us through speaking with tongues. This bypasses and rests the mind, so that even when we are too tired to think upon truth with our minds, our spirits and souls are nourished by the use of this gift. See Is.28v11,12. with 1Cor.14v21.However, we must have Scripture truth for our minds, for we cannot grow in God if we neglect the Scriptures, its truths feed both our minds and spirits, so we should, "As new-born babes, for the pure milk that is for the mind eagerly crave, that thereby ye may grow unto salvation." 1Pet.2v2. Rotheram.

Here are two instances where people have actually heard Christians speaking of "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."

H. Horton tells on page 160 of his book "The Gifts of the Spirit" what a missionary in the Congo heard when he was present at the baptism in the Spirit of a young coloured man. The missionary was amazed to hear the young man speaking in perfect English and repeating Old Testament instances of creation and history. The young man did not know a word of English and what is more, nothing of the accounts of Scripture that he was repeating. The missionary left the hut to search for his wife so that she could witness this remarkable manifestation of the Spirit. When he returned with his wife the young man was still speaking in English and was speaking of the New Testament revelation concerning the second coming of Christ.

W.F.P. Burton gives an account of another inspiring incident that occurred at Mwanza in the Congo, on page 30, 31 of "Signs Following." When the Churches were getting spiritually cold it was their practice to gather the believers together for several days of prayer, ministry of the Word and waiting upon God. During one such occasion Mr. Burton was keeping "a quiet eye" on the meeting to make sure that there was no "undue excitement or extravagance," he was struck by the earnest expression of a young man named Ziba, who was obviously being deeply moved by the power of the Spirit moving upon the men gathered there. Mr. Burton quietly moved around to where the young man sat and was surprised and moved to hear Ziba speaking in perfect English of Christ's second coming to earth to reign and of the glories of His millennial kingdom. Ziba was a simple village lad without any knowledge of the English language, but here he was speaking in English without any ungrammatical expressions or any trace of foreign accent, and what he said was absolutely true to the Scriptures.

So we can see that when a person speaks in tongues inspired by the Holy Spirit they nourish their spirit with Divine truths and build themselves up spiritually. This is a good and lovely gift of God the Holy Spirit, and God ordained that we should have this gift and use it for our spiritual benefit. It is foolish and wrong to forbid Christians to speak with other tongues, 1Cor.14v39., for this is one of the good gifts given to us by our Heavenly Father.

4. Speaking in tongues brings into operation the other gifts of the Spirit.

Prayer in tongues builds up the spiritual life of the Christian to the place where they are able to manifest the other gifts of the Spirit. The greater a person's ministry is the more they need to speak in tongues. One internationally known evangelist found that miracles were getting fewer in his prayer lines, because he had been neglecting speaking with tongues.

After giving some remarkable instances of answers to prayer through intercession in tongues, on page 43 of his book "Spiritual Gifts,” W.V. Grant makes the following observation: "Even in revival services today when I go into a service without praying for hours in the Holy Ghost, (he means in tongues) I do not expect much, and cannot edify anyone.

5. Speaking with other tongues makes the Lord Jesus very precious to us,

Those who use this gift diligently in the secret place can testify that it really brings one close to the Lord Jesus, and deepens our love for Him. What a precious gift this is! If we have no other reason for desiring to speak in tongues this would be sufficient. Jn.16v13-15.

6. Speaking with tongues edifies the Church when it is interpreted. 1Cor.14v5.

An anointed message in tongues can bring a really wonderful blessing to a Christian meeting, and the interpretation can bring great comfort, solace and needful instruction. God has set this gift in the Church as a valuable means of public as well as private edification.

7. Speaking with tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Spirit. Acts.2v4. 10v45,46. 11v17. 19v6.

In the above outpourings of the Spirit, when Christians received the baptism of the Spirit they spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They received one common evidence that they had been baptised in the Spirit, speaking with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. With the exception of the outpouring at Ephesus we do not read of any other manifestations of the gifts, and there they prophesied after speaking with tongues. From humble housewives to mighty apostles the initial evidence of the baptism in the Spirit was speaking with tongues. At the baptism in the Spirit of these believers the Holy Spirit did not give the various gifts as the evidence of the baptism in the Spirit, He gave the gift of tongues to all. When Paul speaks in1Cor.12v11. of the gifts being given "severally as He will," he is referring to the manifestations of the Spirit in a Church meeting or the other activities of the Church. He is not speaking of the baptism in the Spirit, for at Pentecost, the house of Cornelius and Ephesus the gift given to all was the gift of tongues. In the other two cases in the Acts where it is stated that Christians received the baptism in the Spirit, Acts.8v14-20. 9v17., even non-Pentecostal commentators agree that what Simon saw, v18, was the Samaritan Christians speaking in tongues, and we know that Paul spoke in tongues from 1Cor.14v18..

To those who question that tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Spirit we would ask, "What other evidence can you supply from the Scriptures that will prove that a person is filled with the Spirit?" All the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, except the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues, were available, and were manifested, by the Old Testament prophets and the apostles before Pentecost. If a great ministry or many conversions were to be used as a claim for the possession of the baptism in the Spirit, John Baptist and the apostles could have claimed that they were baptised in the Spirit before Pentecost, however, Jn.7v39. assures us that this was not so. The Spirit was with them but not in them with His permanently abiding presence, they had not received the baptism of the Spirit. Jn.14v16,17.

Cornelius received words of wisdom, knowledge and a discerning of spirits before he was converted or baptised in the Spirit. Peter did not say that the household of Cornelius had received the Spirit because they were filled with joy, or were living sanctified lives, desirable as these are; Peter said they were unmistakably filled with the Holy Spirit because they had spoken in tongues like the 120 at Pentecost. Acts.10v1-6,43-48. 11v17,18. Joy, peace, sanctification or love for the brethren cannot be looked upon as a claim for being filled with the Spirit; these are the result of abiding in Christ and being led of the Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a conscious experience and should be an overwhelming experience, to be immersed in the almighty power of God the Holy Spirit should be just as real an experience and spiritually more uplifting than being baptised in water.

Speaking with tongues gives one unmistakable evidence that one is filled with the Spirit and it also enables one to express the "unutterable gushings" of praise, worship and adoration that fill the soul when one receives a mighty baptism in the Spirit. The other spiritual gifts and graces do not certify that a Christian has received a Pentecostal baptism in the Spirit, the only certain Scriptural proof of a Pentecostal baptism in the Spirit is a Pentecostal gift of tongues.

We do not always need a word of wisdom or a gift of healing, or some other gifts, however, we always need to build up our selves in our most Holy faith, and this is why after the baptism in the Spirit God enables us to manifest this gift whenever we desire to do so. The apostolic band did not quibble about the gift of tongues, or God's choice of it as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Spirit, they accepted it and rejoiced in the use of it, and all Christians should do the same. The only safe pattern of Christian experience is that written in the New Testament, the good and best can lead us far astray. God has given this lovely gift of tongues to His children and those who oppose this manifestation of the Holy Spirit are in spiritual peril, for they are fighting God. Paul desired that every Christian should receive their personal Pentecost and speak with other tongues. 1Cor.14v5. This must be the will of God or Paul would not have dared to say such a thing. Paul esteemed this gift very highly; he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than the verbose Corinthians. He was sad that Christians of his day were neglecting their Pentecostal heritage, and those of us who have received a Pentecostal experience are sad that many Christians are ignorant, neglecting, despising, or rejecting their Pentecostal heritage.

8. Tongues as a sign.

Speaking with tongues can be used by God as a sign to those who understand the languages. Though this is not the normal use of the gift of tongues it can produce remarkable results when God manifests this gift as a sign as He did on the day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit enables the Christian to speak with tongues in a known language it can convict and convert the sinner, and be a sign and encouragement to the believer. 1Cor.14v22. Acts.2v4-12. Mk.16v17-20.

The gift of tongues is not intended to replace the preaching of the Gospel, however on rare occasions God does use the gift of tongues to confirm the Gospel message by speaking in a language that the listener understands. This may expose the heart of the listener and reveal their need of salvation and the way of salvation, and this sign is intended to prepare the listeners for further preaching of the Gospel. The disciples at Pentecost spoke in tongues, which were unknown to themselves; but many listeners recognised the languages and were captivated and amazed at hearing the rapturous praise of God and His wonderful works. The tongues gained the attention of the people and prepared their hearts for the preaching of Peter.

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