THEY WERE ALL FILLED, THE STORY OF PENTECOSTAL POWER THROUGH THE AGES

Chapter 17

Why All the Talk About Tongues?

Pentecostal Tongues

Non-PENTECOSTALS that fear the unknown generally place tongues in a negative light. However, a more potent cause initiates the greatest alarm. This is the issue of new revelation. Today, Many Christian groups fear tongues and prophecy because they represent a new revelation. Such revelation is understood to devalue the Bible. Since the Biblical Cannon is complete, could new revelation ever be legitimate? Yes, otherwise who would be called into modern ministry? Who would be convicted of present sin? Who would have Christ revealed afresh and born into their heart?

Luther's New Revelation

The reformer Martin Luther explained that he had a "certain impulse" that inspired him to speak against the practices of the Roman Church. He later discovered that his impulse though received apart from the Bible fully agreed with the Scripture. This impulse was Gods sovereign leading and brought him into his great ministry of Reformation. God is still speaking today! Furthermore, Luther correctly foresaw and prophesied many events that would come to pass after his death!⁹⁰

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⁹⁰ Suppressed Evidences, --Thomas Boys, pp. 179-191

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Calvinistic New Revelation, Spirit Filled Presbyterians

Consider how that God's Spirit enlightens and calls us to follow Christ. (John 16:13) When the original Calvinists spoke of election they were not attempting to exclude anyone from God. Rather, they were acknowledging that the Spirit must draw each heart or finding God was hopeless. They understood that without the active conviction of the Holy Ghost salvation remained inaccessible. People that deny the need of fresh revelation do so to cover their personal lack. They are stopping their ears lest God's Spirit calls them to forsake hidden sin through repentance. These are hiding in dead religion and presumptuous hopes and thus walk the path of death.

In the old book Scots Worthies, spiritual gifts were common among early Presbyterians. This book recounts the Pentecostal gifts of healing, prophetic foretelling, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, working of miracles, appearances of Christ, palpable and audible visitations from heaven, raising of the dead, and divine judgments upon God's enemies. Only the gift of tongues were not mentioned. The early Presbyterians always spoke with understanding in their meetings to counter the error of the Catholics who always ministered in Latin. (The only thing that the Catholics did not do in Latin was to curse their enemies.) After centuries of babbling Latin the reformers rightly emphasized edification though prophetic foretelling, warning, and the expounding of the Word. Frankly, with all the greater gifts in full operation, there was no need to mention tongues that is understood to be a lesser spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 14:5)

Prophesying Baptists

Baptists were originally called Anabaptists meaning that they believed in another baptism. They practiced adult baptism based upon a personal confession of faith and not the "baby wetting" of the established churches. Their leaders were known as the bearded ones and lead their people in heart felt joyful worship. The Baptists had their beginnings in Bohemia and were spiritual descendants of the Pre-Reformation martyr John Huss. Huss' message did not perish in the flame. During the next one hundred years the Gospel increased in his followers. These living saints were also unaffectionately known as the original "Bohemians." In modern times this epithet has been used to describe many types of non-conformity.

Chapter Seven documents that both Huss and Janowsky prophetically foresaw events that arrived long after their deaths! Their prophecies were not the ranting of mystics or demon possessed fanatics. Huss and Janowsky were simply Born Again, Spirit filled believers! They were faithfully adhering to the Bible based gifts of the New Testament Church.

A Warning to All!

New revelation that contradicts Scripture leads to hell. All our thoughts, dreams, emotions, reasoning, and revelations must be submitted to the Word of God. No human facility stands above God's eternal Word. This is our final safety net and rock of sure standing.

Since we have the Sure Revelation why seek a fresh revelation?

Because, the Sure Revelation of Scripture teaches us to hear from God for ourselves!

Isaiah 30:21 "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

etc. etc. etc.

Hog-tied Preachers

In Old Testament times Israel had many false prophets and a few true prophets. People had to be cautious but at the same time not refuse God's true voice. Today, true prophets are told to judge prophecy. (I Cor. 14:29) Churches that have no prophetic gift or ministry are at a disadvantage when prophecy does occur. The listeners ask, "Is this word from God or simply the ravings of man?" Because of an inability to discern true and false prophecy many pastors shun all prophecy. Such fear effectively denies the Bible based ministry of the Holy Ghost to the body of Christ! We admonish all fearful ministers to:

1. Be born again by calling upon Christ.

2. Be sanctified by the Word and the Spirit. This will require prayer and Bible reading. Fruits of the Spirit will follow.

3. Be filled with the Spirit. This will also come through prayer and Bible reading but this infilling will be accompanied by spiritual gifts. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is for all today! (Acts 2:39)

4. Desire earnestly the best gifts. (I Cor. 12:31)

When you have progressed through each of these steps then you will understand prophecy and the other Pentecostal gifts. You will know the real from the false. Then you can stand in the pulpit, unashamed and without pretense. You will be one of God's prophets. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)

Special Instructions from Paul

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

vr. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself...

vr. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."

vr. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

vr. 15 "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Tongues for Personal Edification

The Holy Spirit is not optional in the Christian life. Being empty of the Holy Spirit leaves us like Samson with a "buzz cut." We thus become powerless, directionless, self centered, easily discouraged, fearful and starving for God. Many Christians fear the gift of tongues. They say, "In the church we should speak English or have an interpreter." OK, we will do that. However, does any one here only pray at Church? Shame, if that is true. We must all spend time before God and in obedience to His Word "pray in the Spirit." (I Cor. 14:15) I suspect that if God showed himself to most ministers or Christians they would be scared to death. This is because they are like stranger and are seldom in His presence. The gift of tongues will reverse this shortfall.

Paul tells us how that praying in spirit is to pray in tongues and praying in tongues is praying to God. Paul encourages us all to pray in tongues. As we pray in tongues the Spirit prays for needs we might not know about. Through prayer in the spirit we are personally edified and built up. When I am week, the spirit prays for me in the most effective way possible. I could never formulate the words he speaks in my behalf. Best of all the prayers of the Spirit are all according to God's will. So, I can pray in tongues and sing in tongues as personal devotion. (I Cor. 14:15) In the meeting I can make myself understood by the Spirit of Prophecy.

Tongues, A Mighty Weapon

Ephesians 6:

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your:

Loins girt about with truth

Breastplate of righteousness

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Sword of the spirit

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...

Are there six or seven parts to God's armor? If praying in the spirit (tongues 1 Corinthians 14:15-16) is not a part of armor than it is surly the life and power that moves the solder of God. We must pray in the spirit or we will be like Ezekiel's lifeless army. Without the Spirit we lie powerless before our enemy and will certainly fail in the day of conflict! We must be filled with the breath of God. This is why Satan hates tongues. Through the infilling of the Holy Ghost Satan receives a mighty wound.

God uses both prophecy and other tongues to fight the enemy of our soul. According to I Corinthians 14: praying in the spirit is praying in tongues. Praying in tongues is either our weapon or energy for fighting and overcoming Satan. This explains why the Devil fights the gift of tongues with such fervor. (Don't be his instrument!) The gift of tongues causes the Devil tremble in his cloven hooves. Tongues allow God to pray through us and puts the very prayers of Jesus in our mouth! (I Cor. 14:2, Romans 8:26-27, John 14:16-18)

Tongues, a Stumbling Stone

When God said he would take the foolish thing of the world and confound the wise the gift of tongues found its verse. The quickest way to find trouble is to speak in an unknown language. I have often felt sorry for foreigners on city busses as they tried to get help from a tired unsympathetic driver. Once, my dear wife nearly wore her lunch when she asked a Latin waitress for catsup by pointing at her hot dog while saying "mucho rojo."(much red) The waitress was only appeased when she discovered that we were requesting catsup rather than complaining about the hot dog's color.

Unfortunately, the gift of tongues have been misunderstood by many. Isaiah was correct when he predicted that tongues, though a sign from God, would not convince the listener. (Isaiah 28:11-12 + 1 Corinthians 14:21-22) Remember that the prophets similarly foresaw Messiah's rejection and crucifixion. Are those that now renounce tongues and the gifts of the spirit following the lead of the Jewish Sanhedrin? Are today's Christian leaders refusing the Holy Spirit in the same way that the Scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus? Must the Scripture again be buried beneath a mound human prejudice, unbelief and fear? No! Many are believing and receiving for this is the day of the latter rain!

Tongues, A Sign of the Last Days

Acts 2:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Joel 2:

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

According to Peter the latter days commenced when the Holy Ghost was sent from heaven! We still live in those last days and thus the Holy Ghost is also promised to us. Everyone is eligible to receive this blessing. Including: servants, slaves, young girls and little boys, old men and kings. Only a proud and unbelieving heart will disqualify us. The question still rings, "Have you receive the Holy Ghost since you believed?"

There were wonders in the heavens before the destruction of the old Jewish Temple. There will also be wonders in the last days before Jesus comes to judge the wicked nations. There was a restoration in old Israel after the Babylonian captivity. Today a wonderful restoration of the Church is taking place. The Holy Ghost is being poured out in mighty measure over the whole earth! Although, God always had His witness and has always blessed men by his spirit; for centuries the earth was held captive by a false religious system. Today, God has reversed over a millennium of captivity and the Holy Ghost is going everywhere to herald the soon coming of Jesus ! Today's Holy Ghost revival clearly heralds the end of the age! (Matthew 24:14)

Tongues, A Good Start, The Initial Evidence

How can A believer know when he has been Baptized in the Holy Spirit? This was an unresolved issue in Holiness Awakening during the late 1800s. The outward manifestations of the Spirit were varied while the inner joy was "unspeakable and full of glory." Thus, few could agree on which manifestation marked the Baptism of the Spirit. The same Spirit of God is still showering down today! Some ask: "When the God of heaven reaches down and touches my heart in love, and waves of His Spirit waft me to the outer regions of heavenly Jerusalem, is this not the Baptism of Acts? When I come to the altar and weep tears of repentance, and sweep away in the flood of joy, is this not the Baptism of Acts? When I tremble beneath the very hand of God, is this not the Baptism of Acts?"

What sign did the apostles hold to be the evidence of the Holy Ghost Baptism? Remember that our answer must conform to Scripture and not the doctrines of any church! Church doctrines are useful but God does not inspire them. Likewise, our feelings of joyous rapture must equally bow to Scripture. Deep inner feelings are wonderful and are a part of our conversion, however, all feelings and opinions of man must surrender to the Word. Scripture is as always our only true guide for living.

The Biblical Precedence for Tongues

So, what outward evidence signified the Baptism of the Holy Ghost? As Peter preached to the gentiles at Cornelius' house a wonderful thing transpired. The gentiles believed in Christ and received the Holy Ghost. The apostles knew this to be a fact, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." (Acts 10:46) Let Scripture speak for itself! Who is on the Lord's side?

There are five places in the book of Acts where people receive their first infilling of the Spirit. In three of these places the gift of tongues was evident. (Acts 2, 10, and 19) Paul's baptism was the fourth in which tongues are not immediately cited. However, Paul later affirms that he was the most prolific tongues talker of all. (Acts 9, 1 Corinthians 14:18)

The fifth infilling is the most extraordinary. (Acts 8) Simon, a sorcerer and a worker in the black arts was supposedly converted and thus, was baptized in water. He watched in wonderment as Philip cast out demons and effected many mighty healings. Jesus himself had said, "That these signs shall follow them that believe." God was meeting the needs of the hour while fulfilling the words of Christ. (Mark 16:17-18)

In spite of many miracles Philip's mission was incomplete. Although the people of were healed, converted and baptized they did not have the Holy Ghost Baptism! All of the necessary gifts of Mark 16 were demonstrated except for one.⁹¹ Therefore, the apostles came to help Philip and fulfill the words of Christ. The apostles prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Ghost. Although, we do not read that tongues resulted, Jesus' words in Mark 16 would indicate they did, and the other infillings of Acts would also give evidence of the same.

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⁹¹ When Philip ministered were all the gifts of (Mark 16:17-18) present? The expelling of demons and healing of the sick were the needs of the hour and were seen. In the figurative language of Luke 10:19 snakes were indeed taken up (cast out, removed, crushed!) through Philip's ministry. A literal taking up of snakes was not demonstrated. Why not? Paul wasn't gathering snake-infested firewood and therefore, protection from snakes was unnecessary. (Acts 28:3) Likewise, Philip being warmly received was not poisoned by his hosts. The Romans were notorious for poisoning their enemies. (The modern practice of "handling snakes" and "drinking poison" is equivalent to cutting off a hand or committing murder to create the need for healing prayer.) Jesus would never show off by jumping off of the temple. (Matt.4:5) Rather, "Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10:38) Miracles are sent for the afflicted and needy! Miracles are never to be used as a circus side-show. Hurt must never be sought to demonstrate power! Tongues does not fall into the side show category. In Samaria the gift of tongues or the Baptism in the Holy Ghost was not in evidence and was therefore properly sought and found.

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Simon's response gives us a most compelling confirmation. He had seen all the other gifts in operation but now this Baptism revealed the secrets of his heart! Why? When Simon saw tongues his greed overcame his good intentions. In his day the centerpiece of popular Roman religion was the heathen oracle. There, offerings were made while a demon inspired individual would incantate future events or instructions. Naturally, tongues were linked with such prophecies. Simon knew that if he could control such spiritual utterances he would eventually control the religious world and its wealth. He might become both the high priest of Heathenism and Christianity. To us Simon would become an antichrist in the flesh! (John 2:18)

Don't let this frighten you concerning tongues. Satan always has his counterfeits. There is a counterfeit Church. Yet, I will go to Church because of the true. There is a counterfeit God. Yet, I will worship God in spirit and in truth. There is a counterfeit way of salvation. Yet, I will find true salvation in Christ my righteousness. There are false prophets, yet, true prophets gave the Scripture. There are true tongues and false tongues. To refuse the true because we fear of the false is a gross denial of God's Bible and will spawn unbelief, while causing you to miss God's best! "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)

Yet, I still hear some reiterate that they believe they have the Baptism without tongues. The Pioneer Pentecostal T. B. Barratt explained by saying, "Let me again lay stress on the fact, that although there are other evidences of the indwelling Spirit, it is clearly stated in Acts that the Apostles considered this (tongues) to be a SURE SIGN OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. No one can read the account given in the tenth chapter of Acts with a fair mind and doubt this. Still I believe that many have had, and that may in our day obtain mighty baptisms with out this sign. This arises mainly from ignorance of the subject, prejudice, unbelief, or some other cause. Of course, their experience will not be perfectly similar to that record in Acts 2, 10 and 19. And in fact we believe that the two other cases record in Acts of the first infilling of the Spirit -- At Samaria and Damascus were ample proof that tongues were present."⁹²

Therefore, like Barratt we say that tongues are the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit. Because tongues are the least of the gifts, they are only the beginning. To say otherwise embraces prejudice rather than the testimony of Scripture. The simple reasoning of Scripture is both powerful and compelling.

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⁹² In The Days of the Latter Rain, Pastor Thomas Ball Barratt , 1928 p. 152

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