Baptism of the Holy Spirit

[Rollo Tamasi]

Do you speak in tongues?
Have you received power from God?
Do you have uncontrollable praise for God?
Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others?

These are all signs of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Do you want to?

Pm - me and I'll pray with you to receive it.

 

[Obadiah]

Pray, yes, speak, not in a long time.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Pray, yes, speak, not in a long time.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.

For the answer to your "no", just start speaking in tongues again.
When God gives you a gift, he doesn't take it back.

 

[Obadiah]

No, He didn't take it back. I don't "speak" in tongues because the one time I did it publicly no one interpreted so I realized I had misused it and should have remained silent. I was a relatively young Christian and have to admit that at the time I did it because I could and because others were doing it so I didn't want to feel left out. That's the wrong reason. It is also extremely divisive among a lot of Christians so unless I feel God really pushing me to speak publicly for some reason, I choose not to take the chance on causing strife with it. So far I've never felt compelled to speak out publicly in tongues. It's something I use in private prayer or silent prayer if with others when the Spirit leads me to, usually when I have praises that I just can't seem to find normal words to express as well.

There are other spiritual gifts the Spirit has given me that have been more needed and useful in the situations I've found myself in over the years. Not all of them are there all the time, but yet when they are needed, the power is suddenly there, usually in a way that can't be mistaken as having come from God, and not just from some talent or luck on my part!

 

[Claudya]

Do you speak in tongues?
Have you received power from God?
Do you have uncontrollable praise for God?
Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others?

Well I never desired to speak in tongues. Would I have to?
But the other things, yes I have.
The problem is, I also have a very rebellious spirit, so I have trouble submitting to God at all. So the Holy Spirit seems very far away at the moment.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Do you speak in tongues?

No.

Have you received power from God?

Yes.

Do you have uncontrollable praise for God?

No.

Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others?

On a scale of 1-10, 8 when I first got saved, then maybe a 5 or 6, and now .5.

These are all signs of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

There are other gifts that operate with the same power and fierocity as evangelism and talking in tongues.

Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

If power is the signature of the Baptism of the Spirit, then, 'yes', I have.

 

[Chopper]

Do you speak in tongues?
Have you received power from God?
Do you have uncontrollable praise for God?
Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others?

These are all signs of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Do you want to?

Pm - me and I'll pray with you to receive it.

What a wonderful gesture. There are many, I'm sure, who would desire the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. You are such a gifted man of God with wisdom from God. If I could not say yes to all your questions, I would be the first Pm you. God bless your efforts. Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit, aside from Salvation, was the greatest event of my life. Persecution from other Baptist Leaders? Yep! result? Don't care.(little dance in the Spirit)

 

[Edward]

Do you speak in tongues? No, never have.

Have you received power from God? Yes.

Do you have uncontrollable praise for God? No.

Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others? Yes I have.

These are all signs of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? No, not that I can say conclusively. I have been told that I have obviously, but they also say that it is a memorable event.

Do you want to? Yes, because my understanding is that this is the Holy Spirit praying to God for me. Who wouldn't want that?!

 

[th1b.taylor]

This, I feel, will improperly focus on the gift of speaking in tongues. I can fake it and I learned to fake this gift when I was but but a boy, about 8 or 9. I am baptised with the Holy Spirit and I know some Baptists that exercise their prayer language in their Prayer Closet.

But, it is important not to stop with Acts 2 when studying this gift. Paul, in his letters to the Church, after having been seated at the feet of Jesus, being taught one on one, teaches that the Gift of Tongues is the least f the Gifts of the Spirit.

I. personally, will belittle none of the Gifts but this latter day false teaching that a person's Salvation depends on their speaking in tongues is just that, false.

My answers list as:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes.

I have the gift and calling of Teaching, I, now, love to give unknown gifts, that is a gift from God. I spent as many years evangelizing in the Texas Penal System as I physically was able. I haver the gift of Love and I do not walk, daily, with God, no, I walk with god from the time I awake until I awake the next day... all day long.

Christ seekers today ignore the basics and try to bend God's will to match their own desires.

 

[Obadiah]

But, it is important not to stop with Acts 2 when studying this gift. Paul, in his letters to the Church, after having been seated at the feet of Jesus, being taught one on one, teaches that the Gift of Tongues is the least f the Gifts of the Spirit.

I too am concerned about the overemphasis on the gift of tongues as you mentioned. The OP hasn't said it and I don't think he meant to imply it, but there are people who refuse to believe anyone can be truly saved unless they speak in tongues. I wish the OP had asked about all of the spiritual gifts listed in scripture instead of just only asking about the one which is described as the least of them. Only listing that one gift does seem to put an undue importance on it. Besides, it would have been a blessing to see everyone's yeses and nos to the various spiritual gifts in addition to tongues and see who has been blessed with which ones. That might even be an encouragement to many to pray for the filling and power of the Holy Spirit to take over in them and begin to use them for the first time in their Christian life!

 

[th1b.taylor]

I too am concerned about the overemphasis on the gift of tongues as you mentioned. The OP hasn't said it and I don't think he meant to imply it, but there are people who refuse to believe anyone can be truly saved unless they speak in tongues. I wish the OP had asked about all of the spiritual gifts listed in scripture instead of just only asking about the one which is described as the least of them. Only listing that one gift does seem to put an undue importance on it. Besides, it would have been a blessing to see everyone's yeses and nos to the various spiritual gifts in addition to tongues and see who has been blessed with which ones. That might even be an encouragement to many to pray for the filling and power of the Holy Spirit to take over in them and begin to use them for the first time in their Christian life!

I can see that we are of like mind. I pray that my remarks will decentralize this thread, with the consent of allenwine, and not focus on the Tongues/Salvation debate. At a Promise Keeper's Rally a gentleman was seated next to me and after telling me that he could see I was indwelt with the Spirit of God, he asked if I spoke in tongues. I told him I spoke a little German, a little Spanish and a smidgen of French Vietnamese. When he got over being tickled, he asked me if I wanted him to teach me to speak in the Unknown Tongue.

I was nice and did not explain that the subject and the request presented an Oxymoron but rather replied with if God needed me to speak in an unknown tongue, as described in Acts 2, there is no possibility that I could avoid doing so. He thought for a few seconds and said that he had never considered that but that was right. Together, that night, he and I enjoyed one of the greatest nights of worship we had ever enjoyed to that point.

Hank, the Bible Answer Man, a Pentecostal, teaches against the idea that only Tongue Speakers are saved, as do most of the Pentecostal Churches I have been invited to sing a special for.

I wish folks would use the Biblical definition for this and for the Holiness Movement. I was, repeatedly accosted by these two groups, nearly as much as by the JWs and Mormons in our local area.

I had one local Member of the New Holiness Movement tell me he had just finished his second year of life with "no sin." He had just Hot Shotted a package for me from a position that, without daytime traffic, required 2 hours to get from there to my warehouse and it had only been 1 hour and 40 minutes since I had called his dispatcher to pick it up. So I made sure of his claim and then asked if he had speeded on his way to pick-up and to deliver my package. He admitted that, of course, he did. I said to him then that he had just ruined his holy life then because he had just sinned. He exploded and explained that breaking the laws of man was not sin in God's eyes. hmmmm.

There is the same sort of a hood over the eyes of the Tongues for salvation crowd and I find that they will not talk Bible on the matter.

I wish they were not blinded... but.

God bless my brother. If we fail to meet here, I'll see you on the other bank of the Jordan.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

1 Corinthians 12:31;
"Now eagerly desire the greater gifts".

This seems to be a verse that is spoken but not taken to heart.
If we eagerly desire something from God, we will persistently pray for it.
Hopefully, we will believe that we will receive it.

How often do you pray for more gifts than what God has already given you?
Should we be satisfied with what God has given us?
What does this verse say to you?
Is it a dead verse to you?

Are we trying to explain away the value of these gifts?
What is preventing us from fervently seeking more from God?


It's a new year.
A good resolution is to ask God for more.
More of everything that we lack that will help us to serve Him better and to praise Him more and more everyday.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

1 Corinthians 12:31;
"Now eagerly desire the greater gifts".

This seems to be a verse that is spoken but not taken to heart.
If we eagerly desire something from God, we will persistently pray for it.
Hopefully, we will believe that we will receive it.

How often do you pray for more gifts than what God has already given you?
Should we be satisfied with what God has given us?
What does this verse say to you?
Is it a dead verse to you?

Handle the gifts, and your desire for the gifts, according to the measure of faith God has given you regarding gifts and the faith to operate in them (Romans 12).

The verse above means, desire gifts that build up the body--the greater the gifts. When we speak intelligible words it builds others up. Tongues is a powerful gift from God, but it's a lesser gift because it only builds the user up....unless there is interpretation.

Are we trying to explain away the value of these gifts?

No. Paul says to soberly assess your gift, and your faith to walk in that gift. Having come from the charismatic church, it's common to push people beyond their faith into seeking that which other people are doing. I think it ironic that the gifts, which are actually supposed to unite us, end up dividing us. And it's because we don't let people do what Paul says, that is, assess their own giftings and the faith to walk in them. Nothing wrong with a little encouragement, as long as it doesn't shrink down into shaming others for not seeking the gifts.

What is preventing us from fervently seeking more from God?

I learned it's far better to seek God according to the fruit of the Spirit (IOW, long to be those things). I found the gifts will then spring out of that because when you have love, and kindness, and faithfulness, etc. inside of you all those things will long to find expression in one way or another. That's the umption of the Spirit. You'll suddenly find yourself wanting to walk in your gift. Whatever that is.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Handle the gifts, and your desire for the gifts, according to the measure of faith God has given you regarding gifts and the faith to operate in them (Romans 12).

The verse above means, desire gifts that build up the body--the greater the gifts. When we speak intelligible words it builds others up. Tongues is a powerful gift from God, but it's a lesser gift because it only builds the user up....unless there is interpretation.



No. Paul says to soberly assess your gift, and your faith to walk in that gift. Having come from the charismatic church, it's common to push people beyond their faith into seeking that which other people are doing. I think it ironic that the gifts, which are actually supposed to unite us, end up dividing us. And it's because we don't let people do what Paul says, that is, assess their own giftings and the faith to walk in them. Nothing wrong with a little encouragement, as long as it doesn't shrink down into shaming others for not seeking the gifts.



I learned it's far better to seek God according to the fruit of the Spirit (IOW, long to be those things). I found the gifts will then spring out of that because when you have love, and kindness, and faithfulness, etc. inside of you all those things will long to find expression in one way or another. That's the umption of the Spirit. You'll suddenly find yourself wanting to walk in your gift. Whatever that is.

1 Corinthians 12:9
"..., to another faith by the same Spirit,..."

There seems to be a difference between faith and the gift of faith.
Do you know what it is?

 

[ravindran_eee]

Do you speak in tongues?
Have you received power from God?
Do you have uncontrollable praise for God?
Have you been given strength and desire to witness to others?

These are all signs of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Do you want to?

Pm - me and I'll pray with you to receive it.

The answers are,
No
Yes
No
Yes

Yes

I believe baptism of Holy Spirit happens at the time of conversion. The other experiences are empowerment of Holy Spirit. It is growth up the ladder and not a first (and only) experience. A person can be filled with Holy Spirit even without these experiences (through continuous obedience and yielding to Holy Spirit).

The ultimate measure should be through the fruits of the spirit rather than gifts of the spirit. As the terms indicate, fruit is something that grows out based on the inner growth and nourishment. Gift is something "received" free. it is entirely upto the giver.

 

[Eugene]

Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
Like Brother Chopper, an assembly I attend has been accused of being Pentecostal Baptists. Becoming saved is not the last word in our experience with God as we walk with Him. The following is just a familiarization with that available to us if we desire that which God is willing for us to have as Brother Allenwayne I believe is attempting to bring forth. Not personally receiving the Holy Spirit does not affect your salvation which is secure to all which believe, but just as the apostles had the Holy Spirit with them prior to Pentecost, it was not until then that the Holy Spirit was in them; have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If you did, how do you know. Not believing in such things as a Baptist, when I prayed with others about receiving the Holy Spirit, I too received Him evidenced by speaking in tongues. I did not understand all that I asked for, but I was led to want all that God had for me. Praise His name.

An unsaved person cannot receive the Holy Spirit.
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Acts 19:2 He (Paul finding certain disciples) said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Does this suggest there's the possibility of believing and not receiving the Holy Ghost? Why else the question, and then how would they know?

They were disciples, and Act 19:5 tells us that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Are they saved by now?

Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Do they need water baptism first? No.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 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.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? These received the Holy Ghost prior to being baptized.

Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[ravindran_eee]

Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
Like Brother Chopper, an assembly I attend has been accused of being Pentecostal Baptists. Becoming saved is not the last word in our experience with God as we walk with Him. The following is just a familiarization with that available to us if we desire that which God is willing for us to have as Brother Allenwayne I believe is attempting to bring forth. Not personally receiving the Holy Spirit does not affect your salvation which is secure to all which believe, but just as the apostles had the Holy Spirit with them prior to Pentecost, it was not until then that the Holy Spirit was in them; have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If you did, how do you know. Not believing in such things as a Baptist, when I prayed with others about receiving the Holy Spirit, I too received Him evidenced by speaking in tongues. I did not understand all that I asked for, but I was led to want all that God had for me. Praise His name.

An unsaved person cannot receive the Holy Spirit.
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Acts 19:2 He (Paul finding certain disciples) said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Does this suggest there's the possibility of believing and not receiving the Holy Ghost? Why else the question, and then how would they know?

They were disciples, and Act 19:5 tells us that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Are they saved by now?

Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Do they need water baptism first? No.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 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.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? These received the Holy Ghost prior to being baptized.

Blessings in Christ Jesus.

Paul writes this in 1 Corinthians 12,

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Either we are part of the body of Christ or not. The act of being drafted into the body is what is referred to as "baptized into one body". Baptism of Holy Spirit is really the act of conversion/regeneration.

In the same chapter (Acts 19), a few verses above we see this,

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

So they did not even know that there is Holy Spirit. Do we call them believers? How do we define a believer? Someone who just affirms that Jesus Christ is a real figure and he died on the cross? If so, everyone in Israel at the time of Jesus are believers. A true believer is someone is washed by the blood of Christ. They are regenerated. Clearly, these people were unregenerate.

 

[Eugene]

Paul writes this in 1 Corinthians 12,

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Either we are part of the body of Christ or not. The act of being drafted into the body is what is referred to as "baptized into one body". Baptism of Holy Spirit is really the act of conversion/regeneration.

In the same chapter (Acts 19), a few verses above we see this,

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

So they did not even know that there is Holy Spirit. Do we call them believers? How do we define a believer? Someone who just affirms that Jesus Christ is a real figure and he died on the cross? If so, everyone in Israel at the time of Jesus are believers. A true believer is someone is washed by the blood of Christ. They are regenerated. Clearly, these people were unregenerate.

Hi brother and thanks for the reply.
I agree there is one name given whereby we may be saved. I though cannot judge the heart of the one believing unless it is manifest in their fruit. When those among them of the circumcision heard them of the Gentiles speaking in tongues they knew they were of the same body of Christ.

Again, they were disciples, or pupils and I do not think it was of the Jew's religion, and Act 19:5 tells us that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Are they saved by now? Do we call them believers, and what is the criterion of eternal life? Yet have they received the Holy Spirit, or does He remain just with them? After preaching against such things I too was blessed to receive this wonderful experience. How would I possibly know?

 

[Chopper]

Because I was a pastor of several churches, the subject of the Baptism "of" the Holy Spirit came up often. I had to study, study, study. I had to give Truth to the flock, not just Baptist traditon. I believeI I found a slight difference in the Baptism. The word "of" and the word "in". IMO, The Baptism "of" the Holy Spirit happened at Salvation, just as some posts point out. Now, the Baptism "in" the Holy Spirit is something completely different. When a Christian has matured in his faith, and feels God is leading him to witness for Him in some fashion, he needs to be Baptized "in" the Holy Spirit. The difference is, the first Baptism is for regeneration and placement into the family of God. The second Baptism is to be placed "into" the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. IMO God gives everyone at least one gift at Salvation. When a believer prays for power to minister, whether they know it or not, they are really asking to be placed into the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And then they realize gifts and power that they never had before.Tongues is simply a tool to be used for prayer and witness, and sometimes a sign. It certainly is not a sign of Salvation. To edify an assembly, they need to understand in their own tongue. Love is the greatest gift known to man.

I could say volumes on this subject but I thought that this simple explanation might prompt others to examine for their information.

 

[ravindran_eee]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me I hope I don't sound arrogant in my comments!

Hi brother and thanks for the reply.
I agree there is one name given whereby we may be saved. I though cannot judge the heart of the one believing unless it is manifest in their fruit. When those among them of the circumcision heard them of the Gentiles speaking in tongues they knew they were of the same body of Christ.

My only disagreement is that we can know the heart of a person only by the manifestation of fruits.. Not by the gifts.. And tongues is a gift.. I read somewhere online that Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus speak in tongues! I come from India.. Hinduism is the main religion there.. Hindus also perform Glossolalia.. It is common in pagan cultures. And I believe with all my heart that Bible never mentions that speaking in tongues is a sign of being baptized in Holy Spirit. It is something we infer based on the pattern of events. But if look at Bible, there are many occasions where speaking of tongues is not mentioned. I am borrowing the list from John Piper (8:36; Acts 9:17-19; 13:12, 48; 14:1; 16:14; 17:4, 34.

Again, they were disciples, or pupils and I do not think it was of the Jew's religion, and Act 19:5 tells us that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Are they saved by now? Do we call them believers, and what is the criterion of eternal life? Yet have they received the Holy Spirit, or does He remain just with them? After preaching against such things I too was blessed to receive this wonderful experience. How would I possibly know?

I absolutely agree that every believer should pray for such experiences, that is, being filled with Holy Spirit. It definitely empowers the believer. I don't question that at all. My only point is, we cannot have 2 class Christians! One just saved and other saved plus baptized in Holy Spirit. It is possible for a believer to be a better witness, more mature and more closer to God without having any experiences compared to someone who has such experiences. That is my whole point Classical pentecostalism has unfortunately led to this 2 class Christianism.

I attend a Pentecostal church and attend many revival meetings. Though I disagree slightly on theology side, I think it is important for us to desire for such experiences of being filled with Holy Spirit.