Tongues 8 Oct. 3, 2012 Dr. Mike Fogerson
A A few weeks ago I taught how there was an unbroken line on gifts through out the history of the church (first century, medieval, modern era.)
1 Today, Pentecostalism is a fast growing, mainstream movement with its modern epicenter found in 19th century with the Holiness movement.
a Asa Mahan’s book 1870, The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and William Arthur’s book 1856-1870, The Tongue of Fire.
aa The titles of these books seem to foreshadow what was coming.
bb Around this time, A Holiness preacher, Rev. Charles Parham (President of Bethel Bible College) preached a revival in Topeka, Kansas; Agnes Ozmar, a Methodist woman, spoke in tongues.
b The Holiness movement was birthed out of the 2nd Great Awakening (Finney, Moody)
aa The FGA focused on Salvation; SGA focused on Sanctification
bb Personal Holiness.
2 1906, a black preacher (William Seymour) from Bethel Bible College preached a revival on Azuza Street in Los Angeles. (Attended by whites/blacks; Baptists & Holiness)
a Rev. Joseph Smale, pastor of FBC Los Angeles, saw a 14 week revival in his church.
b Rejected by the deacons and the revival stopped at FBCLA.
B What God did at Azuza swept around the world (AG, Church of God in Christ, Church of God) and broke down racial, gender, and denominational barriers.
1 There are three main groups of Pentecostals.
a Holiness (Basically believe there is a three-step process in salvation)
aa First, Justified (saved)
bb Second, fully sanctified (New life in the Spirit)
cc Third, baptized in Holy Spirit with tongues as the initial evidence.
b Other Pentecostals (AG)
aa Wouldn’t include the second step of total sanctification.
bb Do embrace the third step.
c Oneness or “Jesus Only.”
aa Early church baptized in Jesus Christ name only.
bb Also believe tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2 There are at least two strong arguments for evidential tongues in the book of Acts.
a Acts 2.2-4; Acts 10.44-48 (Gentile Pentecost)
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues , as the Spirit was giving them utterance .Acts 2:2-4 (NASB)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message .45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. Acts 10:44-48 (NASB)
aa Pentecost was the outpouring/baptism that was prophesied by John the Baptist & promised by Jesus (Luke 3.16; 24.49; Acts 1.5)
16 John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:16 (NASB)
49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:49 (NASB)
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:5 (NASB)
bb God gave the miracle of speaking in tongues & the miracle of understanding.
cc Acts 10; Holy Spirit falls on the house of Cornelius, again they speak in tongues. (Peter would use this experience as evidence that Gentiles could be in the family/One New Man)
dd 13 years later, Acts 19.1-7, the Holy Spirit fell again @ Ephesus w/ the manifestation of speaking in tongues.
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.7 There were in all about twelve men. Acts 19:1-7 (NASB)
ee It’s interesting one of the first things the church at Ephesus did was speak in tongues & in Rev. 2, Jesus calls the church there to re-uptake what they did at first.
b The second proof is found in the problems with tongues in Corinth.
aa Tongues was obviously the most prevalent gift, lots of people had it, misuse had arisen.
bb Prayer language was common, it could be a problem.
c There does seem to be outbreak of speaking in tongues, ecstatic experience, and unusual works at out breaks of awakening/revival. (Manifestations)
C Is Tongues an evidence or the evidence?
1 1 Cor. 13.1, Paul tells us tongues mean nothing if we don’t demonstrate agape love.
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Cor 13:1 (NASB)
a In the early church “speaking in tongues” is not to be found in any apostolic creed/confession of faith in the earth church.
b It was never a test of fellowship.
2 Our belief in tongues must not be on the same level of significance equated with Christ’s virgin birth, the Trinity, the cross, resurrection, and the second coming.
a I do believe that every Christian can have a prayer language, however, some have life changing experiences with Holy Spirit and yet not this release of speaking in tongues.
b I know believers who have the gift but feel it is a private love language between them and God.
D Abba Father & Spirit Baptism
1 The Apostle Paul describes what happens to those who are baptized by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 4.4-7.)
a Paul describes Christ’s saving work to rescue believers from the death decreed by the law.
aa Crucified, died, shed His own blood.
bb Free from the shackles of the Law.
b We’re not done! (He’s not done!)
aa God sends His Spirit into our hearts crying “Abba, Father.” (Hebrew Daddy, papa)
bb When you get saved you are adopted as a sons/daughters by the Father; you respond by accepting your new posistion in His family.
2 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:12-16 (NASB)
a When we are baptized by the Holy Spirit “we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.”
aa Relationship has changed.
bb No longer limited by flesh, captive by old desires, directionless.
cc Even suffering can be understood because the Holy Spirit has marked us as children of Abba Father.
b I believe that we embrace the full work of the Holy Spirit by confessing Him to be our Abba Father on Earth today.
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