(NOTE: I want to acknowledge the use of some material from the sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/speaking-in-tongues-frequently-asked-questions-james-boyd-sermon-on-holy-spirit-baptism-55466.asp)
(NOTE: This series is based on the book Living in the Spirit by Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God).
Introduction
In January 1901 a group of Bible School students were baptized in the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. These students had been reading the book of Acts and just believed what God did then He could do now.
This was, in effect, the birth of the modern day Pentecostal church. But this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Topeka came with much controversy. But the controversy did not stop the spread of the Holy Spirit. In 1906 a revival broke out on Asuza Street in Los Angeles, California. And now there is an estimated 500 million people all over the world who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
In fact, the Pentecostal church (in its various denominations and forms) has become the leading religious expression around the world. I have read studies that say 1 in 4 Christians (25%) are Pentecostals who speak with tongues.
(TRANSITION) But what are tongues? When we talk about speaking with tongues what do we mean and how does this gift operate in the church?
What Tongues Is Not
It is probably a good idea to begin this morning by talking about what speaking in tongues is NOT.
1. Speaking in tongues is a not sign of greater spirituality. All you have to do is read the book of 1 Corinthians to realize that some of those who were speaking in tongues were also being very carnal in their actions toward one another. (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3)
2. Speaking in tongues is not a “free pass” to spiritual maturity.
3. Speaking in tongues is not the result of a trance or the loss of control over our person. Instead, the Holy Spirit works with us and we can push the Holy Spirit back and control when we speak in tongues.
The Holy Spirit desires to invade every part of our human existence. He wants to help us have victory in our flesh. He wants to help us have victory in our emotions and mind. And He wants to help our soul find the ultimate comfort and rest that comes through faith in the person of Jesus Christ.
Speaking in tongues is an avenue through which the Holy Spirit works to help us receive the victory and comfort and rest that God offers us.
(TRANSITION) Though speaking in tongues is right and proper for every believer we still must understand that the Bible does inform our understanding of what speaking in tongues is. That is what I want us to look at now.
The Operation of Tongues
The Scriptures speaks of the tongue as physical human organ for speech. It can be used to bless or to curse. The Scriptures also speaks to the reality that believers will “speak with tongues.” This means that believers supernaturally speak in a language they have never learned.
There is sometimes some confusion about the operation of tongues, however. With that in mind, I want look at 3 operations of “speaking in tongues” as found in the Scriptures and hopefully bring some understanding.
Operation 1: Evidential Tongues
The first operation of speaking in tongues is what we could call “evidentiary.” In other words, the physical act of speaking in tongues is evidence that something else has occurred. We can see this truth as we look at the book of Acts.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
• Filled with Holy Spirit – evidence of this filling – speak in tongues
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
• Gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out – how did they know? What was the evidence of this outpouring – they heard them speaking with tongues
Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
• The question, “Have you received the Holy Spirit SINCE you believed.” This demonstrates that the baptism is a distinct experience from the Holy Spirit’s work in our salvation.
• When the Holy Spirit was upon them they spoke with tongues. It was the evidence of their being baptized in the Holy Spirit (notice they had already been baptized in water 2x – once by John and once by these Apostles).
As a church we believe the initial (first) PHYSICAL evidence of a person being BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit is that they will speak with tongues – they will supernaturally speak in a language they have never learned.
(TRANSITION) Speaking in tongues EVIDENCES that someone has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. However, this is not the ONLY operation of tongues within the church. It is important to the other operations because they depend on one being supernaturally empowered to speak in tongues.
Operation 2: Edifying Tongues
Another reason God allows us to speak with tongues is so that we may exceed our limited human understanding and be built up from the inside out. Let’s unpack that a little bit…
Edifying prayer is what I believe the Bible calls “Praying in the Spirit.” Look at what Paul taught to the church at Corinth about praying in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
Paul told the Ephesian church to
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Jude tells us in his book,
Jude 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…
Paul told the church at Corinth that when we pray in the Holy Spirit we “utter mysteries by the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). In other words, when we are in our private prayer time and we are praying in the Spirit we sharing intimacies just between ourselves and God (see 1 Corinthians 14:2 in The Message). We are pouring out ourselves to God and God is pouring into the very core of our souls.
When this happens we will be “edified.” There is a sense in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that as we are built up through our praying in the Spirit we will be empowered to speak to others the truths of God in our own language.
(TRANSITION) So we and others know we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit through the evidence of tongues. Through this gift we are given the opportunity to delve into the mysteries of God and be strengthened in order to speak the truths of God. But we are also then able to operate in the “gift of tongues.”
Operation 3: Gift of Tongues
In the book of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 Paul speaks about the public gift of tongues in public worship. He tells the church that if someone speaks publicly in an unknown tongue that it should be interpreted (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:10). He also tells them to pray that a message in tongues would be interpreted so that the whole church will understand what God is saying and be built up.
Paul also tells us that there are to be some controls over how this gift is used in public worship. These guidelines are in place so that the gift is not abused and then becomes a sign to unbelievers that we (the church) is out of touch with God (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:22).
Conclusion
Because speaking in tongues has been misrepresented or misused some have a fear of this wonderful gift.
We should not fear speaking in tongues! The baptism of the Holy Spirit uses this gift in us to help us to grow a more intimate and effective relationship with God.
Because speaking in tongues is a supernatural phenomenon some believers take a cautious approach to it. This not an unusual reaction toward the supernatural in the Bible. Think about the Christmas story and the angelic visitations. We read where people are AFRAID but the angel says “DO NOT BE AFRAID.” So we need not be afraid of authentic supernatural occurrences that God gives us.
Luke 11:9-13 tells us that if we ask God for bread He will not give us a stone. When we ask God for the good gift of the Holy Spirit He is not going to give us something counterfeit. Look at what Luke 11:13 says,
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Look at that promise! He is not going to give us useless gifts! If we ask for the Holy Spirit He will give us the Holy Spirit.
