Who God is

117. God – The Holy Spirit and the Tongue

The Creative (and destructive) Power of the Tongue

Your Speech can be a Healing Instrument of God, or a Destructive Tool of the Devil!

Isaiah had an experience in the presence of God and said, “‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said; ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged’” (Isaiah 6:5-7).

In Matthew 21:18-19 Jesus said to a fig tree, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” The first crops of figs were green and tasteless for the poor peasants to eat. He caused the fig tree to wither; His word only completed and hastened a process that had already begun.

When we truly come close to God, we understand that our speech is what really needs to be cleaned up. Our words are powerful!

Much of the following text was inspired by “Steps to The Kingdom” by Hannah Hurnard.

Sound waves can cause electrons and atoms to form into different patterns which materialize on the plane of earth consciousness in many different ways.

In Genesis 1, God spoke everything into existence. This is how everything was originally created. In Genesis 1 and Psalm 8, the word “heaven” is in Hebrew; a dual form meaning the heavens. First, God spoke it in His mind, the first heaven, the word of creative imagination. Then, the conceived idea became real in the natural sense by His uttered word.

In Genesis God said that everything was good. Then He turned it over to Adam.

In Genesis 1:26 He said, “let man have dominion over all.” God gave the authority of the earth to man and man’s creative imagination and speech. Planet Earth is ruled by words.

Psalm 8 tells us that the earth is in the hands of man. Psalm 8:6 says, “You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands, You have put all things under his feet.” Verse 5 says, “Man has been made but little lower than God and you have crowned him with glory and honor.” Genesis 1:28 says, “and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves on the earth.”

Adam realized his creative power; he named all the creatures. Actually, Adam did not really make an independent decision of what to call the animals; he was so one with God, that he was actually speaking God’s will as his own will. Adam fell in love with this creative gift of the power of the spoken word. He found that he could imagine things in his own mind and then speak them, and they would materialize. The temptation was “to be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

The Tree of Life was for Adam to come to God for his thoughts and words, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was Adam using his imagination apart from God to imagine and then speak.

Adam began to misuse his gift. The entire earth began to change. Eden was lost and now the earth was subject to the imaginations of a created man who was separated from God. Only man (Adam) had the power of imagination and speech, which no other creature possessed. Today we underestimate this power because it can take years, even a lifetime, for words to create things in the seen world.

God creates and rules by words. He made man in His image. Man is made to be a sub-creator using his words, but under the authority of God. Earth was created by words, and it is ruled by words. It responds to words.

The Flood and the Tower of Babel. The perfect work of the Father had been marred. Genesis 6:5-6 says (just before the flood), “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” Genesis 11:4-6 says, “And they (people) said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

We know the rest of this story: the Lord confused their language so that they could not understand each other and scattered them all over the earth.

JESUS came and said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (Revelation 1:11). In other words, He spoke the first creation and He had come to speak the New Creation.

We are co-creators of the new creation. This is a key to understanding this entire issue of our speech!

Every generation creates its’ own creatures. Ancient uncivilized savages openly spoke their evil desires into living forms; monsters and wild beasts roamed the earth terrifying and destroying their creators. Man was given dominion over all the living creatures in Genesis 1 and 2, so all of man’s evil desires and emotions have affected animals until now. In more modern generations we have become more educated, civilized, and sophisticated. In so-called Christian nations, there are not so many wild beasts, but we see them now in the form of pests and parasites and disease germs and poisonous microbes. As fast as medical science finds a cure for certain bacteria and diseases, new ones appear. Tuberculosis (TB) used to be terminal, cancer was, but is now becoming more tolerable, but then comes AIDS on the scene. And now weird viruses all over the world baffle scientists.

Everything we see around us has been spoken into being. If we had eyes to see and could follow the course of every sound wave, we would see that everything we express in speech goes forth seeking other waves of the same quality, kind or species. When they mingle, they unite to produce a pattern of electrons and atoms that finally materialize as seeds, eggs or sperm. 1 Peter says that the Word of God is the sperm that conceives our new birth. Mark 4 says that the Word is a seed. Jesus inferred there that the Word planted in and spoken by man is the way life works. Matthew 18:19 says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done from them by My Father in heaven.”

God said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). What about if any two or three come together in some other name, like they did at the Tower of Babel? If you talk with a witch, he or she will tell you how ignorant many Christians are because they do not realize the power of the tongue.

The sharp stinging words, the poisonous slanders, flatteries or falsities, lies and cruel words that hurt or wound others, the jealousies, hates, fears, injustices, all these things and many more materialize in the forms that belong to their own species. But Galatians 6:7 is also true which says, “for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Matthew 12:37 says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Every idle word that man speaks will have to be accounted for in the day of judgment. Judgment can come now here on earth and later in eternity.

Think of the misuse of this creative power when in earlier generations the silent order of monks and nuns would not speak.

Those who are gardeners and those who worked on the kibbutzims in Israel can testify that vegetables and gardens and flowers respond to music and speech. Think of yourself, when a harsh word hits you how it wounds your spirit.

The answer, of course, is to allow the Holy Spirit again to control our minds and imagination, and then out of the abundance of our heart we will speak kind, healing thoughts.

This is why criticism is so bad. It does not change anything but the one who criticizes. Jesus so often dealt with evil things not by ignoring them, or embracing the evil and compromising with it, but by exercising a law above the lower law. He could have criticized the woman taken in adultery; sure, he knew it was wrong. He was not compromising with immorality, but he was using the creative power of man to heal the wrong. He was not compromising with the world by agreeing to pay taxes to Herod (Matthew 17:27). In submitting to the evil government, he was keeping his power. The devil could not trick him to lose his power by not submitting to authority. But Jesus overcame the evil with a miracle by finding the money in a fish. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that we should not judge and criticize and condemn others, for just as we judge and criticize, we will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure we deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to us. Gossip and criticism will KILL US!

End of “Steps of the Kingdom” inspirited text

Tongues – the Heavenly language. Why bother?

There has been much argument and division about this subject. Pentecostals have been mean-spirited toward those denominations that do not believe in the gifts of the Spirit for today. They have made them feel like second-class Christians if they do not understand speaking in tongues. On the other hand, many denominations have persecuted the Charismatic and Pentecostal groups that do speak in tongues, saying that those gifts ended thousands of years ago, and what they are experiencing is of the devil.

Both sides have the wrong attitude!

A little history:

1 Adam experienced God IN man.

2. In the Old Testament, God was outside of man.

3. In the Gospels, God was with man.

4. In Acts, God returned to be IN man.

In John 14-16, Jesus was telling His disciples just before His execution that He would be leaving them, but that would be to their advantage because He was sending another form of God in His place, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit would not only be with them, but He would be IN them.

John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Now in the Book of Acts, something radical took place.

Jesus told His followers that He was leaving again to come back at some later date that they should not try to figure out. He told them that they should go to Jerusalem and wait for a certain event to take place that would endue them with POWER. Then He took off like a Space Man shot out of a rocket.

As 120 followers of Jesus were obedient to His instructions, all of the sudden, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came rushing into their midst and filled their entire beings. They spoke in different languages and many foreigners understood them in their own languages. Many thought they were drunk because they were filled with the joy of the Lord. When people heard them, 3,000 were saved and the “Church” began.

All of the sudden, common, mere mankind was reborn and became this new species of human that never before existed (not even in Adam).

Acts 1:5 says, “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Something unexpected happened.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (as species that never existed before); the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

A New Creation? Who expected that?

2 Peter 1:4 says, “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

So a new race was created on the day of Pentecost and Jesus was the firstborn of that race.

Colossians 1:18 says, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Mark 16 is a description of the new race. Mark 16:14-20 says, “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”

Fear was cast out and these followers changed radically! Prior to this time, they had received the Holy Spirit after the resurrection, but they were not effective. After they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they became bold and turned the world upside down. Their character changed, their lives changed, their priorities changed. In short, they became possessed by God, and His purpose was now their purpose. They were about the business of taking a dying world to Heaven.

Each time, when the Book of Acts describes that people were filled with the Holy Spirit, something radical took place. There was power in preaching, giving, the places were shaken and they spoke in tongues.

Why did God give His new race a new language?

1. Unity and power.

We discussed the Tower of Babel. There is tremendous human power in agreement. In Genesis 11, the wicked people, controlled by Satan, discovered that, with unity and having a common language, they could develop power over the things of this world.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

2. Overcoming prayer is powerful enough to change one’s life.

Paul had a perplexing problem in Romans 7. He stated that the things that he willed to do, he could not perform, and the things he did not want to do were the things he ended up doing (Romans 7:15-16). Then he said in verse 17 that it is no longer him that does it, but the law of sin that dwells in him. Notice he did not say he was two persons, or had two natures. He said that the real person wills not to sin, but the law of sin that dwells in his members and in his mind (7:23), warring against the law of his mind. The law of sin was the problem.

So, we have this problem as Christians of getting our mind to conform to our spiritual nature. Our spiritual nature is totally godly; it is not two natures. Our old nature was crucified with Christ, but now we have a mind-renewing process to go through.

What is the answer? Romans 8:1-2 tells us that there is a solution. First, Paul tells us that we are not condemned, or considered guilty in a final sort of way, because of this struggle. He said that the law of God could not make us free from this law of sin, but God condemned sin in the flesh. He proclaimed it dead and powerless (Romans 8:3).

You might say, “Fine, but how does that help me?” I am glad you asked. He goes on to say that we need to focus on the things of the Spirit and not on the things of the flesh. We need to pay attention to the Word, fellowship with Jesus, and prayer; we need to walk in the Spirit by confessing our sin.

Is that all? No. He goes on to give us a very practical thing we can do to overcome sin in our flesh. In Romans 8:18 he talks about the sufferings of the present time, referring to his struggle against sin. Then, in verse 22, he compares our struggle to creation that is groaning to be delivered from sin. In 8:26 he gives us the answer.

He says that likewise, as creation groans, the Spirit (Holy Spirit) also helps us in our weaknesses. The rest of the passage says that when we pray in our unknown language, in tongues, that the Spirit is making intercession for us according to the perfect will of God. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses (infirmities). For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

So, what is the perfect will of God for you? Look at Romans 8:28-30 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestinated, these He also called; whom He called, those He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

This process will conform us to the image of Jesus. It will defeat sin in our flesh and give us victory. Praying in tongues is more than a “feel good” experience. It is powerful!

3. Mind renewing and brain dominion.

The speech center controls the entire brain. Doctors know this today, but James wrote it thousands of years ago. He says the tongue is like the rudder of a great ship, it controls it, even though it is small. If you really want God to have the rudder of your life you will give Him your tongue. James 3:2-10 says, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” If we give God our mouth, we give Him the rudder of our life.

1 Corinthians 14:4 says that speaking in tongues edifies, or builds up, charges like a battery, builds up your spiritual muscles.

Jude 20 indicates that the more you pray in tongues the stronger your spirit becomes.

4. Ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: you know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord expect by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

5. For spiritual wisdom.

1 Corinthians 14:13 says, “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” 1 Corinthians 2:7-13 says, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1 Corinthians 14:2 says that the Holy Spirit is speaking secret truths and hidden things that are not obvious to the understanding.

6. Pray both ways.

“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, andI will also sing with the understanding”(1 Corinthians 14:14-15). When I pray or talk in my native language, I use my mind, mouth, lips, tongue, and brain. When I pray in tongues, I use the same mouth, lips, tongue, etc., but it is coming from my spirit, not from my head or brain.

7. You are praying God’s Word.

If you are praying, but it is the Spirit that gives the utterance, then it is the Spirit that is actually speaking. That means that what you are praying in tongues is the Word, and the Word from God. That is powerful. As it says in 1 Corinthians 14:14 that if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but if I don’t pray in tongues, my spirit does not pray.

Psalm 119 states that God’s Word will do all of these things. Whose words are coming out of your mouth when you pray in tongues? God’s Word. Then praying in the Spirit will also do these things:

Blesses me.	Makes God’s Will my will.
Keeps my ways pure.	Keeps me from being put to shame.
Makes me rejoice.	Keeps me from failing with God.
Keeps me from curses.	I am able to see wonders.
When I am down and weary it sets me free.	God is my counselor.
Preserves my life.	Directs my path.
Gives me God’s unfailing love.	Takes away disgrace.
Gives me hope.	Allows me to live in freedom.
When the wicked attack, it keeps me.	Gives me comfort.
Even when I am smeared with lies, it keeps me.	Even when I am consumed by evil, it keeps me.
Your Word becomes more valuable than silver and gold.	Brings God’s compassion.
When I feel wiped out and without hope, God’s Word puts me over.	Gives me more insight than my teachers.
Keeps my feet from the evil path.	God’s Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Gives me understanding and wisdom.	God becomes my refuge in time of trouble.
Sustains me.	Delivers me.
Ensures my well-being, even when I am oppressed.	Gives me discernment.
Makes me hate evil.	Gives light to my life.
Gives understanding to the simple.	Directs my footsteps.
Lets no sin rule over me.	Redeems me from oppression.
Delivers me in suffering.	Defends my cause.
Brings great peace.	Make it impossible for me to stumble.
Delivers me according to the promises of God.	God’s right hand is ready to help.

Always remember that the goal is never the gift but the GIVER.

Speaking in tongues is simply a very powerful gift that our Daddy has given us to make our life better while we are living here.

What do I do if I have not received this gift and have a desire for it?

Remember that Jesus is the Bapitzer. He is the Giver of this gift. You cannot do anything to earn it or qualify for it. However, you can cooperate.

1. First of all, ASK. In Luke 11:13, Jesus gives us the promise that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. He wants you to have the fullness of His Spirit more than you do. It is His very nature and personality. Tongues is not the issue, it is the personality of Jesus and the Father which is important.

2. Press into the Word. John 3:34 says that the Father gave Jesus the Spirit without measure while He was here because He, Jesus, spoke only the Words of God.

3. Press into the Truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He will not come into a dishonest situation (especially dishonesty about sin).

4. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. James 1:21-22 indicates that we need to take care of things with which God entrusted us. He never blesses laziness.

5. Turn and repent from all old earthly or fleshly habits, customs and denominational beliefs. Desire God more than your family, your reputation, more than anything. Turn from all that is not God and He will fill you to overflowing.

Acts 26:18 says, “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is more than just speaking in tongues.

1. It is being filled to overflow, infused throughout your entire being with God.

2. It is primarily to make Jesus real to you, so that He may make you into His image and send you out to make Him real to others.

Ephesians 3:19 says, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:19 (Amplified Bible) says, “[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!”

Ask the Father for everything He has for you. Be honest and open. Do not feel condemned if you do not experience anything at first. God is gentle. He may work with you over a period of time. But He wants to fill you with overflowing more than you do. It will make you closer with your Daddy!

3. It is being filled with ministry power. There is an interesting story told by a very good friend of mine, a native of a Muslim country. My friend has been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years. The Lord called him back to his home country as a missionary, to a Muslim stronghold.

He tells about the church in this city. They gathered each Sunday and huddled together, kind of in fear because they were in a Muslim neighborhood. When they would leave the church, they had no impact on the community. The Muslims had no respect for them. The Muslims sensed that the Christians only felt fear. They saw no power, no light, and no love in those Christians.

My friend arrived with his family and was immediately challenged by five of the Muslim leaders. He made friends with the main spokesman and found a common goal that they could work on together. The power of the Holy Spirit is now leading Muslims to Jesus!

I personally saw a video of a scene with all the city elders. My friend and his family were present (even his wife and children, which is unheard of). They were negotiating for land for my friend to build a vocational center. The chief was picking out the land. They also provided my friend with a leased building next to the main Mosque so that he could operate a Christian resource center.

What is the difference? One brother had the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and when he walked into town, Jesus walked in. The people all knew something was different. The local church may be saved and going to Heaven, but they did not have the power spoken about in Acts 1:8 (KJV) which says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The following is copied (in part and edited) from a cassette tape outline from Derek Prince Ministries.

Receive the Holy Spirit.

The Two Ways to Receive the Holy Spirit.

First, Resurrection Sunday (John 20:19-22).

1. Jesus showed them His hands and feet to convince them that it was the same body resurrected.

2. He breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit. “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22).

At this point, they believed He was raised from the dead. They received salvation. Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

3. At this point, the disciples received divine, eternal resurrection life, but there was more.

Luke 24:48-49 says, “And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but you tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4-5, 8 says, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Second, Pentecost Sunday.

1. The Holy Spirit came down like a mighty wind and filled the house – Baptism is an immersion. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

2. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. The overflow they experienced was that they began to speak with new languages. Matthew 12:34 says, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

4. They received the manifest supernatural power. Everybody knew it happened, it was supernatural. Prior to this time they were full of doubt and fear. They had received boldness and power to witness. They had insight into Scripture like they never had before. They were released in apostolic missions. All Jerusalem felt the impact!

A. Resurrection Sunday

Resurrected Christ

In breathed Spirit

Result was life.

B. Pentecost Sunday

Ascended and Glorified Christ

Outpoured Spirit

Result was power!

It was not a question of either/or, but receiving both.

Receive the Holy Spirit. From Acts 2 onward, this refers to the Pentecost Sunday experience.

Acts 8:12, 14-17 says, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them; who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

The seal and culmination of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. It was the seal the apostles received; it was the seal they recognized in others. When a glass is overfilled with water, the water runs out. When anything is filled, it begins to pour out something.

How to receive the Holy Spirit.

1. Ask for it. Luke 11:11-13 says, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

The result was seen and heard. Acts 2:32-33 says, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”

2. Be thirsty, come to Jesus, drink, open your mouth and drink the invisible Spirit being poured out over you; breathe it in. John 7:38-39 says, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

3. Now release the overflow through the mouth and in speech. Luke 11:13 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Some possible objections.

Someone may say, “That’s not real, you are just doing it yourself” That’s right! You must speak. Or they may say, “How do you know you have the right thing?” God guarantees it in Luke 11:13 which says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Prayer to receive the Holy Spirit:

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You are the Son of God and that on the cross You died for my sins and rose again from the dead. I trust You for forgiveness and for cleansing. I believe You have received me as a child of God. And because You have received me, I receive myself as a child of God.

If there is any resentment in my heart now, any unforgiveness against anyone, I lay it down. I forgive every other person, as I would have You forgive me. If I have ever been involved in the occult or witchcraft of any kind, I acknowledge that as sin. I ask for your forgiveness and I release myself now from every contact with Satan and with occult power in the name of Jesus.

And now, Lord Jesus, I come to You as my Bapitzer in the Holy Spirit. I present to You my body to be a temple of Your Spirit. I yield to You my tongue to be an instrument of righteousness, to worship You in a new language. By faith, I receive this now and I thank You for it in the name of Jesus. Amen.