Hank Hanegraaff (The Bible answer man, said)
It has become increasingly common for Christians to suppose that the full gospel includes the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Thus the question: Is speaking in tongues the evidence of being baptized by the Holy Spirit?
First, as the apostle Paul makes plain, believers are "all baptized by one Spirit into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13), yet not all who believe speak in tongues (vv. 10, 30). Thus tongues may be a manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but tongues cannot be the manifestation.
Furthermore, even if one does speak in tongues it is not a guarantee that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. For as Paul puts it, "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). Indeed, says Paul, without love, "I am nothing!" (v. 2). Moreover, socio–psychological manipulation tactics such as peer pressure or the subtle power of suggestion can induce ecstatic utterances wholly apart from the Spirit. The normative sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues but the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, repentance from sin, and obedience to God. If you don't have it how can you speak and advise.
Finally, as Scripture makes clear, the normative sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues but the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, repentance from sin, and obedience to God
Edward writes
I used to lessen to Hank Hanegraaff in the early nineties, one day someone asked him if the speaks in tongues? He replied NO, you don't have to speak in tongues as evidence that you have the Holy Spirit. I switched channels and never listened to him again. I looked at his Bio, no information on his encounter with the Holy Spirit. There are many that do not have the power of God and try to discredit true people of God. They explain that they are false prophets and frauds.
If I lessen to anyone that preaches about the scripture I can discern truth from false, or if I suspect I will research it, most of us are sheep. We can't get out of a belief that we are born into.
Christians know the Word so that no one can deceive you.
Rev 22:18 I, John, solemnly warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: if any add anything to them, God will add to their punishment the plagues described in this book.
The Holy Spirit
I can understand why it is difficult for some teachers and theologians who have not asked for and received the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues to say that they don't need it. They try to justify their beliefs. I was recently disappointed when I heard two of my favorite radio evangelists speak negatively on the subject. The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is a gift that you have to ask for and be receptive to in order to receive.
Act 2:39: To your children and your children after you; to all that are far off, to the Gentiles. That he refers to the Gentiles is shown in the next clause, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Peter spoke as the Spirit gave him utterance, and perhaps did not fully comprehend his own words.
When we receive Jesus as our savior, we also receive an infilling of the Holy Spirit; however this is not the same as the Gift or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. When you receive Jesus you are saved and born again. The Baptism is a gift you ask for and is the power of God. When the gift is received, the scripture says that the evidence is a Godly language of prayer also called Speaking in Tongues. This Prayer language is used for the edification of one's self and for communicating with God without using one's intellect also for pulling down strongholds and spiritual warfare.
Romans 8:26-27: In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes with groans too deep for words,
The Gift of Tongues occurs when God speaks through someone or the Spirit gives the utterance which is for the edification of the church and must be interpreted either by the person in receipt of the Gift or someone else. Often when the Gift is received, other gifts of the spirit may follow thus you may receive one or several of the gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:1-31: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were gentiles, you were enticed and led away to idols that couldn't even speak. Therefore, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by God's Spirit can say, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
The Gifts
To another various kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues.
God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and various kinds of tongues.
In Acts
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that He would be available for everyone both Jew and Gentile. Before Jesus ascended into heaven He said that it was important for Him to leave so He could send the Holy Spirit who would give his followers power. Those waiting in the upper room on the day of Pentecost were all believers and disciples of Jesus Christ.
John 7:39: Jesus said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were going to receive. At that time the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not been raised to glory. Acts 2:4: The Spirit came upon them and they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I Corinthians 14:22: says, "Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe but to them that believe not."
Numbers 11:14 –30: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if You are going to part this way with me, I beg You to kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and let me not see my misery.
And Jehovah said to Moses, Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and the officers over them. And bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation so that they may stand there with you.
And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take of the spirit on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you do not bear it yourself alone. And Jehovah said to Moses, Has Jehovah's hand become short? You shall see now and Moses went out and told the people the words of Jehovah, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them all around the tabernacle.
And Jehovah came down in a cloud and spoke to him, and took of the spirit on him and gave it to the seventy elders. And it happened when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But two of the men stayed in the camp; the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other was Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. And they were of those who were written, but did not go out to the tabernacle. And they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. And Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Would God that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put His Spirit upon them!
A Little History
Modern day Pentecost may have begun in January 1901 on the outskirts of Topeka when an 18-year old girl named Agnes Ozman was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. This came as a result of an intense study of the Scriptures concerning the "evidence" of receiving the Holy Spirit. About the same time, Charles Parham, a former Methodist minister, moved his school to Houston, Texas where the same charismatic manifestations occurred. Between 1901 and 1908 he was able to win 25,000 followers who lived across the southern US from Missouri to Texas. It was in Texas that William Seymour joined Parham's Bible school. As a result of the Pentecostal revival on Azusa Street, the movement numbers 370 million today.
When Junette, was filled with the Holy Spirit, she spoke in other tongues and underwent a supernatural transformation. This event dispelled any doubt I had that God was real.
Luke 11:9 says, "And so I say to you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks." Verse 13 says, "As bad as you are, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more then will the father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." Jesus was speaking these words to believers.
Act 8:14-17: Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1,2: Paul traveled through the interior of the province and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit," they answered. "Well, then, what kind of baptism did you receive?" Paul asked. "The baptism of John," they answered. Paul said, "The baptism of John was for those who turned from their sins and he told the people of Israel to believe in the one who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in The name of the Lord Jesus. Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them; they spoke in strange tongues and also proclaimed God's message.
Acts 8:14-17: Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:43-45: To him all the prophets testify that everyone who believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message.
Then the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles, too.
It seems to me from reading the above verses, that the acceptance of Jesus Christ is the gift of eternal life and that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift for the believer who would seek and ask for it. It also seems to me that without this gift, life would be difficult for the believer since it is only the Holy Spirit who gives us power, convicts us of our sin, gives us remembrance and understanding of the Scriptures, the power to cast out demons and the strength to resist the devil.
Some say that the gift was for Biblical times but is not meant for today. How then do they explain Acts 2:17: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy; your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.
When are the last days? Hebrews 1:1 says, In the past God spoke to our fore-fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things. And when Jesus left the Earth he asked The Father to send the Holy Spirit to Earth.
I believe that tongues, which come with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is the evidence of one's receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is too supernatural for some conservative churches. There may be disapproval from smug church members who are too proud to humble themselves before God and to sincerely ask for that gift. They may be afraid of speaking out in tongues and the uncontrollable effect the Spirit may have on them. So some denominations and church leaders may conveniently ignore the parts of Scripture, which deal with speaking in tongues. Instead, they quote Scriptures, which refer to unruly gatherings in Corinth where people were abusing the gift and were speaking out of order. Let us go further into I Corinthians, 14. Paul gives us guidelines in the use of these gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:27 says. If any man speak in an unknown tongue let it be by two or at the most by three and that by course and let one interpret." Verse 28, But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church." Verse 4 says, He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies himself but he that prophesies, edifies the church.
In Paul's conclusion, 1 Corinthians 14:39, 40 he says, Therefore, brethren, covet to prophecy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."
The gift of prophecy and tongues and interpretation are for the edification of the Church and its congregation and will agree with Scripture. It will not be to criticize or discourage anyone.