Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 7/20/2007

Question
Hi
I have been a Christian for 3 years now. I received what i believed to be baptism in the holy spirit before water baptism. However i still do not feel completely empowered to do God's will. I feel uncomfortable with tongues, and even though i have a tongue i never use it, as i find it completely unfulfilling. Is something missing? When i hear of others who have received the holy spirit, they say it was a wonderful experience. That they could not speak in English for days. It was not like that for me. I have prayed about it. But i am still confused. Please can you help.

Answer
Julie,

Thank you for your question. Sorry for the late reply. This has been a very busy summer. I hope you understand.

I can relate to what you are saying. There are times when I am praying in the Spirit that I wonder the same things you do. But I know that just as I received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by faith, I too received Him as my baptiser in the Holy Ghost BY FAITH. Faith is not based upon my feelings (thank God). You see Robert, there are times that I do not feel saved. Does this mean that I am not? Of course it doesn't! If this were the case then we all would be in a heap of trouble! LOL!

The same is true about receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Too many Believers have the misconception that unless you "bawl and scwall" in the alters you really did not get saved. This is far from the truth. Salvation is by grace (God's unmerited, unearned, favor) and received by faith in the finished work of Christ upon the Cross (Eph. 2:8,9 & Rom. 10:9,10). Yes, the Bible does say that "Godly sorrow worketh repentance", but sorrow for sin is not always manifested by weeping. The true result of repentance is a changed life.

Such is also the case of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Too many think that unless your in church, and the music is just right, and the preaching has us running the isles that a Believer cannot receive the H.S. baptism. Wrong! I know of many who have not been at church that have been filled with the Spirit in their own private time. The important thing is not how you feel, but was the experience real. Only the individual Believer can know this for sure. This is also the case with salvation. I cannot judge your heart, only the Lord can.

Julie, I do not know you, nor do I know your heart. But after reading your question, and your testimony of receive the infilling of the Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in other tongues, I feel that you did truly receive the Spirit baptism. It is the trick of the enemy to try to plant seeds of doubt in us to get us to forfeit all that the Lord has for us. The Spirit baptism is no exception.

When the Believer who has received the Spirit infilling prays in tongues, he/she is praying out of their spirit (the inner man) bypassing the mind. We do not understand what we are praying (unless God gives us the interpretation). But when we pray in the Spirit we do not bypass the will or emotions. When we pray in tongues we choose to do so. The Bible says that the "...spirit is subject to the prophet..." This refers to the Believers ability to pray in the Spirit at the appropriate times. There are times when praying in the Spirit may cause a distraction. The Lord does not "force" us to pray in the Spirit. He has given us our prayer language as a tool to help us.

The question that you made need to examine is what is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? Let me see if I can give you a brief description to help...

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Second encounter with God. The first encounter with God is called as 'conversion' or salvation. Just as the indwelling Spirit reproduces the life of Jesus, the outpoured, or baptizing Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus.

To illustrate, if I had a glass of water and took a swallow, then the water would be inside me. If, on the other hand, I went down to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then I would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give and to equip him for a practical, efficient, spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service. Inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days.

Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6

Also, here are six reasons why we should you want to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues . . .

Praying in tongues builds your faith. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 20). Some think you have to be "spiritually up" and anointed to pray in tongues, but praying in the Spirit builds our faith. If you need victory, pray in tongues.

Praying in the prayer language brings you spiritual rest. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing . . . ." (Isaiah 28:11,12). When we are tired or upset we can pray in tongues and receive supernatural rest from God.

Praying in the Holy Spirit can help us better understand the truth of Gods Word and His guidance. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13). "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).

Praying in tongues, as the Spirit impresses us can "take care of things" before they happen. Have you ever been awakened at 3 a.m. to pray and not know what to pray or how? Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, "For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

Have you ever been awakened at in the night to pray and not know what to pray or how? Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, "For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

Praying in the prayer language gives us a "direct line" to God. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot.

Praying in the Spirit acclimates us to the realm of the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe it is a stepping stone to the other gifts. For these six reasons you can see that speaking in tongues is much more than just a sign of the Holy Spirits Baptism.

Julie, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions. Also, here is a link to a page on our ministry site that you can read for further info...

http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/WhattheBiblesSaysabouttheHolyGhostBapti...

Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1