The Energy Crisis in the American Church

Chapter Eight Part Two The Tongue Tied Christian

Chapter 1 – Lord, Give Me Everything But Tongues

"Is it really necessary – you know, all this business about the baptism of the Holy Spirit? I have gotten along without it for many years." I hear this clot and my reply is "Look around you and most of the people who have received the Baptism are showing changed lives and power is being exhibited. After all, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so called, is basically for power."

I must admit, I had the same question. I also wanted all that God had to offer me through His son, Jesus but maybe not tongues. This was a statement I made in the summer of 1973.

Let me tell you something of my early life in the ministry. In 1953 I was called by God when I was 19 years of age. Within several months was called to my first pastorate, while just a sophomore in college. Throughout college and graduate school I was available to God and was used in a variety of ways including radio TV, and even a Drive–in–Church. There were revivals, spiritual emphasis weekends and youth meetings. I was driving, flying, going by train and all seemed good.

But in the years that followed I began to understand that there is a difference between what people think of you and what God thinks of you. Especially in 1973 did I begin my wrestling matches with God. I would like to share some of them.

There just has to be more than what is being done in the flesh. The blessings are coming to the Community Church – we are reaching into the community God's love. But, as I thought, what extra could happen to the Church and to all of us if we would start to use God power instead of "self" power. If this be true, then what is blocking such a flow? My life has been a praying life instead of a praising life. So I investigated through friends and literature, just what is involved in "praising God". It had to be more than 3 hymns, a prayer and sermon. So, my moving into the things of the spirit began with a new concept and fresh approach to worship – through praise. And, this was good. All were blessed, even though many "hung" in the corners and eventually not just the corner of the church, but the street corner and then to other churches in our city.

As for myself, I HAD the spirit. It seemed enough, and especially was it enough when it came to "speaking in other tongues" That just was not a necessity. (So I then said.) As a little boy 1 had invited Jesus into my heart. The age was 9. Later I knew without. a shadow of a doubt that He had placed His hand on me and called me into the ministry. There was no doubting my call.

But another wrestling match came to pass regarding the preaching of the "full" gospel, as I heard it mention. There seemed to be more. Although I was fully convinced that I had it "all" at salvation there was no need of something "extra".

Of course, I had preached that when God comes into your heart and he saves you, one is to give themselves wholly to the Lord. That does not always happen, consequently there are doors that are kept shut to the Lord. How sadly was I mistaken regarding receiving all that God hod for me at salvation. Now, it con well all come at that moment at salvation, but by experience has been that for so many in the "traditional" church experience it has been a separate experience. For example: John 3:16 one has to ask for salvation. Luke 3:16, one has to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Then there is this illustration. It has been told and retold by many. It is about having guests over for dinner. The housewife is getting dressed and part of the dinner is not ready. She is running a little late and the guests begin to arrive early. As the doorbell rings she tells her daughter to go to the door, have the guests sit down and give them the paper, chat with them awhile and this will give me time to finish preparations.

So, while the housewife returns to the kitchen the telephone rings. The next door neighbor says, "Are your guests there yet?" This is a complicated question as they are not where she is in the kitchen. She has not received them. They are in the living room. Over the phone she hears, "Better hurry, finish preparations, because they have some exciting news for you. They even have some wonderful gifts to give you." The housewife does just that.

When we become Christians, Jesus is right there. He is right there with all He has to offer and give. You receive Him, but He is still in the other room. All my life, after I had received Jesus, He was in my heart. He was working through me in ministry. There were victories, blessings and all the things one likes to brag about, BUT Jesus was being kept in the living room. And, that, generally, is not the room of intimacy.

So, I had even another wrestling match with God. What about the issue of tongues?? Was that for me, too?? I decided to take advantage of an offer made to me of the use of' a cabin in the mountains. I was going there weekly to study, but this time I was going "up to receive all that Jesus had for me" I wanted Him to sock–it–to–me and give me all. Even if it meant tongues. He did that afternoon. I got my tongues and this is what I learned from then on.

Today's Tongue movement is on the increase as born–again believers are finding that they just can't do things themselves arid that they are utterly dependent upon God. This prayer language, which is available to individuals who desire it, and which is given by God, Himself, through Jesus, is making individuals bold in the Spirit in witnessing and bold in the Spirit in receiving from God and giving to others. Experiences that individuals are having are experiences that are drawing people closer to Jesus and prayers that are being prayed in the Spirit are finding fantastic results in the lives of many people.

The speaking in tongues is crossing all denominational brand names and is being found in Churches in every little town or city that dots our countryside. I heard a report stating that as many as 10% of many denominational groups of ministers have had the experience and are living the experience. In other surveys on smaller scales, not national, we discovered that there are just thousands of pastors who have received the Baptism and who speak In tongues, but who do not publicly report this. While to each his own, there are others who are publicly sharing their experiences. In these Churches people are being led into the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

When you stop and think of it, that one out of every ten pastors across the United States of America, one out of ten, are involved one way or another in this, it shows that God is, indeed, doing a new thing. I am not on a "tongue kick" because there are many other things that are very, very important. But I am saying that it is just one more accessory that a Christian may have if he so chooses. When chosen and used it may lead and direct and guide may people to a beautiful experience in claiming all the fullness and promises of God.

I am addressing myself to individuals regarding information on tongues. This is certainly not exhaustive, merely the planting of same seeds and a very broad unfolding, in fact, it Is just the opening of the box. I have never, in my past years of pastoring, preached against such an experience as some of my Baptist colleagues have. It has never been a major factor with me. But now that God has moved in my life, I can tell you that a Baptist can experience tongues, as of course many Baptists across the United States have discovered now. There is a hunger in the American Church. This hunger can be satisfied by Jesus who is the Bread of Life, while the Energy Crisis can be solved by tapping onto the potential that is in the Holy Spirit. Jesus relieves the hunger, the Holy Spirit relieves the Energy Crisis.

Chapter 2 – Pastor, Please Tell Me About Tongues

"He" has come to alleviate the energy crisis that is in the American Church. The power is available, but we cut back, spiritually speaking, because we are, perhaps, afraid, knowing that something may happen that is unfamiliar. So in this little bock we are dealing with this crisis that is hitting the American Church and indicating what some Churches around the entire world are doing about the crisis.

We come to a very particular segment in the list of Spiritual Gifts. I have chosen to present the message from questions which have been given to me in the past, questions that I, myself, have heard. "Pastor, would you please, please tell me about tongues. I have heard so much about then, and I want to know what it is all about."

I open my Bible and read in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, "Wars concerning the spiritual gifts, the special endowments of supernatural energy, I want you to be misinformed." When we continue in this chapter, we turn to verse 10, and In the listing of the gifts, many of which we have already discussed, he says to another various kinds of unknown tongues, and to another the ability to interpret such tongues. Verse 28, "God has appointed some in the Church for His own use, first apostles, special messengers, second prophets who are inspired teachers and expounders, third teachers, then wonder workers, then those with ability to heal the sick, helpers, administrators, speakers in different or unknown tongues." He goes on to say, "Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing or do all speak with tongues, or do all interpret? 1Desire earnestly and zealously cultivate the greatest and best, the higher gifts, the choicest graces and yet I will show you still a more excellent way, one that is better by far and the highest of them all, love, "If I can speak in the tongues of men and even of angels and have not love, that reasoning, intentional spiritual devotion, such as inspired by God's love in us all, then He says, "I am as a noisy gong or a clanging symbol."

Please tell me, Pastor, about tongues. I will. I will tell you what I feel about tongues, and I speak for myself, not for any Church or group. I speak for myself as to what I feel about tongues.

We go back to Acts chapter 2, where an account occurred, and if you will follow very closely, just for a few minutes when I speak about dates. An account occurred about the year 33 A.D. at the death of our Lord. The account refers to a Pentecostal experience wherein we read in Acts 2:4:

"They were all filled, diffused thoroughly their souls with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other different languages, as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression, and each tongue in appropriate words."

This occurred about the year 33 A.D. The book of Acts, written by an M.D. was written some 30 years later, around 65 A.D. When we turn to the two accounts in the New Testament that refer to tongues, we have to obviously turn to I Corinthians and the Book of Acts basically. Acts, written in the 65 A.D., give or take a few years, the words in I Corinthians written in the 56 or 59. So Corinthians was written first, and it was written because the people at the Church at Corinth, (and Corinth is located in the country of Greece,) had become obsessed with tongues to the extent that they were saying, "It is the ultimate in becoming a Christian." In fact, as I understand it, they were going around saying, 'to you speak in tongues? I speak in tongues." And this had caused a decisive factor in the Church, the Community Church of Corinth.

So Paul was asked to give saint pastoral advice, which he does in I Corinthians chapter 12, 13 and, as we have divided it, chapter 14. What I an saying is, glossalalia, or the speaking in tongues, was something that happened in Acts in the year 33. He is now, sane 30 years later, writing to a Church that has been affected by the glossalalia, or the speaking in tongues.

You will see, especially in the King James version, the word "unknown" is listed in italics. What does that mean? It simply mess that as all words in the King James version in italics have been put there for the interpretation or clarification of the reading of the Scripture. The words are not in the original, but the words are put there to make it read smoother. There is nothing wrong with the word 'unknown" because in what other way could you describe it if I start speaking in a tongue that you don't know? You have to say it is unknown, so that is why the word "unknown" is used there.

But the gift was there, and it was disturbing the people. Paul says, "I an not condemning tongues, I am saying that they are valueless without love. Love is the supreme! Love is the theme and that is the most important, that it is the standard of judgment and value, having it made quite clear to the people that this supreme gift of the spirit, love, is available to all; then he turns to the delicate task of speaking to the Church members regarding the gifts, notably the gift of tongues. I have consolidated all the questions I have been asked into four questions.

<3>I Want To Draw a Distinction Between Tongues at Pentecost and Tongues at Corinth

There is a difference in the tongues we read about in Acts 2 and the tongues we read about in 1 Corinthians. One, I feel, in Acts 2 is a language, a real language that was heard by foreigners and used to evangelize and save people. The language used in I Corinthians, by and large is an unknown type tongue with a language to God. large, I think there is a difference and we should distinguish between the two. The first question, in passing, is this: It is a very important question. It regards Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. "Does everybody, Pastor, who is filled with the Spirit speak in tongues?" Many will say very definitely that if you are filled with the Spirit, then you will speak in tongues. There are many others who will say definitely, no, that there is strong reason to disbelieve this. I personally feel that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit and not speak with tongues. But you may.

When Jesus was questioned about this and about what they should do to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, He replied, "You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has cane upon you. You shall be witnesses, and you shall receive paer." This is the evidence, I feel, of being filled with the Holy Spirit. One may say, "Pastor, I know if you turn to the book of Acts you will find all the accLmlulative evidence that people were filled with the Holy Spirit and then they spoke with tongues." Well, I'm glad that ccnnent was made in the book of Acts because that is true. Many cases are recorded. We have Acts 2, Acts 10 and chapter 19 of Acts where people were filled with the Holy Spirit, and my friend, they spoke with tongues.

Chapter 2 is of the disciples at Pentecost, chapter 10 tells of Cornelius and his household and chapter 19 was when twelve men were filled with the Holy spirit. One took place in the year 33, and took place in the year 41 and one in the year 54.

The Gift of Tongues Might Be Given Today as Well as Other Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit

You can speak in tongues and people are given the gift. So the second question is this: "What is the gift of tongues? You acknowledge, Pastor, that one can speak in tongues." Yes, you can speak in tongues. I speak in tongues. God has given me a prayer language and a language of praise. When we turn to I Corinthians 12 we are reading about times when God supernaturally energized people to speak in tongues when a person just "decides" to speak in tongues. I would say there are different types of tongues.

1. There is the MIRACLE TONGUE, where you are talking about a foreign language and then;
2. You are talking about a DEVOTIONAL TONGUE (I Corinthians 14:15), and there are varieties of devotional tongues;
3. Gift of tongues which needs an interpretation.

Paul says that if you are going to speak in an unknown tongue, in the congregation, let it be a tongue that can have an interpreter so that it would edify the Church. You see, this was one of the prerequisites that the Church be edified by this. Let me ask you a question. If you believe in God, if you believe that God is yesterday as He is today and tomorrow, if you believe that around 59 A.D. people were given the gifts of tongues, why could it not be possible today?

Miracle Tongues

I say there are several kinds of tongues, language which is a gift given to an individual to speak in a foreign language with or without an interpretation, and the other is a devotional tongue. Let us take them separately. This can also be classified the tongue for a sign (1 Corinthians 14:22): 1. A. miracle (foreign) tongues. There have been occasions where people have been possessed by God's Spirit and have spoken in a foreign language. They, themselves, did not know the language, but they were used by God. So a tongue in a foreign language, is for the purpose of unbelievers.

A few years ago in Oregon, I heard of a young man had brought to America his Japanese wife. She went with him to his Church and at that particular Church, there was a time when they could come and pray together. So they started praying. She was a Buddhist and believed it with all her heart. He as a Christian and believed that with all his heart.

She came with him to the service. When they cane and knelt and started praying together, a person kneeling beside the Japanese girl began praying in a foreign language. It was Japanese. This young Buddhist clutched the arm of her husband and she said, 'Honey, she is praying in Temple Japanese. It is a different type of dialect than regular Japanese and I can understand it." Here was a common person speaking in fluent Temple Japanese. And further, as she held her husband's arm, she exclaimed, "She has spoken out loud my full name, which. even you knee, because it is my long, heritage name." This was used immediately for her conversion.

This was a gift of tongues, one of the nine Spiritual Gifts, of the nine listed in I Corinthians given to an individual, someone just like yourself. This one had so identified with God's Spirit that God's Spirit was able to be used. There are many other instances that we could pass on, but this is a good example. God's Holy Spirit directs in language.

Now, are you wondering why missionaries have to go to language school? Why can't they just go out and open their mouths and start talking? Well, God doesn't do everything the way we want Him to do it. In fact, most of the time we don't do what God wants us to do. But there have been occasions where missionaries have just said, want to communicate with this person, but I cannot speak," and God's Spirit has come upon that person and they have been able to speak in a language that they have never before spoken. Now, I say that this is a gift, a supernatural energizing, endued by God.

Devotional Type

What about the devotional use, that we mentioned? In chapter 14 of I Corinthians we can read verses which say to us that in our devotional life one may speak in tongues to God. We are edified within our own self. Let me share several of the verses. In chapter 14 of I Corinthians, verses 14 and 15, "If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit by the Holy Spirit helps me pray. My mind is unproductive, bears no fruit and helps nobody. He is speaking about his devotional prayer that he, himself, is thus edified. "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit by the Holy Spirit that is within me, but I will also pray intelligently with my mind and understanding. I will sing with my spirit, by the Holy Spirit that is within me."

Jude 20, "But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying IN THE SPIRIT Praying in tongues edifies and it builds up. It is charging our spiritual battery. It provides a way to pray for things we don't know about.

This is the edification that comes from within an individual when we pray to God in an unknown tongue. Now, speaking in tongues has nothing to do with emotion, though it has for many people become emotional. We have associated tongue–speaking with emotionalism which is not necessarily true.

Praying with tongues is so valuable, and doing away with it – as most churches have – has weakened God's people and God's work. We have tongues to assist us in praying and in worshiping God. Paul said, "I WILL speak in tongues."

Gift Of Tongues Which Need an Interpretation

Often, God will speak through an individual (who is willing to be used) to a congregation or group. This utterance is in Spirit Language because God is spirit. For us in that group to know what the Father has spoken to His children, we will need an interpretation. There must Se an Interpretation of the Spirit language to the language of our group – in this case English. Usually after waiting for a moment someone, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, will give the interpretation. There are times when perhaps only an "understanding" will be voiced, not the direct interpretation. Still, sometimes two people will take part in the interpretation. One giving port of it and the other carrying it on farther or amplifying it.

If tongues are given and there is no interpretation, then one of several things has happened. There was an interpretation to an individual, but that one refused to move under the Holy Spirit and just willed to refuse taking part. Or, "if a regular interpreter" (by that I mean one who usually interprets) is not present, then someone else who has never done this before is timid or just hesitant to participate does not give what is going through their mind.

Another possibility is that the one originally speaking while speaking in the spirit, was in his "flesh" speaking. They were speaking in tongues, but the tongues were originating in their spirit, not God's spirit.

Tongues In America

"Pastor, what about the tongues in America today. If it is true in Church history, not much is said about it." To me this just says that there was not much happening then. What about today? If the Lord is no longer giving the gifts, what is occurring in Neo Pentecostalism today in America? We can not deny that the New Testament glossalalia and yet refuse to face up to what is happening in America, from shore to shore and border to border, maybe in your home, too. What can we say then? Is the charismatic revival in the 20th century strengthening our country? Is it giving unity, is it giving purity? Do those who claim to speak in tongues demonstrate power in testimony and are they demonstrating power with a high degree of Christianity and spirituality?

Let me answer. The answer is predicated upon my knowing people personally and my reading of them. I would have to say the answer is yes. It is making for unity in the American churches. It is building up the Body of Christ. Yet, upon the surface and in human vision there seems to be a contradiction. It is edifying the Church, and we cannot say it is not happening.

Especially since 1900 in a Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this has started mushrooming, and then later in Los Angeles God dropped His Spirit on a group. People in all "brand name" Churches are experiencing some things that are changing their lives. They are not waiting for "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" to come. It is just like, for example, friends of yours from out of town who are here right now. Suppose they had come by plane, and yet I would go tomorrow to the terminal to wait for them. Wouldn't that be rather ridiculous? They have been here for four weeks already. They are already here. The Holy Spirit is already within you. If you are a Christian, then you have Jesus in your heart, and He is right there, you don't have to wait for Him. He is already there, but He is, in turn, waiting for you to open up and let Him do something.

I am saying that we have something that we are not using. It is speaking in tongues, whether devotional or "God originated" through our spirit. We are not using the God–available potential that is available right here in our own community. We are not using it. While the nation cuts back a certain percentage of energy, let the Church double up its energy spiritually speaking.

Chapter 3 – Lord, Is It Really for Me?

Now in 1 Corinthians 14:5, Paul said he would that all people would speak in tongues. I had experienced this after a great deal of difficulty. In fact, I may even speak here of the tongue speaking aspect as it pertained to my life.

Our Youth Director, Ed Barber, was trying to repair a tape that our secretary, had jammed her machine. As a result of the jamming, the tape had become twisted. Ed was trying to untwist it and he gave it to me since he knew I had some experience in repairing tapes. In the repairing I broke the tape. This meant that I had to scotch tape it together. After the taping, I backed it up a few inches to make sure I had the right side facing the right direction. On this particular tape both sides locked the same to me. When I depressed the play button, I heard the speaker talking about receiving tongues. What he said was so interesting to me that I could not stop the recorder, I had to listen to it. He was saying that a lady had attended a meeting at which time the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was expounded.

After this, people had the opportunity to come forward. When she cane forward, she did not receive her tongues and went home embittered about it. When she got home, her husband was watching a very interesting TV program so she went into her room, knelt beside her bed and asked Jesus to baptize her aid give her tongues. As she asked for the receiving of her tongues, instantly she heard the sound of rushing, mighty winds which we read of in the Book of Acts. Again, instantly, she received her baptism and broke out in tongues. Then she realized that the furnace had gone on. I thought that was so funny that I had to listen to this unknown person on the tape.

I had to make a call on someone out in the country so I grabbed up the play–back cassette, put it in the car, and listened to the message all the way out and all the way back from my appointment, it was as a result of this that I realized that tongues was for everybody, including me, and that I could receive it. The reason I had not received it was not on God's part but because of some hang–up of mine in some fashion or another.

So as I was driving down the road past Hunter Liggett, I began thinking of one verse of Scripture that says, "They were seated in a room and were of one accord and they were praising God." Maybe their hands were lifted and they were praising God. So I thought, "Well, Lord, I am going to get just as Biblical as I can driving down this road. I know it is scriptural to raise hands in prayer. I am just going to lift up my hands and praise You." You know, as I was driving along, I felt real good as Cod's presence was felt very keenly. So I tried to steer with my knees down the deserted road. That's very difficult to do.

But I lifted up my hands and put my knees on the wheel and I drove and I was really making progress and getting through until I came to a curve in the road. I knew I had to do one of two things, hold my hands up or hold onto the steering wheel. So, I had to go back to steering myself, which has been a real hangup with me and with a lot of people in the Bible–doing it ourselves. It was not until the Lord dealt with them and they forgot all their natural ability and lean entirely upon Him, did they receive His blessing.

So I wanted God's blessing. I negotiated the curve and again I was doing real good. I was really getting through, I thought, until another curve came. I just can't tell you how many curves there are between the Fort Hunter Liggett gate and where I was going to in the Indians (a place in the mountains where there were a number of cabins). That was my determination, my wrestling with God. But nothing was really happening. I felt just as good as when I left King City. I came to a cattle guard and had to stop my car. Then I said, " Lord, when I start this car, it's just You and me and I want to receive!!

I dug out!! The tires sent gravel flying everywhere. Soon I came to a dead stop. Again I drove away, lifting up my hands and praying, feeling good but no different that I had felt in King City. Throughout the course of the day I prayed, I praised and did a lot of planning. Sitting on my chair under a shade tree I asked the Lord to send a mighty wind, as it was getting pretty hot. This would really be a sign and I had been one to go by signs. believe these things and so I asked for a sign. Then the wind started blowing and that was really great and it refreshed me, and it got pretty strong, too. That really enthused me, until the devil said, "Well, it always blows around here." So it was just another wind. And I gave up another wrestling match.

Later, I was lying out in the sun on an old Army cot working on my tan, with the sun warm on my body. I was praising God and asking Him to do something for Community Church, traditionally and non–traditionally, so that the faith of the people might be more meaningful, so that we all might be fulfilled. Signs and wonders are supposed to follow the believer and I don't see that around most churches. Something has gone wrong. I further know that it is not God that leaves us. I wanted more from God so I could give more to my people. I knew the scripture, "In vain do you keep the traditions of man."

Now, we are all Christian people, but there is so much more to it than just being a Christian. You have heard me say that so many churches get hung up on preaching salvation every Sunday that you know it. But what do you do after you become saved? Well, you have to grow a little bit, and I have since found a lot of growth in many people. I want to have growth in myself, and I have been quite stagnant. I don't think I have been growing like I should. So this was the reason for the wrestling match that day. I was tired of doing it myself. I was tired of asking people to come to Church, planning the programs, doing this and that and relying upon my own resources.

All of a sudden there clicked something within my inner being that is hard to understand in words, but at that moment I knew that I had received a baptism of Jesus. I had asked Him in when I was a boy, eight or nine years of age, and He had been living there for many years. But on occasion I would receive Him and spectacular things would happen. After those things happened it was my doings but I did always credit it to God. I would close my door and leave my guest, my master, in the living room instead of the work roan. At that time I must confess that mi unusual feeling cane over me because I knew that at that moment I had really let Him me in to all the rooms. And as I released Him and gave Him freedom, I was able to praise Him for the first time not from my brain, but from my spirit – my inner man. I had my prayer language.

Lord, I Have a Problem. "I Did Not Receive"

You know, as receiving salvation is different from one person to another, so the receiving of the Baptism differs from one person to another. I have spoken to some who have shown that they were genuine Christians by conduct, speech and other outward signs, yet they say to me that they did not have any spectacular experience. They just said, "Lord, I believe In You, please save me," and that was it. On the contrary, there are those who have had great, earth–shaking situations and to hear their testimonies is certainly to be inspired. However, God does not work the sane with each person and that is why It is exceedingly harmful as well as wrong to box–in or make a common denominator of a salvation experience other than the person, Jesus.

In regard to the Baptism, it is the same. There have been people who have had fantastic experiences but there have been others who recognize that they had to ask for their salvation and now have to ask for the Baptism. They ask and they receive, though nothing spectacular happens to them. Here again, the small word, FAITh. We have to "faith" it. One of the accompanying signs, and I said, "one", is to have a prayer language. There have been many people who have come to my office or I have gone to their homes, or perhaps participated In a service, who have requested the "Baptism" and have according to the Word of God received "the Baptism", but were not given the experience of tongues, and they have asked, 'Why?"

For example, a lady comes to my office and says, "I want more than I now have in my relationship with Jesus. I know He is alive, but I just want more, and there must be more than just being a Christian and being saved." I explained to her about the Baptism, it is another dimension. It does not make you holier than anybody else, it is just another dimension that you can choose, if you desire, and the party says, "I choose."

So I pray a simple prayer, and the lady says, "I don't really feel any different. But I do believe I have received the Baptism." I explain to her about the accompanying signs, one of them being the prayer language. She asks the Lord for this, we begin to praise God, and suddenly there canes from her mouth words that are not her own. To be sure, in this particular. case, they were not fluent nor were they comfortable with her. But it was a beginning and her face was radiant. She was so thankful to God that she had latched onto this ability to just allow God to let His Spirit flow through her in a prayer language.

On the other hand a lady comes feeling the same way, sits on the couch in my office and she asks for the Spirit Baptism and relates that she feels a tingling and a different feeling. She says, "Jesus is within me in a different dimension." When we begin praising the Lord for this, and desperately on her part, desiring to have her "tongue experience" but nothing develops. She makes the comment, 'Well, I guess the tongues are not for me."

I explained to her that tongues were for her, because tongues are for everybody. But there are reasons why, as I see it, that some do not have the tongue experience. I suggested to her sane of the following remarks. We first predicate our information on the Word of God. Now, God is the one who allows us to speak in tongues. One person came to me and said, "I would like you to teach me how to speak In tongues." I replied that I cannot do that. I do not teach anybody. Only the Great Teacher, only Jesus, can do this. Speaking In tongues is letting God's Spirit flow through your spirit, through your mouth, and as you perhaps have heard the expression, "bypassing your mind." Your mind, which represents you, is being put aside for the moment, this Is the physical, and you are letting the spiritual beginning with God flow through your Spirit. This terminates in prayer language.

Now, since God is the one in the controls, since God does it, then the problem In not having the tongues is not with God, but is with the individual. Now, I do not know why everyone does not have this, and In particular those who have requested it. For myself, I requested it and did not have the prayer language for some time. Others with whom I have spoken have had similar experiences, while on the contrary, some have instantly received their prayer languages. So I come back to the original statement that, "It is God that gives. It is God who allows this to flow. But we, as human people, sometimes block it.

Here are some suggestions. Number one, there may be possible outstanding sin in your life that needs to be confessed. If you will pause and go into your memory bank and find some sin that you have never confessed, then this sin is something that can be a blockage in this "outlet". There are tints when we would want to receive a fluid, for example, through a drinking straw. We have had this experience in our home when we use the little paper straws.

One of my children was having a great deal of difficulty and the fluid would not come through. We discovered when the straw was lifted that toward the bottom of the straw it had been pinched tight, letting just a very little of the fluid flow through. Now sin is like that. It sort of pinches just a little bit and unless we ask God to forgive us and allow the Holy Spirit to come in and raw, out or open us so that God's favor and blessing can flow, then we will find that it Is just too effective on oar part in that way. This night just be a blockage In that way.

A second reason that I believe some people do not receive their tongues, is an unforgiving spirit. It is important that we have nothing against anybody as a Christian. It is Important that we exercise forgiveness. It is important that we remember that God has forgiven us, and that He forgives us continuously.

So, in seeking the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with Its accompanying sign of the prayer language, one must be free to ask for forgiveness of anybody who may have wronged them in the past. If possible, be specific, and single out person, date, situation and lay that matter before the Lord. When it is laid out before the Lord, then, by the power of the blood of Jesus it can be erased. Thus not contributing to failure to receive the prayer language.

When we are in our meditating moods and upon those occasions when we are trying to get our life clean of besetting sins, this attitude of an unforgiving spirit is very important. When asked by Hi $ disciples how many times one should forgive another, Jesus replied seventy times seven. So we are continuously forgiving when we are wronged, and then we must remember that when we wrong that we too must ask for forgiveness.

A third reason as I have seen in my ministry why people do not receive the accompanying sign of a prayer language is that there Is a degree, small or great, of bondage and this bondage is due to an evil spirit. A simple prayer of casting out this evil influence or negative factor in their lives is done by the power of Jesus. But we are the ones who do it. For a long time I thought that it was great that Jesus would cast out the negative factor or the evil influence in my life, but then I discovered that He is not the one who does it, I am the one who does It. So then you, by the authority of Jesus, can cast out the negative factor. It is removed because you have taken the initiative and you have spoken the word and you have done It in the Name of Jesus. The Name of Jesus is the eradicating factor. It is the fleeing factor for this evil influence.

Pride. Pride is an outstanding reason why people do not have a prayer language. Pride canes In different forms and attacks people in different ways, but is the ugliest, I think, of all sins because of the ramifications that deal with pride as It affects the human being.

Pride keeps people out of the Kingdom. Pride keeps people out of the Baptism of water and pride keeps people out of receiving the fullness of the Spirit in terms of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And it is pride that keeps people from so many beautiful things of the Christian life including the prayer language. There are people too prideful to open their mouths and make a sound, because after all, It is our vocal cords that have to do the work. We must exercise the moving of our vocal cords while God provides the words. Many people are just too embarrassed, even privately to make a sound that would begin them on this new venture.

There are others who fall into this same category and do not want to receive the ridicule of family or friends and who will not even make an attempt. On the other hand, there are those who are desirous of this but have a subtle type of pride that hinders. If we lay our pride before the Lord and humbly confess it and ask God to bless us in a continuous removing of It, we will be successful. I say "continuous" because pride is something that is like a dandelion, it just keeps growing. You can cut it off or dig It up and you think you have It out, but unless you go all the way to the tip of the root, it will continuously come forth.

In the case of our human pride, it is deeply rooted way back to our ancestors of Adam and Eve, and therefore I am persuaded that we can never eliminate the tip end of the root of pride. But for the person who is conscious of this, there can be a control of it and there can be a removing of it to a great and excessive degree. Some people show a very humble spirit and indeed are humble, because they have conquered a portion of their pride.

So a simple prayer of confessing pride and asking God to remove this pride can be very helpful. Again the question, "Lord, I have a problem, I didn't receive." Outside these four reasons, there may be many more that can be grouped in with the four above mentioned reasons. But one must remember that God is in control and God wants the very best f or His children. Therefore, I cannot buy the statement that people have made, such as, "It is just not my time." My friend, this is the time. Now is the time with God, but it may not be the time for us, because there are so many factors that are involved in this. But so far as God is concerned, now is the time. We have to make ourselves right.

God's Holy Spirit Is constantly moving to draw, and there are times when an Individual will allow the draw to occur, the factors all being right, one receives at least one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

So What's So Good About Tongues?

So what Is so good about speaking In tongues? This was a question that really plagued me, once I received my tongues, following an experience, literally, on a mountain top. I remember the devil speaking forcefully, just as inter–loudly as God does, "You made It up yourself. The gibberish that you spoke, that you don't even understand, was made up as a result of your own computer." Fortunately I had been aware that this might happen to me, this experience with Satan, so I rebuked him instantly, in the Name of Jesus. However, in the subsequent days in my new life in the experience of tongues, I must confess that I constantly was bothered by the reality of it all.

I recall one question that kept going around and around in my mind; "What's so good about It? So what?" You are the same, Neal. Your preaching Is the sane. Your praying Is the same, except now, with tongues. Your ministry was the same, I thought, at the time. However in retrospect, I see now an Increase of fruitage was being harvested as a result of my new life in the Spirit. I did not feel anything different after speaking in tongues at first and this bothered ne. I went to a friend, one who had lived and walked in this life for many, many years, a seasoned soldier of the Baptized life and I said to her, "I just don't feel anything when I speak in tongues." The reply that she gave me is one which I have since given to many, many people, in my office, in my car, on the street, on the golf course or wherever I am approached by this subject. The reply was, 'When you eat a meal, how do you know that it is helping you?"

Now, I had read in the Scriptures that speaking In tongues edifies an individual, and my speaking in tongues was not edifying me. The question again, 'When you eat a meal, how do you know that it is helping your body?" My reply was, 'Well, I just don't know'. I just do it." The lady interrupted, "You accept by faith that it is going to provide fuel and nourishment for your body, don't you?" I replied, "Yes, of course. By faith, when I eat a meal, I know it is going to edify if you please, my physical body. So when I began speaking In tongues, I had to, by faith, believe that It edified by body. So, after I received my tongues, which occurred on top of a mountain, I began to think, "So What?"

Now In 1 Corinthians 14:4, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, he that prophecieth edifieth the Church." There appears, sane would feel, to be two types of tongues. You pray in tongues because of a gift given to you because of your baptism, and the other would be a gift of tongues. Your praying In tongues would be for yourself, personal edification, the gift of tongues would be for the edification of the Church as it appears in verse 4. So the gift of tongues Is on occasion, given by God to an individual for the Church's edification. This will cane on rare occasions by few people, in contrast to praying in tongues which is a gift by God given at the baptism, or shortly thereafter. For sane, there is a delayed time.

In regard to the several types of tongues. As I see it, there is the tongue experience for a sign. The scripture speaks of people speaking in a tongue that is understood by an individual. A person who speaks a particular foreign language to us can receive a message given by a person In their own native tongue, on no part or fault of the individual speaking. God sometimes sovereignly gives a gift of tongues for a sign to an unsaved person. So as a sign to an unbeliever, tongues are sometimes given. I might mention that in some cases In other countries where missionaries have gone and people have received the baptism, I have heard that some of the natives have received tongues and spoke in English, which is a new slant. People have come to Church services, have come down to the altar and have prayed in a tongue and kneeling or standing near them was someone from another country who understood their own language being spoken fluently by this one. So God uses this ministry of tongues in many ways. But my objective Is "so what is the value of speaking in tongues?"

So outside of first of all prophecy for the Church's edification, and outside of the tongues for a sign for the unbeliever, there is an aspect where you, the individual edify yourself, and you can use your tongues in many ways. I use my tongues in several different ways. The scripture backing for this canes from I Cor. 14. Now,many people have divided these usages of tongues into many ways. I like the sevenfold usages of tongues. So follow along in your Bible, please. All will be in 1 Corinthians 14.

Use number 1 is in verse 2. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men but unto Cod. For no man understandeth him howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." This first usage has as it's title, "Hi, God, I just want to talk to you. I just want to commune with you. Because when you use your tongues, you are bypassing your intellect. Your mind is being bypassed and the spirit of God that is in your heart upon profession of faith, released by the baptism of the Holy Spirit then canes out like waters from the belly as you read about In Chapter 7. It is God's spirit speaking in you, and you in your spirit are speaking to God. You are just saying, 'Ni, God. I love You, I worship You. I adore You. I just use my tongues to say, "Hi."

Number 2 is in verse 4. Perhaps titled "Edifying". "He that speaketh In an unknown tongue edifies himself. When you speak In your prayer language, you are edifying yourself. You are building up your inner– person. That is why I tell people to use their prayer language several times a day, every day, and have special times when you do commune with God's Spirit by using their tongues. 'tie that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself."

Number 3 is in verse 5. Paul says, "I would that you all speak with tongues, but rather that you prophecy. For greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks in tongues, except he interpret that the Church may receive edifying." Now in the beginning of this discussion, I spoke to you about one area of tongues being for the Church. We plug it in at this point. Point number three is the use of tongues for Church building for Church build–up. For the Church's build up.

Number 4 is in verse 15 and you could caption it, "Just Pray." Verse IS, "t will pray with the spirit." This is very important since sometimes when we are called upon to pray for an individual, we really don't know how to pray for that one. We don't know what is best. This is why it is so good to be able to pray in the spirit. Because we don't know what is best for people, we may pray amiss. So just drop into your prayer language. So point 4 Is "Just Pray". Just pray with your tongues.

Point number 5 is "Sing with your tongues." Again in verse 15, "I will sing with, the spirit." Many people find that they enjoy singing in their tongues, in fact they even pick out choruses or hymns and instead of using English, they use their tongues. Sane sing very fluently while others won't even try it. It is difficult for some to do, but it is a possibility and it is scriptural because he said, 'I will sing with the spirit." Verse 16 is number 6 and the caption would be "bless". "Thou shalt bless with the spirit." The other day I was coming home from an appointment and I was burdened for one family in our Church. I did not pray with my understanding, I prayed with my spirit. I blessed those people with my prayer language. And that is scriptural, point number 6, verse 16.

The last is number 7, verse 22. We have toughed upon this somewhat in our introduction as we talked about a sign. In verse 22, "Therefore tongues are a sign, not to them that believe, but to than that believe not." Tongues have been used by God for the salvation of sane people.

So as I see it, some would have more and sane less, but all the usages of tongues would have to cane from I Corinthians 14. Whether you would take a fine line and divide or group together, you have a number of usages, which is my point. So to answer the question, "What is so good about tongues?" I can think of about seven good things.

"Hi, God."

1. For Edifying
2. For Church Build–Up
3. To Pray
4. To Sing
5. To Bless
6. As a Sign

Before we conclude about the use of tongues1 let me make several comments that came to my mind. First the use of tongues in a public gathering. The other day a person came to me quite concerned at hearing tongues spoken at one of our meetings where there was no interpretation, because the Bible says that if there is a tongue usage in public, there must be an interpretation. The point was, there were tongues being heard with no interpretation, so I explained to this person that this was not in violation to the scripture because the people that were praying were just using their tongues vocally, though sane speak It in their minds and have said it just comes out like ticker tape.

Some speak it in their minds but usually it is vocal. In this prayer meeting, for example, during a time of prayer there were people who were using tongues to be edified In their relationship to God. The party hearing it thought that they were using tongues which should be interpreted. So my comment was that it did not need interpretation since the people were using it not for Church build–up but for personal edification. They were using tongues in one of the different ways of which we spoke of earlier.

Tongues are used to give prophecy and if in a service in any type Church in a free time of prayer if someone stands and speaks forth in tongues under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then there will automatically follow someone giving an interpretation of that message. So to wrap up this one–way conversation–tongues is one manifestation of the Holy Spirit. When you were baptized in the Holy Spirit, you should expect to speak in tongues. It is not that you have to, but you can, and it is a visible quality or manifestation or attribute of one who has been Holy Spirit baptized. It is a unique beautiful prayer language that you can have with God.

I am thankful for my tongues. I would encourage you, if you have not received your tongues and you feel that you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, to release that which is necessary and by faith, just accept. As with the lady I told you about on the tape, when she heard the furnace go on, this triggered her faith and she broke forth in her heavenly language. It is of God and for God through us. This prayer language is something that can revolutionize your life and help you and just bless you in so many ways. In I Corinthians 14, there are seven ways we have looked at In answer to the question, "So what's so good about tongues?" May Good bless you as you experience your prayer language.

There have been tines when I found myself on a spot and did not have time to pray "a normal prayer" centered around my physical faculties, so I have dropped down to tie my shoe (if my shoes had laces) and used my tongues. On many occasions I can attest to the fact that prayer, using my prayer language, was the fact to my being used or being blessed, yet only seconds were involved.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

This has been prepared to answer 4 basic questions about the subject of the Holy Spirit.

1. What Is It?
2. Why Is It?
3. How Is It?
4. What's With It?

There are many excellent books and pamphlets on the Baptism, but this. In a "nut shell", with carefully selected words, will enlighten the reader.

What Is It?

The words recorded in Acts 19:2 include, "Have you received the HOLY SPIRIT since you believed?" Indicate that there is another experience after the initial experience of conversion. A person recently stated to us, did not know that there was more to it. I have often wondered, is this all there is? Yet, I have been in and worked in the church for years." Evidently something was missing for Paul to ask the question in Acts 19:2. That "something" was a power that ultimately glares forth In the life of one that is Spirit filled.

There are people who have involved themselves In John's baptism of repentance and they are trying to live the Jesus way and not the world way – and that is good. BUT there are others who have entered into what is called an abundant life. This abundant life is seen in praise. It is seen in power and this is one of the things Jesus has promised that is missing in so many lives. Jesus wants to baptize you. "I baptize you (said John) with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me Is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and with fire." (Matthew 3:11) John 7:38, "He who believes in me as the scripture has said, 'out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. "

The idea of baptism implies the complete submergence. As in the case of water baptism, the body is buried completely under (just as one Is buried in the local cemetery, completely under) but that one does not stay there long.

He experiences a resurrection (like the body in the cemetery will) and the coming forth out of the water COMPLETES and makes for a baptism. There is a sense in which we not only abide in the stream of God's Spirit, but the stream abides in us.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is that coming out of our innermost being the Spirit of God. We are releasing the Spirit that has been placed in our being upon the act of conversion when Jesus came into our heart. The Baptism is the result of the heart cry of an individual who is crying, "Lord, return unto me the JOY of my salvation." It is in that moment that one cries, "I need Your fullness. I need more of Jesus." It does not mean that you have attained any degree of "holiness", but It means that at that moment you are yielding your all to Him. The result of this is the Baptism.

Why Is It?

Simply for power! "But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." (Acts 1:8) When one Is baptized In the Holy Spirit, that one is energized for power. Not only is he Inwardly 'built up" for abundant, confident living, but he can become the channel through which some of the gifts of the Spirit can be manifest. Further, according to God's Will, one may receive a ministry of a spiritual gift. Basically the Baptism Is for power!

The average Christian In Yourtown U.S.A. is a poor example of what Jesus promised His followers. As a Christian you have been promised power. Power for victorious living. Power for distressing circumstances through which one is asked to pass. Power in the communication with God. There is power for liberty. "How the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord Is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17) We just are not as effective In our witness without the Baptism as we are with it. It is through the Baptism that we are energized by the Holy Spirit. In Short, the Baptism is the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit In our lives.

How Is It?

To begin with, one must recognize that Jesus does two things. 1. He saves and 2. He baptizes (not water baptism). Both are situations that are real and given to one when asked. As a Savior He is received by faith and thus gives you salvation. In Ephesians 2:8,9 the word is "by faith are you saved." Salvation Is a gift that can not be purchased by a monetary contribution.

As a Baptizer He likewise does so through the same word, "faith". Look at Galatians 3:2, 14. Verse 2 speaks of receiving the Spirit by faith. Then, ". that you may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

How is it when received other than through faith? (We assume that you are a professing Christian.)

1. In prayer, confess all your known sins and the "things" that are wrong and in contrast with the Divine Order.
2. Thank God for the possibility of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
3. Praise Him, from whom all blessings flow which include the flow of His Spirit from within your inner being.
4. (A suggested continuation of your prayer would be:) "Lord, I now ask that you baptize me with Your Holy Spirit. (In simple, childlike faith, believing with all of your heart), Lord, I ask You to baptize me."

Now, thank God for receiving it and for confirming it! The Scriptural manifestation of the Baptism was the speaking in tongues. Inhale deeply and then exhale, and with it will come your tongues. Remember that YOU have to use your physical organs, but what is said is not of you. It is God's Spirit speaking through your spirit.

What's With It?

The answer is a prayer language mentioned above. God gives to the Baptized individual a heavenly language. It is a sign of the Baptism. 'they shall speak with a new tongue." (Mark 16:17) It Is a fulfillment of prophecy which you can read In Isaiah 28:11 and Joel 2:28. It is a fantastic experience that Is given by God. That is why Paul said, "I would that all of you spoke with tongues." (I Corinthians 14:5)

As mentioned above we must use our lips and we must use our vocal cords. That we speak is not supernatural, but WHAT we speak I s because I t is under the direction of God. Like James says about the tongue, It is an unruly menter and the last to be tamed. When we receive the Baptism we desire to be God controlled – even our tongues. It is not that we nist speak In tongues, but that we CAN speak in tongues. When we do we are edified. Spedcing in tongues edifies the individual. One can pray more effectively, because often times one does not know how to pray. At that point the 'rayer language" can drop Into gear. This will always be at the will of the individual. Some are afraid that they will just blurt out sometime in public, but never is tongues employed unless the individual wills it. One prays not with understanding, but in the Spirit. Tongues is a great asset to the Christian. It does make a difference. It is as ThE SPIRIT gives utterance.

A Review

I hear people, from time to time, referring to the "gift of tongues" when they actually mean praying in the spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we read that Paul speaks about God as giving the Gifts as He chooses. Therefore we, on our own, could not use such a "gift" upon our own choosing, nor could Paul say, "I wish you all to speak with tongues."

Paul speaks of 'praying in the spirit" as something that is in the individual's own power to do. Therefore, there is a difference between:

1. The GIFT of the Tongues (by God)
2. The PRAYING in the Tongues (by our spirit)

If, in public, there be the speaking in tongues, then that is by the Holy Spirit, and becomes A GIFT (and needs an interpretation?. BUT, in private one can pray and praise God in tongues. The Holy Spirit will honor that self determination, for that Is what it is. We WILL to do so, when we want to. The capacity to pray in tongues is a fresh way to stay in the power of the Spirit. It is a source of freedom and it is a beautiful way to pray for those "things" about which we know so little, i.e. "prayer request for this and that." Praying in tongues is a dynamic way of intercession.

Every Christian Can Speak In Tongues.

As God chooses, on rare occasions, according to his will, the gift of tongues is given. So speaking in tongues (not the gift of tongues) does not require my special four from God. He has already given the permission, and so provided the language whenever the Christian OECIOES to use it. Remember, God always honors our freedom.

I know that Satan would like to cool a person down, especially when enthused about one's faith. Consequently sane say (or would like to argue) "The Holy Spirit gives the Gifts as HE wills, therefore everyone should not speak in tongues." Paul does say, 'to all speak in tongues." But In this portion, Paul is not speaking of praying privately, he is speaking of public use of the tongues which is "a gift" given as He wants to.

Remember 1 Corinthians 14:18 instead, where Paul says, "I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all." (He Is talking about private praying) "But in the assembly, I would rather speak five words with my own intelligence, so that all could understand and learn, that ten thousand words in an unknown language."

If you are a Christian you can have a prayer language, if you want to. It is completely up to yoU. Why? You had to ask for your salvation (John 3:16). You have to ask for the baptism (Luke 3:16) Don't let anyone talk you out of praying in the Spirit – that is speaking in the Spirit as the Spirit gives the utterance. If you haven't done it yet, you can, if you are a Born Again Believer and are ready to accept what lie has already provided for you if you need help.