The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues
During a Holy Spirit conference, a pastor from a very conservative denomination sat in the front row. I could sense he felt out of place, but when he was presented with a clear Biblical presentation he was able to believe and receive that day. And his ministry was forever changed.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues continues to be a topic of contention within the body of Christ. I believe this is because satan is afraid of the supernatural power that is released when God’s people activate the power of the Holy Spirit and pray in their supernatural languages. So, he constantly stirs up confusion and strife via the lack of teaching and training concerning these very powerful weapons of spiritual warfare that God has given to us. Let’s clear up the confusion and see what the Bible has to say about them.
In the book of Acts before Jesus ascended into heaven He was teaching the apostles about things to come. He told them of another baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit that would soon come upon them, (see Acts 1:5). He told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, (see Acts 1:8).
And in the second chapter of Acts we read of the Day of Pentecost when suddenly a noise came from heaven like a violent rushing wind and it filled the whole house, and tongues of fire rested upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving the utterance. (See Acts 2: 1-4.)
Most Christians believe that this took place, but many believe that mighty move of the Holy Spirit was for the early Church and not for believers today. Let’s look to the Scriptures for clarity.
The Apostle Peter declared to the onlookers of this amazing event starting with verse 14 that what they witnessed is what the Prophet Joel prophesied about saying that in the Last Days a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit would come forth on all people. Did the world end with the early Church? No. This was referring to a new dispensation of the Holy Spirit, which did not end, but just began.
Peter continues to teach and tells the listeners what they need to do in verse 38. He tells them they need to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And he goes on to tell them in the next verse who the promise of the Holy Spirit is for. He says to them, “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (See Acts 2:39.) Peter includes us when he says, “and to all who are afar off” in the promise to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Now, that we laid the foundation, let’s continue on and see what else the Word has to say about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, tongues and the interpretation of tongues.
The Holy Spirit:
- The Holy Spirit is a good gift from the Father, and not an evil one. It says in Luke 11:11-14, “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 Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit is powerful and reserved for the believer in Jesus Christ only. It would literally destroy an unregenerated spirit. It says in Luke 5:37-38, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
- This baptism is for any and all believers in Jesus Christ. “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39).
- Through His baptism we receive His power, 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 Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
- The initial evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is that you will pray in tongues. As it happens in Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues:
- Tongues and its co-partner, the Interpretation of Tongues are spiritual gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit, and not the devil. (See 1 Cor. 12:10.)
The Purpose of the Gift of Tongues:
- The Holy Spirit prays through us when we don’t know how. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. 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.” (Rom. 8:26-27).
- Our spirit prays for the unknown. “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1 Cor. 14:2).
- To build ourselves up. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” (1 Cor. 14:4).
- So supernatural power can flow through us. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38).
The Purpose for the Interpretation of Tongues:
- When we are in a public setting we need the gift of Interpretation of Tongues to be in operation so that the supernatural message can be understood by all. 1 Corinthians 14:13 gives us instruction concerning this situation, “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.”
I believe, just like the pastor from the conservative denomination believed and received after he heard a clear Biblical presentation concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues that many others from mainline denominations will be open to receive when they hear the truth presented with clarity.
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© 2015 Author Becky Dvorak–Healing and Miracles International, All rights reserved.
I have been baptized twice, and our Pasture said if you cant speak in tongs, then you need to ask yourself why? I have read 8 different bibles but still I struggle with this , I am learning disabled so it takes a little longer for me, there are times when I will be reading it and a sentence will latterly jump up in the book and then I will know something that I did not know the other billion times I have read them, I think that is GOD or The Holy Spirit, the last one to jump odd the page is in revelation’s and I cant tell you were, I was bouncing, but there was a part were God laid everything under his feet and he made everything, and it said the land the moon and the Heavens, not one heaven but plural 2 or more Heavens. I don’t know why or what it is for, it might of been I was praying for all his children to repent and be saved, I don’t know if this was my actual thought as I take meds for back injury, but of all the times I have read there are times when everything else will be washed out but what it seem I am to see. but I have not gifts from GOD at all, when I was younger I new things when they were happing or before hand, but that seems to have gone away when I had my children. I don’t thin I have read any of your books yet, I live off SS now and back taxes are taking 200.00 out of my check, so money is tight now. thank you, I just fill lost a lot any more. Thank you for helping me so much. GOD bless
Dear Penny,
You may have struggled with learning disabilities all your life, but today is a new day. And I will tell you that reading through the Bible brings healing and restoration to your spirit, soul and body. I’m proud of you! As far as tongues, it doesn’t come from your mind, but from the Spirit. And your spirit does not have learning disabilities. I would suggest that you keep on reading and reading from the Book of Act until the revelation of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit come to you. Hugs, Becky
I also want to encourage you, Penny. Sometimes we try so hard to please God that we miss the simple things. All you have to do is receive.
That’s what happened with me as I sought a healing for my back years ago. I had three degenerating disk and I prayed and sought and asked for healing and finally someone told me that it was already done, all I had to do was receive it. So I started reading in Matthew and marking every passage where Jesus healed. BY the time I got to Mark, it was complete. I have not had any pain since. That was in 2013. I waened myself off the pain meds and no longer am bound by them. And I have an anointing to heal backs as a result of God’s grace.
You have received, now receive His gift. Be blessed.
Amen! And we are going to build up your faith until you reach that place where you can simply receive. :O) Becky
Why is it, that I can not speak in tongues, I pray for the gifts of our father, but receive none. It is so upsetting that I read my bible I pray for who ever needs it, I never worry about having anything, because GOD always come through, except on this, I have for given all and even pray for my enemies , I have even forgiven my mother who said she wish she never had me, I have asked for forgiveness for all my wrong doings and have even been baptized twice, yet I don’t have that gift, sometimes I feel unloved by our Heavenly Father, it is not a great feeling to have.
Dear Penny,
You are loved unconditionally by our Heavenly Father. He is not like earthly parents that say things they should never say. Have you actually been taught about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? In chapter 7 of DARE to Believe I teach about this.