SPIRIT BAPTISM WITHOUT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT; IS IT POSSIBLE? (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 45)

 The Fruit of the Spirit Is Not the Evidence Of Receiving the Holy Spirit 

So many times people have listened to others and not to what the Bible teaches. Or sometimes people draw their own conclusions about Bible experiences, such as salvation or receiving the Holy Spirit instead of relying on what the Word says. They want to accept their own conclusions instead of accepting what the Bible says. For example, some people argue against the baptism of the Holy Spirit by saying, "But a lot of these Full Gospel folks who speak with tongues don't have the fruit of the Spirit as they ought to have; therefore, they could not be filled with the Holy Spirit." However, the fruit that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22 and 23 is not the fruit of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at all. It is the fruit of the recreated human spirit. 

GALATIANS 5:22,23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Most Bible translators and scholars agree that the word "Spirit" is erroneously capitalized in verse 22, and that it should be "spirit" indicating that it is the fruit of the born-again, recreated human spirit. Therefore, Galatians 5:22 and 23 is talking about the fruit that should be in the life of every believer, not just in the life of Spirit-filled believers. Jesus said, 1 am the vine, ye are the branches . . ." (John 15:5). Fruit grows on branches, and Jesus said believers are the branches. Therefore, the fruit of the spirit grows in the life of the born-again, recreated believer because of the life of Christ resident and developed within believers — the branches.

The first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5 is love. Believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit don't necessarily have any more love than Christians who are not filled with the Spirit, for the simple reason that Jesus said all believers are to have love: "By THIS shall all men know that ye are my DISCIPLES, if ye have LOVE one to another" ( John 13:35). Every believer is to have the fruit of love. The Bible further states that "We [every believer] know that we have passed from death unto life, because we LOVE the brethren . . ." ( 1 John 3:14). Love is the fruit of the born-again human spirit, not the fruit of the baptism of the Holy Spirit; therefore, every Christian should have the fruit of the spirit regardless of whether or not he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

 Another fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5 is peace. I didn't have any more peace after I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost than I had before. The Word of God says in Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith [in Jesus Christ], we have peace. ..." Therefore, peace is a fruit that should be resident in the life of every Christian because of the life of Christ within through the new birth. However, one thing we must understand about the fruit of the spirit is that, just as with natural fruit, the fruit of the spirit can grow and be developed in the believer's life. Baby Christians, for example, don't produce and grow fruit all at once. After all, you don't expect a baby tree to produce fruit all at once. It takes time for a tree to mature and for the fruit on its branches to grow and develop. It's the same way with a baby Christian. A baby Christian can be filled with the Holy Ghost, however, and have power, and can even have the gifts of the Spirit operating in his life. 

For example, the Corinthians were babes. Paul called them babes in Christ: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (1 Cor. 3:1). Yet he also said, ". . . ye come behind in no gift.. ."(1 Cor. 1:7). Therefore, even though the Corinthians were babes in Christ and didn't have a lot of fruit of the spirit evident yet in their lives, they did have gifts of the Spirit operating in their lives. The fruit of the spirit are for holiness, but the gifts of the Holy Ghost are for power. You can be holy without having much power, and you can have power without being so holy. Yet the combination of holiness and power in a Christian's life is best, and that is what God desires. I have seen plenty of people who are wonderful Christians and who have marvelously developed the fruit of the spirit in their lives, but they have no power in their lives whatsoever. Then I know of other Christians who are certainly powerhouses for God, but it is obvious they need to grow a little more fruit of the spirit in their lives.

FFT: The fruit of the spirit are for holiness, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for power.

ACTION POINT: Don't neglect one for the order.

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IS IT NECESSARY TO SPEAK IN TONGUES? (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 44)

 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit And Speaking in Tongues Go Hand in Hand

 I know in my own case as a denominational pastor more than fifty years ago, that as I read the New Testament and the Spirit of God helped me understand these verses, I was convinced that if I received the same Holy Ghost the Christians in the Book of Acts received, I would have the same initial sign or evidence they had — I would speak with tongues too. I wasn't satisfied with anything else. We need to understand that speaking in tongues is not the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is not speaking in tongues, but the two do go hand in hand. For example, it is just like the tongue of a shoe. The tongue isn't the shoe and the shoe isn't the tongue, but the tongue is a part of the shoe, and it's an integral part of the shoe; a shoe is not a shoe without it. 

To further illustrate this point, when you buy an automobile in the United States, you receive a certificate of title. That certificate of title is evidence that the automobile is yours. Certainly, the automobile is not the certificate of title, and the certificate of title is not the automobile. But you'll never get very far in the automobile without the certificate of title because the car would not be considered legally yours without it! Therefore, the automobile is not fully of benefit to you without the certificate of title. It's the same way with receiving the Holy Spirit. If you have the infilling of the Holy Ghost, then you should have the biblical evidence that goes along with that experience, which is speaking in tongues. 

To answer the question, Is it necessary to speak in tongues? let me put it this way: If you want a New Testament experience of the baptism in the Holy Ghost and you want the same Holy Spirit the apostles and the Early Church had, then you will want to speak with tongues. That is what the Christians in the Early Church did, and that is consistent with what the scriptures teach. 

The Ephesian Disciples: 

Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying It is interesting to note that in the account of the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19, the Bible says that the believers spoke in tongues and prophesied when they received the Holy Spirit. ACTS 19:6 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and PROPHESIED. Sometimes believers receive additional spiritual gifts as well as tongues when they are filled with the Spirit. However, tongues always come first and it is the evidence of having received the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:6 doesn't say that they prophesied and then spoke with tongues. It says they spoke with tongues and then prophesied.

 I have seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and then prophesy. I have also seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and interpret the tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). But don't expect any more at the moment you are filled with the Spirit than what the Word of God teaches, which is that the believer will speak in tongues as the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). If another spiritual gift is added, well and good. However, we must also remember that spiritual gifts are given to the believer as the Holy Spirit wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). But, again, every believer should expect to speak with tongues as the initial evidence of having received the Holy Spirit. 

When I received the Holy Ghost, I knew I had received Him because I spoke with tongues. But I also received an additional gift of the Spirit, too, although I didn't realize it at that time. But I will be perfectly honest with you, when I received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, I felt a little disappointed in a way. I think maybe I expected some kind of overwhelming spectacular experience. Having heard some Pentecostal folks testify about receiving the Holy Spirit, I thought I would have some sort of experience that was out of this world, so to speak. But I didn't. I said to myself afterwards, Well, all I did was talk in tongues. I've gotten a bigger blessing than this many times just praying in English with my understanding. 

But the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just receiving a blessing. It is more than that. I knew the Bible and I knew about walking by faith, so I said, "I don't care what I feel or what I don't feel. I know I have received the Holy Spirit because I have spoken with other tongues. I have the Bible evidence for the baptism in the Holy Spirit." I kept speaking in tongues and praising God almost continuously for about three days. Later I realized that at the same time I had received the Holy Spirit and had spoken with tongues, I had also received another gift of the Spirit, the word of knowledge.

FFT: Spirit baptism and Tongues go hand in hand!!!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

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SPEAKING IN TONGUES: THE DOOR INTO THE SUPERNATURAL (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 42)

 Speaking in Tongues: The Door Into the Supernatural 

I have found in my own life over a period of more than fifty-five years that the more I speak in tongues — the more I pray and worship God in tongues — the more manifestation of the other gifts of the Spirit I have in my life too. And the less I speak in tongues, the less manifestation of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit I have operating in my life. Speaking with tongues is the door into all the other spiritual gifts. Some people like to jump in and get all the gifts of the Spirit at once, but you have to go through the door to get into the supernatural. Also, it is as the Spirit of God wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). In other words, you can't force or "put on" a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. The Bible teaches us to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1). The Bible also teaches us to earnestly covet the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). But remember that those words were written to people who already spoke in tongues. 

They weren't written to people who did not speak with tongues. In fact, the Corinthians had a superabundance of speaking with tongues in the public assembly. It seemed that when these Corinthians came to church, all of them wanted to speak in tongues at the same time. It is interesting to note, however, if everyone is speaking in tongues all at one time, the entire church congregation cannot be edified or built up, for no one would understand what is being said (1Cor. 14:2-19). Therefore, Paul instructed the Corinthians that in public meetings only two or three people should speak, and another should interpret (1 Cor. 14:27). Also, if there wasn't an interpreter present, they should keep silent in the church (1 Cor. 14:28). Paul didn't say that the Corinthians had received the wrong gift. 

They had received the right gift, but they were just so thrilled and exuberant that they wanted to talk in tongues all at once. They needed instruction on how to use this gift. You see, if we are all praising God, it is fine for all of us to praise God in tongues altogether and all at the same time. But it would certainly be wrong if everyone started talking in tongues while the preacher was trying to preach or teach. And it would not be right for someone to spend an hour speaking in tongues without any interpretation. The speaker would be edified, but the listener wouldn't get anything out of it. That's why the Bible said it is better to speak a few words with our own understanding so we can teach others than it is to speak ten thousand words in tongues, unless we speak with tongues and interpret what we've said so that all may be edified. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:18,19 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 YET IN THE CHURCH I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might TEACH others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 

Some folks, however, have made a mountain out of a molehill, so to speak, in this area. They claim that Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians not to speak with tongues at all. This couldn't have been his intention, however, for notice what he said in verse 18: "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18). Paul was saying that it would be better for him to stand before the congregation and speak five words in his own language so people could understand him and he could teach others, than it would be to speak ten thousand words in tongues that were uninterpreted. But to correct one error, Paul would not suggest we make another by abandoning speaking in tongues altogether. We are just to get instructions regarding the public use of this gift. We are told to covet earnestly the best gifts. And as we do this, we will walk in more power and be more effective in our Christian life. 

We will go through the door of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the glorious spiritual gifts that God has promised those who believe His Word. I am thoroughly convinced that if we would be sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit, He knows what is coming in the future, and He will show us things to come (John 16:13). He will equip each of us for that which lies ahead in life, if we will yield to Him. Praying and speaking with tongues is one way to do that. It is one way to be built up spiritually in order to prepare and be ready for whatever may come in the future. It is wonderful what the Lord is doing these days. Are you as a Spirit-filled believer taking full advantage of the gift of tongues? God has given each of us a supernatural means of edifying ourselves or building ourselves up spiritually. God has given to us a supernatural means of communication with Him. Are you taking full advantage of this gift of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, that God has made available to each one of His children?

FFT: Speaking in tongues is the door into all the other spiritual gifts.

ACTION POINT: Cultivate the habit of speaking in tongues daily!

HAGIN'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH TONGUES & INTERPRETATION (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 41)

 

A Jewish man was present in one of my services in Texas. He didn't believe in Christ as the Messiah, nor did he believe in the New Testament. At the close of my sermon I spoke in tongues and then interpreted. This Jewish man came to me after the service and said, "Sir, you made a statement tonight in Aramaic that I never heard anyone make. In fact, no Jewish person would ever make such a statement. I wondered what you were going to do when you began to translate it." I said, "Well, how did I do?" "Oh, you did splendidly." "Good. I didn't know what I was saying." He said, "What? You mean you don't know the Aramaic language?" "No, I don't. I didn't know what I was saying," I answered. "I was speaking with other tongues and interpreting the tongues as the New Testament tells us in First Corinthians chapter 14." "Oh, I don't believe in the New Testament," he said. "Well, I cannot talk to you about it then, because what you heard me do tonight — speak in tongues and interpret — is found in the New Testament. 

You see, in the Old Testament, all the gifts of the Spirit were in operation except tongues and interpretation. Tongues and interpretation are distinctive of this New Testament dispensation." He said, "You mean, what you did tonight is found in the New Testament?" "Yes, it is in there. You know your Old Testament, don't you?" I asked. "Oh, yes," he said. "But I don't accept Jesus. In fact, this is the first time I've ever spoken His Name. He is not the Messiah." "Well," I said, "you know your Old Testament. In the Old Testament the prophets of God were anointed with the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. We can see a word of wisdom being given to one. And we can see a word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, the gift of faith, or special faith in operation being given to others." I continued, "And we see gifts of healings and working of miracles and prophecy. 

All of the gifts of the Spirit listed in First Corinthians 12:8-10 were in operation at different times in the Old Testament except one: tongues and interpretation. No one in the Old Testament spoke with tongues and no one interpreted, because tongues and interpretation are distinctive to this New Testament dispensation." He said, "If that is in the New Testament, then show it to me. I have never read that, but let's see it." I opened my Bible and read to him out of First Corinthians chapter 14. Then he said, "Well, I could be wrong, you know. I am going to say His Name again for the second time in my life without using it as cursing. Jesus may be the Messiah. I will come back to your services." 

Praise God, tongues and interpretation of tongues aren't just for the benefit of the believer. Tongues and interpretation of tongues can also minister to the unbeliever (1 Cor. 14:22)! Some people believe that all speaking in tongues is prayer, and that those who speak with tongues are just praying to God and that God is the only one who understands what is being said. However, if I had been praying, that Jewish man would have known I was praying. However, I wasn't praying. I was addressing the congregation in tongues, and then the interpretation came. The interpretation of those tongues ministered to that man.

 All tongues are not prayer. For instance, there is the gift of the Spirit called tongues and interpretation of tongues, which is manifested for the benefit of others. Then there is the devotional use of tongues (1 Cor. 14:2). "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but UNTO GOD: for no man understandeth him . . ." (1 Cor. 14:2). Here Paul is not talking about diversities of tongues: that is, ministering tongues in a public assembly as a ministry gift. Paul is talking about the individual Spirit-filled believer employing the use of tongues in his prayer life. First Corinthians 14:2 says, ". . . howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." Moffatt's translation says, ". . . he is talking divine secrets in the Spirit." For the believer who is filled with the Holy Ghost, his tongues are given to him to use constantly in his worship and devotion to God. And worshipping God is a form of prayer. 

The Bible says in Acts 10:46 concerning Cornelius and his household when they began to speak with tongues, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. . . ." Speaking with tongues is a supernatural way to magnify God. Tongues are also used as a means of spiritual edification. The Bible says, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself. . ." (1 Cor. 14:4). The word "edifieth" means to build up. 

Greek language scholars tell us there is a word in our modern vernacular that is closer to the meaning of the original Greek than the word "edifieth," and that is the word "charge." We use the word "charge" in connection with charging a battery. A more literal translation of First Corinthians 14:4 would be, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies, or builds up, or charges himself like a battery being charged." And that isn't just for a few of God's children; it is for every one of us. I appreciate this wonderful, supernatural means of spiritual edification. 

Notice that praying in tongues is not mental edification, nor is it physical edification, but it is spiritual edification. Paul said, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, MY SPIRIT prayeth . .." ( 1 Cor. 14:14). The Amplified Bible reads, ". . . my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive ..." (1 Cor. 14:14). So praying in tongues is not for mental edification, but for spiritual edification. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him ..." (1 Cor. 14:2). Here Paul is not talking about diversities of tongues: that is, ministering tongues in a public assembly as a ministry gift. Paul is talking about the individual Spirit-filled believer employing the use of tongues in his prayer life. ". . . howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries" 11 Cor. 14:2). Moffatt's translation says, "... he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit." The Bible says in Acts 10:46 concerning Cornelius and his household when they began to speak with tongues, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. . . ." Speaking with tongues is a supernatural way to magnify God.

FFT: All tongues are not prayer. Speaking with tongues is a supernatural way to magnify God. Tongues are also used as a means of spiritual edification. 

ACTION POINT: Magnify God and be edified with Tongues daily!

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TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION IN PUBLIC MINISTRY (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 40)

 Tongues and Interpretation in Public Ministry

 

For years I have ministered to people through the gift of tongues and interpretation. Now I do the same thing in prophecy. It is important to note that a person doesn't always necessarily have just one gift operating at a time. Many times spiritual gifts operate together. Like the colors of a rainbow, they sometimes come together and overflow one into another. For example, I have ministered healing to people through tongues and interpretation. I have seen them get up from a deathbed, and they are still well and alive today. In a case such as that, the gifts of healings operate in conjunction with tongues and interpretation. 

Also, many times through tongues and interpretation the Holy Spirit will make manifest the secrets of men's hearts. And at times through tongues and interpretation, the Spirit of God through me has told ministers their very need and the desire of their hearts. The Value of Speaking in Tongues Many have been robbed of the blessings God intended them to have by believing that speaking in tongues isn't for everyone, or that speaking in tongues is one of the lesser gifts of the Spirit. Before I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I used to say, "We've got wisdom and knowledge, and those are the greater gifts of the Spirit." (The Bible never said a thing in the world about wisdom and knowledge being spiritual gifts or gifts of the Spirit in and of themselves, but I didn't have enough sense to know that!) What the scripture says is, "For to one is given by the Spirit the WORD of wisdom; to another the WORD of knowledge ..." (1 Cor. 12:8). But the Bible isn't speaking here of wisdom and knowledge at all. It is speaking about the spiritual gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. 

As I already said, before I received the infilling of the Holy Ghost, I used to say, "We have wisdom and knowledge and those are the important gifts." I also said, "Now a few of those Pentecostals might have that little ole gift mentioned down toward the end of First Corinthians 12:8-10, the gift of tongues. But that gift really isn't very important, so we don't need it." To my utter astonishment, the Spirit of God began to show me from His Word that I needed this valuable spiritual gift; I needed to be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The Lord showed me from the Word that when I got filled with the Holy Ghost, I would speak with tongues (Acts 2:4). The Spirit of God revealed to me from the Word that speaking with tongues is an initial evidence or sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 2:4 says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance." However, speaking with tongues does not occur as just one initial experience of being filled with the Holy Ghost, and then it ceases. Speaking with tongues is a continual experience for the rest of one's life to assist in the worship of God. As Howard Carter said, "It is a flowing stream that should never dry up, but will [continually] enrich the life spiritually."' Notice that in writing to the Church at Corinth, Paul very definitely encouraged the Corinthian Christians to follow the practice of speaking with tongues in their own private prayer lives. And he gives a number of reasons for it. Paul said, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself. . ." (1 Cor. 14:4). The word "unknown" is italicized in the King James translation.

 When a word in the Bible is italicized in the King James translation, that means the word isn't in the original Scriptures. It was added by the translators to clarify the meaning. Therefore, in one sense of the word, there isn't any such thing as an unknown tongue. For instance, the translators of the King James Version added the word "unknown" in order to convey the idea to readers that tongues are unknown to the speaker. However, tongues aren't necessarily always unknown to everyone, and they are never unknown to God. For example, as I have spoken in tongues publicly on different occasions, I have spoken in a number of different languages that I have never learned, such as Hebrew and Chinese. And some folks who were present have understood what I said. But if I were asked now to speak these languages, I couldn't say one word in any of them. So in that sense, the tongues were unknown to me, but they weren't unknown to everyone, and they are certainly never unknown to God. 

FFT: When a word in the Bible is italicized in the King James translation, that means the word isn't in the original Scriptures. It was added by the translators to clarify the meaning.

ACTION POINT: Seek to operate in diverse spiritual gifts

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THE MINISTRY OF AN EVANGELIST AND OF TONGUES (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 39)

 Miracles and Gifts of Healings 

Those gifts of "miracles" and "gifts of healings" indicate a ministry gift — the office of the evangelist. The ministry of an evangelist is not listed at all here, except as "miracles" and "gifts of healings," indicating the office of the evangelist. Philip is our only example of a New Testament evangelist. We can see the working of miracles and gifts of healings operating in his ministry which indicate the ministry of an evangelist. ACTS 8:5-7 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, HEARING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. Later on Philip was called an evangelist. ACTS 21:8 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 

If a person is a New Testament evangelist, he will be equipped with supernatural gifts such as working of miracles and gifts of healings. In fact, it takes at least those two gifts to constitute the office of the evangelist. Many times we call people evangelists who are really exhorters. In other words, they just exhort sinners to get saved, but they are not really New Testament evangelists; they are exhorters. Exhorters do not have the gifts of healings or the gift of the working of miracles operating in their ministries. They are exhorters; that is their function in the Body of Christ. And they can exhort people to get saved, but there is no manifestation of supernatural gifts operating in their lives or ministries on a continual basis. Paul speaks of exhorters in the Book of Romans (Rom. 12:8). 

Helps 

The ministry of helps is included in this passage in First Corinthians 12:27-30 too. These are people in the Body of Christ who are divinely called and anointed by God to help those in the fivefold ministry. Verse 28 calls this ministry, "helps." Their function is as a supportive role to those called to the ministry. 

Governments 

Also, the ministry or the office of the pastor is not listed in this verse either, as such. However, the office of governments is listed which indicates the pastoral office because the pastor is the head of a church. He "governs" or shepherds the local body. 

Diversities of Tongues 

Another ministry gift we see listed in First Corinthians 12:28 is diversities of tongues. Paul has not changed his subject in this verse. He is still talking about ministry gifts, or fivefold ministry offices, not gifts of the Spirit. In other words, in this passage, Paul isn't talking about being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with tongues as a devotional gift because he said, "Are all apostles? [No!] are all prophets? [No!] are all teachers? [No!] are all workers of miracles? [No!] Have all the gifts of healing? ..." The answer is no (1 Cor. 12:29,30). Then Paul said, ". . . do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" (1 Cor. 12:30). The answer is no, all do not speak with tongues as a ministry gift. 

Paul was not talking about believers being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with tongues in their private devotional prayer lives. However, all believers are encouraged to speak in tongues to themselves and to God (1 Cor. 14:2,4). Paul was talking about ministering in tongues in a public assembly with interpretation as a ministry gift, and not everyone does that. Ministering in tongues in public assembly with interpretation on more of a continual basis denotes the ministry gift of diversities of tongues most closely related to the office of the prophet, and not every believer has that gift.

 This is not referring to a believer who is used in tongues or interpretation of tongues on an occasional basis. Of course, every believer can have the gift of speaking in other tongues for private devotion. The gifts of the Spirit are for all believers. But ministry gifts only refer to those who are called to the fivefold ministry. It is true that the laity are sometimes used in the manifestation of the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues — the gift of the Spirit listed in First Corinthians 12:10. But, actually, diversities of tongues listed here in First Corinthians 12:28 is not referring to lay members speaking in tongues; it is referring to an office — a fivefold ministry gift. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES.

 1 CORINTHIANS 14:27,28 27 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. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Paul was speaking here about one of the fivefold ministry gifts which is equipped with tongues and interpretation of tongues. This spiritual equipment of diversities of tongues is manifested on a consistent basis through one who is called to the fivefold ministry in the office of the prophet.

FFT: An Evangelist is known in deeds while an Exhorter is known in words.

ACTION POINT: Discover your spiritual gift(s) and office(s).

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MINISTRY GIFTS VS SPIRITUAL GIFTS! EXAMINE THE DIFFERENCE! (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 38)

 DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES.

 

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 

Ministry Gifts vs. Spiritual Gifts 

What is Paul talking about in this passage of Scripture? He is talking about ministry gifts, not spiritual gifts. Ministry gifts are those people in the Body of Christ who are called by God to stand in the fivefold ministry (Eph. 4:11,12). These apostles, prophets, teachers, and so forth, listed here in First Corinthians 12:27 and 28 are ministry gifts that God has set in the Church. For example, first, "apostles" is not a spiritual gift, but it is an office or a ministry gift. Second, "prophets" is not a spiritual gift, but it is a ministry gift. Third, "teachers," the office of a teacher, is not a spiritual gift, but a ministry gift, or one called to minister to the Body of Christ. 

Therefore, in this passage of Scripture in First Corinthians 12:27-30, Paul is talking about ministry gifts, or those called to the fivefold ministry, not about spiritual gifts. In order to see the difference between ministry gifts and spiritual gifts, let's look at the nine spiritual gifts, or gifts of the Spirit. Paul lists them in the first part of this chapter. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the WORD OF WISDOM; to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit; 9 To another FAITH [special faith] by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit; 10 To another the WORKING OF MIRACLES; to another PROPHECY; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. 

It is certainly true that gifts of the Spirit may be manifested through the laity, not just through ministry gifts or those called to the fivefold ministry, because the Bible does say, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given TO EVERY MAN to profit withal" (1Cor. 12:7). However, there are those in the fivefold ministry who are especially equipped with certain gifts of the Spirit in order to fulfill their office or function in the Body of Christ. We do not call those people spiritual gifts or gifts of the Spirit; they are ministries or ministry gifts that God has set in the Church.

 Paul talks about ministry gifts in writing to the Church at Ephesus. Paul said that when Jesus ascended on High, ". . . he led captivity captive, and gave GIFTS unto men" (Eph. 4:8). What were those gifts? Paul goes on to list them. They are ministry gifts Jesus set in the Church. EPHESIANS 4:11,12 11 And he gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 

There are five ministry gifts or offices. They are people in the Body of Christ who are called by God to stand in the fivefold ministry. Now let's look at First Corinthians 12:28 in context so we can understand what Paul meant when he said, "... do all speak with tongues?. . ." (1 Cor. 12:30). In First Corinthians 12:28, Paul is also listing ministry gifts, but he lists them in a little different way. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 28 And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS, DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES. Now let's look at each one of these ministry gifts, so we can understand the phrase "do all speak with tongues?" As we said, "apostle," "prophet," and "teacher," which are also mentioned in First Corinthians 12:28, indicate those in the fivefold ministry offices. Then Paul also includes the ministry of helps because those in the ministry of helps assist those called to the fivefold ministry. But what about "miracles" and "gifts of healings" (1 Cor. 12:28)?

                                                               ....To be continued

FFT: Spiritual gifts are different from Ministry gifts.

ACTION POINT: Have you identified your gifts and spiritual office? Are you walking in the light of its reality?

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 37)

 How Important Is Speaking in Tongues? 

There is more to being filled with the Holy Ghost than speaking in tongues, but tongues are an integral and important part of receiving the Holy Ghost since they are the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Also, speaking in tongues is an integral part of the believer's devotional prayer life, for as the Apostle Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues . . ." (1 Cor. 14:18). I, too, can say with Paul, "I thank my God I speak with tongues." Have Tongues Been Done Away With? In the church world today many people say, "Tongues have been done away with, because the Bible says that tongues will cease." The Bible does say that one day tongues will cease, but that is not referring to this present church age. 

However, to try to prove that tongues have already ceased, these folks usually refer to First Corinthians 13:8-12: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-12 8 Charity [love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; WHETHER THERE BE TONGUES, THEY SHALL CEASE; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when THAT WHICH IS PERFECT is come, then THAT WHICH IS IN PART shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For NOW we SEE THROUGH A GLASS, darkly; but THEN FACE TO FACE: NOW I KNOW IN PART; but THEN SHALL I KNOW even as also I am known. These folks use verse 10 to try to prove that tongues have ceased, because they say the Bible is "that which is perfect" which has already come. 

They say that since we have the Bible in its complete form now, we no longer need "that which is in part" — which includes supernatural gifts (1 Cor. 13:10). Of course, the Bible is perfect, but our under-standing of the Bible certainly is not perfect. Therefore, until that which is perfect has come, we still "see through a glass darkly" in this life (1 Cor. 13:12). Hence, "that which is in part" (1 Cor. 13:10) has not ceased. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it SHALL VANISH AWAY. 

These folks who say tongues have ceased don't say anything about knowledge having vanished away (1 Cor. 13:8)! But if they are going to quote that verse, they need to quote the whole verse because it also says, ". . . whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it shall VANISH AWAY" (1 Cor. 13:8). Verse 10 says that when that which is perfect has come, we shall see face to face and not through a glass darkly. That's when prophecies, tongues, and knowledge shall "vanish away" and cease to exist; however, as I said, that is not in this Church Age. However, since it is quite evident that we still see through a glass darkly, it is also obvious that that which is perfect has not yet come. Hence, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge have not passed away or ceased to exist. Knowledge has not vanished away. Prophecies have not failed or ceased to exist, and, therefore, tongues have not ceased. 

However, one of these days, tongues will cease. In heaven there will be no necessity for tongues because that which is perfect will have come (1 Cor. 13:10). 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. Let's look at Moffatt's translation of First Corinthians 14:2. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 (Moffatt) 2 ... For he who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses God, not man; no one understands him; he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit. When we get to heaven, there won't be any more mysteries or secrets, so it won't be necessary to speak with tongues. As long as we are this side of heaven, however, tongues will not cease.

Are Tongues Available for All Believers? 

As we said before, there is more to being filled with the Holy Spirit than speaking in tongues; but speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are those who purport to believe in speaking in tongues but do not feel that tongues are necessary for all believers. However, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all those who believe (Acts 2:38,39); therefore, speaking in tongues as evidence of the Spirit's infilling is also for all those who believe. Those who say that speaking in tongues is not necessary for all believers use the scripture in First Corinthians 12:30 which says, ". . . do all speak with tongues?. . ." to prove their argument. However, one could take a part of a verse of Scripture, or even one entire verse of Scripture out of its setting and try to prove anything with it. But we have to read the entire context to see what the writer is talking about. 

To learn what Paul is talking about in First Corinthians 12:30, ". . . do all speak with tongues? . . ." we must read the entire context in First Corinthians chapter 12. Having done that, then let's look specifically at verses 27 through 30. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-30 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS...

                                                               ...To be continued

FFT: Speaking in tongue is still crucial and relevant today!

ACTION POINT: To access divine secrets, activate speaking in tongues by the Spirit.

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TAKE THE DIRECT ROUTE INTO POWER! (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 36)

 Take the Direct Route! 

By way of illustration, if you wanted to go from Oklahoma City to Dallas, for example, you could go directly down the highway to get there. Or if you wanted to, you could go by way of St. Louis, down to Memphis, over to Atlanta, down to New Orleans, over to Houston, and then up to Dallas. You wouldn't have to, but you could. It is the same way with receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You can detour if you want to and take the long way to receiving the Holy Spirit, but why not take the direct route? 

Someone said, "But I remember those wonderful times of seeking God for several years before I was filled." "Well, have you stopped seeking God since you got filled?" I asked. "Because I remember the wonderful time I spent last week seeking God. In fact, I remember the wonderful time I spent today seeking God. I believe in seeking God and tarrying before God, but not to receive the Holy Ghost, or anything else God offers, for that matter." Spirit-filled believers need to seek God just as much as folks who are not filled. But seek God with the Holy Spirit, not without Him. "Yes," someone said to me, "but I learned many lessons in those many years of seeking God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit." I replied, "You could have learned those same lessons a whole lot faster with the Holy Ghost than you did without Him! 

And I will tell you something else: The thing you should have learned when you did get the baptism was that you didn't have to do all of that waiting and tarrying in order to receive the Holy Spirit." This person I was talking to started laughing and patted me on the back, saying, "Oh, you have me pegged. You are exactly right. That is the first thing I said after I received — if only someone would have told me, I could have received years before I finally did. If you had just been there to tell me, Brother Hagin, I could have received years before.

" As I said, in more than fifty-five years of having the Holy Ghost myself, I have never told anyone to wait or tarry to receive Him. Someone else said, "More people have received the Holy Ghost after the midnight hour than at any other time." My answer to that is if they received the Holy Ghost after midnight, it's because they didn't believe God before midnight! God is not any different after midnight than He is before midnight! Then there are those who warn, "Be careful about getting in the flesh." In one sense I understand what they mean by the words, "in the flesh." However, in another sense of the expression, you can't get the Holy Ghost any other way but in the flesh! Every person who ever got the Holy Ghost was in the flesh, because we are all still clothed in mortal bodies — the flesh.

 On the Day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel's prophecy saying, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all FLESH . . ." (Acts 2:17). And the Apostle Paul said, ". . . know ye not that your body [flesh] is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" (1 Cor. 6:19). Let's look at what Jesus had to say in John chapter 14 on this subject. JOHN 14:17,23 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and SHALL BE IN YOU [your body or your flesh]... . 23 ... If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM [in his body or his flesh]. 

The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us in the new birth; our bodies become His temple. So in that sense, we will receive the Holy Spirit in the flesh too! To receive the Holy Spirit, open your entire being to God with a strong desire toward Him. In simple faith, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that God freely offers, breathe in or drink in of the Spirit of God, and you will be filled with the precious Holy Spirit. Then as a sign or evidence that you have been filled, utterance in other tongues will be given to you. If you are simple enough in faith and strong enough in courage, you can speak that utterance out immediately. If you can drink water, you can drink of the Spirit right now. I am quoting good authority — the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39).

FFT: To receive the Holy Spirit, open your entire being to God with a strong desire toward Him in a simple prayer of faith!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit NOW as you pray!

THE HOLY SPIRIT: POSSESSING WHAT IS YOURS! (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 35)

 The Holy Spirit Is a Gift 

Remember, Paul said to the Ephesians, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?" (Acts 19:2). He didn't say, "I have come down here to pray that God would pour the Holy Ghost out upon you." And the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John down to Samaria so that they might lay their hands on the Samaritan Christians to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17). Notice also that they didn't send them down there to pray that the Lord would send the power to the Samaritans. You can't buy the gift of the Holy Spirit any more than you can buy salvation. You don't do anything to merit the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In other words, babes in Christ can receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit just as well as more mature Christians can. 

You don't get the Holy Ghost just because you have graduated to some marvellous degree of spirituality beyond everyone else, and, therefore, God puts a seal on you saying you are perfect. The Holy Ghost is a Gift. The Bible says, ". . . ye shall receive THE GIFT of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). And if you are born again, you are ready to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit right away. If you had to do one more thing after the new birth to receive the Holy Spirit, then the baptism of the Holy Spirit ceases to be a gift and becomes a reward. The Holy Ghost is not a reward; He is a Gift. Some say that I make it too easy for folks to receive the Holy Ghost. But it's not me who has made it easy to receive Him. It was God who made it easy to receive this gift. It wasn't me who said, "Come and drink and get filled with the Holy Spirit." It was Jesus. I wasn't the one who put receiving the Holy Spirit on a gift basis, it was God. 

Someone else said, "Yes, but I don't believe in railroading' people through to receiving the Holy Ghost." Well, if "railroading" people through means getting them filled quickly, then that same person no doubt doesn't believe in "railroading" people through to salvation. But that is ridiculous! Actually, it isn't a matter of "railroading" people at all. But we should be getting people saved as quickly as we can, because they might die and go to hell tomorrow. And if someone is sick, we should believe in getting them healed quickly. Salvation is a gift. Healing is a gift. And the Holy Ghost is a Gift. You can receive one of these gifts just as quickly as you can the other. Reading in the Acts of the Apostles, we see that the Early Church believed in getting folks filled with the Holy Ghost as quickly as they did getting them saved or healed, as we have already studied in this lesson. I not only believe in "railroading" people through to receiving the Holy Spirit, I believe in "jet planing" them through! 

Possessing What Is Yours 

Canaan's land is a type of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of all of our rights and privileges in Christ. Some have thought it was a type of heaven. But Canaan's land couldn't be a type of heaven, because there were enemies to overcome in Canaan and there were battles that the children of Israel had to fight. But there won't be any enemies to overcome or battles to fight when we get to heaven. The last enemy shall have been conquered. There won't be any enemies to overcome in the land over there. Canaan is a type of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and our rights and privileges in Christ. The children of Israel came out of Egypt, and Egypt is a type of the world. Then the children of Israel were all baptized, because going through the Red Sea was ;t type of water baptism. They also all drank of Christ; that rock out of which the water flowed was a type and shadow of Christ(Exod. 17:6; 1 Cor. 10:4). The children of Israel could have gone directly into Canaan's land, but because of unbelief and disobedience, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Their descendants did eventually enter in, but the unbelieving Israelites took quite a detour. 

If you want to detour and take the long way into the baptism in the Holy Ghost, you can. For example, you can detour by tarrying unnecessarily at the altar in order to receive the Holy Ghost. You can detour a lot of ways. But you can also come directly in and receive Him immediately if you are born again. That's God's best! The door is open to receive this precious Gift. 

FFT: The Holy Spirit is a Gift!

ACTION POINT: Possess what is yours now!

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COME AND DRINK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 34)

 The Ephesian Disciples 

The following incident occurred at Ephesus. ACTS 19 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then in Acts 19:6 we read, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." 

These folks at Ephesus had not heard about being filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues. But as soon as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues. Every one of them was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance — without waiting, agonizing, struggling, or tarrying. We have read from the New Testament every instance where people received the Holy Ghost over a twenty-year period, and there has been absolutely nothing at all in the Scriptures that even resemble what we call "a tarrying meeting" in order to be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

In every single instance where a company of believers sought the Holy Spirit, everyone received right away. Not one went away disappointed because of failing to receive the Holy Spirit. If we taught this to our people today, they would receive the Holy Spirit in the same way — the Acts of the Apostles way — the New Testament way. I have had the baptism of the Holy Ghost more than fifty-five years, and I have never told anyone to wait or to tarry to receive the Holy Spirit. I have always told people, "Come and receive the Holy Ghost." And I have seen people receive Him everywhere I go to minister. 

Come and Drink of the Holy Spirit 

In John chapter 7, Jesus talks about receiving the Holy Ghost. JOHN 7:37-39 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Jesus was not talking here about salvation, because He said speaking of salvation to the woman of Samaria in John 4:14, ". . . the water that I shall give him shall be in him A WELL of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14 refers to a well, and John 7:39 refers to a river. 

What was the "river" Jesus was talking about in John 7:37-39? He was talking about receiving or being filled with the Holy Ghost. Also, notice Jesus said, "Come and drink" (John 7:37), not come and shout; not come and pray; not come and praise; not come and sing and then go away empty. No, Jesus said, "Come and drink and out of your belly will flow rivers of living water" ( John 7:37,38). We make a mistake a lot of times by not just taking Jesus at His Word. Jesus said, "Come and drink" (John 7:37). 

Also, how many people can drink and talk at the same time? Have you ever tried to drink water, for example, and talk at the same time? Or can you drink and sing, or drink and praise God at the same time? Of course, the Holy Ghost is present to give the utterance in other tongues. But you can't "come and drink" and speak your native language at the same time. When Jesus said, "Come and drink," that implies that you don't have to wait or tarry to drink. How long does it take you to drink? Jesus said it is just as easy to drink of the Spirit, that is, to be filled with the Spirit, as it is to drink water or to be filled with water. 

In other words, if you're saved, you don't have to wait at all! Notice another aspect of drinking water and being filled with water is that it is something that you do, not something the water does. Likewise, drinking of the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Holy Ghost is something you do, not something the Holy Ghost does. In other words, if you do your part — receive Him, the Holy Spirit will do His part — fill you up to overflowing, and you will speak in tongues. So quit talking and start drinking! Just drink in of the Holy Spirit. Drink until you get full. When you get full of the Holy Spirit, He will give you utterance in other tongues. Then you will speak in your new, heavenly prayer language! Someone might ask, "Do you mean to insinuate that there is no need to tarry anymore?" No, I don't mean to insinuate it. I mean to state it! There isn't any need to tarry anymore! "Do you mean to insinuate that there is no need to say, 'Oh, Lord, send the power right now'?" No, I don't mean to insinuate it. I mean to state it! There is no need to say, "Oh, Lord, send the power right now." Jesus said, "You come and drink." And when you drink of the Holy Spirit until you get full, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water— the Holy Spirit. 

And Jesus promises that we would receive power after we receive the Holy Spirit. ACTS 1:8 8 But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ACTS 1:8 (Amplified) 8 But you shall receive POWER — ABILITY, EFFICIENCY and MIGHT — when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends — the very bounds — of the earth. God doesn't need to send the power "right now." If you have received the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 1:8, the power is already resident within you. 

FFT: quit talking and start drinking!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit to overflowing!

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BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT TARRYING (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 33)

Bible Examples of Receiving the Holy Ghost 

In reading through the 28 chapters of the Book of Acts, one might suppose that the events recorded occurred over a period of a few days, a few weeks, or just a very few years. However, the events in the Book of Acts cover a number of years. The first account we'll examine occurred at Samaria. The Samaritan Believers ACTS 8:5-8 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. This passage in verse 8 says, ". . . there was great joy in that city." Joy is not necessarily a characteristic of being filled with the Holy Ghost, because these Samaritans who heard the Word preached had great joy before they were filled with the Spirit. 

You can have joy before you get filled with the Holy Spirit and you can have joy afterwards. It is joyous to be saved. It is joyous to be healed and to enjoy the blessings of God. ACTS 8:12-15,17-20 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon [the sorcerer ] himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 

It seems that Philip had a glorious revival in Samaria. Hundreds of people must have been saved, and scores healed. And all of these folks received the Holy Ghost: "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:17). Notice that all of these Samaritans received the Holy Ghost without waiting, praying, or agonizing — and they received without exception or disappointment. 

Cornelius and His Household 

The Word gives us another account of people getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit without tarrying or waiting. Reading Acts chapters 10 and 11, we see how an angel appeared to Cornelius and told him to send to Joppa, and to inquire in the house of a certain individual for Simon Peter "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be SAVED" (Acts 11:14). Neither Cornelius nor his household was saved. They were Gentiles who had become Jewish proselytes. A person can't be saved without hearing the gospel. Those of Cornelius' household didn't know that Jesus had died for the sins of mankind and was raised from the dead for our justification. Therefore, Peter preached to them about Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 10:34- 43). They believed the gospel message (Rom. 10:9,10), and they were born again while Peter was preaching (Acts 11:14). Then they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues before Peter even finished his message. ACTS 10:44,45 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed [ the Jewish Christians] were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that ON THE GENTILES ALSO WAS POURED OUT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST .

Notice that while Peter was still speaking, Cornelius and his household were not only saved, but were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues — without waiting, agonizing, or struggling. How did the Jewish believers know the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles? "For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God..." (Acts 10:46). 

Is It Scriptural To Tarry for the Holy Ghost? 

We make a mistake by thinking that things have to be done a certain cut-and-dried way. God doesn't have any cut-and-dried methods. While Peter was yet preaching, these Gentiles received the Holy Ghost. In ministering the baptism in the Holy Ghost to believers, many Pentecostal or Charismatic church people want everyone to follow the same formula. They want to cut everyone's experience out with the same cookie-cutter, so to speak. 

Saul of Tarsus

 Paul, who laid hands on these folks in Acts chapter 19, was previously known as Saul of Tarsus. The account of his experience of receiving the Holy Ghost is found in Acts chapter 9. ACTS 9:11,12 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Ananias said to Saul, ". . . [Jesus] hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST" (Acts 9:17). And Saul received the Holy Spirit right then. We know that Paul received the Holy Spirit because he later said, "I thank my God, I SPEAK WITH TONGUES more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18). Notice in this passage of Scripture that there was no suggestion of the need for Saul to tarry or wait to be filled with the Holy Ghost; Saul was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid hands on him. It is most probable that Saul didn't know a thing in the world about the Holy Ghost until Ananias came in and laid hands on him But Ananias obeyed the Lord and Saul was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit.  

FFT: We receive the experiential and instant baptism in the Holy Spirit by faith, not by years of theoretical knowledge!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Right Now!

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THE HIDDEN MYSTERY ABOUT THE DAY OF PENTECOST (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 32)

 In Chapter 1, we said there are some who believe that candidates must wait or tarry in order to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to be endued with power from on High. They use Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4 to support this claim. Some have supposed this is the Bible formula for receiving the Holy Spirit. LUKE 24:49 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but TARRY ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. ACTS 1:4,5 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST not many days hence. 

Tarrying Is Not a Formula For Receiving the Holy Spirit 

It is true that Jesus made both of these statements to His disciples before the Day of Pentecost. However, if these verses were a formula for receiving the Holy Ghost, we would not have any right to take the word "Jerusalem" out of the text. Jesus told the disciples not only to wait, or "tarry," but He said to wait in Jerusalem. Why didn't He say to tarry in Bethlehem? Why didn't He say to tarry in Jericho? Because it was necessary that they wait in Jerusalem in order for the Church to have its beginning there. 

What were the disciples waiting or tarrying for? They were waiting for the Day of Pentecost to come, for that is when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church. They were not waiting or tarrying in order to get ready or to prepare themselves to be filled with the Holy Ghost. If that had been true, the Bible would have said, "When they were fully ready, the Holy Ghost came." But it doesn't say that. Acts 2:1 says, "And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come. . . ." That is what they were waiting for ¦— the Day of Pentecost. ACTS 2:1-4 1 And WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Then reading in Acts chapter 8, notice that when Peter and John went down to pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit, there is not the slightest hint or suggestion that Peter and John taught the Samaritans to tarry or to wait before they could be filled with the Holy Spirit. ACTS 8:14-17 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 

The infilling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit has already been given to the Church on the Day of Pentecost as a free gift. To teach people to tarry for the baptism of the Holy Spirit only produces doubt and confusion in those candidates who desire to receive this gift. Rev. Howard Carter was the general supervisor of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain for nineteen years and the founder of the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the world. He was also a leading teacher in Full Gospel circles worldwide. Rev. Carter has said that to teach people to wait or to tarry for the Holy Ghost is nothing in the world but a combination of works and unbelief. How true that is. I am not saying that tarrying before the Lord is always unscriptural. Certainly, I believe in tarrying before the Lord and waiting on the Lord in prayer, praise, and worship. 

Many times in prayer meetings we have waited up to five and six hours on the Lord in prayer. So I believe in praying long and waiting earnestly before God. Yet when I see people waiting and praying, crying out and agonizing to receive the Holy Ghost, it breaks my heart because I know it isn't necessary. In my Bible I have not been able to find any record where anyone ever waited, cried, agonized, struggled, or tarried to be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Someone said, "But I believe in receiving the Holy Ghost the old-time way." Well, I do too. You can't get any more old-time or any more scriptural than the way the Early Church received the Holy Spirit in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. I propose that we look at the Acts of the Apostles, see how they did it, and follow their example in getting people filled with the Holy Ghost.

FFT: Tarrying before the Lord is scriptural, but tarrying for the baptism in the Holy Spirit is unscriptural!

ACTION POINT: Receive the Holy Spirit now!

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SUBDUE FEELINGS! ACTIVATE FIRE WITH FAITH! (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 31)

 Basing Our Faith on the Word, Not on Our Feelings 

Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within him, and if he has received the infilling of the Holy Spirit he has also received the enduement of power from on High. These truths are a reality, whether we feel like they are or not. The Bible says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). We must believe what the Word of God says, regardless of what our feelings tell us.

 I learned the lesson of faith on the bed of sickness more than fifty-five years ago. I acted on God's Word even though I didn't feel anything. My paralysis disappeared in ten minutes' time when I leaned on the Greater One on the inside and acted on God's Word in simple faith. My heart symptoms disappeared, and I was raised up from incurable, terminal heart disease, perfectly healed. Since then I have never paid a bit of attention to my physical feelings, because they haven't got a thing in the world to do with the Christian walk. 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7)! Feelings are the voice of the flesh. If you are walking by feelings, you are being dominated by the flesh. But the Bible tells us to crucify the flesh. If the flesh is crucified, the voice of the flesh is also to be crucified. You can't walk by feelings and be a successful Christian, for if you are walking by feelings, then your flesh, not your spirit, is dominating you. And you can't walk by reason and be a successful Christian either, because reason is the voice of your mind. 

But you can walk by faith and be a successful Christian, because faith is of the Spirit. Walking by faith is letting your spirit man dominate you. Walking by faith is listening to the Voice of the Greater One on the inside of you and walking in line with the Word of God. 

How do we walk by faith and not by sight? 

We walk by faith by putting faith in what God has said in His Word. It never pays to walk by sight. It never pays to walk by feelings when God has spoken to us by His Word. We must listen to what God has to say in His Word and act on that. It always pays to walk by faith — to simply take God at His Word — because He is faithful who promised (Heb. 10:23). 

As we learn to lean on the Greater One who dwells within us, and as we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the power of God is made available to us and the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit can operate through us as the Spirit wills. 

We need to learn how to put the Greater One who indwells us and who has infilled us to work for us. When we do, we will have no need to walk by sight, to look at circumstances, or to be ruled by our feelings. We can rise above our physical limitations and natural circumstances and enter into the realm of the supernatural through the power of the Holy Spirit!

FFT: Feelings are the voice of the flesh that hinders the manifestations of the Spirit fire.

ACTION POINT: Learn to Lean on the greater one who dwells with you.

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COOPERATING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE POWER SOURCE (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 30)

Cooperating With the Holy Spirit, The Power Source 

We have discussed how the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gateway into the supernatural manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Yet the truth is so many believers who have received the inflling of the Holy Spirit do not reach their full potential in learning to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who is the Source of all power. I believe that often we have been so concerned with receiving the Holy Spirit as an outward experience or with some feeling of ecstasy from the natural standpoint, that we have missed the reality of what the Holy Spirit came to do in us and through us on a con-tinual basis through the baptism of the Holy Spirit When the baptism of the Holy Spirit is just an experience with believers, they talk about "it," the outward manifestation and miss the reality of the Holy Spirit on the inside of them. We should be conscious of the Holy Spirit's indwelling Presence every waking moment. 'Something More' 

At the close of one of my services once, a man came to me and said, "Brother Hagin, I want you to pray for me. I need something more than what I have." I said, "First, let's find out why you need this 'something more."' "Well," he replied, "to put me over in life." I said, "Oh, then you want me to pray that God would give you something more than what you have to put you over in life, to make you a successful Christian, to give you power, and to help you when you meet the tests and trials of life?" "Yes, yes, yes! That's it!" he exclaimed. "Well, let's find out what you do have and we will see what we need to pray for that you don't have. Are you saved?" "Yes, Brother Hagin, I was born again eight years ago." "All right," I said. "I will accept your testimony. Don't let the devil talk you out of it."

 I continued, "Have you ever read where Jesus said, '. . . we [My Father and I] will come . . . and make our abode with him'?" (John 14:23). "Yes, I have," he answered. "And have you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?" I asked. "Oh yes, I was filled with the Holy Ghost just one year after I was saved." Then I quoted the scriptures to him: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4) and "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God. . . ?" (1 Cor. 6:19). 

Then I asked him if he had ever read these scriptures. "Yes," he said, "I have read them." "Well, if you are born again and Spirit-filled, you have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost dwelling in you and living in you [Col. 2:9,10 Amp.]. And, Brother, there isn't anything more to get that will put you over in life. If God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost can't put you over, then you will never get over!" "Well, I know that. But I need power." "I thought you said you had the Holy Ghost," I said. "Jesus said, 'But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you . . .' [Acts 1:8]. In fact, the Holy Ghost is the Source of all power." I continued, "If you are filled with the Holy Ghost, you have the potential in you for all the power there is. What you need to do is to learn to cooperate with Him — the Power Source. 

You need to learn to walk in the light of what you have. You need to learn to put Him who is in you to work for you." He said, "But I don't feel like I have any power." I quoted Acts 1:8 to him again: "''But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. . . .' Jesus didn't say a word here about your feeling like it." Then I said, "Acts 2:4 says, 'And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues. . . .' It doesn't say that they felt like speaking with other tongues. It just says they did it." I told him, "By way of illustration, I would rather have a million dollars any time, rather than just to feel like I had it, because you can't spend what you feel. But you can spend what you have!" The same principle works in the spiritual realm. I have had some of the greatest supernatural things happen when I felt no anointing or unction at all. I have had the greatest miracles of healing happen in my ministry when I felt nothing. Why is that so? Because I knew how to put the Greater One to work for me and to stand on God's Word regardless of feelings.

FFT: "If you are filled with the Holy Ghost, you have the potential in you for all the power there is. What you need to do is to learn to cooperate with Him — the Power Source. 

ACTION POINT: Activate your potential power today!

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