Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NewAmericanStandardBible®,copyright©1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995byTheLockmanFoundation.Usedbypermission.(www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotationsmarkedNKJV are taken from theNewKingJamesVersion.Copyright©1982byThomasNelson,Inc.Usebypermission.Allrightsreserved.

FirstPrinting2007

ISBN978-1-934530-00-9

GODISYOURLIFEPUBLICATIONSMARKSLAYMINISTRIES

P.O.BOX31012ST.LOUIS,MO63131www.markslay.org

Copyright©2006MarkSlayAllRightsReservedPrintedinUSA

CHAPTERONE

ReceivingTheHolySpiritAndSpeakingInTongues

The most important first step a person can take to receive theHoly Spirit and speak in tongues isto examine the Bible and seewhattheWordofGodhastosayconcerningthissubject.

The thing that made it so easy for me to receive this gift wassimplythis:IhadbeenreadingGod’sWorddaily forseveralyearsbeforeIwasintroducedtothisexperience.AllGod’sgifts,includingreceivingtheHolySpiritHimself,arereceivedbyfaith,andfaithcanonlybeginwherethewillofGodisknownwithcertainty.

You could not have faith for something youweren’t sureGodwanted you to have. Real faith isbelieving withcertainty in yourheart.

1Faithistheassuranceofthingshopedfor,theconvictionofthingsnotseen.

Hebrews11:1NASB

SoanyoneseriousaboutreceivingthisgiftwouldnaturallyhavetoknowwhattheWordofGodhastosayonthesubject.Therefore,before one should just blindly attempt to receive, I suggest firstexaminingGod’sWordonthis(orany)promiseyouareattemptingtoreceive.

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by theWordofGod

Romans10:17NKJV

CHAPTERTWO

TonguesProphesiedAboutPriorToItsArrival

Somepeoplemakesuchfoolishstatementsregardingbeingfilledwith the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues. Somebody oncesaidthatJesusneverspokeintongues,soitcan’tbeveryimportant.

HowcrazysomecommentscanbecomingfromthosewhonevertooktimetoexaminetheWordofGodcarefully.Idon’twanttobeunkind, but only an unknowledgeable fool would make such astatement.Jesuscouldn’tspeakintongues,fortheHolySpiritcouldnotbepouredoutinthisnewdimensionuntilafterJesusdied,roseagain,andascendedintoHeavenandtookHisseatattherighthandof theFather.Then theHolySpirit couldbepouredout asActs2states.

DuringHisearthlyministryJesusgaverepeatedinstructionabouttheHolySpirit and said clearly that therewouldbe coming a day,afterHewasglorified,wheretheHolySpiritwouldcomeinanewwayforallbelieverstoreceive.Considerthefollowingverse:

37Onthatlastday,thegreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodandcriedout, saying, “If anyone thirsts, lethimcome toMeanddrink.38Hewhobelieves inme,as theScripturehassaid,‘outofhisheartwillflowriversoflivingwater.’”39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom thosebelievinginHimwouldreceive,fortheHolySpiritwasnotyetgiven,becauseJesuswasnotyetglorified.

John7:37-39NKJV

Noticeitsays(1)“TheSpiritwasnotyetgivenforJesuswasnotyet glorified”. (2)”Those who believed in Him were to receive”.

Thesetwothingsindicatethatat thetimeJesussaidthisduringhisearthlyministry,theHolySpiritwasworkinginpeopleinadifferentwaythanHewouldbeinthefuture.

The Holy Spirit has always been working in the earth sincecreation:

1InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.2Andheearthwas formlessandvoid, anddarknesswasover the surfaceof thedeep;andTHESPIRITOFGODwasmovingoverthesurfaceofthewaters.

Genesis1:1-2NASB

From the beginning of man the Holy Spirit has been workingwithandthrumen.EvenJesushimselfwasdependentontheHolySpiritinHisearthlyministry,forGoddesigneditthisway.

38 "how GODANOINTED JESUS of Nazareth WITHTHE HOLY SPIRIT and with power, who went aboutdoing good and healing all who were oppressed by thedevil,forGodwaswithHim.”

Acts10:38NKJV

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from theJordan and was LEDABOUT BY THE SPIRIT in thewilderness

Luke4:1NASB

14 And Jesus returned to Galilee IN THE POWER OFTHESPIRIT;andnewsabouthimspreadthroughallthesurroundingdistrict.

Luke4:14NASB

You see, just like all the prophets and leaders of the Old

Testament,JesusHimselfwasdependentupontheHolySpirit.EventhoughHewastheSonofGod,HelaidasideHismightypowerandgloryandbecamelikemen.SoHeministeredasamananointedoftheHolySpiritasActs10:38declares.However,Jesusspokeofatimewhenthingswouldbedifferent.ThesameHolySpiritwouldbeworkingwithman butwould alsonow, after theoutpouringof theHolySpirit,beinman,notmerelyuponman.

15"IfyouaskMeanythinginMyname,Iwilldoit.IfyouloveMe,youwillkeepMycommandments.16IAndIwillask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, 17thatHemaybewithyouforever;thatistheSpiritoftruth,whomtheworldcannotreceive,becauseitdoesnotbeholdHimorknowHim,butyouknowHimbecauseHeabideswithyou,andwillbeINYOU.”…23Jesusansweredandsaid tohim, “If anyone lovesMe,hewill keepMyword;andMyFatherwilllovehim,andWewillcometohim,andmakeOurabodewithhim.”

John14:15-17,23NASB

26"WHENTHEHELPERCOMES, whom Iwill send toyou from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, whoproceedsfromtheFather,HewillbearwitnessofMe”

John15:26NASB

7"ButItellyouthetruth,itistoyourADVANTAGEthatIgoaway;FORIFIDONOTGOAWAY,THEHELPERSHALLNOTCOMETOYOU;butifIgo,IwillsendHimto you.13ButwhenHe,theSpiritoftruthcomes,Hewillguideyou intoall the truth; forHewillnot speakonHisowninitiative,butwhateverHehears,Hewillspeak;andHewilldisclosetoyouwhat istocome.14HeshallglorifyMe;forHeshalltakeofMine,andshalldiscloseittoyou.”

John16:7,13-14NASB

AnyreasonablyintelligentpersoncanseethatJesusclearlystatedduring His ministry that a timeyet future would come, when theHolySpiritwouldbeworkinginandthrumeninadifferentwayanddimension.

RightbeforeJesusascendedtotakeHisseatattherighthandofGod theFather,He appeared toHis disciples numerous times andgavetheminstructionseachtime.Infact,PaulstatedinICorinthians15:5-6 thatJesusappeared toover500peopleatone timeafter Hehaddiedandwasraisedfromthedead.

…5HeappearedtoCephas,thentothetwelve.6AfterthatHe appeared tomore than five hundred brethren at onetime

ICorinthians15:5-6NASB

In Acts the first chapter, He told His disciples in His finalappearance to them beforeHewas ascended intoHeaven, that thesame Holy Spirit who had been working with them during theirministrieswithJesuswouldnowcomeinanewdimension.

“…5 for John baptized with water, but you shall bebaptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.…8but you shall receive powerwhen theHoly Spirit hascome upon you; and you shall beMy witnesses both inJerusalem,andinallJudeaandSamaria,andeventotheremotestpartoftheearth.”

Acts1:5,8NASB

Well, somebody might ask, "Wasn’t the Holy Spirit operatingthruthedisciplesastheywentouttoministerpriortoJesus’death?"YesweknowHewas.LookatLuke9and10:

1AndHecalledthetwelvetogether,andgavethempowerandauthorityoverall thedemons,andtohealdiseases.2

AndHe sent them out to proclaim the kingdom ofGod,andtoperformhealing.6Anddeparting,theybegangoingabout among the villages, preaching the gospel, andhealingeverywhere.

Luke9:1-2,6NASB

1 Now after this theLord appointed seventy others, andsent them two and two ahead of Him to every city andplacewhereHeHimselfwasgoingtocome.2AndHewassayingtothem,“Theharvestisplentiful,butthelaborersarefew;thereforebeseechtheLordoftheharvesttosendout laborers into His harvest.3Go yourways; behold, Isend you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Andwhatever cityyou enterand they receiveyou, eatwhat issetbeforeyou;andhealthoseinitwhoaresick,andsaytothem,‘ThekingdomofGodhascomeneartoyou.’”...17Andtheseventyreturnedwithjoy,saying,“Lord,eventhedemonsaresubjecttousinyourname.’18AndHesaidtothem, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven likelightning.19 Behold, I have given you authority to treaduponserpentsandscorpions,andoverallthepoweroftheenemy, and nothing shall injure you.20 Nevertheless donotrejoice in this, that the spiritsare subject toyou,butrejoicethatyournamesarerecordedinheaven.”21Atthatvery timeHerejoicedgreatly in theHolySpirit,andsaid,“IpraiseThee,OFather,Lordofheavenandearth, thatThoudidsthidethesethingsfromthewiseandintelligentanddidstrevealthemtobabes.Yes,Father,forthusitwaswell-pleasinginThysight.”

Luke10:1-3,17-21NASB

Notice theScripture says theywent out doing acts ofministry:teaching, preaching, casting out evil spirits, and healing, acts onlysomeone who had the Holy Spirit working with them could do.

When they returned toJesusand reported toHim thatdemonshadbowed to them and people were set free, Jesus responded byrejoicinggreatlyintheworksoftheHolySpiritthruthesemen.

Soyousee,thoughthediscipleshadatasteofministeringbytheHoly Spirit and seeingHis power during the earthwalk of Jesus,theywereclearlytoldmorethanonceaswehavealreadyseenintheScripturesinJohn14:15-17,23;15:26;16:7,13-14andActs1:5,8thata timewasstillcomingyet in the futurewhere theHolySpiritwouldbepouredoutinanewway.

Mark records something Jesus said to the disciples in anappearanceafterHewasraisedfromthedeadbutbeforebeingtakenup into heaven. HereMark tells us Jesus said certain signs weregoingtofollow“thosewhowouldbelieve”inthedaysahead.

15And He said to them, “Go into the entire world andpreach the gospel to all creation.16 He who has believedand has been baptized shall be saved; but he who hasdisbelievedshallbecondemned.”17"Andthesesignswillaccompanythosewhohavebelieved:inMynametheywillcast out demons,18 THEY WILL SPEAK WITH NEWTONGUES; theywill pick up serpents and if they drinkany deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will layhandsonthesick,andtheywillrecover.

Mark16:15-18NASB

Notice carefully the signs Jesus saidwould bemanifested thrubelieversinthefuturefromwheretheystood.

Hesaid,“Goandhewhohasbelievedandisbaptizedwouldbesaved”. Ifyoucouple thatwithwhatLuke records Jesus saying inActs 1:5, the baptism He described was not merely water, but an“immersion”intheHolySpirit(theGreekwordtranslated“baptize”inEnglish is theword“baptizo”andmeans“immersion in”).ReadActs1:5again.

”…5 for John baptized with water, but you shall bebaptizedwiththeHolySpiritnotmanydaysfromnow.”

Acts1:5NASB

Jesus said another sign would be “they’ll speak with newtongues”. Notice once again, He’s speakingof a day in the nearfuture, and these signs areall supernatural. None are “natural”abilities,butthosegivenbytheHolySpirit.

Luke records something else Jesus said just before being takenup intoHeaven about the power theHolySpiritwould bringwithHimforbelievers.Jesushadspokento themmanytimesregardingthecomingofthe“Helper”,“theSpiritofTruth”asHeputitinJohn14:15-17, 15:26, 16:7-14. As Luke records in Luke 24:49, thepromise of the Holy Spirit’s coming, when made available in amatterofdaysfromwhenHespokethesefinalwords,wouldbringsomethingverypowerfulforthosewhowouldreceiveHim.

49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of MyFatheruponyou;butyouaretostayinthecityuntilyouareCLOTHEDWITHPOWERfromonhigh.”

Luke24:49NASB

SoonceagainyoucanseethatJesustalkedaboutadayyetfuturefrom His earthly ministry wherein the Holy Spirit would bringsupernaturalpower,abilities,gifts,andreally, theverystrengthofGodHimselftowillingmenandwomen.

CHAPTERTHREE

ThePromiseOfTheSpiritIsForEveryoneWhoWillBelieve

No, Jesusdidn’t speak in tongues as only some foolish onewouldtrytosuggestinanattempttodiminishitsvalue.TheplanofGodwasforJesustofirstcompleteHisworkonearth,takeHisseatatGod’s righthand,andthen thepromiseoftheHolySpirit’snewworkwould come.TheHolySpiritwould now take upwhere theSonofGodleftoffintheearth.

The Holy Spirit could, after this outpouring of the Spirit, thencome to each and every believer, live in them (John 14:17) andempower them (Acts 1:8,Mark 16:15-18) for God’s work in theearth.

This“speakingwithnewtongues”Jesusspokeof,isanevidenceand gift from the Holy Spirit to empower them for worship andservice.It’sfor“thosewhobelieve”.

“…8butyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascome upon you; and you shall beMy witnesses both inJerusalem,andinallJudeaandSamariaandeventotheremotestpartoftheearth.”

Acts1:8NASB

17"Thesesignswillaccompanythosewhobelieved:inMynametheywillspeakwithnewtongues;”

Mark16:17NASB

ReadActschapter2thoroughlyandyou’llseethisoutpouringisforallbelievers.

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you bebaptizedinthenameofJesusChristfortheforgivenessofyoursins;andyouwillreceivethegiftoftheHolySpirit.39For the promise is for you and your children and for allwhoarefaroff,asmanyastheLordourGodwillcall toHimself.”

Acts2:38-39NASB

Jesussaiditwasforallbelievers;sodidPeter;andso,ofcourseitis.Jesusnevermadeanygiftsocomplicatedtoreceivethatonlyafew“educated”humanbeingscouldgetit.God’sgiftsareforall toreceive, the educated and uneducated alike. However, He puttheresponsibility for the receiving of His offers and promises in thehandsofthepeople,andthebasisforreceivingisnoteducation,itisbelieving(faith).AllGod’spromisesarereceived byfaith.Don’tlettheword“faith”foolyou,itsimplymeansbelieving.

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he whocomes toMewill not hunger, andhewhobelieves inMewill never thirst.36 But I said to you that youhave seenMe,andyetdonotbelieve.37AllthattheFathergivesMewill come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I willcertainly not cast out.38 For I have come down fromheaven, not to doMy ownwill, but thewill ofHimwhosentme.”

John6:35-38NASB

Jesuscame todoGod’swillandmade itavailable toanyofuswhowillsimplybelieve.Lookagainatthisverse:

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesusstoodandcriedout, saying,“Ifanyone is thirsty, lethimcome toMe and drink.38Hewho believes inMe, as theScripturesaid,‘FromHISINNERMOSTBEINGwillflowrivers of livingwater.’ 39ButTHISHESPOKEOFTHE

SPIRIT, WHOM WHOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIMWERE TORECEIVE; for the Spirit was not yet given,becauseJesuswasnotyetglorified”

John7:37-39NASB

If you’re thirsty for more of God, He’ll fill you if you willbelieve.ItistheHolySpiritthatHegivestodotheworkinus.

9 "So I say toyou, ask, and itwillbegiven toyou; seekandyouwill find,knock,and itwillbeopenedtoyou.10Foreveryonewhoasks,receives;andhewhoseeks,finds;andtohimwhoknocks,itwillbeopened.11Nowsupposeoneofyoufathersisaskedbyhissonforafish;hewillnotgive hima snake instead of a fish,will he?12Or if he isaskedforanegg,hewillnotgivehimascorpion,willhe?13 Ifyou then,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgifts toyourchildren,howmuchmorewillyourheavenlyFathergivetheHolySpirittothosewhoaskHim?”

Luke11:9-13NASB

Notice the Fatherwill give you theHoly Spirit if youwill butreceive His Son Jesus and expect to receive. It comes only thrureceivingJesusHisSonandthentheHolySpirit isyours,becauseHelovesyou.

SothentheScripturesclearlystatethatGodsaysitisfor“whosoeverwillcome”toHim.Refusetoentertainanydoubtsthedevilmaybringregardingyourunworthiness,orinabilities.Godisbiggerthanyourmistakes. Ifyou’rea“human”,youqualify forHispromises,mistakesandall.That’swhyGodsentHisSontodieforeachofus.Heknowswehaveallfailedinsomemeasure,butHehasforgivenuscompletelyifwewillsimplybelieveHim.

CHAPTERFOUR

ScripturalMethodsOfReceiving

TheScripturestellushowtoreceivetheHolySpiritjustasmuchas they tell usthat we can receive Him. There are 5 recordedinstances in theNew Testament showing how people received, orwere “baptized” (Acts 1:8), in the Holy Spirit. There are variousphrasesusedtodescribethisexperienceofreceivingtheHolySpirit;they include “receiving” the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17), being“baptized”intheHolySpirit(Acts1:8),andbeing“filled”withtheHolySpirit(Acts2:4).Weuseallofthem,butwearereferringtothesamething.

Inthe5recordedinstancesof thosereceivingtheHolySpirit inthisnewway(not“new’toGodjust“NewTestament”),3ofthe5timesbelievingoneshadhandslaiduponthembythoseministeringto them. Only 2 times did the ones receiving not have hands laiduponthembutsimplystartedspeakingoutontheirown.Let’slookatthose2instancesfirst,thenwe’llgettotheother3.

Only twice do we see people receiving the Holy Spirit andspeakingintongueswithoutthelayingonofhandsbyanother.ThefirsttimeisattheinitialoutpouringontheJewishbelieversthereinJerusalemontheDayofPentecostasrecordedinActschapter2.

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were alltogether in one place.2 And suddenly there came fromheavenanoiselikeaviolentrushingwind,anditfilledthewholehousewheretheyweresitting.3Andthereappearedtothemtonguesasoffiredistributingthemselves,andtheyrestedoneachoneofthem.4AndtheywereallfilledwiththeHolySpiritandbegantospeakwithothertongues,astheSpiritwasgivingthemutterance.

Acts2:1-4NASB

In thisplace,at the first everoutpouringof theHolySpirit, thebelieverswerefilledandbegantospeakinothertonguesastheSpiritgavethemtheutterance.Oneliteraltranslationtellsyouitwas“astheSpiritgavethemtospeakout”.TheHolySpirit“gave”themwhattospeak, butthey (the believers) had tohave faith to speak out alanguage in phrase and syllables they had never ever learned.Imagine speaking in a language and framing the syllables that younever intellectually learned, but theywere coming up by theHolySpiritoutoftheirspiritwhereHehadcometodwell.

TheselanguagesthattheHolySpiritgaveeachonetospeakoutwere human languages that foreigners present that day wouldunderstand.

7Theywereamazedandastonished,saying,“Why,arenotallthesewhoarespeakingGalileans?8Andhowisitthatweeachheartheminourownlanguagetowhichwewereborn?”...11weheartheminourowntonguesspeakingofmightydeedsofGod.

Acts2:7-8,11NASB

This was done as a sign to all around that God was workingthere.Notalltonguesthatapersonspeakswillbeahumanlanguage.

1IfIspeakwiththetonguesofmenandofangels,butdonot have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clangingcymbal.

ICorinthians13:1NASB

In thiscase,at the initialoutpouring,Godwanted theforeignersstanding there tohearwhatwassaidbythosewhotheyknewcouldnotpossiblyhaveknownthelanguage.

Withoutgoingintomuchdetailhere, letmesaythis.Youcould

speak in a language of angels not known to men, and the angelslisteningwouldunderstand,butwehumanswouldnot.

Thatmeansneither theonespeakingwouldknowwhatthey aresaying,nor the other humans who may be standing by listeningwouldunderstandwhatissaid.Didyougetthat?Noteventheonespeakingnorthelistenerwillknowwhatthey’resaying.

BacktoActs2:4,theJewsreceivedtheinitialoutpouringoftheSpiritspontaneously,withoutthelayingonofhandsbyothers.

Theonlyother instanceinScriptureof thosereceivingtheHolySpirit spontaneously without hands involved is inActs 10 at theinitial outpouring of the Holy Spiritupon the Gentiles. In thatScripture,PeterwaspreachingtoagroupofRomanGentilesandhewasstunnedtosee thatGodgave theHolySpirit to theseGentilesjustlikeHedidPeterandtheJewsinActs2attheinitialoutpouring.

27Andashetalkedwithhim,hewentinandfoundmanywho had come together.28 Then he said to them, “Youknow how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keepcompanywithorgotooneofanothernation.ButGodhasshown me that I should not call any man common orunclean.29ThereforeIcamewithoutobjectionassoonasIwassentfor.SoIask,then,forwhatreasonhaveyousentfor me?”30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I wasfastinguntilthishour;andattheninthhourIprayedinmy house, and behold, aman stood beforeme in brightclothing31 and said, ‘Cornelius your prayer has beenheardandyouralmsarerememberedinthesightofGod.32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whosesurname is Peter.He is lodging in the house of Simon, atanner,bythesea.Whenhecomes,hewillspeaktoyou’ 33So I sent to you immediately, and youhavedonewell tocome.Nowtherefore,weareallpresentbeforeGod,tohearall the things commanded you by God.”34 Then Peter

openedhismouthandsaid:“IntruthIperceivethatGodshows no partiality.35But in everynationwhoever fearsHimandworksrighteousness isacceptedbyHim.36 ThewordwhichGod sent to the childrenof Israel,preachingpeace through Jesus Christ - He is Lord of all-37 thatword you know, which was proclaimed throughout allJudea, and began from Galilee after the baptism whichJohn preached:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and with power, who went aboutdoing good and healing all who were oppressed by thedevil,forGodwaswithHim.39AndwearewitnessesofallthingswhichHedidboth in the landof theJewsand inJerusalem,whomtheykilledbyhangingonatree.40HimGodraiseduponthethirdday,andshowedHimopenly,41nottoallthepeople,buttowitnesseschosenbeforebyGod, even to us who ate and drank with Him after Hearosefromthedead.42AndHecommandedustopreachtothepeople,andtotestifythatitisHewhowasordainedbyGodtobeJudgeofthelivingandthedead.43ToHimalltheprophetswitnessthat, throughHisname,whoeverbelieves in Him will receive remission (forgiveness) ofsins.”44 While Peter was still speaking these words, theHolySpiritfelluponallthosewhoheardtheword.45Andthoseofthecircumcisionwhobelievedwereastonished,asmany as came with Peter, because the gift of the HolySpirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.46 Forthey heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.Then Peter answered,47 "Can anyone forbid the water,that these should not be baptizedwho have received theHolySpiritjustaswehave?”

Acts10:27-47NKJV

Yousee, theHolySpirit fellupontheseGentilesspontaneouslyasPeterpreached(Acts10:44-46).

Thesearetheonly2recordedinstances(Acts2:4,Acts10:44)intheNewTestamentwhere believers (first Jews then 10 years latertheGentiles) received theHolySpirit in thisway.TheHolySpirit“fellupon”them(v.44–thatis,camedownuponthemlikeacloud)andthebelievershadfaithtospeakoutinunknownlanguages.

AlthoughGodchosetodoitthiswayontheinitialoutpouringsupontheJewsand then theGentiles, this isnot theonlyScripturalway to be filled with the Holy Spirit. There are 3 other recordedinstances in Scripture where believers received, and it was by adifferentmethod.Still thesameHolySpirit, justadifferentmethodGodused togetbelievers filledwith theHolySpirit.Let’s lookateachofthembriefly.

CHAPTERFIVE

ReceivingThruTheLayingOnOfHands

TheotherscripturalmethodforreceivingtheHolySpirit is thruthelayingonofhandsbyanotherpersonwhoisalreadySpiritfilled.

ThefirstplacethisisseenisinActschapter8.InActs8weseethosewhobelievedthepreachingofPhilipandreceivedhealingsandmiracles. Shortly after they believed the preaching of Philip, theywere filledwith theHolySpirit thru the layingonof the apostles’hands.ThisleadsustoanotherthoughtthatIwilldiscusslater,andthat is that a person can and does receive the Holy Spiritin ameasureoncetheyacceptJesusChristas theirpersonalsavior,butthey canbefilled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues later.That iswhathappened inmyowncasewhich I’ll discuss inmoredetaillater.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria andpreached Christ to them.6And themultitudeswith oneaccord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing andseeing the miracles which he did.7 For unclean spirits,crying with a loud voice, came out of many who werepossessed;andmanywhowereparalyzedand lamewerehealed.8Andtherewasgreatjoyinthatcity. 12ButwhentheybelievedPhilipashepreached the thingsconcerningthekingdomofGodand thenameof JesusChrist, bothmen and women were baptized.13 Then Simon himselfalsobelieved;andwhenhewasbaptizedhecontinuedwithPhilip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signswhich were done.14Nowwhen theapostleswhowereatJerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word ofGod,theysentPeterandJohntothem,15whowhentheyhadcomedown,prayed for them that theymight receivetheHoly Spirit.16ForasyetHehad fallenuponnoneof

them, They had only been baptized in the name of theLordJesus.17Thentheylaidhandsonthem,andthey(theSamaritans)receivedtheHolySpirit.

Acts8:5-8,12-17NKJV

Notice Philip preached (v.5), ministered healings and miracles(v.6) and the Samaritans believed (v.12-13). So these peoplewerepeoplewhoreceivedandbelieved inJesusChrist butwerenot yetfilledwiththeHolySpiritspeakingintongues.

Verse14tellsusthatwhenwordreachedJerusalemaboutwhatPhiliphaddoneinhisministrybybringingtheSamaritanstoChrist,they sent Peter and John down to get them to “receive the HolySpirit”(v.15-16).

The Apostleslaid their hands upon the believers and thebelievers received the Holy Spirit. Simon who was formerly amagician“saw” something thatmadehimknowfor sure that thosebelieverswere receiving theHolySpirit.What do you suppose he“saw”,sincenoonecanphysicallyseetheHolySpirit?

Well no doubt he sawwhat everyone else sawwhen believerswere filledwith the Holy Spirit.We see them speak in languagestheydon’tknow.

The next recorded instance iswith theApostle Paul himself inActsChapter9.PaulwasnotaChristianyet,butaJewishPharisee.HewaspersecutingChristians.JesusappearedtohimandPaulfelloffofhisdonkey(inmorewaysthanone!).

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus namedAnanias;andtohimtheLordsaidinavision,“Ananias.”And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”11 So the Lord said tohim, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, andinquireatthehouseofJudasforonecalledSaulofTarsus,forbehold,he ispraying,12andinavisionhehasseena

mannamedAnaniascominginandputtinghishandsonhim,so thathemightreceivehis sight.”13ThenAnaniasanswered,“Lord,Ihaveheardfrommanyaboutthisman,howmuchharmhehasdonetoYoursaintsinJerusalem;14AndherehehasauthorityfromthechiefprieststobindallwhocallonYourname.” 15ButtheLordsaidtohim,“Go, for he is a chosen vessel ofMine, to bearMynamebeforeGentiles,kings,andthechildrenofIsrael;16For Iwill show him how many things he must suffer for Myname’s sake.”17AndAnaniaswenthiswayandenteredthehouse;andlayinghishandsonhimhesaid,“BrotherSaul,theLordJesus,whoappearedtoyouontheroadasyoucame,hassentmethatyoumayreceiveyoursightandbe filled with the Holy Spirit.”18 Immediately there fellfrom his eyes something like scales and he received hissightatonce;andaroseandwasbaptized;

Acts9:10-18NASB

Here is another case, another person, theApostlePaul himself,whofirstcametobelieveinJesusastheSonofGodoutthereontheroad to Damascus and then 3 days laterwas filled with the HolySpirit.Hebelievedthemomenthesaw&heardJesus,butnoticehewasnotfilleduntilAnaniascameandlaidhishandsonPaul(vs.12,17).

By theway,Acts 9 does not say that Paul spokewith tongueshere,butitdoesn’thaveto.PaulhimselfsaidinICorinthians14:18,“I thankmyGod I speakwith tonguesmore than you all”, soweknowhehad tohavespoken in tongues (likeeveryother instance)whenhewasfilledwiththeHolySpirit.

The third instance recorded in Scripture where believers werefilled with the Holy Spirit thru the laying on of hands is ActsChapter19.

TheApostle Paul was out ministering in Ephesus and found

somedisciplesofJohntheBaptist.HeinvitedthemtoreceiveJesusandtheHolySpirit.

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paulpassed through theuppercountryandcame toEphesus,and found some disciples.2 He said to them, “Did youreceivetheHolySpiritwhenyoubelieved?”Andtheysaidto him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is aHoly Spirit.”3And he said, “Into what then were youbaptized?”And they said, “IntoJohn’sbaptism.”4 Paulsaid, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance,telling thepeople tobelieve inHimwhowascomingafterhim, that is, inJesus.”5Whentheyheardthis,theywerebaptizedinthenameoftheLordJesus.6AndwhenPaulhad laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came onthem, and they began speaking with tongues andprophesying.7Therewereinallabouttwelvemen.

Acts19:1-7NASB

First,noticein theseScriptures that these12menwerebaptized in watertwice andstill hadnot received theHolySpirit. First they werewaterbaptizedbyJohn(v.3),thenbyPaulinthenameofJesus (v.5)(tonowidentifythemselveswithJesusChristtheMessiah).

These people were excellent “Baptist” people. They had been water baptized twice, but still had not received theHoly Spirit. Iwas not raised Baptist, but they firmly believe in water baptism,butwillnot lookkindlyuponyouforwantingtobefilled withtheHolySpiritandspeakintonguesliketheydidhereinActs 19.

Soverses3and5tellusoftheirwaterbaptisms,butstillnoHoly Spirit.NotuntilPaullaidhishandsuponthem(v.6)!

Infactifyoureaditcarefully,you’llseethatthebaptismthatPaul knew tobethemostimportantwas thebaptismbytheHoly

Spirit.

“Did youreceive theHolySpirit when you believed?No...” (v.2).“Well then into whatwere youbaptized” if not the Holy Spirit(v.3).

YouseePaulsawthemostimportantbaptismistheonetheHolySpiritdoesinthespiritrealm,intheunseenrealmwherethephysicaleyecan’tsee.Eventhoughitcannotbephysicallyseen,thepersoncanexperienceandknowitjustthesame.

GobacktoActs1:5.Jesussaid,“Johnbaptizedwithwater,butyoushallbebaptizedwiththeHolySpiritnotmanydaysfromnow”(10days later theywere.Acts2:4).Themost importantbaptism istheonetheHolySpiritdoes,nottheonemandoes.Jesussaidsointhatverse.Canyouseeit?

Noticewaterwon’t do it; for thesemen inActs 19 inEphesushadbeenwaterbaptizedtwice,butitwasonlyafterhandswerelaidupon them in faith that the Holy Spirit came upon them and theyspokeintongues.

Also, remember in Acts 8 when Philip preached to theSamaritans and water baptized them that it wasn’t until sometimelater,aftertheApostlesgottherefromJerusalem,thattheyreceivedtheHolySpiritwhenhandswerelaidonthem.

12ButwhentheybelievedPhilippreachingthegoodnewsaboutthekingdomofGodandthenameofJesusChrist,they were being baptized, men and women alike.13 EvenSimon himself believed; and after being baptized, hecontinuedonwithPhilip. . .14Nowwhen theapostles inJerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word ofGod, they sent themPeter and John,15who camedownand prayed for them that they might receive the HolySpirit.16ForHehadnotyetfallenuponanyof them;theyhadsimplybeenbaptized in thenameof theLordJesus. 17Thentheybeganlayingtheirhandsonthem,andthey(theSamaritans)werereceivingtheHolySpirit.

Acts8:12-17NASB

IttakesmorethanmereceremonialwaterbaptismtobesavedortobefilledwiththeHolySpirit,asyoucanseealltheseScripturesclearlyillustrate.

Did you ever stop to think about it, the thief that died next toJesus on the cross and repented of his wrongswent to Heavenwithouteverbeingwaterbaptized?Jesussaidhedid.

39Oneofthecriminalswhowerehangedtherewashurlingabuse at Him, saying “are You not the Christ? SaveYourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, andrebukinghimsaid,“DoyounotevenfearGod,sinceyouareunderthesamesentenceofcondemnation?41Andweindeed are suffering justly, forwe are receivingwhatwedeserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothingwrong.”42Andhewassaying,“Jesus,remembermewhenYou come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him,“TrulyIsaytoyoutodayyoushallbewithMeinParadise.”

Luke23:39-43NASB

Whatanamazing thing for thewaterbaptizers to explain, thosewhosayyoumustbedippedinorsprinkledwithwatertobesavedandgotoheaven.Here’samanwhowasneverwaterbaptizedandstillgottogotoHeaven.Ithoughtapersonhadtobebaptizedwithwatertobesaved.No,theydon’t;youbetterrethinkyourposition.

Now back toActs 19. Verse 6 says Paul laid his hands uponthem and they (the Ephesians) began speaking with tongues andprophesyingbytheHolySpirit(noticewhodidthespeakingout—theEphesians,nottheHolySpirit.We’llcomebacktothispoint).

Soyousee,thatalthoughtheEphesianshadbeenwaterbaptizedand believed, they did not become filled with the Holy Spirit andspeakintonguesuntilafterPaulhadlaidhishandsuponthem.The

samewastruewiththeSamaritans.

So you can clearly see that this is a Scriptural way you canreceivetheHolySpirit—thruthelayingonofhands.

OneofthefundamentalteachingsofChristianityisthelayingonofhands.ItisabasicdoctrineofrealChristianity.

1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about theChrist, let us press on to maturity, not laying again afoundation of repentance from dead works and of faithtowardGod,2ofinstructionaboutwashings(“baptisms”asthe Greek and King James Version state) , andlaying on ofhands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternaljudgment.

Hebrews6:1-2NASB

CHAPTERSIX

TheDifferenceOfBeingBornOfTheHolySpiritAndBeingFilledWithTheHoly

Spirit

InthefirstexperienceIhadwiththeHolySpirit,IwasbornintotheKingdomofGod(bornagain)butIdidnotimmediatelyspeakintongues.

I started reading the Bible in high school once in a while, buteventuallybegan to read it everysingleday. Imean I read it everyday.

I wasn’t saved. I wasn’t born again. I’m just a boy readingScripture first out of curiosity, then out of deep interest &commitment.

Well,I’dbeenreadingeverydayforabout3yearswhenonedayIcame to IsaiahChapters52&53. I finally “saw”whatGodwassayingintheHolyScriptures.Notwithmyphysicaleyesorwithmyintellect,forIhad“saw”thatforover3years.

I “saw” itwith the eyes ofmy spirit. Paul talked in EphesiansChapter1 about “seeing”withyour spiritual eyeson the inside, inyour“heart”.

...17 thattheGodofourLordJesusChrist, theFatherofglory,maygivetoyouaspiritofwisdomandofrevelationin the knowledge ofHim.18 I pray that the eyes of yourheartmaybe enlightened, so that youwill knowwhat isthehopeofHiscalling,whataretherichesofthegloryofHisinheritanceinthesaints...

Ephesians1:17-18NASB

Well,Isawbyrevelation,notbyeducation,thatGodhadplannedlongagotosendHisSon(IsaiahwaswritingtheprophecyofJesusinabout750BC),andHecametopaythepriceforourfailingbeforeGod.IsawIwasfreeandforgiven,thatHediedinmystead.

Irememberthatday,atthiswriting27yearsago,likeitwaslastweek.EverytimeIthinkofit,I’mdeeplymovedwithgratitudefortheHolySpiritallowingmetoseeit.

Assoonas I“saw” thatprophecyof Jesus,writtensome700+yearsbeforeHecame,mymouthdroppedopenandIsaidoutloudstunned,“Oh—my—God!”

The moment I said that, the Holy Spirit “fell” upon me.Rememberthesescriptures?

Fallenupon Acts8:16

Fellupon Acts10:44

Cameon Acts19:6

Iknowexactlywhatthosepeopleexperienced.Somebodyasked,“WhatdoesitfeellikewhentheHolySpiritcomesuponyou?”I’llgettothat,butnotice“asPeteryetspokethesewordstheHolySpiritfellupon...”.Well, you have to be able to consciouslyknow whentheHolySpiritfallsandwhenHedoesn’tfallonyou,orelsehowwouldyouknowHe“fell”ordidn’t“fell”.

Well,IknewHecameuponme.Actually,Iwassonewat realBibleexperiencesandhadnoonetoteachme,thatIdidn’trealizeatthatmomentwhatitwasthatwashappeningtome,justthat itwashappeningtome.

Itfeltlikesomeonehaddroppedasoftblanketovermefromthefourcornersanditdroppedoverthetopofmeandwentdownontheinside of me, and I found myself sitting there in the most

indescribablepeaceIhadeverknown.ItwasasifheavenhadcomedownwhereIwasandenvelopedme.Iwassoamazed,notknowingwhatwashappeningtome,thatIactuallylookedaroundtheroominastonishmentsayingaloud“Whatintheworldishappeningtome?”Yousee, Ididn’tevenknowwhatwashappening tome. Ihadnoteacher.

InstantlyIknewtheplanofGod,Jesusasthereal,livingSonofGod,mysinsforgiven,thepeaceofGod,andastartlingrealizationthatthisentireearthwalkisaboutJesus.JustatthatmomentIdidn’tknow what was happening to me, but I realized later that I hadexperienced and received what Jesus called being “born again” or“bornfromabove”(heaven)(John3:3-7).

Wow, theHolySpirithad fallenuponmeandcame toabide inmeforever.ButIdidn’tspeakwithtonguesbecauseIdidn’tknowaboutthatpartyet.IonlyhadthelimitedlightIhadatthatpointinmyspirituallife,andhadn’tyet“seen”tongueslikeIhadjust“seen”JesusasSavior.

CHAPTERSEVEN

MyExperienceOfBeingFilled

Yousee,beingraisedCatholic,Ihadneveronceinmylifeeverheardtheterm“bornagain”,notevenonetime.ButthankGodasIreadGod’sWord formyself and thoroughly believedwhat I sawaboutGod’ssalvationthruJesus,Iwas“bornagain”,withouteverhearingtheterm.

IcontinuedreadingtheScriptureseverydaywithevenmorejoy&diligencethanbefore.IbecamefamiliarwiththeScripturesaboutspeakingwithtongues.Icamebackfromcollegeandwenttochurchwithafriend,whoafterIgotsaved,wentbacktoSt.LouisoverthesummerandgavehislifetoJesusChrist.

Well when we both graduated and came back to St. Louis, heinvited me to his Presbyterian church where I met some youthleaderswhowerefilledwith theHolySpiritandspoke in tongues.Well,IwasallforitandIwasn’tafraidtoreceiveit!

IcouldseeitwasallScriptural.Afterall,Ihadbeenreadingforover4yearsbythistime.I’mbornagain.I’vegottheHolySpiritinameasureatthatpoint,butIneedto“see”tonguesintheScripturesasfullyasIsaw“salvation”intheScripturesbackwhenIwasstillincollege.

Well, I had reached that point of absolute certainty aboutreceiving this experience ofbeing filled with the Holy Spirit andspeakingwithothertongues.Yousee,youcanbe bornoftheHolySpirit, butnot befilledwith theHolySpirit and speak in tongues.That’showIwas.

No one could tellme theHoly Spirit did not come that day incollegereadingIsaiah52&53at thekitchen table. IknewHedid.But Ineeded tohavefaithforbeingfilledwiththeHolySpiritand

speakingintonguesjustlikeIdidafewyearsbeforeforsalvation.AndfaithtoreceiveonlycomesbyreadingorhearingtheWordofGodandlettingthelightofitcome.

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by theWordofGod.

Romans10:17NKJV

Doyouseewhathappened inmycase? Ionlyat firsthad lightandfaithfromtheScripturesIreadforsalvation.That’sallthelightIhadatthattimeandconsequentlythat’sallIreceived.Ineededtimeto grow in my knowledge of the Scriptures, for Christian life &growthisaprocess.IfIhadseenandunderstoodtonguessoonerIwouldhavereceivedsooner,butIdidn’tyetseeit.UnfortunatelyIhadnoone to teachme,andhad to learnonmyown for somanyyears.

Well,thattimecamewhenI“saw”theScripturesontongues,andthe gifts, and power of theHoly Spirit; and I had genuine faith, Iknewforcertainandwasn’tafraidtoact.

Sooneday these twoyouthministers and Iwent into a prayerroombyourselvesformetobefilledwiththeSpirit.

They both laid their hands upon me. I sensed the Holy Spirituponmeagainasweallprayed,andsomething from the insideofme, in my spirit man where the Holy Spirit had come to dwell,startedtoriseup.

ThisimpressionfromwithinmebytheHolySpiritbegantowellupinme.Itwaslikeagusherwithinmewantingtospringforth.

“...14butwhoeverdrinksofthewaterthatIshallgivehimshallneverthirst;butthewaterthatIshallgivehimshallbecomeinhimawellofwaterspringinguptoeternallife.”

John4:14NASB

This impression frommy spiritman inside, by theHolySpirit,cameupwithinmeanditroseupitseemedtomythroat.Iwaitedforsomethingtohappen,butnotonguesyet.

Icould“feel”somethingriseupbytheHolySpiritandstopatmythroat.Thathappenedafewtimes.IteventuallydawnedonmethatIhadtogivevoicetowhattheSpiritwaswellingupwithinme.Ihadto frame the words that were foreign to me and articulate thesyllablesjustlikeIdidwhenIfirsttriedtospeakEnglish.TheonesprayingwithmegavemenoinstructiononhowtoreceiveorthatIhadtospeakout(Idon’tknowthattheyevenknewwhattoinstruct,even though theywere filled themselves), but thankGod theHolySpiritdid!

Yousee,justlikewhenyou’relearningEnglishandyouhavetoframethesyllablesyourselfwithyourmouth&tongue,soitiswiththeunctionoftheSpiritthatrisesupinyou.Youhavetogivevoicetoit;youhavetodothespeakingandframingofthesyllables.

TheHolySpiritdoesnotspeakwithtongues.Men&womendo.Hemerelypromptsyoufromwithin.Noticethefollowingscriptures.

4 AndTHEY were all filled with the Holy Spirit andBEGANTOSPEAKwith other tongues as theSpiritwasgivingthemutterance.

Acts2:4NASB

...17 andTHEY (the Samaritans) were receiving theHolySpirit.

Acts8:17NASB

...6 the Holy Spirit came upon them andTHEY (theEphesians)BEGANSPEAKING...

Acts19:6NASB

Noticewhodoesthereceivingandthespeaking.Mendo,nottheHolySpirit.TheHolySpiritmerelycomestobereceivedandgivesutterance.Menmustdotheactualspeakingout.

In fact as I mentioned prior, the Greek word in Acts 2:4translated“gavetheutterance”isalsotranslated“gavethemtospeakout”. He merely comes and gives foryou to speak out. So that’swhatIdid.ItfinallydawnedonmethatImustframethewords&syllables, as foreign as they sounded. I began to speak out thoseforeignsounds,andasIdid, thatgusherthatIhadbeenignorantlyholdingback,cameforthasIexpressedtheforeignwords.

Iwas filled and didn’twant to stop. I drove home speaking inothertonguesastheHolySpiritwithinmegavetheutterance.

Letmeemphasizesomething.Justlikeyouteachababytoframewords,“ma-ma”,“da-da”, theybeginsimpleand thechildmustdothe speaking and the framing of those syllables, so it is withspeakingintongues.OnlyinreceivingtheHolySpiritandspeakingin tongues, it is the Holy Spirit giving you the promptings fromwithin you, in your spirit man. It’s not something you’re hearingspokenoutinthenaturalandtryingtorepeat.

The foreign syllables do not come from your head (yourintellect), they come fromyour spirit, where the Holy Spirit willdwell. Remember Jesus’ words? “Out ofyour innermost beingshall flow rivers of Living Water...This He spoke of the Spirit...(John7:37-39)”.Youmusthavefaithtospeakthemout,asforeignastheymayseemtobe.We’lldiscussthisfurtherlater.

CHAPTEREIGHT

WatchOutForTheDoubtersAndTheUninformed

After I was already filled and spoke with tongues, havingexaminedtheBiblecarefully,someoneIknewwhowasabeliever,triedtosteermeawayfromit.Theytoldmetongueshad“beendoneaway with, that it wasn’t for us today”. It just made me chuckleinsidewhenIheardthemsayit.

Itwouldbelikesomeonecominguptoyouafteryouhadfoundsome gold and telling you “there isn’t any more gold left today”.How ludicrous. I had already received the Holy Spirit and spokewithtonguesandheresomebodycomesalongtoinformmethatit’snotavailabletoday.Ijustshookmyheadinamazement.

Theywentontosay,“Itriedtoreceiveitonetime.Iwentintoaroombymyself,andtoldGodthatifit’sforus,giveittome.SoIopenedmymouthandnothingcameout.”Thatwastheirsupposedevidencethatit’snotforustoday.

Ithoughttomyself,“Thatdoesn’tprovethatit’snotforustoday.Allthatprovesisthatyoudidn’treceive.”

I’vealreadystatedthatyouhavetobecertainofwhateveryou’retrying to receive fromGod, youmust havefaith for it. Youmustknow it will be yoursfor sure. Not only that, but they didn’tevidentlyrealizethathandsmightneedtobelaiduponthemtoassistthemtoreceiveaswe’veseenin3ofthe5instancesinScripture.

Further, they obviously didn’t realize, fromwhat they toldme,thattheywould have to speak out& frame the foreignwords justliketheydoinEnglish,notwaitfortheHolySpirittospeak,becauseHewon’t.

IcouldseethispoorsoulwasstillScripturally“inthedark”,andhad swallowed the lies of some uninformed ministers, and hadplayedintothehandsoftheenemy.Icouldseetheydidn’tgetityet;theydon’tseeit,soIjustleftitalonewiththem.Soon,theydidn’twantanymoretodowithme.Thatwasokaythough,Ihadfoundatreasure of great price and fellowship with those who knewwhattheyweretalkingabout.

CHAPTERNINE

YourHeadvs.YourHeart

The Word of God makes a distinction between your head(intellect) and your heart (spirit). In discussing certain featuresbetween speaking in tongues and speaking by prophecy thru theHolySpirit,Paulmakesadistinctionbetweenour intellect andourspirit(ICorinthians14:14).

InIThessalonians5:23,Paulsaysmanisspirit,soul,andbody.

23NowmaytheGodofpeaceHimselfsanctifyyouentirely;and may your spirit and soul and body be preservedcomplete,withoutblameat thecomingofourLordJesusChrist.

IThessalonians5:23NASB

Yourbodyisobvious,itisthephysical,materialparts:thelegs,arms, liver, lungs,brain,skulletc.Yoursoul is the intellectpartofyouthatoperatesthruyourmindupinyourhead.Yourspiritpartofyouistherealyou.

Wesayit likethis:youare a spirit,youhaveasoul(mind)andyouliveinaphysicalbody.ThespiritmaninsideyourbodywillgoontobewithJesusafteryourbodyquitsworkingandislaidinthegrave,anditwillbringyourintellect(soul)withit.

We receive initially from God through our spirit man on theinside. In fact, if you really believeGod thewayHe says to, it iswithyourheart(spirit)youbelieve.

. . .10 for it is with the heart man believes, resulting inrighteousness,andwiththemouthheconfesses,resultinginsalvation.

Romans10:10NASB

TheHolySpiritcomestodwellinyourspirit.That’swhereHisutteranceswillinitiatefrom.Theywillriseupfromyourspirit(John4:14).Itdoesnotinitiatefromyourhead(mind),butfromyourspirit(your“heart”-notthephysicalorganheart,theBiblereferstoyourspiritasyourheartbecauseitisthecoreofman’sbeing).

In discussing this in ICorinthiansChapter 14, Paul says somethingsthatmayhelpyouseethedifferencebetweenyourheartandyourhead.For ifyou’reevergoing tospeak inother tongues,youwillhavetoyieldyourtonguetospeakfromyourspiritmanandnotyourhead.

14ForifIprayinatongue,myspiritprays,butmymindisunfruitful.

ICorinthians14:14NASB

Paulissimplysayingthatyouwillhavetoyieldyourtonguetoyourspiritwhere theHolySpirit isdwellingandnot toyourhead.Thesimple reason is that since it isaforeign language toyou,youwon’tbeabletoknowwhatit isyou’resaying(unlessGodwouldgiveyoutheinterpretationaswell).

Sinceitis“another”tonguetoyou,otherthantheoneyouweretaughtinschool,youwouldn’tknowwhatitisyou’respeaking,soyour“mindwillbeunfruitful”,thatis,“withoutunderstandingofthewordsyou’respeaking”.

Somebody said, “But I don’t know what I’m saying.” Nokidding! It’s aforeign tongue to you, or it wouldn’t be “othertongues”nowwouldit?

SomeonesaidregardinghavingtospeakoutwhattheHolySpiritwasgivingthem,“Itseemslikeit is justmedoingthespeaking.”Ireplied, “No kidding! Who elsewould it be?”When it comes to

speakingoutthepromptingsoftheHolySpirit,itisyou,anditisallyou!

TheHolySpiritdoesHispart inmerelygiving thepromptings,unction, or utterance, and YOU have YOUR part to play INSPEAKINGTHEMout.

The two biggest hinderances I have seen after many years oflayinghandsonpeopletobefilledwiththeHolySpiritarethese.

First, they try to receive or speak from their head; thinking, “Idon’t knowwhat I am going to say”, not knowing the promptingcomes from their spirit man. Second, they erroneously believe theHolySpirit isgoingtograbtheir lipsandvocalchords,anddothespeakingoutwithouttheirhavingtodoanything.

You musthook your tongue up to,yield your tongue to, yourspiritandnotyourhead.Thatwillbehardforsomeatfirstbecausetheirheadcontrols them.Theirheadhascontrolled their tongueforall those years, and they don’t even know how to yield it totheirspiritbytheHolySpirit.

ButyoucandoitorPaulwouldbewronginsaying,“IfIprayina nunknown tongue, myspirit prays, but mymind is unfruitful.”He’snotwrong,that’showithappens.

According to v.15 of ICorinthians 14, you could even sing inother tongues just like you could sing a song frommemory usingyourmind.

15What is theoutcome then?I shallpraywith the spiritandIshallpraywiththemindalso;IshallsingwiththespiritandIshallsingwiththemindalso.

ICorinthians14:15NASB

CanyouseefromthesescripturesthatPaulistellingusthatyoucanpray fromyourintellect thingsyouknow topray,butyoucan

alsopray fromyourspiritman inother tongues thingsyoudonotknow about? (Your mind remains unfruitful about it unless Godgivesyoutheinterpretation.)

Canyou also see thatPaul is saying thatwe could sing by thespirit,orwecansingbyourmind(memoryandunderstanding)too.Forgetwhattheso-calledexpertstellyou,gowithwhatPaul,God,andtheHolySpiritsaysintheWord.

CHAPTERTEN

SomeScripturalBenefitsOfTongues

We’ve already seen that you couldpray in other tongues (ICorinthians14:14)butdidyouknowtonguesisawaytospeak toGodwithnooneknowingwhatyou’vesaid;youwillbespeakingmysterieswithGod.

2Foronewhospeaksinatonguedoesnotspeaktomen,but toGod; for no one understands, but in his spirit hespeaks mysteries.4 One who speaks in a tongue edifieshimself;butonewhoprophesiesedifiesthechurch.

ICorinthians14:2,4NASB

Also, did you notice in verse 4 that one who speaks in anunknowntongueedifieshimself?TheGreekwordtranslated“edify”means to “build up”.We callabuilding an“edifice” because it isbuiltupfromgroundleveltosomethingbigandstrong.Speakingintonguesprovidesawaytobuildyourselfupspiritually.

Notice it is spiritual edification and not mental (my mind isunfruitful v.14). It is notphysical edification either (rememberyouarespirit,soul,andbody),itisspiritedificationwiththehelpoftheHolySpirit.

NoticethisisnotsomethingtheHolySpiritjustdoesapartfromyour cooperation.You must still do theyielding and thepraying.JudeusesaboutthesameterminologyasPaul.

20Butyou,beloved,buildingyourselvesuponyourmostholyfaith;prayingintheHolySpirit...

Jude1:20NASB

JudealsotellsustoprayintheHolySpirit(“prayinginthespirit” isprayingintongues-ICorinthians14:14)andthatbysodoingwe willbe“buildingourselvesup”spiritually.Anyhonestpersonhasto admitthesethingsaresoandthattheyareScriptural.AsIsaid,some people have been brain washed against these things by certain religious&so-calledteachers.

I was raised Catholic. I was never taught about tongues, but I couldseeitisthoroughlyScriptural;andGodstillholdsoutthesame promise of receiving theHoly Spirit andHis gifts today. The full gospel denominations have enjoyed the outpouring of the HolySpirit for years, my denomination just hadn’t seen it yet. I have friends that were raised Baptist, their denomination taught themagainst what the full gospel denominations have. At least minedidn’tsayanythingagainst it,theyjustdon’tknowmuchaboutit.

Thank God though for the Catholics, and the Baptists, and anybodyelse teaching thatJesus is theSonofGod,and thatHe is God’sonlyWayofsalvation.At leastwhenIdidstart lookingfor myself,IknewtolookintheBible.Theyhadalwaystaughtustogo toJesus.ThankGodtheywererightonthat!

We don’t come toMohammed or Confucius, they’re dead and can’thelpyou;butJesusisalive,GodraisedHimfromthedead,and HeiswaitingtopouroutHisHolySpiritonanyonewhowilltruly cometoHim.Jesussaid,“Ifanyonecomestome,Iwillgivehimto drink.”(John7:37)

Therewillbemanythingsyouwillneedtoprayaboutthatyou’re notevenawareofyet,thingsthatcancatchusbysurprise.ButGod wants to spareusandgiveus thevictory inprayer,with theHoly Spirit’shelp.

CHAPTERELEVEN

PersonalExperiencesPrayingInTheSpirit

AfterbeingfilledwiththeHolySpirit,thegiftsoftheHolySpiritmentionedinICorinthians12:4-11becameactiveinmylife.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.5Andtherearevarietiesofministries,andthesameLord.6And there are varieties of effects, but the sameGodwhoworksall things inallpersons.7But toeachone isgiventhemanifestationoftheSpiritforthecommongood.8FortooneisgiventhewordofwisdomthroughtheSpirit,andto another theword of knowledge according to the sameSpirit;9toanotherfaithbythesameSpirit,andtoanothergifts of healings by the one Spirit,10 and to another theeffecting of miracles and to another prophecy, and toanother the distinguishing of spirits, to another variouskinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation oftongues.11 But one and the same Spirit works all thesethings, distributing to each one individually just as Hewills.

ICorinthians12:4-11NASB

Therehavebeenmanytimesoverthepast24yearsthattheHolySpiritalertedmetopray.NumeroustimestheHolySpiritwouldjustwellupinmeallofasuddenandIwouldjust“gototown”prayinginothertongues.Itwouldhappenforvariouspurposes,butalwaystogetvictoryovertheenemyandgiveGodtheglory.

Forinstance,onetimeseveralyearsago,IwasdrivinginmycardownInterstate270inSt.LouisandturnedontoInterstate55headednorth.TheHolySpirit had comeuponmeheavily, and I began tospeakinothertongues.Itwasjustflowingoutofme.IguessIhad

beenprayingabout10minutesor so, Ididn’t time it,butas Iwas exiting the highway at Reavis Barracks Road the interpretation of whatIhadbeenprayingaboutinothertonguescame.

AsIprayedthewordsflippedbacktoEnglishandIheardthese words coming out of my mouth: “split, split, split, split,”. As I prayedfurther,theLordshowedmewhatHewastalkingabout.This iswhatitwas:

Therewasamarriedcouplehavingtrouble.Iknewthecouplehe wastalkingabout,butIdidnotknowtheywerehavinganytrouble; Idon’tguessanyoneelsedideither.

Hesaidconcerningthem,“Split.”Ispokeouttothe person whowas in the car with me listening to all of this, what the Lordwas showing me, who it was and what would happen. This wason a Tuesday.ThatverynextFriday, just3days later, Igot a callfrom one of themates tellingme that the othermate just up andleft that dayandmovedout.

BlessGod,theHolySpirithadalertedmetoprayaheadoftime andwasalreadyintercedingontheirbehalf.NoticewhatJesussaid inJohn’sGospel.

13"ButwhenHe,theSpiritoftruth,comes,Hewillguideyou into all the truth; forHewill not speak onHis owninitiative, but whateverHe hears, He will speak; andHewilldisclosetoyouwhatistocome.14HeshallglorifyMe;forHeshalltakeofMine,andshalldiscloseittoyou.”

John16:13-14NASB

ThatmeansHewillshowusthingsthathaven’thappenedyet.InEphesians,Paultalkedaboutwatching,andbeingalerttoprayforallsaints.Wellyoudon’tknowallsaintsandyoudon’tknowwhattheymaybegoingthrough,andyousuredon’tknowwhatthey’reabouttogothrough,thathasn’tmanifestedyet.

18 "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in theSpirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with allperseveranceandpetitionforallthesaints...”

Ephesians6:18NASB

ThankGod,though,theHolySpiritdoesknow.Heknewaheadoftimewhatthatmatewasgonnado,andalertedmetointercedeontheirbehalf.Bytheway,18yearslatertoday,theyarestillmarried.God worked it out. The Holy Spirit helped us pray through tovictory.Hewillshowusthingstocome.

InFebruary1993,IwasatworkandtheHolySpiritfellonmeheavily,andIbegantospeakinothertongues.Ifelltomykneesandprayedintonguesasfast&hardasitwasrollingoutofme.Iknewmy sister Nancy was having difficulty delivering her third child,Jenny.Thepregnancyseemedtodragonandonpastwhatitshouldhave.Shehadjusttalkedtomefromthehospitalthedaybeforeandwewentoverthesituation.

ButhereatworktheHolySpiritcameuponmeandIprayedinothertonguesforabout10minutes.IhadnoideaatfirstwhatintheworldtheHolySpiritwanted,butasIprayedIgotthemessage.

ItwasaboutmysisterNancy’sdelivery.Thesewordsbegan tocomeoutofmymouthinEnglishallofasudden:“11,11,by11”.After the timeofprayerwasover, Igotupand immediatelycalledmysister.ItoldherwhattheHolySpiritwassaying.

Isaid,“Sis,Idon’tknowifthismeans11o’clocktonightoronthe11thorwhat,(youonlyknowasmuchasHeshowsyou—nomore)but theHolySpiritkeptsayingregarding thispregnancy11,11,11,by11.”Well tomakea longstory longer, JennywasbornFebruary11th,justastheLordwastellingus.

Incidentally, the thing that was holding it up was a “hyper-spiritual”Christianwhokepthangingarounddayafterdaytryingto

“get thevictory”for theirselfishegoandtheirown“prayerglory”,not God’s. The very day the person left for good, the pregnancycame through, Jenny was born, and God got the glory, not someChristianlookingforabadgeofhonor.

26InthesamewaytheSpiritalsohelpsourweakness;forwedonotknowhowtoprayasweshould,buttheSpiritHimself intercedes for us with groanings too deep forwords;27andHewhosearchestheheartsknowswhatthemindof theSpirit is,becauseHe intercedes for thesaintsaccording to the will of God.28Andwe know that Godcauses all things towork together for good to thosewholoveGod,tothosewhoarecalledaccordingtoHispurpose.

Romans8:26-28NASB

Anumberofyearsago,Iwasinvitedtosomefriend’shousefor dinner and a time of fellowship. After dinner, this couple was opening theirweddinggifts for theyhadrecentlybeenmarriedand justreturnedfromtheirhoneymoon.

Theyaskedif Iwantedtocomeoverandbewiththem duringthis joyous time. I agreed to, but as I was sitting and watchingthem open their gifts, the Holy Spirit came uponme and I couldfeelanalmostoverwhelmingimpressiontopraycomingupin me.Iwhispered to theman of the house, “Imust pray, and I’ve got topray right now. Is that okay if I go downstairs?” He quietly acknowledged it was, without disturbing anyone or lettinganyone knowwhereIwasgoing.

Iwentdownstairs andprayed for about20-25minutes inother tongues. Towards the end of my praying, I heard the Holy Spirit sayingontheinsideofme,“Adultery,adultery,adultery.”

Ihadnoideawhatintheworldthatcouldmean.WhenIreturned upstairsthemanofthehouse,whowasaSpirit-filledbusinessman himself,askedmewhatitwasallabout.I toldhim,“Idon’tknow,

butIkepthearingtheHolySpiritsay‘adultery,adultery’.”Isaid,“I don’tknowwhatitmeans.Idon’tknowiftheHolySpiritistelling me thedevil isgonna try toset somethinguporwhat. I justdon’t know.”

People who are unfaithful to their mates will go to hell ifthey don’t repent and change. But nevertheless, knowing thestinkingdevil, Iwas alert for anything anddidn’twant todismissanythingasapossibility with some married woman.

Shortlyafterthis,IwasjustdoingmynormaldailyBiblereading (Ithought!)whenIcametoIThessalonians4:18.

1 Finally then, brethren,weurge and exhort in theLordJesusthatyoushouldaboundmoreandmore,justasyoureceived from us how you ought to walk and to pleaseGod;2 for you knowwhat commandments we gave youthrough of the Lord Jesus.3 for this is the will of God,your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexualimmorality;4 that each of you know how to possess hisownvesselinsanctificationandhonor,5notinpassionoflust,liketheGentileswhodonotknowGod;6thatnooneshouldtakeadvantageofanddefraudhisbrother in thismatter,becausetheLordistheavengerofallsuch,aswealsoforewarnedyouandtestified.7ForGoddidnotcallustouncleanness,but inholiness.8 thereforehewhorejectsthisdoesnotrejectman,butGod,whohasalsogivenusHisHolySpirit.

IThessalonians4:1-8NKJK

I said to the Lord, “Lord, you must be trying to talk to meabout this, but I know I have done nothing wrong with adultery norwillIever.”Imeantitwithallsincerity.Isaid,“Lord,ifthereis anythinginmyheartorifyouknowsomething,pleaseprotectme.”I was a bit distressed about this because I knew the Lordwas

speakingaboutadulterytome,butIdidn’tknowwhy.ThiswasonaSundaynight.

The very next day, a person I had grown to love so dearly, aperson I had grown to be a friend of, was shot and killed bysomeone. This person I had counseled and knew was beingapproachedbyotherwomen,wassuddenlyshotandkilled.Icametofindout thewholestory; thispersonhadbeencommittingadulterywithsomeoneotherthantheirmate.TheLordhadbeenspeakingtome the last fewdays about adultery, andHewas lettingme knowaheadoftimethatitwouldcostthispersontheirlife.TheScripturesaid,“Heistheavengerinallthesethings(v.16).”

The Lord had turned this person over to the Devil for thedestruction of their flesh (I Corinthians 5:3-5). The good news isthey went to Heaven. This person was at one time a Christian,walking with the Lord, but they got away from God slowly andwoundupindeepsin.

Ihadbeentalkingto themabout theLordwithoutknowinganyoftheirbackgroundasChristian,andtheydecidedtogetbackwiththe Lord again. Sixweeks before theywere killed, they had beencomingfaithfullytochurchwithme.Itwastoolatehowevertosparetheirphysicallife,buttheystillhadtheireternallife.ThankGod!

13“ButwhenHe, theSpiritof truthcomes,Hewillguideyou into all the truth; forHewill not speak onHis owninitiative, but whateverHe hears, He will speak; andHewilldisclosetoyouwhatistocome.”

John16:13NASB

TheLordknewthispersonIhadgrowntolovesomuchandhadledbacktoJesusChristwasgoingtodieshortly,andHewastryingtoletmeknowthroughtonguesandinterpretationandScripturesoitwould not takeme by total surprise and crushme. There ismuchmoretothisstorythantimewillallowmetoshare,butpraiseGod,

they’reinHeaventodaybecausetheytrulyrepentedaskingJesustoacceptthemback;andHedid.

IcouldgiveexampleafterexampleofthingstheHolySpirithasdonethroughspeakingintongues.Many,manytimestheLordwillwarnusbyHisSpiritofimpendingdangersorneeds,andifwewillyieldtotheHolySpiritandprayintongues,wecanbeblessedandbeablessingtoothers.

These are merely a few of many instances to showwhat Godwants todoforallofHispeoplewhowill receiveandyield to theHolySpirit.Itisforustoday.Itcanbereceived.Hewillnotrefuseyou.

God offers us many great and precious promises that bybelievingandreceivingthem,wecanbecomepartakersofandenjoyHiskingdomnowinthislife.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious andmagnificent promises, so that by them you may becomepartakers of the divine nature, having escaped thecorruptionthatisintheworldbylust.

IIPeter1:4NASB

AbouttheAuthor

Rev. Mark Slay is founder of Mark Slay Ministries, and foundingpastor ofMiracleRevivalCenterinSt.Louis,MO. Sincereceivingthecalltofull-timeministryfromtheLord,hehas soughttodowhattheLordsaidwhenHespoketohim..."Go". Nowmorethan15yearslater,theministrycontinuestobringthe GoodNewsthroughbooksand audioteachings.

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