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The Moving of the Holy Spirit: 2

THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – PART 2
Revd Christopher Alam

Young preachers, to be a TRUE Pentecostal Church where the move of the Holy Spirit is an established part of worship and church life, we have to put a strong emphasis on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, on speaking and praying in Other Tongues, and the exercise of Spiritual Gifts. A mature congregation will have a sound understanding of these things because they have been taught well by their Pastors.

There is a lot to be said about these things, but without going into deep and detailed Theology, here are some Fundamental Facts that we see in the Scriptures. These give us an understanding of the basics of the “Practice of Pentecost.”

THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Luke 3:16 – JESUS Himself is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and with Fire.

Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46, Acts 19:6 – Everybody who was present when the Holy Spirit fell was Baptized with the Holy Spirit, in the accounts from the Book of Acts. According to the Biblical pattern, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is accompanied with the outward evidence of speaking in Other Tongues.

THE VALUE OF SPEAKING WITH OTHER TONGUES:

Of the 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, speaking with Tongues is the first one that comes into operation. It is the “primary Gift” that is the doorway to the other Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

  1. 1 Cor 14:2 When we speak in Tongues, we speak to God.
  2. 1 Cor 14: 4 When we speak in Tongues we edify or build up ourselves (On the other hand, when we prophesy we edify the church).
  3. 1 Cor 14:5 Paul desires that everybody in the Church, ALL of us should speak in Tongues.
  4. 1 Cor 14:14 When I pray in Tongues, my spirit prays but my mind does not understand what I am praying.
  5. 1 Cor 14:15 We will pray in Tongues, we will pray in plain language. We will also sing in Tongues, we will also pray in plain language (Singing in Tongues is one of the most beautiful things that I have ever heard!)
  6. 1 Cor 14:18 Paul prayed in Tongues more than anybody else in the Church!
  7. 1 Cor 14:22 Speaking in Tongues is a Sign for unbelievers.
  8. 1 Cor 14:39,40 Pastors and Leaders should not forbid people from speaking with Tongues in the Church, but that being said, it should be done Decently and in Order!
  9. Jude 1:20 When we pray in Tongues, we build ourselves up in our most Holy Faith.

Several things are evident from reading the entire Chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians,

-That everybody should speak and pray in Tongues.

-That Speaking in Tongues is for speaking unto God or/and for edifying oneself, while Prophecy is for building up the Church. While both Gifts are important, Prophecy is a “higher” Gift because it edifies the Church.

-That if a message from the Lord or a Teaching is spoken unto the Church, it should not be in Tongues but in Plain Language. If the message is in Tongues, it should be interpreted into Plain Language. Everybody who speaks prophecies and messages to the Church in Tongues should ask God to give him the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues.

-The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the speaking in Tongues, the Interpretation of Tongues, and Prophecy, should be exercised Decently and in order.

Pastors, please do remember that the Church is the rightful place where people should be taught these things and taught to exercise the Spiritual Gifts, and NOT Charismatic conferences. If people are taught well and in depth, the Spirit of God can flow freely and bring many Blessings to the Church.

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