Feeding the Lambs - Speaking in Tongues
“We’ve never even heard of that—a Holy Spirit? God within us?”
“How were you baptized, then?” asked Paul.
“In John’s baptism.”
“That explains it,” said Paul. “John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you’ve been baptized in John’s baptism, you’re ready now for the real thing, for Jesus.”
And they were. As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God’s actions. Altogether there were about twelve people there that day."
Written by Luke, 1st century
Acts 19:1-7
[41st message of the New Believer Series]
In the preceding message of this series we've discussed the birth of the church (on Pentecost Sunday).
Peter
On that day, Peter spoke with the power of the Holy Spirit and three thousand were added to the church -- the start of the church in Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit overshadowed the disciples that day and when it did, they were able to speak in other languages, proclaiming God's goodness in the language of those who could hear them. This was the evidence that they were 'baptized' in the Spirit of God.
Paul
In Paul's missionary trips we read from the excerpt above that when they came to the church in Ephesus, he asked some of the believers there if they have received the Holy Spirit.
So as it so happened, they haven't. They have not even heard of the Holy Spirit. This shows that even back then, believers in different places believe differently as they were taught differently.
On that day, Peter spoke with the power of the Holy Spirit and three thousand were added to the church -- the start of the church in Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit overshadowed the disciples that day and when it did, they were able to speak in other languages, proclaiming God's goodness in the language of those who could hear them. This was the evidence that they were 'baptized' in the Spirit of God.
Paul
In Paul's missionary trips we read from the excerpt above that when they came to the church in Ephesus, he asked some of the believers there if they have received the Holy Spirit.
So as it so happened, they haven't. They have not even heard of the Holy Spirit. This shows that even back then, believers in different places believe differently as they were taught differently.
When Paul explained to them that after they have been baptized in water, they are now getting ready to be baptized in the Spirit. This is true of all believers (then and now). But how can one receive someone they know nothing about?
[Earlier in this series, we have spoken about the Holy Spirit a handful of times and we have mentioned that we will talk more about Him in the future, when we're ready]
Ready?
And as soon as they were ready, Paul placed his hands on their heads and they got baptized by the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit of God.
Then from that moment on, they were able to "speak in tongues" -- speak in another language as the Spirit gave them the utterance. There were about twelve people that were baptized in the Spirit that day.
This was exactly the same thing that happened with Peter, John, James and the other disciples as we have discussed in the previous message.
Speaking in Tongues
This teaching is not for believers who are fairly new in the faith. It is a little controversial and a point of contention between believers and unbelievers as well as among believers themselves.
Ready?
And as soon as they were ready, Paul placed his hands on their heads and they got baptized by the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit of God.
Then from that moment on, they were able to "speak in tongues" -- speak in another language as the Spirit gave them the utterance. There were about twelve people that were baptized in the Spirit that day.
This was exactly the same thing that happened with Peter, John, James and the other disciples as we have discussed in the previous message.
Speaking in Tongues
This teaching is not for believers who are fairly new in the faith. It is a little controversial and a point of contention between believers and unbelievers as well as among believers themselves.
[If you are a believer and disagree with the teaching of speaking in tongues, we aren't here to win you over, we aren't here to argue with you, we are here to share what some believers believe in. We can agree to disagree, as brothers and sisters in Christ.]
Contention between siblings shouldn't surprise anyone, ever since Christ started speaking about the Kingdom of God, everything He said and did was a point of contention.
If you want to know more about this message then we will need a few more of these teachings (these Sermonettes). How many, we don't know yet. But we will continue with this teaching as the Spirit leads and as long as necessary.
Contention between siblings shouldn't surprise anyone, ever since Christ started speaking about the Kingdom of God, everything He said and did was a point of contention.
If you want to know more about this message then we will need a few more of these teachings (these Sermonettes). How many, we don't know yet. But we will continue with this teaching as the Spirit leads and as long as necessary.
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