PENTECOST SUNDAY IS THIS SUNDAY: “RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT”

 

By: Frank G. Tunstall, D. Min.

When Jesus wanted to teach about receiving the Holy Spirit, He chose to tell a story about a man who was on a journey and stopped about midnight at his friend’s house. Of course, the traveler was hungry, but the host was out of bread. So, he went at midnight to a neighbor, woke him up, and asked him for a loan of three loaves of bread. The neighbor answered, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything” (Luke 11:57).

After sending his neighbor back toward home empty-handed, the man in bed began to think about the request to feed a hungry traveler. My neighbor wouldn’t be asking this of me at midnight unless he really was out of bread, and he has a guest in his home who must be starving! This neighbor changed his mind, got up and made the loan. Jesus then said friendship was not enough motivation to make the man get up at midnight, but the neighbor’s boldness in asking was.

“So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).

Next, the Lord related the lesson to fathering. When a child is hungry and asks for a piece of fish, no loving father will give him a snake, or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion.

Then the Lord proceeded to the clincher. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13).

Boldness in asking with a famished heart for God is the key to receiving the Holy Spirit.

The neighbor at midnight went confidently, seeking, wanting to feed his starving guest. He simply could not give the man a bed, and go back to bed himself, with his guest obviously famished. We are also to ask courageously and with a seeking heart for the Holy Spirit; like the confidence of a very hungry child seeking out his dad and asking for a lamb sandwich or an egg for a snack. A genuine need existed with this traveler, and the host went into action, boldly asking for help at midnight, and believing he would get it – and he did. That attitude defines seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

With this boldness in asking in mind, how does a person know when he has received the Holy Spirit? In Acts of the Apostles, speaking in tongues was the initial evidence a person had received the Holy Spirit.

Four outpourings of the Holy Spirit are recorded in Acts. The Upper Room Pentecost (2:1-47), the Samaritan Pentecost (8:4-24), the Gentile Pentecost in Caesarea (10:1 – 11:18), and the Ephesian Pentecost (19:1-7). Three of the four included speaking in tongues as the initial evidence: the Upper Room, the Gentile Pentecost at Caesarea, and the Ephesian Pentecost. Tongues speaking is not recorded at the Samaritan Pentecost, but neither is it denied. An argument from silence, as a principle of Biblical interpretation, cannot yield a conclusion either for or against speaking in tongues in the Samaritan Pentecost. However, a hint is in the record based on the witness of Simon. Dr. Luke recorded that Simon saw something that made him know “the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands.” One can honorably conclude what he observed was speaking in tongues.

The Azuza Street Pentecostal outpouring of 1906-1909 launched the Pentecostal revival that became the greatest spiritual awakening in the Lord’s church in the 20th century. The fathers of the movement concluded speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of a person’s being baptized in the Holy Spirit. By initial evidence is meant the first evidence, while accepting that there are other evidences as well, one of which is boldness in witnessing.

With this Biblical evidence, the classical wing of the Pentecostal revival holds to this day to the initial evidence teaching as a cornerstone doctrine. In addition, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18).

Four purposes for the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues stand out in Scripture, with the initial evidence being the first [although I make no claim my list is exhaustive]. Paul said he received these as a command from the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37).

2. Speaking in tongues and evangelism. “Tongues are a sign,” Paul said, “not for believers but for unbelievers” (I Corinthians. 14:22). The gift can cause conviction of sin and help bring a person to repentance. This was certainly true in the Acts 2 initial outpouring when the crowd heard the 120 speaking in their languages the wonderful works of God. Tongues can also be spoken as a contemporary language unknown to the speaker but recognized by a bi-lingual unbeliever. When this happens, it becomes a powerful sign that opens hearts in soul winning.

3. The Holy Spirit as Intercessor. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Romans 8:26-27).

4. Praying in the Spirit. “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions,” Paul said, “with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). And Jude wrote: “Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Praying in the Spirit can also include singing in the Spirit.

Paul received specific instructions from the Lord regarding how to manage and keep order in a worship service while making room for speaking in tongues. It is a 16-item policy, expressed in 1 Corinthians 14.

1) Follow the way of love (agape) and eagerly desire spiritual gifts (14:1).

2) Tongues speaking is speaking to God (14:2).

3) Prophecy speaks to people to strengthen, encourage and comfort (14:3).

4) Speaking in tongues edifies (or instructs and improves) oneself; prophesies edify the church (14:4).

5) A person who prophecies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets (14:5).

6) “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So-it-is with spiritual gifts” (14:8-9). Spiritual gifts must bring clarity in the church.

7) “Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says” (14:13).

8) “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So, what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind” (14:14-15).

9) “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire,” including speaking in tongues (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

10) “In the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue” (14:18-19).

11) Isaiah prophesied that speaking in tongues would be in the New Covenant: “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking [or as you think about this], be adults. In the Law it is written: ‘Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then, they will not listen to me,’ says the Lord (14:20-21; Isaiah 28:11-12).

12) Tongues are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers (14:22).

13) “When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. These must be done to strengthen the church” (14:26).

14) “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God” (14:27-28).

15) “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said” (14:29.

16) “The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (14:32-33).

Paul concluded his catalog in 1 Corinthians 14 with this summary: “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40, KJV).

Related posts

SO

Dear Readers,  A lifetime friend asked me to add some remarks and comment about...

JESUS: “MY TIME”

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. This lesson can be effective for high school and...

PASSING THE TORCH

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. “If you love me, you will obey what I...

A Hated Messiah?

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. The name, Jesus Christ, means Savior-Messiah. As Jesus neared...

UNEXPECTED JOY

  By: Frank Tunstall and Phil Larson Join us as we pray and study...

THE HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. When we recall Paul’s two letters to the believers...

THE SEVENTH MAN

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.     Jesus ended His first visit to the temple knowing...

CONFRONTATIONAL PREACHING

BY: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. Apostolic preaching is confrontational preaching. The Apostle Peter was...

“CRAVING TO UNDERSTAND”

By: Frank Tunstall The prophets:  “yearning to understand Messiah’s suffering and glory” (1 Peter...

“But if Not”

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. All children of God sooner or later will need...

THE PRECIOUS RING

By: Frank G. Tunstall We all have our treasures that we hold to strongly....

Beth Moore: God Uses Your Mistakes for Good

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/january-web-only/beth-moore-god-uses-your-mistakes-for-good.html By: Beth Moore Years ago, when the number of attendees at Living Proof...

THE CROSS IS OUR STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

 ChristianityToday.com/ct/2019/November/cross-is-our-stairway-to-heaven.html Our salvation comes not from someone on our level, but from someone infinitely...

HOW BILLY GRAHAM LEARNED THE ART OF PREACHING

https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2019/august-web-exclusives/billy-graham-learned-art-of-preaching.html? The late evangelist called himself the “champion rambler.” By: Grant Wacker  When I...

BIVOCATIONAL AND COVOCATIONAL MINISTRY

  www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2019/spring/no-easy-calling.html? Three honest stories about its rewards and challenges. BY: LINDA W. PERKINS...

SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE CLERGY

 www.snapnetwork.org/abuse of faith_feb19 Debbie Vasquez at 14 By:  SNAP  Survivors Network of those Abused...

YOUR PLAN B IS STILL GOD’S PLAN

christianitytoday.com/women/2019/january/church-planting-your-plan-b-is-still-gods-plan.html  By: Sandra Peoples In 2015, my husband and I moved from rural Pennsylvania...

“IN” THE VINE

 By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure as...

THE MAGNIFICAT

By Frank Tunstall The Holy Spirit overshadowed the Virgin Mary in the miraculous and...

A CAROL FOR THE DESPAIRING

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/december/longfellow-carol-for-despairing-i-heard-bells.html Penned during the Civil War, Longfellow’s ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’...

?? A DIGITAL CHURCH IN THE DIGITAL AGE ??

 https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2018/fall-state-of-church-ministry/embodied-church-in-digital-age.html Should we cheer or moan when online churches perform virtual baptisms? By: Kara...

CHINA CRACKS DOWN – AGAIN

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/november/what-to-do-about-persecution-in-china.html?share=56xKkXi%2fdTPQjQCm3LBm6NPogOGXW4vm   The government is removing crosses from their steeples and replacing them...

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHURCH PLANTERS GONE?

christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/august/where-have-all-church-planters-gone.                  What’s the greatest hindrance to effective church planting? BY: Jeff Christopherson You...

SINGLES: A VITAL PART OF OUR CHURCHES

www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/july/singles-vital-part-of-our-churches Singles make up half of our churches, so we best learn to treat...

HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTION

BY: FRANK TUNSTALL, D. MIN. Three outstanding facts stand out regarding Peter’s bold preaching...

3 COMMON REASONS FOR MINISTRY BURNOUT

www.startchurch.com/blog/view/name/how-to-prevent-ministry-burnout? By: Raul Rivera Burnout reason #1: Critical Church Members Oftentimes, one of the...

THESE BOMBS LED ME TO CHRIST

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/may/napalm-girl-kim-phuc-phan-thi-fire-road.html The “Napalm Girl” from a famous Vietnam War photo tells her story of...

JESUS’ GLORIFIED BODY

 By Frank G. Tunstall  Cleopas and his unnamed friend had Jesus’ undivided attention on...

“JESUS WEPT!”

 By Frank G. Tunstall When Mary walked up to Jesus on the outskirts of...

5 TOP PRIORITIES FOR INCREASING YOUR CHURCH

 sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/charles-arn-5-top-priorities-for-increasing-your-church This article is a classic on church growth. It was first released in 2010...

OFFENDED BY JESUS?

By: Frank G. Tunstall  Luke records a story about Jesus paying a visit to...

EVANGELIST BILLY GRAHAM HAS DIED

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/mom-mass-media-and-me.html ‘America’s pastor’ shaped modern evangelicalism. By: Marshall Shelley Billy Graham was perhaps the...

ICEBERG COLD REJECTION

  By: Frank G. Tunstall  Jesus the Prophet deserved the highest adoration, but the...

BLAME US FOR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

https://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2018/01/23/blame-us-for-government-shutdown-n2438025     By: Cal Thomas If we don’t like what is happening in...

THE SURPRISING REASON YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE

https://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-surprising-reason-you-are-where-you-are-8093 By: Ron Hutchcraft Some years ago, we took a delegation of teenagers to...

WHAT YOUR PASTOR REALLY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS

ChristianityToday.com/pastors/2017/november-web-exclusives/what-your-pastor-really-wants-for-christmas.html?utm_source BY:The editors of CTPastors.com This Christmas, forego the wooden praying hands, the cross-stitched...

CAN THERE BE ONE RIGHT RELIGION?

http://seanmcdowell.org/blog/can-there-be-one-right-religion; Posted November 14, 2017   By: Sean McDowell Recently I was in a...

THE ONE GROUP YOU MIGHT FORGET THIS CHRISTMAS

http://blog.thrivingpastor.com/the-one-group-you-might-forget-this-christmas-2/?refcd=574803&utm_campaign=Thriving+Pastor By John McGee  Nov. 27, 2017 The holiday season is upon us. As...

HEALING HEALERS

By Phil Larson, as told to Frank Tunstall The world’s largest casino is located...

FAITH IS NOT BLIND!

BY: FRANK TUNSTALL Some critics’ claim Christians believe on blind faith, defined as belief...

HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE: CHRISTIAN HISTORY TIMELINE

 http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-43/how-we-got-our-bible-christian-history-timeline.html Have you ever wondered how the Bible has developed through the centuries, so...

IRS TAXES PASTOR FOR SALARY HE NEVER RECEIVED

www.utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog&utm_content=irs_taxes_pastor_for_salary_he_never_received_2017_10_05 By: Raul Rivera This time of year we get an abundance of phone...

WHAT THE CARPENTER SEES IN YOU

https://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/what-the-carpenter-sees-in-you-7979  By Ron Hutchcraft  Hutchcraft.Com Many years ago we were shopping for a place...

WHEN A PRIVATE APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH

sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/joe-mckeever-when-a-private-apology-is-not-enough   This article is certainly thought provoking. I think he is saying something...

REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU’RE TIRED OF PEOPLE

thrivingpastor.com/remember-this-when-youre-tired-of-people-2/?refcd=518301&utm_campaign=Remember+This+When+You’re+Tired+of+People   By: John McGee  July 10, 2017 / Focus on the Family Have...

HOW TO LAST IN MINISTRY

Pastor Rick’s Ministry Toolbox <info=pastors.com@mail143.wdc02.mcdlv.net By: Rick Warren Ministry is a marathon: it’s not...

THE SUCCESS AFFAIR

christianitytoday.com/pastors/2017/june-web-exclusives/success-affair.html?utm_source=leadership-tml&utm_medium=Newsletter Why do so many adulterous relationships begin when ministry is going well? By:...

THE MANY BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE

http://blog.thrivingpastor.com/the-many-benefits-of-gratitude/?refcd=504701&utm_campaign=The+Many+Benefits+of+Gratitude This well written article is excellent for focusing us on the grace of...

THE SOBBING SAVIOR

By: Frank G. Tunstall I thought about it hundreds of times over the years,...

HOSANNA

By: Frank G. Tunstall “The next day the great crowd that had come for...

“PRAY FIRST!”

Dr. Ron White serves as president of Emmanuel College. He assumed that role October...

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/lance-witt-courageous-conversations–part-2 By: Lance Witt Courageous conversations is a battle of prepositions.  Half of the...

ONE QUESTION YOU MUST NEVER ASK IN MINISTRY

classic.sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/joe-mckeever-one-question-you-must-never-ask-in-ministry-2697.asp? “Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the...

I WENT TO HELL IN A DREAM

  charismamag.com/spirit/supernatural/28155-revivalist-i-went-to-hell-in-a-dream During this night of terror more than 25 years ago, I fell...

FRANKLIN GRAHAM SPEAKS OUT ABOUT ELECTION

theblaze.com/stories/2016/10/16/franklin-graham-sounds-off-about-the-evangelical-response-to-trumps-latest-scandals By: Franklin Graham   October 16, 2016 A lot of people are slamming evangelicals...

WILL MORE INVITATIONS RESULT IN MORE SALVATIONS?

http://www.sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/hal-seed-will-more-invitations-result-in-more-salvations-2592.asp? By Hal Seed // PastorMentor.com For a long time I’ve wondered if there...

DANCING ON THE EDGE

Released by Focus on the Family, June 6, 2016 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce-and-infidelity/affairs-and-adultery/dancing-on-the-edge By: A pastor who’s...

More Money? More. . .

By Kent Woodyard “If your church isn’t strapped for cash, your vision isn’t big...

WHEN TO DISOBEY?

 By: David Koyzis  What happens when the demands of government contradict our faith in...

“IT IS FINISHED!”

 By Frank G. Tunstall The ancient Greeks boasted about being able to say much...

The Day I Hit the Wall

By: Gordon McDonald Marathon runners speak of “hitting the wall,” a moment in a...

HONORING MARRIAGE

Posted by Focus on the Family, December 7, 2015 by Kevin Conklin I once...

RETHINKING DREAMS

By: Frank G. Tunstall  John 1:43 “The next day Jesus decided to leave for...

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




Top