Tongues of Fire

Introduction:

Today is Pentecost Sunday, but Pastor you stated it was last week. Well I made a mistake.

So lets go back 1992 years ago.

Now lets come a little closer

In 1901 a Pentecostal revival much like what we read about in the 2nd chapter of Acts erupted at the Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas. A minister by the name of Charles Parham was leading and teaching as this revival broke out among his students. When this happened, many were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. (Charles Parham has been affectionately called the Father of the modern day Pentecostal movement).

Well, one of his students – a black man who had been restricted to the hallway for his education because of the color of his skin – began to soak up the teaching of professor Parham. And in just a few weeks was able to accurately proclaim the gospel and teach this doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit without struggle. This young preacher was a man by the name of William Seymour.

The unique issue about all of this was that William Seymour had the knowledge of – but lacked the experience of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Never the less, he proclaimed it’s truth without apology.

As the months moved forward, Charles Parham invited William Seymour to travel with him to Houston, Texas where he was able to hold meetings and preach about this wonderful new expression to the faith.

While Parham was preaching to the white men and women, Seymour was holding meetings for the black men and women. Together they were helping people to understand this revival that was beginning to touch many across the U.S.

In February of 1906, William Seymour received an invitation to travel to California to hold services and share about this wonderful blessing of Pentecost. As he began to preach in Los Angeles, people began to fight this new doctrine. However, the opposition to the truth didn’t deter him from his mission.

As he continued to preach this controversial message of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, revival broke out just as it had back in Topeka, Kansas. It was during this outpouring that William Seymour finally received himself.

On April 9th, 1906 many received the Holy Spirit and the Pentecostal revival began to touch the west coast. With the baptism of the Holy Spirit, came many miraculous signs and wonders. In fact, on the first night of the mighty outpouring there on Azusa Street, people experienced God in a variety of ways.

Many were slain in the Spirit under the power anointing that was poured out. Others were said to have been so full of God’s presence that they literally ran throughout the building in great celebration. Many were said to have begun to praise the Lord verbally and were shouting His praise while still others discovered unique giftings that they had never had before. One woman even began to play the piano, which she had never had the ability to do before.

There were many signs and wonders and the people were endued with the Power of the Holy Spirit as the mighty outpouring continued.

And so, with that the Pentecostal movement was radically birthed and began to spread all throughout North America! A passion for lost people, missions and unity were also fruits of this move. And our experience with God is deeper today because of this mo ve.

Now - - why the history lesson?

Because the church in America needs revival, Lighthouse Assembly of God needs revival. YOU need revivial and it starts with the Holy Spirit entering our lives.

Today we are going deep, we are going back to the

Acts 1:4–8 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit important?

Think about this moment.

Jesus tells them to “WAIT” in Jerusalem

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:4–8 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Luke 24:49 NIV

49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Our belief is this: All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.

Here we see Jesus commanding his disciples to go into all the world and be witnesses.

I think that is a pretty important mandate, but they are told to wait.

Most of us hate that word, but lets be honest everything that is great takes time. When you cook thanksgiving dinner its a long process but the reward is worth it.

Microwave dinners are not nearly as good as the real thing

Rome wasnt built over night.

Look at what it states in John 14:26 “26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

AW Tozer said this:

The Holy Spirit is not a luxury meant to make deluxe Christians, as an illuminated frontispiece and a leather binding make a deluxe book. The Spirit is an imperative necessity. Only the Eternal Spirit can do eternal deeds.12

A. W. Tozer

What is the purpose of the Baptism of the Spirit?

Its empowerment: You will be filled with power

The word translates in to

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1539 δύναμις

dynamis

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1539 δύναμις

ability, to perform an activity

Its

They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.” The Baptism with the Holy Spirit imparts to those who receive it new liberty and fearlessness in testimony for Christ.

R. A. Torrey

To Make witnesses

The word witness in this passage is a Noun and not a verb as we typically use it. He said go and be my witnesses. It was a lifestyle. This power promised helps us develop the Fruit of the Spirit and not simply the gifts of the spirit. Its more then falling out in the spirit, its about more than running and dancing, and its even more the tongues. This was the agent of change.

The witnessing we do is not apart from what we are, but flows out of what we BECOME by the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is always connected with testimony and service.

R. A. Torrey

If we seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost in order that God may make us great servants of his, we shall never receive anything. God baptizes us with the Holy Ghost that he may be all in all.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

It is not enough that the desire for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit be intense; it must also be pure.

R. A. Torrey

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit, is not an experience that God grants to us merely to make us happy.

R. A. Torrey

How do I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life

Acts 8:14–16 “14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Pray and wait

Acts 1:14 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Waiting is not seen as weakness; rather, it is a preparation for the kind of life and witness that only the Holy Spirit can empower

Seek Holy Spirit not the signs

How do I know that someone has been Baptized in the Spirit?

The initial physical sign that is seen in scripture is a person will speak in tongues.

Our doctrine: the baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.

It gave Peter the proof that the gospel was not only for the Jews but also the gentiles Acts 10:46–47 “46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.””

There may or may not be other signs, like wind and fire, but speaking in tongues is repeated over and over so we must use this as the sign.

The life should be a witness

We often put so much emphasis on the speaking in tongues, but remember that although it is the sign, it is not the end, or even the purpose, of the baptism in the Holy Spirit

Likewise, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the end-all to your experience of the Holy Spirit. Instead, it marks the beginning of your living in the fullness of the Spirit.

Talk about the difference between the gift of tongues and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 NIV

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.