I have taken the 20 lessons that are posted on this blog and put them into a pdf document. Individuals can download the lessons or read them on-line. Each lesson has a link to the lesson article on this blog, thus individuals can read the lesson and then comment on it. All we ask is that commenters to not personally attack me and if they are challenging a statement of mine to back it up with Bible verses.

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Challenge to 'Tongue Speakers' and Non-Tongue Speakers

I am ending this study with a direct challenge to those who are in 'both camps'. This challenge will be direct, but with a heart of love. It is not to condemn, but to confront the wrong thinking and prejudices of both sides. It is obvious in this study that I believe the Bible teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is for today. That does not mean I support 'wacky pentecostals' or that I dislike non-tongues individuals. My challenge to each camp is based upon the failings that can occur in both camps. These are generalities and we acknowledge that not everyone in these camps are practicing these errors.

Challenge to Tongue Speakers

• Stop defending tongues are for today based only upon your experience or others experiences-use Scripture, and don't make the Bible say more than it says.
• Acknowledge there is wackiness at times in the pentecostal camp, stop pretending it is not there or denying it is there.
• Don't fall prey to manipulation, coercion, unique techniques, formulas, etc. to see people baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.
• Stop assuming that those who do not speak in tongues have less of God, are not as spiritual, etc.
• Stop emphasizing tongues and ignoring all other Bible doctrine. If tongue speakers emphasized holiness as much as they emphasize tongues, there would be less sin in the pentecostal camp and less wackiness.
• Do more at winning souls instead of trying to win converts to tongues. The main emphasis of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to proclaim the Gospel with boldness and signs following, not to get people to speak in tongues.
• The purpose of tongues to be edified that so I will grow in Christ to be a more effective witness. It is to help be more intimate with the Lord so that my character will change, not so that I can be more of a 'character'.

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False Accusations and False Assumptions Against Tongues

There are those who out of sincerity come against the baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues because of the false teachings of some who support tongues. Just as those who support tongues can be extreme to defend tongues, those who are against tongues can become extreme against those who support tongues. They accuse those who support tongues to be to emotional, but those who are against tongues can also allow emotions to get in the way of the biblical support of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the speaking in tongues.

Tongues are the result of hypnosis
This accusation is that all tongues are a result of a person being hypnotized. As seen by our previous study there certainly could be in some pentecostal circles the possibility of techniques used to get someone to speak in tongues to be close to hypnosis. However, because of the errors of some does not mean there are errors with all. Here is what can happen in the anti-tongue camp. They can say over and over again it is all hypnosis, deception, etc. so many times that it does not matter if they have proof or not-they say it enough that listeners believe what is being said must be true. They will repeat the same stories over and over again of proof of hypnosis, totally ignoring the many instances of no potential of hypnosis being used. There are multitudes of cases where there is no suggestion of hypnosis or manipulation. To deny that is error and willfully ignoring of facts-that is just as wrong as manipulating people to speak in tongues. Those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues in the New Testament were not hypnotized. Tongues were never done away with, so there must be those who speak in tongues now that are hypnotized. Otherwise it would mean that there is no true example of tongues today-thus tongues was done away with.

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False Teachings on Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues

There are those in the pentecostal camp that are so determined to see individuals speak in tongues they teach or encourage behavior that is manipulation. In this study we will address some of these teachings.

Repeat phrases repeatedly
Some encourage individuals to repeat phrases repeatedly over and over again until they receive tongues. So they will have people say tongue twisters, etc. like saying 'coca cola' 'untie my bow tie' over and over again. This is foolishness and even if the people are sincere, it is manipulation. That is not speaking as the Spirit gives utterance.

Try to copy tongues
In this scenario the person is told "Listen to my tongues, and try to repeat it. You will not be able to repeat it, but will get your own tongues". The motive behind this is sincere (to get the person to open their mouth to speak-a mouth closed will not speak a native language or an unknown tongue), but like the other tactic mentioned, it opens up a person for deception.

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How Can I Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The following are comments based upon the Bible itself, principles found in the Bible, and years of seeing individuals being baptized in the Holy Spirit and receiving the gift of tongues.

• Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He wants to be more than your Savior, he wants to be your Lord.
• Remove all barriers: sin, unforgiveness, doctrinal hang-ups, pride, or any unclean thing that may block you from receiving from God. Don't believe the lie that tongues is from the devil.
• Ask to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Be specific. Tell the Lord you want the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. If you do not receive the first time you ask, ask again.
  Luke 11:9-13 (KJV)
  ⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
  ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
  ¹¹ If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
  ¹² Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
  ¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
  As a believer, you are not asking for the Holy Spirit, you already have the Holy Spirit. You are asking to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

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Common Questions Regarding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Tongues

In this lesson we will be looking at various questions individuals have about this subject. In the previous lessons we gave Scriptural answers to the questions. In this lesson we will give a summary.

Do Christians receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved?
Yes, when you are born again (repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior) you receive the Holy Spirit.
John 3:1-6; Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 6:19; John 20:22

Do you have to be saved to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Yes. Each time there is an example of individuals being Baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is obvious that they are born again. One of the obvious examples is the disicples. They are born again in John 20:22 and are BHS in Acts 1:4-5, 8.
Acts 8:14-19; Acts 10:34-48; Acts 19:1-6

Is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit different than the experience of Salvation?
Yes, it is subsequent to salvation. There are examples of those who were born again and then were BHS.
John 20:22; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 8:14-19; Acts 19:1-6

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Objections to Speaking in Tongues

There are a variety of objections to the speaking in tongues. Almost all of these objections are not based upon Scripture. Instead they are based upon man's opinions, negative experiences, and religious upbringing. How do we know this? Because in the Bible there are only a couple of 'objections to tongues'. We will first look at the 'negative statements' about tongues in the Bible and then discuss the other objections to tongues.

When are Tongues Wrong in the Bible?
The first thing we should state is that there are no passages that are against tongues. There are only passages that are against the mishandling of tongues.

• When speaking to a person in tongues.
  (Not when praying for a person in tongues. The Bible teaches that praying in tongues is praying in the spirit and speaking to God. There are certainly times when we are praying for somebody and we when to speak to God for insight and intervention.)
  1 Cor 14:6-11 clearly forbids speaking to someone in tongues. It is saying that this would be of no value.
  
• In a church setting when a message in tongues is given and there is no interpretation.
  If a person is speaking in tongues during church and the tongues are directed to the church, there must be an interpretation.
  1 Cor 14:5; 1 Cor 14:13; 1 Cor 14:27, 28
  
• When tongues is used in a haughty, prideful way.
  There is no specific verse that says this, but it only makes sense that this is wrong.

Other Objections to Tongues, but not Biblically based

• Tongues have been done away with
  There is absolutely no Bible verse that says tongues have been done away with. Some say there is no need for tongues since we have the Bible. Again there are no verses in the Bible to defend this position. Some will argue that 1 Cor 13:8 say that tongeus have been done away with. Let's look at this verse in context.
  1 Corinthians 13:8-12
  ⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
  ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
  ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
  ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
  ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
  It becomes obvious when looking at the entire passage, that when it is speaking about prophesy and tongues, it is saying they will be done away with when the perfect comes-the perfect has not come. They will be done away when we know fully and are fully known-that does not happen until our glorified bodies. 
  
The last time tongues was talked about in the Bible was in 1 Corinthians.
One must understand that 1 Corinthians was written to the church in Corinth because of the mishandling of tongues. There are other topics in 1 Corinthians and other books of the Bible that are not covered in other passages of Scripture.

• Some who speak in tongues walk in sin, teach false doctrine, or are prideful
  There certainly some who speak in tongues, walk in sin, teach false doctrines and have pride, but there are also those who do not speak in tongues that do the same. The tongues or lack of tongues are not the cause of sin, false doctrine, and pride.
  
• Churches that allow tongues are not in order-there is chaos
  This is certainly true of some churches, but again, not all-so cannot judge all because of some. There also is a danger of judging what is chaos by ones own upbringing, culture, preferences, etc. There are non tongue speaking churches in various parts of the world that would appear to be out of order and chaotic because of their culture, traditions, and style of worship compared to the U.S.A. There are things in the physical/natural realm that may seem chaotic if you do not understand how they operate-don't have experience in the field of study.
  
• Tongues are for preaching the Gospel only-no other purpose
  Not biblical, not a single example in the Bible of tongues being used for this purpose. Some use Acts 2 as an example. But it does not say they were sharing the Gospel, only that they were magnifying God. There was no need for tongues to preach the Gospel, because all the people there would understand Aramaic or common Greek. They were there for the Passover Feast and day of Pentecost. How would they have been able to particpate in these ceremonies for years before there were tongues?
  
• Tongues are for the purpose of judgment-not for any other purpose other than maybe to preach the Gospel.
  Those who hold this position based it upon two passages of Scripture: 1 Cor 14:21 which is referencing Isaiah 28:11. They are basing an entire doctrine off of two passages of Scripture when there are many more passages that show tongues are for the evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, to pray in the spirit, to be edified or to edify the church, to praise God.
  
• Jesus did not speak in tongues.
  How do we know this? John states that they are many things that Jesus did that are not written down in Scripture. Also, the Bible teaches that Jesus received the fullness of God while on earth so there may not have been the need for Him to have tongues.
  
• Tongues is of the devil.
  There is not a single reference of tongues every being from the devil. That is not to say that tongues can never be of the devil. The devil loves to counterfeit so there certainly can be counterfeit tongues. But if a born again, sold out for Jesus, Christian who is not walking in willful sin seeks God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, gets tongues, it would not be from the devil. That would be saying that God is purposely letting them be deceived. Also, Jesus said the following in regards to asking for the Holy Spirit.
  Luke 11:9-13 (KJV)
  ⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
  ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
  ¹¹ If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
  ¹² Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
  ¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
  
• I have asked for tongues and God has not given it to me, so it cannot be for today.
  There could be a variety of reasons why a person has not received tongues. There are plenty of things that each of us may ask God for, but not receive it.
  
• If God wanted me to have it, He would give it to me and every believer
  Not if there is willful sin, unbelief, critical of those who have it, etc. Also, all of God's gifts are according to His timing, not ours.
  
• Only some can have tongues.
  This belief is based upon 1 Cor 12:11
  1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV)
  ¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
  It needs to be noted that this verse is in the context of a specifically type of tongues. Tongues as a supernatural gift which would normally be used with the gift of interpretation.
  If tongues is an evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and if tongues is for the purpose to pray in the spirit, to worship God, and edify the one with tongues, would God want only certain Christians to have tongues. That would be an unjust God.

Summary
There is no biblical reason to take a stand against the proper use of tongues.

In the next study we will take a look at common questions about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues. We will end our study soon with how to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and to receive tongues.