This is the Truth Network. You may have heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and said to yourself, You know, I don't like that. I don't want to be like the Charismatics or like the Pentecostals. And besides, it's not even biblical and it has nothing to do with following Jesus. Hmm.
Well, my friend, stay with us, listen, and learn. You're listening to Until He Comes, a blend of prophetic and practical biblical studies with Dr. Greg Hinnant, author of The Second Coming of Christ, His Appearing, His Return, Our Preparation. And now, author and teacher Greg Hinnant. Welcome to the program, my friend.
Today we're continuing our study of tongues of fire. In a previous episode, we'd read the text, In Acts chapter 2, verses 1 through 4, And we discovered there that on the day of Pentecost some Wonderful things happened, yet they were strange. They were illogical. They were not reasonable. Those present?
heard the sound of a rushing mighty wind. And then they also saw flames of fire appearing over their heads. How strange was that? And as they were filled with the Holy Spirit, something even stranger happened. They spoke with other tongues that is, unknown languages real languages, but languages unknown to those who spoke to him.
Now further in the chapter it is revealed to us that the Diaspora Jews were present at the time and they came to hear what was going on, and they could hear these Galileans, who obviously had not been taught linguistics and had not been taught the languages of these various areas of the Diaspora Jews. They heard them speaking in their own tongues, giving God Glory.
So this was an awesome sign at the beginning of the Church Age.
Now We're sta we're talking about at the present time eight biblical facts about these tongues of fire, so that we can fully understand what they were and what they are today. 1. These tongues of fire came from heaven, so they were clearly of God. Number two, These tongues of fire came accompanied by the full presence of the Holy Spirit, so they were and still are associated with His full presence in an individual or a church. We also discussed that they Arm Um Part of the second work of grace that we receive as Christians, the first being regeneration, the second being the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
And we said that these tongues of fire came at the beginning of the Church Age, and therefore they are clearly a distinctive characteristic. of the true church wherever it exists in the church age. Today we want to continue with the fourth point. these tongues of fire were a fulfilment of Christ's personal promise and prophecy. After Jesus' resurrection and before his ascension, Jesus promised his disciples this, and these signs.
shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils, They shall speak with new tongues. And then he goes on to say: if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. And they shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover. That's verse 18.
So Jesus promised that we would speak with new tongues if we were genuine believers. And this is what we see happening at the birth of the church. Simple enough?
Well, It is a sign that And what is a sun?
Well, to understand a sign, we need to also define a miracle. and a wonder. because you frequently see these words grouped together. a sign and a wonder and a miracle.
Well, a miracle is a supernatural act of God. We're speaking now of divine miracles. A supernatural act of God that cannot be explained by human reason. Or by scientific method. It's beyond us.
That's a miracle. If we can understand it, it's not a miracle. If we can understand it, and it's a divine act, it is a miracle. Then A san is a miracle that attests to the validity, the authority The divine origin of a message. or minister of Christ.
Originally in the church age, it applied to the apostles, but it was not limited to them. For instance, Philip. went down to the city of Samaria. preached Christ unto them, and miracles and signs and wonders occurred there, and he was not. an apostle.
Also, we're told that Stephen. Was in Jerusalem a man filled with faith. and of the power of God, and He too worked signs and wonders and miracles, and He was not. And apostles.
So, this was not limited to the apostles. And what's a wonder? Then a wonder. is a miracle or sign that is so astounding that people are simply left slack jawed. I believe it's fair to say that the first miracle during the church age, according to Acts chapter three, when Peter and John prayed for the man who was impotent in his feet, and never walked.
never walked and is over forty years of age. and suddenly he was able to stand and to walk. He had balance, and he had He had athletic ability because he leaped. He was leaping and praising God in the temple. It was an astounding miracle, and so the people simply wondered.
They all knew who he was. They all knew the condition he had had for decades, and they all were so stunned they simply Could just wonder.
So that's the definition of a miracle sign and a wonder.
So Jesus said, These tongues of fire or speaking with other tongues would be the sign of true believers. Therefore we conclude that they are valid, they are orthodox, and they are to be sought after just as we would any other biblical promise. or prophecy. They're just as legitimate. This is not a second-rate truth.
It is a fully valid biblical truth.
Now, number five, these tongues of fire are a sign of true believers. as opposed to false. Today we have certain pseudo Christian Groups they say they're Christians, but they're not, for instance the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. And then we have other quasi or half or part Christian groups, such as the Seventh day Adventist to believe That they are saved not by grace alone, but by their keeping of the works.
So it's a grace plus works doctrine. It is heresy.
So these signs do not accompany these groups. but they do accompany genuine believers still today as they did in the first century. All right. This is interpreted correctly in the book of Acts. these signs that Jesus said would follow those who believed.
All of them are seen except one. in the book of Acts. For instance, the book of Acts explains what Jesus meant by casting out demons, because We see Paul in Acts 16 casting the devil out of a girl that had demonic gift of fortune telling. and after he cast the demon out, she no longer had that ability to tell fortunes, or to reveal secrets about the people who came to her, Forum. A reading.
So he cast the demon out. We see that explained there. Then, speaking in new tongues, we see this here in Acts chapter 2. Where? They were speaking with new tongues on the day of Pentecost, and those present understood those languages.
They were real languages. It wasn't just gibberish. or garbles language? Not at all. We see this also occurring in other places in the book of Acts.
For instance, in Acts 10 at Cordelius' house, when Peter preached the word about Christ. Those present who believed and received the word suddenly, simultaneously, were also. baptized in the Holy Spirit, Peter and those with him who had come as witnesses, knew this was taking place because these at Cornelius's house also spoke with tongues as the disciples did originally on Pentecost Day. Then we see this happening again in Acts 19. where Paul prayed for Twelve young men in Ephesus, whom he thought were Christian disciples, they were not.
They were disciples of John the Baptist. He preached the gospel to them, and they received Christ, and they were water baptized. After this he laid his hands on them, And the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they prophesied, that is, they spoke with inspiration. and things pertaining thereto, and they spoke with Tongues.
So we see this happening in these instances in the book of Acts. I would add that while we see Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, being converted on the on the Damascus road in Acts nine He received Jesus and said, Lord, What would you have me to do after Jesus said that He was the one who was appearing to him as that bright light.
So Paul was clearly saved. After this, Three days later, He receives the Holy Spirit.
Now, apparently he did not speak with tongues at that time.
So therefore I think it's Biblioclean. Incorrect. to claim that we must speak in tongues to believe we've been baptized in the Holy Spirit. I think it is equally incorrect to not seek the experience of the baptism the full infilling. of the Holy Spirit.
And by the way. Um I can give you some important evangelical figures who clearly had two works of grace in their life. D. L. Moody, Oswald Chambers.
A. W. Toser. And there are many more.
So, this is just to help you understand this is not something which is peculiarly the possession or only or. Singularly, the possession of the Pentecostals and the Charismatics. No, it's not. This is for the whole church. If you believe the Bible, it's for you, this experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
So we see throughout the book of Acts, that is interpreted. Then, what about taking up of serpents? We see serpents. We see that, obviously, that's not an intentional act. Grecians today who intentionally pick up snakes are practising idiocy.
May God have mercy on their souls and awaken them. to sound thinking. No, but in the book of Acts chapter twenty eight, when Paul was on the Isle of Malta, Preaching the gospel and praying for the sick with great success, When he first arrived there, he was helping build a fire during a rainy. Day two. help him and the others on the ship.
who had been shipwrecked and they were cold and wet. and a snake came out of the Bundle of sticks, bit him on the hand, and hung there for several seconds. All the people saw it. He shook off the snake and did not die. from the toxins released from that snake bite.
This was a miracle and it was a sign that he was a true believer in Christ and and authorised minister. And that the gospel in his mouth was true. And then also drinking of deadly things.
Now, this is the one sign that Jesus mentioned, which is not explained to us. as an example is not given to us in the book of Acts. But I think that's clear enough to understand. Jesus was saying, if you drink some bad water, Or if someone tries to poison you and you are faithful and you're in the work of God and in the will of God and doing what Christ has called you to do, he will supernaturally protect you and you will not die. And then the laying out of hands is seen throughout the book of Acts, where believers in Christ's name lay hands on the sick and they recover.
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Now, again, Dr. Hinnant.
So, all these signs that are spoken of in Mark 16, 17, and 18. are explained to us in the experiences Of the early church. The book of Acts covers roughly the first 30 years. of Christianity.
Okay.
So Jesus also told Peter this later. And this, I think, applies. to what we are looking at here. What God has cleansed, you must not call common. Or stop treating as unclean what God has made clean.
One version says, or if God says it's okay, it's okay. This is in Acts chapter. Ten where he is instructing Peter not to reject the Gentile men who are coming to his door to invite him to the house of a Gentile. Remember, at this time, the church was still heavily influenced by Judaic practices, Pharisaic practices. the traditions of the Rabbis, the fathers, and One primary one was that if you're a Jew, you do not eat with A Gentile.
They do not. practice the Jewish dietary, laws, or cleanliness. Laws.
So he knew he was breaking the law to go to the house of a Gentile to preach the gospel, but God was beginning to show him and the whole Jewish church that he would save the Gentiles on the same basis as the Jews by grace and not by their works, specifically not by keeping the works of the law.
So the Lord was telling him, Look, if I approve of something, don't you condemn it? Don't you find fault?
Now we can apply this same principle to what we're talking about here. Clearly, my friends, Clearly, Jesus Christ approves of tongues of fire, speaking with tongues, and of the Fiery, spiritually fiery effects of this experience, and we're going to discuss them in detail in further episodes.
So if we rise up and say, wait a minute, my pastor doesn't teach it that way. Hold on, my denominational doctrine does not accept this. When I mean I've been taught that the Baptism and gifts of the Spirit ceased. With the end of the Apostolic Age, or the end of the first century, So I don't accept this.
Well, friend. Maybe to day's the day. That the good Lord, in His love, wants to expand your understanding and deliver you from what I just described, which is the error and I'll call it what it is, heresy. of cessationism. If we reject the Baptism of the Spirit, we reject His gifts.
And isn't it ironic that the same people accept the giftedness of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, though they generally list they limit them to the latter three? But do not accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which Paul clearly said were in the church, were operations of the true Holy Spirit, and clearly are needed.
So We have to make up our mind what's going to define what we believe. Is it the Word of God or is it the Word plus? our doctoral traditions. Friend, you may respect a certain pastor or teacher quite a bit, and he may be against the baptism of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. and I pray Lord forgive him if he is.
That as the meaning of his other teaching is incorrect, it may be wonderfully correct. But on this issue, Again, I appeal to you. If you're an evangelical, you'll take the word of God as definitive evidence in every given matter or doctrine. And so what God said to Peter applies to you and me. If God approves of something in His Word, We must accept it or be guilty of rejecting something.
that is clearly of God. We exclude Jesus' opinion. or that of the Bible, on any revelation, any doctrine. any practice at our own peril. That is, the day will come when we come up short because we've rejected something.
that is of God or something God has given us for our Christian walk. or ministry. I would liken it to this example. If you were to climb Everest, when you made that last leg. And probably before, you will be given oxygen.
And you will be told you need this oxygen for the final leg of this climb. If you don't Take it with you. You may make it to the top, But you'll not come down because Your brain will be deprived of oxygen. You will suddenly become confused, disoriented. Your body will cease functioning normally, and you will fall or lay down, go to sleep.
and preached to death. And this has happened to many who have tried to climb Everest to that last leg of the journey. without oxygen or without sufficient oxygen. Friend, Christ knows all about the Christian life and about the work and ministry of the Church. and in his infinite wisdom and love, Oh, how benevolent he is And in his Foresight.
He gave us not only a new birth. But the wonderful baptism the full infilling of the Holy Spirit. And The gifts of the Spirit for their proper time and place and use. They're not needed all the time. But they are part and parcel of the genuine gospel, the genuine Christian experience, the genuine history of the church, and I Say They are needed today in our present experience.
So, please be open-minded as we explore this subject of tongues of fire. Don't shut it down. Because you've heard this or that. against The baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now, point number six. These tongues of fire were the personal work of the glorified Christ. Here, I think, is the most. Incontrovertible evidence. Peter said this on Pentecost Day, Acts 2:33.
Look at it in your own Bible. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He that is Jesus. has poured out this That you yourselves are seeing and hearing. What is he saying? Everything that happened on Pentecost Day came directly from the hand of Jesus Christ, the same Jesus we see in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The same Jesus who gives us a new birth, the same Jesus. Who worked the miracles? Say he was the son of God. Set minutes free from demonic bondage. The same Jesus, when he was glorified at the right hand of the Father.
poured out the Holy Spirit as he had promised.
Now he was paying the promise. and everything that was seen there The tongues of fire, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire, everything that was heard there, the mighty wind. The sound of a mighty wind from heaven, and the also the sound of those present, the hundred and twenty speaking in. strange languages. They did not know what they were saying, but the Holy Spirit did.
And those present verified that they were human languages because They were Fluent in those languages, these are the Diaspora Jews who were present.
So everything that happened there was of Christ. Everything, nothing was from the enemy, nothing was of pure human origin. It all came from heaven and from God.
Now, the New Century Version says, or Jesus Jesus was lifted up to heaven, and is now at God's right side. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to Jesus, as he promised.
So Jesus has poured out that Spirit and this is what you now see and Here. You can't separate Jesus from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You cannot do it. If you do it, you do disservice and damage to the scriptures.
Now because of this These tongues, Sapphira, are not foolish, but they're glorious they're glorious they're sent by Christ from glory, meaning the third heaven. Also, they lead to, they inspire, they cause to occur glorious works. Of supernatural divine power.
Now, I'm not saying that the speaking in tongues does this, I'm saying the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which accompanied the tongues. Because remember, it was not a baptism of tongues, it was a baptism of the Holy Spirit, that dunamis power that Jesus promised in Acts 1, verse 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. and be my witnesses. Martus in the Greek, meaning you will witness in my name and for me to the ends of the earth, even to the point of being willing to die.
For your witness.
So that's the divine power that comes to the Holy Spirit baptism. If we dislike or reject to some degree or in some measure, What we're discussing here. We dislike or reject Christ and His glorious personal work, my friend. Don't reject. Anything.
that is of Christ. Primus Backcross. comes from Crockett. Clearly. From the scriptures.
Do not reject it. If so, you do so at your own peril. Be wise. and believe. All of the Word of God, not the select portions.
which you prefer or those that you'll understand. Clearly. This experience is supernatural. And I'll leave that with you at the present time. We'll come back in our next episode and continue our study of tongues of fire.
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