The Holy Spirit and His Gifts | Page 51

Before I got baptized in the Holy Spirit, some of my Baptist colleagues would warn me about associating with Pentecostal people. They would say, "Now those are good people all right. They live better lives than people do in our church. But that speaking in tongues is of the devil!" I wouldn't say much when they said that, but I would think, Isn't it strange that people can get something from the devil that will help them live better lives! One man in particular, a graduate of a Baptist seminary, had warned me again and again about Pentecostal people and speaking in tongues. After I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, I rushed over to see him. He gave me the same warning that he had given me many times before: "I want to warn you, Kenneth, about going around with those Full Gospel people. That speaking in tongues is of the devil!" I told him, "Well, if it is, then the whole Southern Baptist movement is of the devil!" "What are you talking about?" he asked, surprised. I said, "I got baptized with the Holy Ghost in the Full Gospel pastor's house. I didn't get any new Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that I received in the new birth in the Baptist church is the same Holy Spirit that gave me utterance in other tongues!" I had just discovered what the Bible had taught all along. Just like the disciples in Acts 2:1-4, I had received an enduement of power from on High from the same Holy Spirit who had recreated my spirit when I was born again. The Holy Spirit Upon: The Gateway Into the Supernatural As we discussed in Chapter 4, the Bible teaches that there are two groups of nine in connection with the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. First, there is the ninefold manifestation of the fruit of the born-again human spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5:22,23. The fruit of the spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling Presence. We find a second ninefold group in connection with the Holy Spirit in First Corinthians 12:7-11. These are the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit known as the gifts of the Spirit. The gateway into these nine supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit is the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with tongues. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11 7 But the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit THE WORD OF WISDOM; to another THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit; 9 To another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit; 10 To another THE WORKING OF MIRACLES; to another PROPHECY; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; to another THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES; 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.