what the Christians in the Early Church did, and that is consistent with what the scriptures
teach.
The Ephesian Disciples: Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying
It is interesting to note that in the account of the
Ephesian disciples in Acts 19, the Bible says that the believers spoke in tongues and
prophesied when they received the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 19:6
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM;
and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and PROPHESIED.
Sometimes believers receive additional spiritual gifts as well as tongues when they are filled
with the Spirit. However, tongues always comes first and is the evidence of having received
the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:6 doesn't say that they prophesied and then spoke with tongues. It
says they spoke with tongues and then prophesied.
I have seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and then prophesy. I have
also seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and interpret the tongues (1
Cor. 12:10). But don't expect any more at the moment you are filled with the Spirit than what
the Word of God teaches, which is that the believer will speak in tongues as the initial evidence
of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).
If another spiritual gift is added, well and good. However, we must also remember that spiritual
gifts are given to the believer as the Holy Spirit wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). But, again,
every believer should expect to speak with tongues as the initial evidence of having received
the Holy Spirit.
When I received the Holy Ghost, I knew I had received Him because I spoke with tongues. But
I also received an additional gift of the Spirit, too, although I didn't realize it at that time.
But I will be perfectly honest with you, when I received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, I
felt a little disappointed in a way. I think maybe I expected some kind of overwhelming
spectacular experience. Having heard some Pentecostal folks testify about receiving the Holy
Spirit, I thought I would have some sort of experience that was out of this world, so to speak.
But I didn't.
I said to myself afterwards, Well, all I did was talk in tongues. I've gotten a bigger blessing than
this many times just praying in English with my understanding.
But the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just receiving a blessing. It is more than that. I knew
the Bible and I knew about walking by faith, so I said, "I don't care what I feel or what I don't
feel. I know I have received the Holy Spirit because I have spoken with other tongues. I have
the Bible evidence for the baptism in the Holy Spirit."
I kept speaking in tongues and praising God almost continuously for about three days. Later I
realized that at the same time I had received the Holy Spirit and had spoken with tongues, I
had also received another gift of the Spirit, the word of knowledge.