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AUTHOR: Kenneth E. Hagin

ABOUT AUTHOR:

Kenneth E. Hagin

Kenneth E. Hagin ministered for almost 70 years after God miraculously healed him of a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease at the age of 17.

Even though Rev. Hagin went home to be with the Lord in 2003, the ministry he founded continues to bless multitudes around the globe.

Kenneth Hagin Ministries’ outreaches include The Word of Faith, a free monthly magazine; RHEMA Bible Training Center; RHEMA Alumni Association; RHEMA Ministerial Association International; RHEMA Correspondence Bible School; and the RHEMA Prison Ministry. Rev. Hagin’s son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth W. and Lynette Hagin, co host RHEMA Praise, a weekly television broadcast; Rhema for Today, a weekday radio program; and Living Faith Crusades held around the world.

LEAD #1: COMMON OBJECTIONS TO SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Objection one:

Jesus didn’t speak in tongues, so I don’t have to either.It’s true you won’t find tongues and interpretation operating in Jesus’ ministry as many claims, but here is what Mark 16:17-18 has to say:

KJV: 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Jesus implied here that ALL believers will speak with new tongues. Supernatural protection is assured as it happened to Paul when he accidentally picked up a deadly serpent.

Objection two:Tongues are of the devil.

If they claim so, then it means our entire denominations are of the devil,, including theirs (especially when they know theirs isn’t.The truth is this: Speaking into tongues opens you to a deeper dimension of the same Spirit.

Objection three:

Tongues have ceased.They quote this scripture as a reference.

1Corinthians 13:8KJV: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish awayWhat it says here is that ‘tongues SHALL cease’, not ‘HAS CEASED’.

These were written in future tense.

Objection four:

Only the Apostles could pray for people to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.Some claim that tongues ceased with the last apostles.

Acts 9:10-12&17 made us to understand that Ananias wasn’t an apostle get he laid hands on Saul

LEAD #2: SALVATION AND THE INFILLING: TWO SEPARATE EXPERIENCES.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth is different from the infilling of the Holy Spirit. There are two different experiences.Let’s look at John 14:17 and Acts 1:5,8 respectively.

John 14:17KJV: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot, receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be IN you.

Acts 1:5,8 KJV: For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come UPON you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The two different experiences is summed in these two sentences:The Holy Ghost dwelling IN you.

The Holy Ghost coming UPON you in power.

People have taught that when you get born again, you’re born of the Spirit and that receiving Christ as savior and confessing him as Lord, you have the Holy Ghost.

The first part of the statement is true and the second part is untrue and that’s where people get into trouble.Getting saved doesn’t mean you’ve received the Holy Ghost.

People can be wonderful folks and marvelous Christians and yet still be wrong about a subject matter. This is why we must see God’s word as the FINAL AUTHORITY.

Let’s look at the book of Acts 8:12-17KJV

12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued, with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he had fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.The coming of Peter and John was for the Samaritans to be filled with the Holy Ghost and not for them to be saved or born again.If you study the witness of Saul of Tarsus in the book of Act 9:1-9.

In verse 6a, Saul acknowledged Jesus as Lord and said this:And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?Verse 17 says: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Be informed that You don’t preach the Holy Ghost to the world, it’s Christ you should preach so that they can receive salvation.

The Holy Ghost is God’s gift to his children, not to sinners.Jesus is God’s gift to the world.The baptism or the infilling with the Holy Ghost is not for sinners.

A person has to be made a new creature first before he can receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

LEAD #3: DO YOU HAVE TO TARRY TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Speaking with tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as seen if you study the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

There’s no place in scripture where the people in the early church were taught to tary to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Likewise we should never teach people such.

The 120 believers who tarried in the book of Acts, did so because Jesus commanded them to do so.Let’s look at Luke 24:49 KJV: And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until, ye be endued with power from on high.

They had to tarry because the Holy Ghost hadn’t yet been poured on earth to carry on Jesus’ ministry.From the moment the Holy Spirit was revealed, it’s just a matter of receiving him, not a matter of waiting for Him to come.

The Samaritan believers, the Gentile believers and even Saul of Tarsus never tarry to receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at the Book of Acts 19:1-6KJV: 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have (1487) ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

From this scripture, you can see that they all received the Holy Ghost without exception or the slightest suggestion of tarrying.You don’t have to tarry for a gift God has freely given to all who believe.You’re not to seek tongues, instead, you’re to seek the giver:THE HOLY SPIRIT.

LEAD #4: GUIDELINES TO RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

There are many opinions and ideas out there about how to get baptized in the Holy Spirit– But the Bible way is always the best way.

NOTE: The Holy Spirit doesn’t speak in tongues through you

Let us look at 1 Corinthians 14:14:KJV:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

This means that YOUR SPIRIT ( By the Holy Spirit within you) prays.

God has provided a way for our Spirit to pray apart from our understanding.It’s not the Holy Ghost doing the praying, it’s the Holy Ghost helping our Spirit to pray.

It gives the utterances, we do the praying.The miracle of tongues is not who is doing the speaking, rather it’s in ‘ where the tongues are coming from and what is being said’The Holy Ghost gives the utterance, we do the speaking.

That’s the difference.Let’s see these scriptures together.

Acts 2:4 KJV:And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and BEGAN TO SPEAK with other tongues, as the Spirit GAVE THEM UTTERANCE.

Acts 10:45-46 KJV: …On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they HEARD THEM SPEAK with tongues, and magnify God.

Acts 19:6 KJV:And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.The Holy Spirit never makes people leads, anything.

The Holy Spirit leads, directs, gives a gentle push, prompts, urges.It’s only devils and demons that drive and force and make people do things.

There are hindrances to receiving the Holy Ghost and one of such is lack of faith or lack of yieldedness.

The Holy Spirit gives the utterances, the person must do the talking.When you begin to talk, the devil tends to tell you that you didn’t receive anything, in such a situation, insist with God’s word in Acts 2:4 and that’s how you shut him up.

Some tend to look for outward actions as their yardstick to justify if one has received it or not. Some having received it will jump for joy and speak, while some will just be quiet and speak, either ways, they both received it irrespective of who showed more outward emotion.

LEAD #5: A SUPERNATURAL MEANS OF SPEAKING TO GOD.

Speaking in tongues is talking divine secrets with the Father. The devil can’t get in on the conversation, because he fights it hard and makes you feel it’s not too important.Speaking in tongues is you talking to God and not man. Let’s establish this with scripture.

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14:2KJV:

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries

This is God giving us divine means to which we can speak to him supernaturally.Let’s look at verse 14.KJV:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding (mind) is unfruitful.

Here, God has given us a means where our spirit man can pray apart from our understanding.

Our understanding doesn’t have anything to do with praying in the Spirit.Your prayers are not something you’re thinking up on your own.

Instead, they come out of your spirit inspired entirely by the Holy Ghost.This is not mental praying or praying out of your understanding, even though you understand what you’re saying. Rather this is another way to pray in the Spirit.

Let’s establish this point with scripture.

Ephesians 6:18KJV:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication FOR ALL SAINTS;When we pray with other tongues, we build ourselves and also fulfill God’s command to pray for all the saints.

There’s no way we could pray for all the saints with our understanding because we don’t know all of them.

God’s supernatural means of communication enables us to do just that.We need both kinds of prayers ( praying with understanding and praying in tongues) because praying one way is like trying to ride a two- wheeled bicycle with just one wheel.

Tongues are a divine means of spiritual edification.It’s primarily for your own personal, spiritual edification. It builds you up and strengthens you in your spirit man.

LEAD #6: PRAYING IN LINE WITH GOD’S PERFECT WILL.

Praying in other tongues is praying in line with God’s perfect will.The Holy Ghost will never lead us away from the word. He will always lead us in line with what God said when we yield by allowing him to help us pray.

Let’s make reference to this scripture Romans 8:26-27 to buttress this point.KJV:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Infirmities refer to our shortcomings.The Holy Spirit doesn’t do our praying for us.The only way the Holy Ghost helps us to pray is in groanings….by alerting you to pray, but you must respond.

This is why the Holy Spirit is sent to dwell in you as your intercessor and your helper in prayer.’The Helper’ is someone who helps you get the job done.This is why you need to respond to the burden to pray.Praying in tongues eliminates selfishness in prayer

Never let yourself get outside of God’s word when you pray.Build a strong foundation of the word in your prayer life. This is because if you don’t have the word, you may go off after a desire that’s not God’s will for you, and eventually, God may answer you just as he answered Israel.It was not God’s highest will for them to have a king, because he (God) wanted to be their king, but since they wanted one so as to be like others, they got one. And from that point on, they were never again in the perfect will of God.How amazing it is to thank God for the ability to pray out the perfect will of God.Praying on tongues is a means by which we magnify God.

Let’s see Acts 10:45-46KJV: And they of the circumcision which believed,, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnified God. Speaking in tongues helps us to stay conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Praying in tongues aids us in worshiping God

In the process, your spirit will become more sensitive to the things of God and your taste for natural things will be affected— things that aren’t necessarily bad in themselves.Speaking in tongues stimulates Faith.

Let’s see Jude 20KJV:

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost

When we pray in the spirit, the Holy Ghost supernaturally directs the words we speak.

Speaking in tongues gives spiritual refreshing.

Let’s look at Isaiah 28:11-12.For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to these people.

12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Praying in the spirit brings our tongue under subjection.Let’s look at James 3:8KJV: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison

This means that if you yield the most unruly member to God, then it means you can yield any members of your bodies to him.

Praying in tongues protects you from the contamination of the world.Praying in tongues is the introduction to the gift of the spirit.

LEAD #7: FIVE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

Misconception One: (You aren’t saved unless you’re Baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak with Tongues.)

An unsaved person is recreated by the Holy Spirit in the New Birth when he accepts Jesus. But the world, those who are unsaved, cannot receive the Holy Ghost because they don’t know Jesus.If an unsaved person prays to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit without first accepting Jesus, he may receive any kind of spirit because there is more than one spirit in the spirit realm.

There’s a difference between God’s gift to the world and the gift of eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost which is His gift to His Children.

Misconception Two: (Tongues aren’t for Everyone)This is the idea of people who claim that believers can receive the Baptism in the Holy Ghost without the evidence of speaking in tongues.Be aware that speaking with tongues is not the infilling of the Holy Ghost and the infilling of the Holy Ghost is not speaking with tongues, But they go hand in hand.You’re not receiving tongues when you get filled with the Spirit, what you are receiving is the FULLNESS OF THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD which is the Holy Spirit.Misconception Three:( You can’t pray in Tongues at will.)

Let’s see 1 Corinthians 14:14-15KJV: For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

This means that if you can pray with understanding at will, you can also pray in the spirit at will.Misconception Four:(All Tongues are Prayer)All tongues are not prayer and are not given for the purpose of prayer.

All tongues are the same in essence, but they can be different in purpose and in use. That’s one reason God calls it ‘ Diverse kinds of tongues’Misconception Five:( Tongues are just the ability to speak in a Foreign Language)

When you speak publicly in tongues, someone may understand you, but when you speak mysteries in other tongues to God, no man can understand it.

Satan can’t understand you either. This is why the devil hates tongues and fights it so hard, because he doesn’t know what you’re praying. This makes him completely in the dark because he doesn’t know the communication ongoing between you and the Father.

LEAD #8: COMMON EXCESSES REGARDING SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Excess One:(Fighting the Devil in Tongues)There’s no where recorded in the Bible where anyone dealt with the Devil in other tongues.

Some people call it ‘Tormenting’ the devil in Tongues. There’s no scripture for this.This doesn’t rule out the possibility that when you’re praying in the spirit, you may deal with the Devil.

However we should live by the principles presented in the Word of God and not from a doctrine out of personal experience.

Excess Two:(Praying Loudly in Tongues brings More Power)Some got the idea that the louder they pray in Tongues the more God will hear them.God hears Faith not noise.

In Matthew 6:6, Jesus wasn’t saying they should pray in a closet, he was saying they were not supposed to pray to be heard by men.

Excess Three:(‘Travailing Prayers’ in the Flesh)Some believers hold meetings so that everyone can gather to groan and they will call the meeting ‘Groaning Meeting’.

Any groaning outside of the influence of the Holy Ghost is a mere fleshly display.

Excess Four:( Doing What does not Edify in the presence of the Unlearned)Let’s see 1 Corinthians 14:14-16KJV: Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupied the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily giveth thanks well, but the other is not edified.Some believers speak in tongues before in the unlearned in a distracting manner.

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