»Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the TRUE TABERNACLE, WHICH THE LORD PITCHED, AND NOT MAN. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the EXAMPLE AND SHADOW OF HEAVENLY THINGS, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.« (Hb 8:1-5, KJV)

Behind the Altar of Incense, there was a third door. Behind that door, under the same covering as the Holy Place, lay the MOST HOLY PLACE or the HOLY OF HOLIES or HOLIEST OF ALL. Once again, Jesus is the Door. In the Most Holy Place, there was the Ark of the Covenant with its lid of pure gold. The Lid was called the Mercy Seat. In the New Testament, it is also called the Throne of Grace. The same Blood which sanctified the rest of the Tabernacle of Moses, which was shed at the Brazen Altar was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat and the floor of the Most Holy Place, and that Blood was the Blood of Christ. The Brazen Altar was a »most holy« piece of furniture. And it was »most holy« because Jesus shedding of his own Blood on the cross is precisely that which avails this deepest realm of God to us. There was neither natural light nor artificial light in the Most Holy Place, only the Presence of Yahweh. He himself is the Light of this third realm. And this is where the Lord is seeking to lead his people in this day. This is the realm of the FULNESS OF THE SPIRIT.

Now, I've said these things as an introduction because we need to understand that the Holy Ghost Baptism and walking with God in that HOLY PLACE realm of his dealings is preparation for experiencing the Most Holy Place. Another reason is that we need to understand the things of God in three dimensions and not just one. Israel celebrated three great feasts under Moses: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. We all understand Jesus as our Passover, and many understand him as our Pentecost, but he is also our Feast of Tabernacles. Don't these things suggests that God is a three-fold Person and that the things of God exist and are experienced in three dimensions? Indeed, is he not called the »Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit«? I say this to illustrate that one-dimensional teachings about the Lord are in fact often too limiting for us to remain in them forever. If you search the Scriptures, you will find threefold things everywhere you look. Even baptism is threefold: with Water, with Holy Ghost, and with Fire.

 »And it shall come to pass afterward, that I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; and your sons and your daughters shall PROPHESY, your old men shall DREAM DREAMS, your young men shall SEE VISIONS: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days WILL I POUR OUT MY SPIRIT. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of Yahweh come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be DELIVERED: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be DELIVERANCE, as Yahweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahweh shall call.« (Jl 2:28-32, KJV)

 »And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.« (Ez 36:27, KJV)

Don't choke on that word. I know what some say. They say that you received the Holy Spirit when you first believed. Maybe some of you did, as did Cornelius and his family when Peter preached the Gospel to them (Ac 10). But this is not true of all. First and foremost, we received the Word of God (Jn 1:1-14; 1P 1:23), and Life began to spring forth within us from that implanted Word (Ja 1:21), who is Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14; 3:16). Jesus said that his words were SPIRIT and LIFE (Jn 6:63). So, I know that there is an Unction of the Holy One in you who have believed, which Unction is quietly working in your hearts, teaching you all things (1J 2:20,27). And even as our New Birth was »by grace through faith« apart from anything we could have conceivably done (Ep 2:8-10), so also does Jesus put his Spirit in his people. And neither Joel nor Ezekiel prophesied any requirement for one to receive except Yahweh calling the believer or the believer calling upon his name, which name is now been transfigured into the name of JESUS or YAHSHUA (if you prefer the Hebrew form; Ac 4:10-12).

 »Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be BAPTIZED of thee, and comest thou to me?« (Mt 3:13-14, KJV)

 »John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST and with fire...« (Lu 3:16, KJV)

John was not talking about Jesus baptizing him with water, but with the Holy Spirit (rendered »Holy Ghost« in the King James Version). So, how did he know that Jesus was one who baptized with the Holy Ghost? Yahweh, that is, our Heavenly Father, told him.

 »And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, UPON WHOM THOU SHALT SEE THE SPIRIT DESCENDING, AND REMAINING ON HIM, THE SAME IS HE WHICH BAPTIZETH WITH THE HOLY GHOST.« (Jn 1:33, KJV)

 »Then cometh JESUS from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, LO,

THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE, AND LIGHTING UPON HIM: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.« (Mt 3:13-17, KJV)

 »And there shall come forth a ROD out of the stem of Jesse, and a BRANCH shall grow out of his roots: AND THE SPIRIT OF YAHWEH SHALL REST UPON HIM, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of Yahweh; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of Yahweh: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.« (Is 11:1-5, KJV)

After the Spirit of Yahweh descended and lighted upon Jesus, he rested upon him. This is really very similar to the words of Jesus in the first chapter of the book of Acts about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, when he says, »...ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is COME UPON you...« (Ac 1:8, KJV) Now note that Jesus is the »Rod out of the stem of Jesse« and the Body of Christ, the Church, is the Branch that grows out of his roots. This is Isaiah's description of that Dove that John saw. Note the sevenfold description of the Holy Spirit:

These are the Seven Spirits of God which the prophet John mentioned in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rv 1:4; 4:5). Paul wrote: »Now the LORD IS THAT SPIRIT: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty« (2C 3:17, KJV) and Jesus is Lord (1C 12:3)! Paul also wrote »There is one body, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, ONE BAPTISM, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all« (Ep 4:4-6; compare with Ep 2:18; 1C 12:13). So we see, Beloved of God, that the »Seven Spirits of God« are One Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit has many names throughout the Scriptures. In Genesis, he is called the »Spirit of Elohim« (Gn 1:2, BE) or »Spirit of God« (KJV). In Romans, Paul calls him the »Spirit of Holiness« (Ro 1:4, KJV), the »Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus« (Ro 8:2, KJV), the »Spirit of God« (Ro 8:9, KJV), the »Spirit of Christ« (Ro 8:9, KJV), the »Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead« (Ro 8:11, KJV), simply the »Spirit« (Ro 8:4, KJV), and the »Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father« (Ro 8:15, KJV), and, in Galatians, the »Spirit of His Son« (Ga 4:6, KJV). There are many more names for him in the Bible, but each is simply yet another name of the Spirit of God. His names identify him, who he is, and what he does. Jesus simply called him »God« (Jn 4:24, KJV).

A few days later, I was walking past a church on my way to visit a co-worker at the gas booth where we worked and the Spirit said to me, "Go in there". So, I went in and sat down in one of the pews. There was a preacher in there preaching with great enthusiasm and a very real sense of the Presence of God in the place. At the end of his sermon, he made an altar call for anyone who had a need of any kind to come up and pray with him. A line formed. The Spirit said, "Get in line". I got in line. When it was my turn to pray, the guy looked at me and asked me if I had received the Holy Ghost. When I said, "I think so", he said, "You think so? You gotta know!" So we prayed. I don't remember exactly what we prayed, but the next thing I knew, »in the twinkling of an eye« as it were, I found myself sitting on the floor, excitedly speaking in tongues and feeling wonderful, shocked, and intoxicated simultaneously. After that, I knew for sure. When I left the church, I went around to different friends telling them about my experience and continued speaking in tongues non-stop for 3 days without sleeping a wink.

 »Turn you at my reproof: behold, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UNTO YOU, I WILL MAKE KNOWN MY WORDS UNTO YOU.« (Pr 1:23, KJV)

 »While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST AS WELL AS WE?« (Ac 10:44-47, KJV)

 »And as I began to speak, THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON THEM, AS ON US AT THE BEGINNING. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?« (Ac 11:15-17, KJV)

 »In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that BELIEVETH on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. (But this spake he of the SPIRIT, which they that BELIEVE on him should RECEIVE: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)« (Jn 7:37-39, KJV)

Note that this baptism is for those who »believe on him«. Jesus tells us that believers »should receive« the Holy Spirit. So, it is therefore necessary to believe on Jesus, if we should receive his Spirit. So, believe then, God will respond and cause those RIVERS OF LIVING WATER to flow from within. »Living water« is a symbol which denotes the Spirit of Yahweh. In Jeremiah, Yahweh, who in Jesus Christ was manifest in the flesh (1Ti 3:16), calls himself the »FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS« (Jr 2:13). So we see that the Holy Ghost is in fact Yahweh and the SOURCE of Life in Christ Jesus. This is the Spirit of the Son.

 »...whosoever drinketh of the WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a WELL OF WATER SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE.« (Jn 4:14, KJV)

Jesus is the Giver of these »rivers of living water«. He is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and the Giver of Living Water. Note this Water's effect: »shall be IN HIM a well of water SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE«. Springing up into everlasting life! Doesn't this remind you of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, which would cause person who ate from it to live forever? This is therefore a key to immortality and resurrection. Is not »everlasting life« a truly wonderful effect?

 »And YAHWEH SHALL GUIDE THEE continually, and SATISFY THY SOUL IN DROUGHT, and MAKE FAT THY BONES: and thou shalt be like a WATERED GARDEN, and like a SPRING OF WATER, WHOSE WATERS FAIL NOT.« (Is 58:11, KJV)

What guidance could possibly be better than the continual guidance of Yahweh himself? Or, how about his satisfaction of your soul? Ever notice how nothing we try really ever satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts, no matter how much of it we have? Beloved, you are intended to be his »watered garden«, a place where he can plant the myriad aspects of his own nature. A watered garden is a garden that has enough water to bear abundant fruit. Since the Holy Spirit is the Water, note the fruit you will bear: »...the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...« (Ga 5:22-23, KJV). There is also the water of the Word of God, and this fruit is borne from that water as well, but the Holy Spirit indwelling you as a »fountain of living waters« will cause you to bear this fruit in greater measure, quality and abundance, even energizing that incorruptible Seed (1P 1:23) planted within you to bring forth superabundantly. The FRUIT of Mary's womb, who was blessed, was Jesus, and the fruit of Holy Spirit is likewise Jesus, even »Christ in you, the hope of glory« (Co 1:27)! Not only this, but, as Isaiah foresaw by the Spirit, you will bear the image of the Son of God and become as a »SPRING OF WATER, WHOSE WATERS FAIL NOT«. If these waters fail not, isn't obvious that they CAN NEVER DIE?

 »And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life FREELY.« (Rv 21:6, KJV)

 »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. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 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? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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?« (Lu 11:9-13, KJV)

Many people have been baptized with the Holy Spirit because they prayed, "Jesus, baptize me with the Holy Spirit" or something akin to this. I asked the Lord for this, although, I must admit, I was using this terminology with a wrong definition thereof. Nevertheless, I did want him, and I received. I had to overcome a couple of hurdles, but Jesus gave me the right definition and then did it! When John the Baptist prophesied about the Holy Ghost Baptism, he prophesied this to anyone who came to him. On the day of Pentecost, every one of Jesus' disciples who had waited to receive the Holy Spirit received and spoke with other tongues (Ac 2:1-4). Quite frankly, it was the will of God that they be filled the Spirit of God, and it is still his will, for, as the apostle Peter spoke to the crowd: »For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call« (Ac 2:39, KJV). Yahweh our God is still calling people. And the word of the Lord from Jesus is still »ask, and it shall be given you«.

 »O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. HE THEREFORE THAT MINISTERETH TO YOU THE SPIRIT, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.« (Ga 3:1-7)

Paul was responding here to some in the Galatian church who were believing a teaching which maintained that the believer had to be circumcised according to the flesh in order to be saved, which teaching was an extension of a doctrine which maintained that one was obligated to keep the law of Moses and perform the works of law in order to be righteous. But it is »by grace through faith« that one is saved, »not by works, lest any man should boast« (Ep 2:8-9). They had received the Holy Spirit in the manner in which they were saved, »by grace through faith«. There is no ritual for this as far as Yahweh is concerned; all one needs to do is believe the Lord to receive his Spirit. Because Jesus was crucified, pouring out his blood for the atonement of sins, and then rose bodily from the dead, not only can our sins be forgiven and washed away by that blood, but we can be immersed in the Spirit of the Lord and be filled with Yahweh's Spirit. This is part of the Faith of Jesus. And it is by the hearing of his faith that we receive his Spirit and his Spirit works miracles among us. »For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call« (Ac 2:39, KJV). This is what we believe. And as Jesus said (here is hearing of faith), »He that BELIEVETH on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER« (Jn 7:38, KJV). God gave his Son on account of his love for humanity that they might have Life and he is still giving his Son in sending the Holy Spirit into those who believe. So then, one way we receive the Holy Spirit is simply to believe God to fill us with him.

 »Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST.« (Ac 8:14-17)

 »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, He said unto them, HAVE 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. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And WHEN PAUL HAD LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; AND THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.« (Ac 19:1-6, KJV)

 »And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.« (Ac 2:1-6, KJV)

The preceding quote is the record of the first time that any of Jesus' disciples were baptized with the Holy Ghost. As I said before, the terms »filled«, »received« and »baptized« with reference to the Holy Spirit all refer to the same experience. Notice what they did when they were filled with him - they spoke with other tongues! They spoke in languages they had never before spoken as the Holy Spirit gave them that utterance. The Spirit of God controlled their vocal organs as they spoke praises unto the Lord.

There is much I could say about speaking with other tongues, what scholars have termed "glossolalia", but since I have already written a whole separate book devoted specifically to that, I will stick to it here only as it pertains to the Holy Ghost Baptism. While the Book of the Acts of the Apostles provides the historical record of the Body of Christ speaking in tongues, Luke does not explain glossolalia in any great detail. As I just noted, he does tell us that they spoke in other tongues »as the Spirit GAVE them utterance« (Ac 2:4). So, whatever seemingly unintelligible speech comes forth when you receive the Holy Spirit, you can be sure that it is from God, that it means something, and that it is truth, for Yahweh cannot lie, nor is he going to give you an utterance which would contradict him. But there is more that you should know, and most of these Scriptures will come from the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, wherein the apostle explains glossolalia and prophecy.

 »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.« (1C 14:2, KJV)

Here we see glossolalia defined. It is in fact PRAYER, for prayer is speaking unto God. »no man understandeth« because the prayer is coming forth in a language unknown to the hearer. Paul calls this kind of speech »mysteries« spoken in the Spirit. Beloved of God, this I speak by revelation and experience: There are many, many things which the Spirit of the Lord will express upon your lips when you pray in a tongue. Hidden things of the heart. Mysteries of God and the workings of Christ within you. Confessions of sin which we wouldn't normally consider. Praises and Thanksgiving unto Yahweh. Et cetera. And as you continue to speak in tongues, the Spirit of Truth will at times begin to manifest what you are speaking to your consciousness. Or, he may give someone else the interpretation of the language to another for edification, that is, for strengthening in the inner man.

 »He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH himself...« (1C 14:4, KJV)

This is the purpose of God in glossolalia. The Greek word translated as »edifieth« in the King James Version is the verb oikodomeô, which means "to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or confirm" [#3618G]. This verb is derived from a noun, oikodomê, which means "architecture, i.e. a structure; confirmation" [#3619G]. Individually, and collectively as a holy nation, we are intended by Yahweh to be the Temple of God (1C 3:16-17; 6:19), even that habitation or dwellingplace of God in the Spirit (Ep 2:19-22). Thus, when we are speaking in tongues, we are participating in the building of the Temple of God. Yahweh's purpose in glossolalia is to build or establish or construct his structure within each us, that is, in the inner man, in our hearts and minds. What this relates to is our ways of thinking, perceiving, willing, and feeling. The Lord desires to construct the Mind of Christ within us so that we will not be conformed to this world, but transformed by that renewing of our minds (Ro 12:1-2) into that Image which is the Glory of the Lord (2C 3:16-18). After all, »to be spiritually minded is life and peace« (Ro 8:6, KJV). For this reason, I just want to briefly present to you 1.Corinthians 14:4 in several different Bible translations:

 »He who speaks in a tongue UPBUILDS himself...« (1C 14:4, MNT)

 »He that speaketh with a tongue BUILDETH UP himself...« (1C 14:4, Rotherham)

 »The language of ecstasy IS GOOD for the speaker himself...« (1C 14:4, NEB)

 »He who is speaking in an unknown tongue, himself DOTH EDIFY...« (1C 14:4, YoungLT)

 »He who speaks in a [strange] tongue EDIFIES and IMPROVES himself...« (1C 14:4, Amplified)

 »He who is speaking in a language IS EDIFYING himself...« (1C 14:4, CLNT)

 »The one who speaks in strange tongues HELPS only himself...« (1C 14:4, TEV)

We could render the verse this way: »The glossolaliant CONSTRUCTS himself« (my own translation). The beauty of this is that the one speaking in a tongue is not constructing him/herself through some fleshly self-help method propagated by psychological theory, but instead through the supernatural action of the Spirit of Yahweh himself. In other words, the glossolaliant (tongue-speaker) participates in Jesus' restructuring of his/her inner being through the Holy Spirit according to the will and wisdom of God while speaking in a tongue. Since the Spirit of God gives the utterance, everything that one says while speaking in an unknown tongue is perfectly consistent with the will of God in that span of time. This is good, for »except Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain that build it« (Ps 127:1, BE).

 »For if I pray in an unknown tongue, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH, but my understanding is unfruitful.« (1C 14:14, KJV)

 »And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.« (1C 14:32)

The Holy Spirit does not force anyone to speak in tongues against their will. Since glossolalia is in fact a form of prophetic speech, the spirit of the tongue-speaker is subject to the tongue-speaker. Thus, whenever we speak in tongues, we are submitted to the will of God in that speaking and in agreement with the Spirit of God as he gives the utterance and we speak that utterance. As the prophet said, »can two walk together, except they be agreed?« (Am 3:3, KJV) Note also, on account of this principle of will, that, once you are you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, you can speak in tongues at any time, anywhere, at will, whenever you want to, of your own volition.

 »Behold, we put BITS in the horses' MOUTHS, that they may obey us; and we TURN ABOUT THEIR WHOLE BODY. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they TURNED ABOUT WITH A VERY SMALL HELM, WHITHERSOEVER THE GOVERNOR LISTETH. EVEN SO THE TONGUE IS A LITTLE MEMBER, AND BOASTETH GREAT THINGS. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!« (Ja 3:3-5, KJV)

 »OUT OF THE SAME MOUTH PROCEEDETH BLESSING and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a FOUNTAIN SEND FORTH at the same place SWEET WATER and bitter?« (Ja 3:10-11, KJV)

Remember, Yahweh is the Fountain of Living Waters. The implication of James' teaching here is that the procession of blessing from the mouth is a fountain sending forth sweet water. What could be sweeter than Living Water? It says of glossolalia in Acts 2:11: »we do hear them speak in our tongues the WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD«; and in Acts 10:46: »they heard them speak with tongues, and MAGNIFY GOD«. So, speaking in tongues is an expression of the Living Waters.

Too often, people receive the Holy Ghost, talk in tongues once or twice, and stop there - that's as far as they go. This is sad, for Yahweh has great purposes in mind for his people, purposes which go far beyond the forgiveness of sins and meeting our basic needs. »For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea« (Hk 2:14, KJV). Like our natural forefather Adam, we are made of earth (Gn 2:7) and have borne his image (1C 15:49). But now we have a heavenly Father, even Jesus (Hb 2:13), who the apostle Paul called the Heavenly Man (1C 15:47). We have been born of the Spirit (Jn 3:5), and are therefore intended to bear the image of that Heavenly Man (1C 15:47), even the image of the Son of God, »that he might be the firstborn among many brethren« (Ro 8:29). Now, everyone who has been justified, not by works of any law, but by the Faith of Christ (Ga 2:16), note what Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:30: »Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also GLORIFIED«. Is not the Spirit of Jesus, that is, the Holy Spirit, also called »Christ in you, the hope of GLORY« (Co 1:27)? Did not Paul also talk about Jesus having a »GLORIOUS church« (Ep 5:27)? Beloved of Yahweh, bear with me, for you must know why Jesus immerses his people with the Holy Spirit. I could write a whole book on this Purpose of God alone, but I am just going to quote Paul:

 »But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the SPIRIT OF GOD DWELL IN YOU. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the SPIRIT IS LIFE because of righteousness. But IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but YE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that WE MAY BE ALSO GLORIFIED TOGETHER. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED IN US. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because THE CREATURE ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION INTO THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.« (Ro 8:9-23, KJV)

In Philippians, Paul tells us what this »redemption of our body« is: »...the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall CHANGE OUR VILE BODY, that it may be FASHIONED LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY...« (Ph 3:20-21, KJV). We are made of earth, and Yahweh desires to fill us with the experiential knowledge of his glory. Jesus said that those Living Waters in us would spring up unto Everlasting Life, the endresult being the transformation of even our body from mortality to immortality, even Jesus' immortality. In the meantime, the Spirit of God is ministering life to our mortal bodies as he works in our lives. In history, this Life was so strong in the mortal bodies of some believers in Jesus that efforts to kill them were either thwarted or hindered. John (who wrote the book of Revelation) was boiled in oil, but didn't die, so they shipped him off to the island of Patmos, where God gave him the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The bishop Polycarp was burned at the stake, but the fire was unable harm him, so they had to sacrifice a soldier to enter the flames and stab him to death, which soldier (if I remember correctly) was killed by the fire in so doing. These are only two examples. If the life of Paul, he was bitten by a poisonous snake, and the people who were with him fully expected him to swell up and die, but he was unharmed and shook the viper off into the fire he was building.

And there are other purposes of God in baptizing his people with the Holy Spirit. True, the three examples of his life being manifested in mortal bodies I just mentioned are somewhat extreme by human standards, but all three of these men were baptized with the Spirit and continued thereafter to grow in God, being conformed to the image of the Son of God »from GLORY to GLORY, even as by the Spirit of the Lord« (2C 3:18, KJV). It was the endresult of that transfiguration within them, which was caused by the Holy Ghost dwelling in them that made them able to withstand the things they suffered.

 »The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER; BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST NOT MANY DAYS HENCE. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER (dunamis), AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.« (Ac 1:1-8, KJV)

Now it is the will of God that we receive the dynamic power of the Spirit to be witnesses unto Jesus unto the uttermost part of the earth. A witness is someone sees and hears something which he or she can report. Jesus lived to do the will of the Father, and did that in part by witnessing what the Father was doing and laboring in it with him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Being conformed to his Image by grace through faith (Ep 2:8), we are meant to do likewise. Jesus was the Faithful Witness, always bearing witness of the truth. To truly be Yahweh's witnesses, we simply must be baptized with his Spirit. Note that the Holy Ghost comes upon us. We are covered by the Blood of Jesus, but we are also covered by the Holy Spirit. And this Covering, this Anointing, this Chrism of the Holy One is dynamic. When he says »ye shall receive POWER«, he uses the Greek word dunamis, which means "force; specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself)" [#1411G], the same word from which we derive our English word DYNAMITE. dunamis is derived from the verb dunamai, which means "to be able, possible" [#1410G]. Certainly, speaking in tongues is miraculous! So also is the performance of miracles and healings and prophesyings. Given this, it is easy to see the ENABLEMENT and EMPOWERING of God in the Holy Ghost Baptism. Note that dunamis speaks of the EXPLOSIVE power of God to accomplish all of his purposes.

 »In that day there shall be a FOUNTAIN opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem FOR SIN AND FOR UNCLEANNESS.« (Ze 13:1, KJV)

Remember my earlier discussion about Yahweh being the »fountain of living waters« (Jr 2:13)? Zechariah is speaking of the very same Fountain. Beloved, this Fountain that Jesus desires to open in you is meant to administer the Blood of Christ and Spirit of God to the inner man to purge from indwelling sin and wash away uncleanness and increasingly set you apart unto God for his glory. In the Law of Moses, when they sacrificed a dove, it was killed over running water, and its blood became mingled with the water. This foreshadowed the Blood of Christ being mingled with the Spirit of Christ within the inner man. And whenever someone is speaking in tongues, the Water is flowing from within and that Blood is being carried by the Water to every part of the inner man, to his psyche, that is, to his soul, in order to cleanse his mind and will and emotions of all sin and uncleanness. And this is what the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews was writing about when he wrote: »But CHRIST being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, SANCTIFIETH to the purifying of the flesh: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the PROMISE OF ETERNAL INHERITANCE« (Hb 9:11-15, KJV). And indeed, as we confess our sins, the Lord cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1J 1:9). Inner unrighteousness, for the Kingdom of God is first of all RIGHTEOUSNESS (Ro 14:17) and Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is WITHIN. »Create a clean heart in me...« said the Psalmist (Ps 51:10). (Please understand that I am not in any way nullifying or minimizing the forgiveness and cleansing that is accomplished through the New Birth apart from the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, but rather simply illustrating that this action of Jesus is intensified and much fuller when we are filled with his Spirit.)

 »Now ye are CLEAN THROUGH THE WORD which I have spoken unto you.« (Jn 15:3, KJV)

 »Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.« (Ep 5:25-27, KJV)

One might wonder what either of these verses has to do with the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, but they have quite a bit to do with Yahweh's purpose in it, when you consider his purpose in pouring out his Spirit. Let's note a few things. To SANCTIFY something means to make it holy, that is, to set it apart, in this context, to set it apart unto God. Sanctification has nothing to do with any ritual man may devise, nor is it some kind of moralistic system of do's and don'ts. It is simply the Holy Spirit setting the believer and the Body of Christ apart unto Yahweh's purposes in the Kingdom of God. We know that the Holy Spirit is the WATER. John 15:3 tells quite plainly that it is the word that Jesus speaks unto his people that cleans them. This »washing of water by the word« is the application of the working of the Holy Spirit to specific things in us which need cleansing via the ministration of that Living Word of God (1P 1:23), not in the letter of the Scriptures, but in the Spirit (2C 3:6). Note this principle from the book of Proverbs:

 »Turn you at my reproof: behold, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UNTO YOU, I WILL MAKE KNOWN MY WORDS UNTO YOU.« (Pr 1:23, KJV)

 »But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you... But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and HE WILL SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME. He shall glorify me: for HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU.« (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-14, KJV)

Jesus used these phrases, »whom the Father will send«, »when the Comforter is come«, and »when he, the Spirit of truth, is come«, to point to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost in the Baptism with the Spirit. Note that Jesus was speaking of something much more direct than the administration of an anointed word, he was speaking of direct revelation of the things of God, even Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in and upon us.

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