When you first receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, one of three things may happen:
1. The Gift of Tongues
Some of you may receive the gift of tongues right off the bat. If you do, that is great. You have just been given a powerful prayer gift from God and you can now start to use this powerful gift in your prayer life with Him.
However, I want to state one thing about the gift of tongues in reference to the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are many charismatic churches that teach that the gift of tongues is the only evidence of having received this gift. In other words, if you have not received the gift of tongues, then you have not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
I personally believe that this teaching is really wrong. The Bible specifically says that the gift of tongues is one of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit and that each of these gifts – including the gift of tongues – are manifestations as God wills, not as we will. In other words, some people will get the gift of tongues and others will not.
Here is what the Bible says about the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit, which includes the gift of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:4 goes into each of the nine gifts. At the end of this verse, it then reads as follows:
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
This verse tells us that God gives each one of these gifts to who He wills – not as we will. We can seek after these gifts and ask God for them, but God will be the One to decide who gets which gift. Some people have a mental block or fear about receiving the gift of tongues. God is not going to hold someone back from receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit just because someone is not really ready to receive the gift of tongues.
I know plenty of Spirit-filled people who do not have the gift of tongues. Charismatics like to draw this conclusion from the story of Pentecost. When the apostles first received the Holy Spirit in the upper room, they came out speaking in other tongues. But just because they came out speaking in tongues the first time they received the Holy Spirit does not mean that God was setting a specific pattern that the gift of tongues was the initial evidence of having received the Holy Spirit.
Scripture has to be interpreted in light of other Scripture. If their conclusion is correct, then it does not line up with the above verse on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit – where each of the 9 gifts are given as to how God wills, not as we will – which will include the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues is not listed as an exception to this statement.
I have read many stories of how some people thought that they had not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, all because they had not received the gift of tongues – when in fact they had already received it. This kind of false teaching can really mess with your mind if you are seeking after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit expecting to receive the gift of tongues as the initial evidence of having received this gift.
2. Some Kind of Manifestation
Some may receive an actual inner manifestation from the Lord when first receiving this gift. Some will actually feel the presence of the Holy Spirit on the inside of them. He will actually manifest His presence on the inside of their souls when He first comes up.
If this should happen to you, what you will literally feel is God’s love for you. Depending on how strong the Holy Spirit wants to manifest Himself to you, you may actually start to cry when this manifestation starts to occur.
If this should happen to you, do not be afraid of it. This is an incredible experience to be able to feel the manifest presence of God on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit will control the manifestation so as not to scare or overwhelm you. You may literally feel His presence manifest all the way up into your chest and face area.
3. Absolutely Nothing
If the gift of tongues does not manifest in you, or you do not receive any type of inner manifestation from the Holy Spirit when He first enters into your soul – then the next thing that may happen is absolutely nothing! And this is actually what happens most of the time. There are no manifestations, either of His presence or with the gift of tongues.
However, just because nothing has happened does not mean that He has not entered into your soul. So how do you know that you have really received this gift?
This will now lead us into the last section – the benefits of having received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You should start to receive and experience some of these benefits over the course of time. It may not happen overnight. However, just be patient with Him. Over the course of time the Holy Spirit will start to miraculously show Himself to you in a wide variety of ways.
Here is a list of some of the things that you can look forward to receiving after you have received this gift from the Lord.
This is part 3 of our series on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
1. What Is The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
2. How to Receive The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
3. What is the Evidence of Having Received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? <-- You are here
4. The Benefits of Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit
Steven Wray
Wednesday 3rd of August 2022
Marylin, This is very confusing because too many people want to confuse the gift of the Holy Ghost with the gifts of the spirit, as the author of this post has done. All through the new Testament when people received the Holy Ghost it states how they knew because they heard them speak with new tongues. As to the authors claim that not everyone receives this is probably true only because they have not received the the gift of the Holy Ghost. Notice this is the gift of the Holy Ghost and not the gift of tongues. In John 3:1-8 Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus a religious leader about being born of the water and the spirit. In verse 8 Jesus clearly says and so is "EVERYONE" that is born of the spirit. I think I will just trust God over man. I am doing a Bible study on this topic this weekend for some recovering addicts and just happened to stumble on to this blog. I did not come to start a debate but there is so much man made beliefs that are clouding what God is and who God is. So as you said back to the basics. God bless you in your studies.
Vickie
Tuesday 26th of April 2022
Your writings are beautifully done. However, concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues. It is quite correct that not all speak in tongues (The gift of). This is what the Apostle Paul taught about God speaking to the people and it must be interpreted. However, most do not know or understand the concept of "Praying in the Spirit (tongues)" This is the Holy Spirit speaking, praying through you to God which is not to be understood. Everyone who is Baptised in the Holy Spirit has this ability. Sadly. most churches do not understand this and do not teach it. Romans 8:26 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....1 Corinthians 14:15 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....Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;....I was raised in a church body that hated tongues worse than the devil, so when I fully submitted to Gid and asked him to remove all of the man doctrines and give me what He wanted me to have, Immediately, I began to pray in tongues and almost 50 years later, it is still as vivid and real to me as it was that day.
Jimmy
Tuesday 19th of January 2021
30 years ago I received the rivers of living water that came out of my belly and I spoke in tongues - this came after I was born again an experience where I saw the glory of God like a cloud in front of me and my drug addiction physically lifted out of me. A few years later I received an even more powerful visitation of the Spirit where I was shaking in my bed - it was the most powerful thing. I have had many experiences after this in the Spirit like a wind engulfing me. So - Which is the Baptism in the Spirit ? The bible says you shall receive POWER to be a witness - Acts 1v8 - that’s the true sign. Obviously 90% of the time Acts people spoke in tongues - I have spoken to many over the years and some have said they got zapped in the Spirit and spoke in tongues years later. All I can say is this - there is a power available in the Holy Spirit - ask for it - Luke 11v13. Then believe it will happen.
MGL
Thursday 14th of January 2021
I respect your beliefs, even when you are challenged by others for your interpretation of the Bible. I also respect the millions of people worldwide, including myself, who do not accept/ believ in your fundamental belief in heaven and hell and especially the concept of being saved. I believe no one is above or below the other. I believe it’s likely that Jesus believed this as well. I’d be surprised if he did. I believe In the inherent worth and dignity of all persons. I am on the side of love. Peace be with you. M
Job Acosta
Sunday 20th of September 2020
I'm a born again christian for 28 yrs. when I joined another pentecostal church in our place. And the pastor there taught us that the evidence of having received the baptism of the Holy Ghost is only speaking in tongues. And if you didn't receive this one according to her, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. As an elder, I cannot accept that teaching just because for so many years of being born again I didn't experience that. But in our former church signs and wonders follow us, meaning to say we experience the gift of healings and miracles. And when we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, we cried and trembled. So what I did is I went back to my Holy Bible and studied again about the said scriptures and also I researched another biblical sources like yours. I read Acts 2:38 again and it says that after repentance and baptism in Jesus name, we will receive any if not all the 9 gifts of the Holy Ghost. So, it's true that false teaching of pastor/ s will mess up our minds and may lead us into confusion and destruction. So be sober and vigilant...Thanks to the Word of God and your article. And now, I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track to inherit the Kingdom of God. God bless.