Present Day Pentecost

PRESENT DAY PENTECOST
THE EVERLASTING PROMISE OF THE FATHER

By Mary Ann Wray
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”
Acts 2: 32-33

There were actually seven instances where groups of Christians received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit: 5 of which identify the Holy Spirit Baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It is noted that this is a completely separate and distinct experience from Repentance from sin and the Born Again Experience i.e., salvation by accepting Christ’s atoning work as the only way to the Father (John 14: 6). The first account happened on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:2-21 and there were six other instances as follows: Peter preaching in Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin Acts 4: 31; Philip preaching to Christians in Samaria: Acts 8: 5-16; Peter and John continuing the revival in Samaria: Acts 8: 14-26; Paul’s Road to Damascus Conversion: Acts 9: 17; Peter preaching to the house of Cornelius: Acts 10: 45-48 and Paul preaching/ teaching to the Christians in Ephesus: Acts 19: 1-6. 

In the instance where Paul was converted to Christ by direct vision (Acts 9: 7-9), the Bible says the men around him heard a voice and when Paul got up he was blind. They led him to Damascus and he didn’t eat or drink for three days. Next, the Holy Spirit spoke to a man by the name of Ananias by direct revelation and told him to go to the House of Judas on Straight Street and lay hands on him to receive his sight. After arguing a bit with the Lord about this the Lord told Ananias Saul was his chosen instrument to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, their Kings and to the people of Israel, but he would have to suffer much. Ananias obeyed, went to the house of Judas, laid hands on Paul and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Scales then fell from his eyes, then he rose up and was water baptized. However, in this passage there is no description of Paul speaking in tongues at the time but in 1 Cor 14: 18 he tells the church that he prayed in tongues more than ‘you all’. 

We have to remember that Paul was a religious zealot prior to his conversion. For this reason, he had many wrong notions about Jesus, the Apostles and the New Testament Feast of Pentecost. Perhaps those scales were the manifestation of a religious spirit that Paul was delivered of before he could comprehend and receive all the fullness that God had for him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul was not one of the original twelve nor was he a follower of Christ at that time. However, he may have actually been one of the ones questioning Jesus concerning the law and mocking the 120 on the Day of Pentecost on the outside, we don’t know for sure.  What we do know is that Saul persecuted the church and hated Christ and his followers prior to his conversion and put many to death (Galatians 1: 13-16; 1 Cor 15: 9). No doubt Paul knew about the ‘experience’ of Jesus’ disciples on Pentecost which was a celebrated Jewish Feast Day. He was a who’s who in the upper echelon of the religious community at the time. Therefore, it is logical to assume that he had to have known or heard about what was going because of his influence and position (Phil 3: 4-6). Jesus had quite a few run ins with these Pharisees during His earthly ministry. So would His disciples. It started for them on the Day of Pentecost and continues to this very day!

There has also been confusion and wrong teaching about “praying” in tongues versus “giving” a tongue in a congregational setting. In the context of 1 Corinthians 14 Paul was addressing the Church on how order should take place when using a gift of tongues along with other gifts of the Spirit. The gift of glossolalia (tongues given by the Holy Spirit to the believer) at the time of being Baptized in the Holy Spirit is different than the “charism” or gift of tongues given in a corporate setting. When a gift of tongues occurs the Apostle said there needs to be an interpretation. Hence, tongues plus interpretation equals prophecy. Otherwise no one in the church can be edified or built up by what is uttered in the unknown tongue unless there is an interpretation in the known language of the group. 

In the book of Jude, he talks about building yourself up in your most holy faith by praying in tongues (vs. 20-21). There is a personal spiritual edification that occurs when we pray in tongues. Many times people are hindered by wrong past teaching and therefore carry doubt as to whether or not they will in fact speak in tongues when they ask for the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that a double minded man can receive nothing from God (James 1: 6-8). That is why it is so important to know and be very familiar with what scripture has to say about The Baptism of the Holy Spirit along with all other Apostolic Doctrines of the Church, versus what may have been taught in denominational catechisms that include “man’s” interpretation of scripture rather than what scripture says itself. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10: 17). The Word of God through Scripture produces faith, but the teaching of man by the doctrine of demons produces doubt, confusion and double mindedness.

I was raised a Roman Catholic and was taught that tongues happened one time only, on the day of Pentecost. Therefore, when I was confirmed at the age of 10 I was taught that I would not speak in tongues because it was only for the early Apostles. I was told that I would be baptized in the Holy Spirit at my confirmation when the Bishop breathed on me and slapped my cheek, but it would be symbolic through publically acknowledging my completion of catechism. Now, I could be a witness for my faith as a Catholic and evangelize those who were not enlightened to the truth of the One True Church. I prayed and fasted in preparation for this day and believed that God would baptize me with the Holy Spirit. I had great expectation and childlike faith, but I simultaneously had some wrong teaching. Jesus called this ‘leaven’ (Matthew 16: 6; Luke 12: 1; Mark 8: 15; Matthew 16: 12).

When the Bishop breathed on me to receive the Holy Spirit and slapped me on the cheek something hit me and I almost fell off the kneeling pad in front of the Bishop. I had to hold on to it for a minute while I felt totally woozy. He then demanded me to ‘get up’. But as I went back to my seat feeling like I was levitating down the aisle, I felt something I never felt before and out of my belly I started saying, “Jesus defeated Satan and death on the cross, Jesus defeated Satan and death on the cross.” I had no knowledge of this revelation from my Catechism. It was something Holy Spirit gave me. I believe it was the Spirit of Prophesy (Joel 2: 28). I couldn’t stop saying it! I was like a little parrot the rest of the night saying, “Jesus defeated death and Satan on the cross!”

I believe had I been taught what the Bible says about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit I would have spoken in tongues when the Bishop slapped and breathed on me.  I had childlike faith to believe something supernatural would happen. However, even though I didn’t have the whole truth, I had enough faith to expect something from God and He honored it. He always does honor our expectant faith in Him. That’s why sound teaching is so important. God takes the matter of being a teacher of His word very gravely. James 3 says that teachers have a greater condemnation or judgment because the Father entrusts His flock to them to provide the pure truth of Scripture-not a mixture of empty tradition, demonic doubt and Pharisaical fodder. Otherwise, His church suffers a lack of knowledge resulting in spiritual anemia.

My initial experience never ‘stuck’ with me because I wasn’t taught about it from scripture and what its real purpose was for in the life of a believer. I was in a religious system that was void of power and life even though I learned some great truths about the Trinity, good works, and the fear of the Lord. I wasn’t taught salvation by faith and repentance nor was I taught about the residing power of the Holy Spirit through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was replaced by a ceremony rather than an experience that God wants all of His children to have.

Years later, I was born again during the Charismatic Renewal at a Catholic Charismatic Prayer Meeting. Once again, I felt the power of God come all over me but much greater than my previous experience. I was born again that day. Jesus revealed himself to me and spoke to my heart saying, “It is I who you seek, look no further.” You see, I had looked everywhere to find God: through the occult, New Age, Transcendental Meditation, Daily Mass and reciting prayers etc. but was left disappointed and empty. Several weeks later I attended a “Protestant” Charismatic Meeting and they were talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit after being Born Again. Well, I was saved at the time but my fiancé’ Bob (who is now my husband of nearly 38 years) wasn’t even saved yet. He got up to be prayed for to receive Christ and while they were praying for him he hit the floor and began to shake and swing his arms and legs around like a cockroach while praying out loud in other tongues. He received Christ, had a vision and was baptized in the Holy Ghost with tongues all at the same time! Well I wanted that experience too! 

They all knew I had been saved already so they laid hands on me to receive the Holy Spirit. However, in my ‘mind’ I kept hearing this voice (the voice of traditional and religion) saying, “You can’t speak in tongues, that was only a onetime thing for the Apostles.” But then I heard another conflicting voice say, “Bob just spoke in tongues and so do all these other people. It’s got to be for me too because they just read the scriptures about all believers receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues.” With this war going on in my head I did not have the faith to receive all that God had for me even though I wanted it very badly. I went home feeling disappointed and a bit dejected but the sisters at the meeting encouraged me to keep seeking the Lord about it stating emphatically “This is what the Bible teaches, Mary Ann and this is the will of God for you.” They encouraged me to believe the Bible and trust in Jesus to give me the gift of tongues. 

I continued to seek God and ask for the gift of tongues because I could clearly see in scripture that it did in fact happen more than once. I read the Book of Acts over and over again to dispel any doubt in my mind. Additionally I knew scores of people who spoke in tongues and my own fiancé received it without even asking. After several days of praying and seeking the Lord for my own manifestation, I had a dream one night that I was speaking in tongues. When I awoke I immediately prayed and said, “Lord, I dreamt I spoke in tongues last night. What does this mean?” He said, “Well then, if you spoke in tongues in your dream that means you can go ahead and speak in tongues now. Do it.” I opened my mouth in faith because I had a ‘word from the Lord’ and have been speaking in tongues ever since!

Unfortunately religious tradition and wrong teaching can put religious scales on our eyes and create confusion in our spiritual ‘hearing’ when at the same time, we know there’s got to be more from our Heavenly Father. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. As a child of God, it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom which consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. His Kingdom consists of power for you and I NOW. He hasn’t changed a bit no matter what man may say. If you seek Him, you will find Him along with all of His rich treasures, if you seek for Him with your whole heart!

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11: 12-13