Don writes:
MEE, I have only one question for you, that I asked before, and which wasn't forthrightly answered: I KNOW that I've been filled with the Holy Spirit, and I KNOW that the Spirit has worked not only on me, but through me. The evidence is the miracles that God's worked in my life, and in the lives of those He's touched through me.
Yet I've never spoken in tongues.
What is your honest opinion of that? And please, don't be afraid to be completely honest; I have no intention of getting upset about the matter, and I promise you--just like God, I take my promises very, very seriously (just ask my kids)--I will not come back with "yeah, well, you stink" or anything like that.
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Well Don, let me answer you the best that I know how.
First, read Acts the eight chapter! I would post it, but it is rather lengthy.
If you have read it, look at these verses!
6) And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7) For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8) And there was great joy in that city.
(DON, keep in mind that these were believers! Verse 5) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.)
Verse 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.
So you can see that they did believe and were baptized. But........?
Verse 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 was fallen upon *NONE of THEM:* only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
You say that you have had miracles in your life and I don't doubt you, but so did the people in Acts the eighth chapter. It doesn't make you wrong, as far as you have gone with the Lord, it's just that you need to receive the Holy Ghost the same way that they did in Acts 2:4.
If you will, go back to Acts 2:4 and you will see that the NT Church was born on the Day of Pentecost. When they received the Holy Ghost, they all spoke in tongues, as the evidence that they had received the *PROMISE* of the Spirit.
I know that I received it the same way that they did on that day. I wouldn't want to change it and I could never deny what happened to me. It is a wonderful experience that comes from worshipping the Lord, as they were doing, in the upper room, on the Day of Pentecost.
I'll admit the subject of tongues is a bit hard to understand, but if someone wants to know the Lord will open up their understanding.
Don, I'm not trying to be rude to anyone. You and others have asked, about speaking in tongues, and I've tried to answer. Some have taken me the wrong way. I'm really sorry about that, but it is hard to express one's self on these "puters." Wouldn't you agree?
Now remember, you asked.
MEE (Carol)