Dr. Freeman's Faith Book

CHAPTER II

HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE
HOLY SPIRIT BY FAITH.

As was noted previously, all God's promises to the
believer are appropriated by faith. Our faith cannot emb-
race that Which God does not promise to do in His Word.
Thus we must ground our faith in the Word of God, for
faith comes by hearing and believing the Word. The bapt-
tism of the Holy Spirit is clearly promised the believer
in the Word of God, but one cannot receive this empowering
and blessing until he as gotten over any doubts or doctrin-
al questions about the possibility of being filled. To
remove doubts we recommend a study of the Word of God, for
this is how the writer received the infilling of the Holy
Spirit and has been privileged to instruct and lead many
others into this blessing. If a humble, sincere study of
the teachings of Scripture does not quicken one's faith
for this experience, then all other arguments and examples
would be superfluous.

We are addressing this chapter primarily to those who have
already gotten beyond the question of the validity of the
baptism, and desire it, but for various reasons have not
yet received the experience with the accompanying sign of
speaking in a new language as the evidence. However, for
the sake of those who may not be thoroughly grounded in the
Scriptures in regard to the question, or who have been
erroneously taught to equate receiving the Holy Spirit in
regeneration with the "baptism" in the Holy Spirit (as the
writer did for fourteen years!), then we shall set forth
the basic passages where the truth of the baptism is
taught for your study in order to remove doubts and create
faith.

A study of the relevant passages will also indicate
that certain terms and phrases are used synonymously with
reference to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The New
Testament equates the following with each other; "The
baptism in the Holy Spirit," "filled with the Spirit,"
"the gift of the Sprit," "pouring out of the Spirit,"
receiving the Spirit," etc. Compare, for example, Acts 1:
4-5 with 2:4, 10:45; 11:15-17, where the terms "baptized,"
"filled,' and "gift' are used synonymously.

1. THE PROMISE.

Old Testament Prophecy. Joel predicted that in the
latter days God would pour our His Spirit upon all flesh:
"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" (Joel 2:28). This was first experienced
on the day of Pentecost, when the 120 disciples were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with new languages
or tongues (Acts 2:1ff). But that it was not intended to
be limited to this initial outpouring is seen from Peter's
words of explanation of their experience in Acts 2:38-39
where the same gift of the Holy Spirit is promised to all
those who receive Christ "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." The promise of the
baptism in the Holy Spirit is without question for all
believers who will exercise faith to appropriate it.

New Testament Promise. The classic passage where Jesus
promises us the gift of the Holy spirit is Luke 11:9-13.
Verse 13 reads: "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?" The willingness of our heavenly Father to give us
the baptism of the Holy Spirit is clearly indicated here,
since, as a child of God, we already have the Spirit in
regeneration (Romans 8:9, 15-16). The writer has witnessed
many, many Christians come into this blessing merely by
quoting them this verse of Scripture, which was then ap
ropiated by them in faith. Christ also promises the bapt-
ism in Acts 1:4-5, 8.

2. THE EVIDENCE: THE SIGN OF THE BAPTISM.

Is there a scriptural sign that one has been filled
with the Holy Spirit? We believe there is. However, some,
who for various reasons we cannot discuss here, have not
wanted to speak in tongues, but who say they believe the
baptism in the Holy Spirit is a valid experience for this
day, claim to have received the baptism without speaking
in new tongues. They speak of an "inward experience," of
an "anointing," of "being beside oneself with joy," of
'feeling great strength or love," etc. All of these so-
called evidences are based upon "feeling" or "emotion" of
which the bible says nothing in regard to the baptism.
We must evaluate our experience in the light of Scripture; when we do this, we find that speaking in a new language
or tongue supernaturally is the Scriptural sign of
having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES WAS
PREDICTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

1) Joel 2:28-29. Peter quotes this to authenticate
the divine source of their ability to speak the new
languages at Pentecost. Joel had predicted the outpouring
or baptism; Peter said the new tongues were the evidence
or sign. Note carefully it was the phenomenon of speaking
in new tongues that excited the Jews causing them to
inquire: "What meaneth this?"

2) Isaiah 28:11-12. Paul cites the prophecy to indic-
ate that speaking in tongues in the Church had been pred-
icted by Isaiah. See I Corinthians 14:21-22.
This Sign Was Incontestable Proof to the Jewish Church
That the Holy Spirit Had Been Given to the Gentile Christ-
ians.

Acts 10:44-45. It was when they heard them speak with
tongues that Peter declares that they "have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we." In Acts 11;16 he calls it the
"baptism in the Holy Spirit."

This Sign Was Doubtless Missing from the Samaritans' Exper-
ience, Thus It Was Evident They Had Not Received the
Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:4-8, 12-19. Moreover, verse 18 says that Simon
"saw" something which caused him to offer money for the
power to give the Holy Spirit to others. Neither Philip's
healings, exorcisms, nor miracles caused him to offer
money for these. Evidently he had heard them speak with
new tongues when they received the baptism in the Holy
Spirit.

The 120 Disciples "All spoke with New Tongues and They
Accepted This Alone as Evidence That Christ Had Now Ful-
filled His Promise to Baptize Them in the Holy Spirit.

Compare Acts 1:4-5, 8 with Acts 2:4, 2:33. This is
their own interpretation of their experience; namely, that
the baptism in the Holy Spirit results in speaking in new
tongues.

Twenty Years after Pentecost Speaking in Tongues Was Still
the Sign and Evidence of Receiving the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-6. Speaking in Tongues Was a commonly Accep-
ted Phenomenon in the Churches and Considered a Manifest-
ation of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:14; Romans 8:
26-27; Ephesians 6;18; Jude 20.

We conclude, therefore, that speaking in tongues and
this alone can be considered as Scriptural evidence con-
firming the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The writer has
been some of those who "thought" they had received the
baptism in the Holy Spirit without tongues, when shown
their untenable position from Scripture, receive the
baptism speaking with tongues. Without exception those who
want to speak with tongues always do when they yield the-
in tongues and will to the Holy Spirit. Doubtless what
some experience are "anointings" of the Holy Spirit. Bec-
ause of this blessed experience, and often too, because
they feel there is some stigma associated with speaking
in a new tongue, they have been led to equate this "anoit-
ting" with the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

God would not base the assurance of having given us
His Holy Spirit on mere "feelings," or "emotional exper-
ience" no matter how precious sacred these may be in our
experience. Feelings and emotional experiences are too
subjective and variable from individual to individual.
This is why he chose the sign of speaking in new languages
supernaturally as the evidence of the baptism. This is
because it is (1) outward evidence; (2) uniform evidence;
(3) universal evidence; and (4) supernatural evidence.
Emotional, physical, or spiritual manifestations may also
occur, and sometimes do accompany the sign of tongues, but
the Bible does not tell us to look for these, they are too
unreliable and variable. Look for the sign God has given:
These signs shall follow them that believe;...they
shall speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).

3) How To Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit With The
Scriptural Sign Following.

The conditions for receiving the baptism in the Holy
Spirit by faith are essentially the same for receiving
anything God has promised to the believer in His Word.
These are the five conditions previously outlined in the
chapter "How to Receive God's Promises by Faith." They
are: (1) Base your faith on the Word of God; (2) Ask;
(3) confess; (4) Act on your faith; (5) Maintain your
confession without doubting. You may receive the baptism
either by the laying on of hands or through your own per-
sonal prayer of faith. In either event the conditions are
the same.

1. FAITH.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit, like all the promises of
God to the Christian, is received by faith. Our faith
cannot rise above what God promises us in His Word. Faith
cometh by hearing and believing the Word. Paul tells us in
Galatians 3:2 that we receive the Spirit, "by the hearing
of faith," i.e., by the faith that comes through hearing
the Word. In 3:15 he states that "we...receive the prom-
ise of the Spirit through faith." The first and essential
step, then, is to study those texts we have given in which
the baptism is promised (viz., Joel 2;28-29; Acts 2:38-39;
Luke 11:9-13), together with those which indicate the
evidence of having received the baptism is speaking with
a new language as the Spirit gives utterance. This is how
faith comes to receive the Holy Spirit.

2. ASK.

Jesus assures the believer that His Heavenly Father
will give the Holy Spirit "to them that ask him" (Luke 11:
13). We may believe that God has made us a promise from
reading His Word, but we do not receive it until we pres-
onally appropriate it by faith and claim it for ourselves
by asking for it.

3. CONFESS.

The first three steps are to be taken together. That
is, on the basis of your faith in God's Word that the
Father will fill you with His Spirit if you ask, then in
simple, trusting faith say: "Heavenly Father, according
to your promise to give ME the baptism in the Holy Spirit,
I now ask you for it in faith and confess that I have
received."

This is a simple prayer of faith meeting all the
Scriptural conditions for receiving. There is no need to
beg, plead, fast, "seek" or "tarry" for days, nor to try
to "pray through for the baptism." This indicates a lack
of faith. Jesus taught us to pray directly to the point
when we are asking for something God promises us and to
believe that we have received when we ask. "What things
soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24). You are to
confess in faith that you have received when you ask; the
sign or evidence will follow.

4. ACT ON YOUR FAITH.

God fills us with the Holy Spirit when we ask. We
begin to speak; this is something the Holy Spirit will not
do. The reason many tarry for so long seeking the baptism
is that (a) they did not believed they received when they
asked, and because (b) they were waiting for the Holy
Spirit to speak through them by literally taking control
of their vocal chords, tongue and mouth, and compelling
them to speak.

Acts 2:4 states, "And they (the disciples) were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and (they) began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." They
began to speak as the Spirit gave them the words to utter.
It is you who must begin to speak in faith, and the Spirit
which you have already received will give you utterance.
he always dose without exception if (A) you believe that
He will, (B) you will yield your tongue and cooperate with
the Spirit (for it is your tongue and your voice that He
must use), and (C) determine that you will not speak a
word of English, for you cannot speak two languages at the
same time.

If faith is present, you will doubtless feel joy and
praise toward God welling up inside wanting to be express-
ed through your lips. The tendency often, without proper
instruction, is to let this praise come forth in English.
If you will refuse to speak in English and in simple faith
speak for th those sounds, which will come forth if you
will use your voice, you will find the Holy Spirit is
giving utterance supernaturally in a new language. We must
act on our faith. When Christians will do this, we have
never seen them fail to speak with new tongues.

Are there ever any exceptions? No, not from God's
side. The very few instances where a person has failed to
receive, it was clearly always the result of two things.
In the first place it was the result of a lack of faith--
an unwillingness to believe God's promise that He has
given them the Holy Spirit when they asked. Often they did
not believe they had received because they did not "feel"
any different after asking, or they did not have some un-
usual supernatural experience similar to some they have
heard about when they received, such as vision, trance,
ecstasy, or great anointing. The writer personally "felt"
nothing as he began to speak in faith, but as he continued
thusly for a few moments in faith, speaking sounds unfam-
iliar to him, the Holy Spirit began to increase abundantly
the utterance which He gave and which continued for some
time.

The second reason a few do not speak is merely because
the refuse to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. They are
waiting for the Holy Spirit to speak through them, but the
Spirit only gives us utterance as we speak in faith what
he gives us. Some say, "but I don't know what to say." Of
course not, for we speak only what the Holy Spirit gives
us to utter. Do not try to think words or sounds with the
mind or intellect. The new language does not come from or
through the mind, but from our spirits as the Holy Spirit
gives utterance. The words will come freely and super-
naturally if you will in faith use your voice and speak
whatever sounds come forth. One word will follow on the
other. These unfamiliar sounds are the new language which
is the sign of your baptism. They are unknown to you, but
not unto God, or anyone else who happens to speak that
particular tongue. Paul says we speak mysteries unto God
(I Corinthians 14:2), and that our understanding is un-
fruitful (14:14), both that we edify ourselves inwardly
(14:4).

Never allow yourself to say as did one brother, "the
Holy spirit will have to do it all, for I can't!" Of
course, he will never receive until he is willing to use
his voice in faith as Acts 2:4 states. We have seen some
who have been "seeking" and "tarrying" for many years
filled and speak fluently in a new language almost immed-
iately when they were encouraged to cooperate with the
Spirit, refuse to utter a syllable of English, and speak
forth in faith the sounds that came forth as they used
their voice. You must put your vocal cords, tongue, and
lips into motion just as you do to speak any language. You
do not cause the utterance which comes forth when you take
this step of faith--it is the Holy Spirit giving you the
utterance supernaturally. From God's side there are no
exceptions! If right now you will ask in faith, confess
you have received, and speak forth in faith, the Holy
Spirit will give you the utterance in a new language.

5. MAINTAIN YOUR CONFESSION.

The fifth step has reference to the need for daily use
of the new language which we have received. Use it daily
in your prayer life. It is a great source of spiritual
strength, edification, and comfort to the Christian. It
can also be an effective means of intercession. Note
Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20; Romans 8:26-27; I Corinthians
14:2,4,15,39.

Some neglect to speak again after their initial exper-
ience, because they were not encouraged to continue,
thereby forfeiting a great source of strength and
blessing. Not a few have come to doubt their original
experience because they did not continue. We have seen
many of these enter into a joyful experience when encour-
aged to continue again. Others sometimes are tempted to
doubt a few days after receiving whether or not they were
filled with the Spirit, or whether they are just "making
it all up." This is a common device of Satan in order to
get you to doubt God's Word. He that speaks in a super-
natural tongue edifies himself. The Devil hates a strong
Christian and will do anything to confuse you at first
and turn you aside. Refuse to entertain these thoughts of
doubt. Maintain your confession of faith without wavering
and Satan will leave. He always does if you will continue
to speak in faith. It will not be long until you will
recognize the source of your temptation to doubt.