HIGHER POWER by T. R. Post
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” - John 14:16-17

Back in the fall of 1990, I attended a seminar featuring motivational speaker Anthony Robbins. At the time I was attracted to Tony’s charismatic speaking style and passionate outlook on life. Later I borrowed a set of Anthony Robbins’ tapes that my parents had. Although I’ve never heard Mr. Robbins profess to be a Christian, he said something on one of his tapes that forever changed my life. Tony defended his belief in God by saying that for someone to claim the universe has no creator is like believing Webster’s Dictionary was the result of an explosion at the print factory. That statement helped me stop questioning God’s existence and it was a short time later when I recommitted my life to the Lord.

Around this time I also read Anthony Robbins’ book “Unlimited Power” which gave tips on how to take control of your life. Some of the teachings in Tony’s book were quite helpful especially his views on nutrition. But despite my best efforts to apply the success principles I read about, my life didn’t really progress until after I started following God’s plan for my life and not my own. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

In this newsletter I have talked about God-given spiritual weapons we can use to overcome attacks from the devil. We will now focus on something that will help you tap into God’s unlimited power. Let’s begin by reading what Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven...

“And being assembled together with them, He [Jesus] commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’" (Acts 1:4-5, 8)

Jesus was letting His disciples know that He would give them increased power to accomplish His will for their lives. The Greek word for power in verse 8 is “dunamis.” This is where we get our English word “dynamite.” This higher power Jesus referred to manifested in the next chapter...

“When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

As you read the rest of this chapter, you’ll notice a few people in Jerusalem questioned this supernatural manifestation by saying “What meanth this?“ Peter said in response, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:14-17)

Notice that this was the same man who had previously denied the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter was preaching with authority. What transformed this fisherman into a powerful “fisher of men?“ It was being filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus also prophesied about this manifestation when He gave the Great Commission...

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’" (Mark 16:15-18)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit and particularly the manifestation of speaking in other tongues has been a subject of controversy in the Body of Christ. Some people confuse praying in tongues with the operation of the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10). But there is a distinct difference between the two. The gift of tongues is followed by an interpretation that will sometimes manifest in a gathering of believers. Furthermore, the gift of tongues manifests as the Spirit wills whereas we can pray in tongues anytime we want to.

So what are the benefits to praying in other tongues? One of them is a direct line to heaven. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to pray about something but didn’t know how to put words to it? That’s where praying in tongues can help. As Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Remember how Peter was changed after being baptized with the Holy Spirit? Praying in tongues increases boldness. Ephesians 6:18-19 confirms this; “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Evangelist Nick Kinn has said he never led anyone to the Lord until after he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Praying in tongues can also lift us out of depression or whenever we feel “drained.” When people have a dead car battery, they put a battery charger on it. In a like manner, praying in the Spirit charges up our “spiritual batteries.” Jude 20 tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

Praying in the spirit can also bring healing. A brain specialist at Oral Roberts University discovered some amazing things while doing research on the relationship between the brain and praying in tongues. Dr. Carl Peterson found out that as we pray or worship in the Spirit, the brain releases two chemical secretions that give a 35 to 40 percent boost to our immune system. This promotes healing within our bodies. What’s amazing is that this secretion is triggered from a part of the brain that is only activated by our spirit-led prayer and worship. Like Psalm 139:14 says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

So if there are these benefits to praying in other tongues, why aren’t there more Christians doing that? One reason is lack of knowledge. The Lutheran church I was raised in never taught me about salvation nor being filled with the Holy Spirit. The first time I heard the term “speaking in tongues” was the title of a 1983 Talking Heads album. It was eight years later when I first heard people speaking in tongues during a church service. Initially I thought to myself, “Man, this is weird!“ But when I learned more about what the Bible says about being filled with the Holy Spirit, my doubts were removed.

A few ministers have claimed that speaking in tongues are of the devil. If that’s the case, then the Apostle Paul must have been demon-possessed when he wrote, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Corinthians 14:18) and “...do not forbid to speak with tongues.” (1 Corinthians 14:39). Satan doesn’t want Christians having this extra boost of spiritual power. When I first started speaking in other tongues I kept yawning. Later I realized it was the devil trying to stop me. In his book “The Cross and the Switchblade'“, Pastor David Wilkerson wrote that many of the youth in his congregation didn’t receive lasting deliverance from drug addiction until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. In his sermon tape “Breaking Intimidation”, John Bevere shares testimonies on how the spirit of fear was removed from his life and others by praying in tongues.

Another misconception taught in parts of the Body of Christ is that being born again and being filled with the Spirit are the same thing. Yet Scripture clearly shows they are separate incidents. Acts 8:14-17 says, “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Another example of this can be found in Acts 19...

“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’

So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’

And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’

So they said, ‘Into John's baptism.’

Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would 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 hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6)

Other religious leaders have taught that tongues (along with other miracles such as healing) passed away when the apostles died. They defend their belief in this by referring to 1 Corinthians 13:8, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” But if the manifestation of tongues has supposedly ceased, then why hasn’t knowledge ceased also? Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The Lord is still baptizing people with the Holy Spirit today.

So if you have never received that baptism yourself, then I encourage you to do so. It will change your life if you allow God to fill you with His spirit and not try to figure everything out with your natural mind. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” You don’t need to “tarry” in order to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit like the disciples did in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit is available to you right now. Certainly God didn’t want you putting off salvation. Why would being filled with the Holy Spirit be any different? You can receive that baptism by praying this prayer...

“Father, your word says in Luke 11:13, ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!’ In Jesus’ name, I ask for and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. I now shall speak in other tongues. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for giving me utterance”

Now begin saying various syllables. Don’t worry about how you sound. The devil will put thoughts into your mind like “you’re crazy” or “this isn’t God.“ Pay no attention to his lies! As you persevere and continue speaking in tongues, the Holy Spirit will give you your very own prayer language. Make it a priority to pray in tongues daily. We need to be continually “filled“ with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) because as one preacher says, “we leak.”

“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.” - John 7:37-38 (KJV)