The infilling of the Holy Spirit occurred after the new believers had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus. Before their encounter with Paul, these men knew very little about Jesus. But once they were filled with the Spirit, they prophesied, which means they declared the message of Jesus Christ. This empowerment to prophesy what they had not known just minutes earlier was made possible only by the Spirit. It is impossible for a believer to declare with authority the mysteries of God without first knowing His Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2).

I am so thankful that I never have to preach without the empowerment of the Spirit. In my own strength, I am not a good public speaker. Likewise, I am not a good writer. I was so bad at English that I flunked my SAT. My exact score was 370 out of 800. No one knows better than I do that I am what I am by the grace of God and the empowerment of His Spirit. Without the Spirit’s empowerment, I could not write this book. He is the source of my ability and strength. Without Him my kingdom assignment would be impossible. The Holy Spirit is the “Manifester” of God’s grace to me.

Day 4

Have Tongues Ceased?

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV)

Now that we have examined accounts of the infilling of the Holy Spirit from the book of Acts, I want to address a question many of you may have. I often hear people say that tongues have ceased. These people are generally referencing the statement made in this passage from 1 Corinthians 13. Individuals who subscribe to this idea believe that Paul was referring to the Bible as “the perfect” when he said, “When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” The line of reasoning is, Now that the perfect (the Bible) has come, tongues have ceased.

It is important that we carefully examine this passage to determine what Paul was saying. When we consider the context of this verse, it is clear that this notion is impossible. If tongues have ceased, then knowledge and prophecy have also ceased. Have knowledge and prophecy ceased? Certainly not. So what is “the perfect” that Paul is referring to? The answer is found in verse twelve:

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then [when the perfect comes] face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV)