He was a deacon in a fashionable church, but he did not believe in the Pentecostal doctrine relative to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Yet he had been exposed to that belief through members of his immediate family. One night, at the close of an evangelistic service in an Apostolic Church, he went forward to pray, and was overwhelmingly filled with the Spirit of God. He spoke in other tongues fluently and was so inundated in the Spirit that even hours later he could not speak English. Definitely, this was a Biblical experience accompanied not only with the speaking in another tongue, but also with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost.

Millions have experienced this same baptism in the Spirit. Wherever this message is proclaimed concerning the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the question is asked, "Why did God choose speaking in tongues as the initial, physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost?" There may be many answers to this question, and I do not claim to know them all. However, some are obvious, and these, all should consider. First, one must recognize the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. God is not accountable to us for what He chooses to do.

Isaiah asked, "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding!" (Isa. 40:13, 14). We have no license to question His ways, nor to dispute His actions. His purposes are supreme, His promises sure, His performances sane and sensible. After reading the following scriptures: Isaiah 28:11, 12; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:1-6; Romans 8:15; and Gal. 4:6, anyone with a hungry heart and an open mind will realize that there is a decided connection between speaking with tongues and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Why did God choose blood as a basis for atonement? Why did God choose water as the element in baptism? Why did God choose gold as the overlaying metal for the ark of the covenant? Why did God choose stone as the material upon which to record the law of Moses? Why did God choose Jerusalem as the site for His Temple? Why did God choose dust out of which to form man? That there is divine purpose and reason behind each of these choices, I am sure we will all agree. We may not understand it all, but we most certainly would never attempt to deny or disavow God's sovereign right to do as He pleases or to choose what he wishes.

AN EXTERNAL EVIDENCE
There is a second vital and important reason why God chose other tongues as the evidence of one's receiving the Holy Ghost. It is an external, outward evidence. There are many evidences of the operation of the Spirit of God in one's life. With some, it is a matter of time before they are manifest; that is, the fruits mentioned in Gal. 5:22, 23. These follow in the wake of the spiritual infilling and are results of it. Peter and the six who went with him to Caesarea knew that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost, not because of longsuffering, gentleness, meekness or temperance but because they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. He definitely and specifically pointed to the speaking in tongues as his evidence of knowing (Acts 10:46-47). Such is an outward, external evidence, instantly observable and heard. Peace, joy, righteousness and the fruits of the Spirit are the internal, inward action, and the result of the infilling.

A UNIFORM EVIDENCE
A third reason why God chose other tongues as the evidence is that it is a uniform evidence. Many who oppose this statement will quote I Cor. 12:30 as the basis of their opposition, "Do all speak with tongues?" However, this is speaking of the gift of tongues, which one may receive at the time of, or subsequent to, the infilling of the Spirit. Though both the speaking in tongues as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and as a gift, are the same in essence, they are different in administration and operation. This might seem hair-splitting, but the same thing is also true of faith. To be saved, everyone must have a certain degree of faith (Eph. 2:8; John 3:16; Romans 10:9), yet in I Cor. 12:9 we are instructed that there is a special gift of faith, operational over and beyond that which is necessary for salvation. They are the same in essence but different in administration and operation.

In speaking about being born of the Spirit, Jesus states in John 3:8, ". . .so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." Certainly this is uniformity. By carefully analyzing this verse, you will see that Jesus places emphasis upon the word "sound." You hear the sound of the wind blowing, and this is evidence of its presence. It is not seeing nor feeling that is important, though these evidences may be present, but hearing the sound. Some may conclude that this means the experience at Pentecost where they heard the sound as of a rushing mighty wind. However, this rushing mighty wind was not spoken of in Acts 10:46 or in 19:6, but speaking in tongues was. Hence, we must conclude that the important phase of the Spirit's evidence at Pentecost was the speaking in other tongues. The WIND WAS IMPERSONAL; the SPEAKING WAS PERSONAL.

At Caesarea all who heard the Word were filled (Acts 10:44-48), and all who heard the Word spoke in tongues. The "them" in verse 46 is the same "them" in verse 44. All twelve men mentioned in Acts 19:6 had a uniform experience. Do you think that if ten of the twelve had spoken in tongues, and the other two had not, Paul would have believed the two had received the Holy Ghost the same as the ten? Certainly not! Paul would never have accepted the credence of their experience if they had failed to exhibit this same uniform evidence.

COMPLETE CONTROL
The speaking in tongues symbolizes God's complete control of the believer. Perhaps this is one of the most outstanding reasons why God chose speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost baptism. James gives us more information about the tongue than any writer in the New Testament. This teaching is very revealing about the nature of the tongue. (Read the third chapter of James.) First, the tongue is capable of defiling the whole body. If it is capable of this action, is it incredible to claim that it also is capable of sanctifying the whole body? Second, though it is a small member, it has never been tamed of mankind. It is the most unruly member of the body. If this be true about the tongue, would it not be necessary that it be tamed before the whole body could be consecrated to God? James illustrated the importance of the tongue by comparing it to the bit in a horse's mouth which gives the driver complete control over the horse. Also, the helm of a large vessel gives the governor full command of the ship. The comparison is that whoever controls the tongue of a man, controls him.

The tongue takes on great importance when we understand these things. YOU CANNOT TAME IT YOURSELF; ONLY GOD CAN DO THIS. In Matt. 12:29 Jesus tells us that before you can enter a strong man's house and spoil or plunder his goods, you must first bind the strong man. The STRONG MAN OF YOUR HOUSE IS YOUR TONGUE. That is what James declares. You can tame every member of your body but this one. When God tames your tongue, you are under the control of the great God of the heavens, you are in the hands of the Almighty and conquered by Christ, you are endued with a spiritual force from on high and empowered for His service.

MAN'S GREATEST EXPRESSION
The tongue is man's greatest expression of his spirit. Man is a spiritual creature; he is emotional. Because he is emotional, he must give expression to these emotions. The ability and power to co-ordinate thought and tongue into intelligent speech is one of the highest prerogatives of man. This elevates him above the beast of the field. This makes him superior to any of God's creation. This is the most distinguishing feature of his being. The tongue becomes the vehicle of expression for the spirit. All of the emotions, such as love, hate, anger, sorrow, joy, happiness, relief, serenity are communicated through the tongue. It is the gateway to your heart, your feelings, your spirit and attitudes.

All these things being true, it is not difficult to see why God would use the speaking in tongues to express the greatest, most wonderful experience that mortal man could receive. In the baptism of the Holy Ghost, His Spirit and yours become one. He uses your tongue and voice to express it. It is a wonder of wonders, chosen not by man, but by God, the sovereign ruler of the universe. Why be found fighting against Him? Believe His Word, accept what He says and you too can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38-39).

Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. F.E.K.