Comment posted on Contact The Author by Mike Stevens

Glen, it has been a few years. I met you in Kiev with my wife, Tonya. David Patterson is one of my board members and dear friend along with Carol. I remember Tonya and I flying back to the States with you and Jim Ammerman.

I am a Pastor now; I was traveling in full time evangelism back then. I just finished your book–couldn’t put it down. I believe every minister should read it. I was blessed by your life story and your theological position on tongues and the controversy over it being the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I, like you, have enjoyed this gift for 30 years now. The “unbeliever” that tongues was for, in my case, was me! I was a green southern Baptist preacher when I received the gift. It was proof to me that the Holy Spirit was personal, and the gifts were still in operation.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has had an impact on my life concerning the baptism of the Spirit. He writes that the baptism of the Spirit is about power for an assignmemt and has nothing to do with holiness. He points out that holiness is dealt with in Ephesians 5:18 where we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit, and that all of the gifts in 1 Corinthians can be counterfeited, yet a holy life cannot. There are many baptisms in the Spirit, referring to Acts 2 and 4. The baptism in the Spirit is all about God. He chooses the place, the time, and the manifestation. The filling with the Spirit, “be filled with the Spirit…” is the responsibility of man. We do this through prayer, reading and studying God’s word, fellowship with believer’s, praying in the Spirit, Communion, ect.

I’ve never believed speaking in tongues was the initial evidence. I do believe every Spirit baptised person will eventually pray in tongues if they pursue this blessing. Anyway, I have rambled on too much. Just wanted to get your perspective on this thought.

Your book was a blessing, and I am sure I will re-read it many times and use it as a reference. Thank you for your boldness, your conviction and honesty, and thank you for your love for the body of Christ. I know you have paid a price for your convictions, but when I read your book I could see your gentleness and love for the Assemblies of God and for the church as a whole. Thank you!

In Christ,
Mike Stevens

Filed under: on July 12th, 2009