If you have followed this blog for any length of time or have attended one of our Holy Spirit Rallies or Jesus the Healer Rallies or, for that matter, had anything that has to do with my life and/or ministry, you’ve heard me reference my childnood pastor, B.B. Hankins. His impact in my life was so pronounced that often when I am speaking, I will make a statement and then immediately know that I’ve quoted him. His anointing along with his wit and wisdom greatly impacted me.
One statement that I have quoted perhaps more than any of his “Hankinsisms” reflects back to when he would tell the teenagers of the church that when they are asked the question, “Do you speak in other tongues?” to answer with the question, “Do you mean that you don’t?” In other words, he was telling us to not apologize for what should be the norm in the life of the believer.
Why is this statement so significant? In many Pentecostal/Charismatic ministries today, leaders and workers act as though they are embarrassed by what should be a normal, every service occurrence. Many have apologetically made the normal to be abnormal when it relates to people in their congregation being filled with the Holy Spirit and praying in their heavenly prayer language. What was considered to be the norm at the founding of the Church has become something that we are apparently embarrassed by.
Come on believers! Let’s quit apologizing for being a Spirit-filled, tongue-talking Church. If today is the day of the Holy Ghost (and it is), then let’s demonstrate it! Let’s boldly and consistently encourage our people to unapologetically demonstrate that we are a New Testament Church that flows with the Holy Ghost by praying in your services in a heavenly language. Let’s stand in front of our church congregations and Sunday school classes and mid-week Bible clubs and declare like the Apostle Peter “For this promise is for you and your children” (Acts 2:39) and then demonstrate that this is a normal, every day way of life by encouraging the believers to pray in their heavenly prayer language.
Let me wrap up this entry by challenging those reading today’s blog to be a present-day B.B. Hankins. When asked the question about you and your ministry, “Do you speak in other tongues?” your answer should be the question, “Do you mean that you don’t?” Let’s boldly be a Holy Ghost person and ministry!
