Receiving the Holy Spirit

Speaking in tongues is a wonderful blessing on the life a believer. The benefits are tremendous and its operation essential to the power-filled walk of an ambassador for Christ.

The manifestation of speaking in tongues is your operation of the God-given ability whereby you may (at any time in your private prayer life or in a believers meeting, if interpreted) show forth, by speaking in a language unknown to you, the external manifestation in the senses world of the internal presence and power of the gift of holy spirit.

After learning the Word of God on the subject of speaking in tongues all fears and doubts will be dispelled, for the introduction of light dispels darkness. By speaking in tongues you affirm the presence and power of the holy spirit, power from on high, even when bereaved and sorrowed, troubled, or tempted. It is a constant reminder that, with God's power, we have the victory over all situations and circumstances.

I John 4
:4  Ye are of God, little children,
    and have overcome them:
        because greater is he that is in you,
        than he that is in the world.

It is necessary to know whether or not a born-again believer is supposed to speak in tongues. Jesus Christ told eleven of the apostles that they were to go forth and preach the gospel and those that believe will be saved and . . .

Mark 16
 :15 And he said unto them,
        Go ye into all the world,
        and preach the gospel to every creature.
:16   He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
        but he that believeth not shall be damned.
:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe;
            In my name shall they cast out devils;
            they shall speak with new tongues;

This is one of the last instructions given to the apostles prior to Jesus' ascension. This is what is expected of the apostles and of the people that believe the gospel. Jesus Christ is telling them what to expect. They fully realize what he means on the day of Pentecost when they speak in tongues and then about 3,000 believe as well.

There are three records in the book of Acts where people received the gift of holy spirit and manifested holy spirit by speaking in tongues after they were saved. It was not just an isolated incident that only the apostles could do.

Acts 2
:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
    and began to speak with other tongues,
        as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10
:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished,
        as many as came with Peter,
    because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
:46 For they heard them speak with tongues,
    and magnify God. . .

Acts 19
:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them;
    and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Speaking in tongues is a present reality. Administrations have not changed and speaking in tongues is still available and necessary to do today. The next administration to come into affect will be the appearing or gathering together when Christ Jesus returns to gather his church at which time tongues will cease because that which is perfect, Jesus Christ, will have come. (I Corinthians 13:8-10) God gave the church instructions on speaking in tongues so that we may continue to do it and benefit.

God had Paul, by revelation, give us instructions regarding speaking in tongues and the proper use of speaking in tongues in the Church in I Corinthians 14. The following verses and parts thereof are regarding speaking in tongues in relationship to the believer's own private prayer life:

I Corinthians 14
:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men,
    but unto God:
        for no man understandeth him;
    howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

:4a He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;

:5a I would that ye all spake with tongues,

:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth,
    but my understanding is unfruitful.

:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit,
    how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks,
    seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

We are given this instruction in God's Word so that we may know what we have and how to operate the manifestation of speaking in tongues  properly. Speaking in tongues is speaking unto God mysteries, or literally, divine secrets. It is blessing with the spirit and giving thanks well; it builds up the holy spirit in a believer.

Speaking in tongues edifies, builds up, the spirit. It is God's will that we all speak in tongues. It is the only manifestation that builds up the believer in the spirit. Just as physical exercise builds up our physical bodies, speaking in tongues builds us up in our spirit. There is nothing we can do in the flesh to affect the spirit except will to speak in tongues. That which is of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6) Our minds are not edified, hearing words from God via the Word or the inspiration manifestation builds up the believers mind, but not speaking in tongues. Anything that can be ascertained by the five senses is of the flesh. The Bible is in the senses world and therefore builds up, edifies, the mind which is in the category of the flesh. That which edifies the holy spirit that we have been given is speaking in tongues.

Have you ever had a desire to pray for someone but didn't know specifically what to ask for? We are instructed to pray for each other (Ephesians 6:18) but how do we know what to pray for?

Romans 8
:26  Likewise the Spirit [God] also helpeth our infirmities:
    for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
    but the Spirit [the gift of holy spirit in manifestation] itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit [the gift],
    because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The word "infirmities" is singular in the Aramaic and Greek. Our infirmity is not knowing what to pray for. In order to energize the power of God the promises need to be spoken but how can I speak the appropriate words if I do not know what to say? God has given us an answer, speaking in tongues, perfect prayer to God.

A topic that concerns some is that  people may not be speaking words from God but be possessed by devils which causes them to speak in tongues. That is not available, devils cannot speak in tongues, it is purely from God. Devils may cause people to prophecy, that is recorded elsewhere in the bible,* but they cannot cause people to speak in tongues, that is from God only. Speaking in tongues is the external manifestation of the internal reality of the presence of the holy spirit. Speaking in tongues is at the will of the believer. We do the speaking but what we say is as the spirit gives the utterance, the words.

Acts 2
:4  And they [the apostles] were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
    and began to speak with other tongues,
        as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Who did the speaking? The apostles. As God gave the words to the apostles' holy spirit their spirit gave the words to the apostles minds and they, by freedom of will, spoke forth. The tongues are supernaturally directed. Speaking in tongues is always at the will of the believer. God gave us freedom of will and He will never overstep that. If you ever see speaking in tongues misused, people falling on the floor and acting wildly, it is by their will and misuse of the manifestation in order to draw attention to themselves; it is not edifying to those around, nor does it give glory to God.

I Corinthians 14
:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth,
    but my understanding is unfruitful.
:15 What is it then?
    I will pray with the spirit,
    and I will pray with the understanding also:
    I will sing with the spirit,
    and I will sing with the understanding also.

Who is doing the praying? Paul is doing the praying. We, by our own will, decide to speak in tongues or not.

I Corinthians 14
:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
:33 For God is not the author of confusion,
    but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

All of the gifts of God throughout the Bible are received by believing. The manifestations of the holy spirit are operated by believing, and are the direct action due to the will of the believer. We have complete control over when we start and stop. That we speak is our business; what we speak is God's business, that is the supernatural part. We, by our freedom of will, move our mouths, tongues and lips, we form the words but it is up to God to fill us with the words, and He does, every time, without fail. God never forces a person to speak in tongues. We can pray with our understanding and we can pray in the spirit by speaking in tongues. When a believer believes to receive into manifestation the holy spirit by speaking in tongues, he expects, at that very moment, a supernatural energizing of the spiritual ability within himself. Jesus spoke about manifesting the spirit in John 7.

John 7
:38 He that believeth on me,
        as the scripture hath said,
    out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
:39   (But this spake he of the Spirit, [the pneuma, meaning new birth]
        which they that believe on him should receive: [lambano, receive into manifestation]
        for the Holy Ghost [pneuma, (hagion added by translators)  the new birth] was not yet given;
        because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The words of a person's mouth is often referred to as water or that it flows from the mouth (i.e.  Proverbs 18:4). When we speak in tongues the words we speak, words that glorify God are as living waters. It is now up to us to speak. Our believing action is to begin to speak and God fills with our mouths with what to speak.

Speaking in tongues is not:

1. Linguistic ability.
   It is a language given by inspiration that may or may not be understood by people somewhere on earth.
   I Corinthians 13
   :1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
       and have not charity,
       I am become as sounding brass,
       or a tinkling cymbal.
2. The ability to know and understand various languages or to speak many languages.
3. Yelling, shouting, or making nonsensical noises.

Speaking in tongues is:

The manifestation of speaking in tongues is your operation of the God-given ability whereby you may (at any time in your private prayer life or in a believers meeting, if interpreted) show forth, by speaking in a language unknown to you, the external manifestation in the senses world of the internal presence and power of the gift of holy spirit.

1. To edify you :
   I Corinthians 14
   :4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;
   Jude
   :20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
       praying in the Holy Ghost,
2. To speak to God divine secrets :
   I Corinthians 14
   :2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men,
       but unto God:
           for no man understandeth him;
       howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3. To speak the wonderful works of God :
   Acts 2
   :11  Cretes and Arabians,
       we do hear them speak in our tongues
       the wonderful works of God.
4. To magnify God :
   Acts 10
   :46  For they heard them speak with tongues,
       and magnify God.. . .
5. To pray perfectly :
   Romans 8
   :26  Likewise the Spirit [God] also helpeth our infirmities:
       for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
       but the Spirit [the gift of holy spirit in manifestation] itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
   :27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit [the gift],
       because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
6. To give thanks wel l:
   I Corinthians 14
   17a For thou verily givest thanks well, . . .
7. To have the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit :
   Romans 8
   :16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
       that we are the children of God:
8. To know you are a joint-hear with Christ: :
   Romans 8
   :17 And if children, then heirs;
       heirs of God,
       and joint-heirs with Christ;
       if so be that we suffer with him,
           that we may be also glorified together.
9. To strengthen you with might in your inner man :
   Ephesians 3
   :16  That he would grant you,
           according to the riches of his glory,
       to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
   II Corinthians 4
   :16 For which cause we faint not;
       but though our outward man perish,
       yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
10. To be a sign to unbelievers :
    I Corinthians 14
    :22a Wherefore tongues are for a sign,
        not to them that believe,
        but to them that believe not . . .
    Mark 16
    :17 And these signs shall follow them that believe;
                In my name shall they cast out devils;
                they shall speak with new tongues;
11. Rest to the soul :
    Isaiah 28
    :11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
    :12 To whom he said,
            This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;
            and this is the refreshing:
        yet they would not hear.
    I Corinthians 14
    :21 In the law it is written,
            With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people;
            and yet for all that will they not hear me,
        saith the Lord.
12. To bring a message from God or for God to the people (when interpreted) :
    I Corinthians 14
    :5 I would that ye all spake with tongues,
        but rather that ye prophesied:
            for greater is he that prophesieth
            than he that speaketh with tongues,
                except he interpret,
            that the church may receive edifying.
    :13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
    :27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two,
            or at the most by three,
        and that by course;
        and let one [the same one] interpret.
    :28 But if there be no interpreter,
        let him keep silence in the church;
        and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Now that we know the truths of God's Word regarding speaking in tongues we are ready to speak in tongues.

 

________________

* Scripture regarding devils prophesying
Jeremiah 2:8     and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
I Kings 18:19: ...Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table."
Ezekial 13:17: "Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them."