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Gifts of the Holy Spirit 9
The Gift of Tongues
by Pastor John Hamel
Now we come to the
second Utterance Gift. This Gift is called the Gift of Tongues.
There’s lots of confusion and even ridicule concerning this precious Gift
of the Holy Spirit. This should not be so. This Gift is clearly
outlined in the Bible.
Think about
this. There is only one subject in all of Scripture that has an
entire chapter devoted exclusively to it. That is the subject of
other Tongues. The entire fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians
teaches on no other subject but the speaking with other Tongues. If
this subject is that important to Holy God, no one should ever oppose it
for any reason. Those who do, find themselves opposing Almighty God.
The Gift of Tongues
is a supernatural utterance inspired by God and spoken in an unknown,
Heavenly language, or at least a language that is unknown to the
speaker. Some have been known to speak other earthly languages, which
they were not trained in. However, speaking in an unknown Heavenly
language is most often the case.
This Gift came into
the Earth on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost means “Fifty.” The
Day of Fifty came fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. On that
day there was a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit, which was promised
by Jesus. (John 7:37-39; 15:26; 16:7; Acts
1:8) At that time the Earth was filled with the roaring sound of a
tornado. People came running from every direction to see what was
happening in Jerusalem. When they
arrived they found that 120 of Jesus’ Disciples were engulfed in Holy
flames of fire and were speaking in languages they had never spoken in
before. (Acts 2:1-4)
Everything written
in the Book of Acts is a blueprint for the New Testament Church of all
ages. Therefore, the pattern the whole Church should follow is to be
baptized with the Holy Spirit and speak in supernatural Tongues.
One may ask, “Well
then, why do so many Believers reject this supernatural experience?”
The Prophet Isaiah answered this question about 800 years before it was
even asked.
“For with
stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
…This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the
refreshing: yet they would not hear.” (Isaiah 28:11,12)
Many who truly love
Jesus regretfully reject this experience as Isaiah prophesied they
would. Such an unfortunate indictment of Holy Scripture!
Through this Gift
one may commune with God in ways that only God understands. It is
actually the Holy Spirit praying through the Believer. (1 Corinthians 14:2;
Romans 8:26-28) I always say, “If the Holy Spirit is allowed to pray
through an individual, that prayer will never go unanswered.”
This Gift was
vitally important to the Apostle Paul. He said, “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.” (1 Corinthians
14:15)
He also said, “I
thank my God I speak with tongues more than ye all.” (1Corinthians 14:18)
If Paul spoke that
much in other Tongues we should all take the hint and at least incorporate
some praying in the spirit (Tongues) into our daily praying with our
understanding.
Through this Gift
one can confidently pray during a crisis when they would not know how to
pray otherwise. Again, the Holy Spirit is actually doing the praying
through them. (1 Corinthians 14:2; Romans 8:26-28) He knows all
things and, therefore, knows exactly where one’s faith needs to be directed
when the Believer does not.
This Gift in
operation also brings joy and wisdom to the
Believer who yields to it during times of confusion, depression or
sorrow. Although one certainly does not have to be confused,
depressed or sorrowful to pray in other Tongues, receiving its benefits.
For decades I have prayed in Tongues under my breath off and on during
the day just to keep my spiritual battery charged up and energized. (Jude
20) It really works!
If you are Born
Again, ask God to baptize you with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the
speaking with other Tongues. You’ll find help receiving this precious
Gift of God by clicking on “Receive the Holy Spirit.
One Good Thing Leads to Another.”
There is an
operation of the Gift of Tongues that is for use only in the Believer’s
private and corporate prayer life.
There is another operation of the Gift of Tongues that is a special and a
separate Gift that is intended for use only in public gatherings.
We will briefly
touch on how to interpret both kinds of Tongues in the tenth and final
lesson of this series, “The Interpretation of Tongues.”
Be Blessed … John and Barbara Hamel
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