The gift of tongues is the act of speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues. The gift of tongues is part of the nine (9) gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. In this post, we will answer the question about who the Holy Spirit is, how He has become a central part of the Christian faith and walk with God, a brief overview of the nine (9) gifts of the Holy Spirit, the most popular misconceptions about the gifts of tongues, and the benefits of incorporating these gifts into your prayer life.
Who is the Holy Spirit? And how has He become a central part of the Christian faith and walk with God?
Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.
Charles Spurgeon.
Close to the time when Jesus was about to leave the world and ascend to heaven, He said this to His disciples, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:15-18).
When Jesus was on earth, He served as a true teacher and leader to His disciples. As He was preparing for His exit, He had to make plans for a new mentor to take His place. This is where the Holy Spirit is introduced. The Holy Spirit is the mentor Jesus sent when He promised not to abandon His followers. The Holy Spirit is every believer’s advocate, helper, and guide. Jesus was all these and more to His disciples, but when the time came for Him to complete His assignment on earth, He asked God the Father to provide another mentor to take His place. Jesus did this because He did not want to leave His followers without a true leader. It is not the will of God that believers become a flock of sheep led astray without a shepherd. Who else except God the Holy Spirit is best suited for the job? None. There is none like Him. Unlike Jesus, who was physically present with His disciples and could not also be present somewhere else, the Holy Spirit lives in every believer, and He is ‘God is with us’ to every believer at all times. Jesus knew he could not physically be with every believer simultaneously, so he needed to leave so that the Holy Spirit, who can dwell within all believers, could come and take his place (John 16:7).
A brief overview of the nine (9) gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11.
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.”
The list of nine (9) gifts of the Holy Spirit:
- The Word of Knowledge.
- The Word of Wisdom.
- The Gift of Prophecy.
- The Gift of Faith.
- The Gift of Healing.
- The Working of Miracles.
- The Discerning of Spirits.
- Different Kinds of Tongues.
- The Interpretation of Tongues.
The most popular misconceptions about the gifts of tongues.
The most popular misconception about the gifts of tongues is that they are not real gifts. This ideology can be further expanded into three belief systems: tongues are just another earthly language, only some believers can have the gifts of tongues, and you can’t ask God for the gifts of tongues. First, tongues are not always just another earthly language. It can sometimes be, as in the case of Acts chapter 2. Other times, it is a heavenly language through which you communicate with God. Paul revealed this reality in 1 Corinthians 14:14 (AMP), “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].” Second, every believer has access to all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:3 (CEV) reminds us to “praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven!” Pay close attention to these subsequent two sentences and make sure you reread them if needed: The Holy Spirit gives His gifts to whomever He pleases, and He can manifest His gifts in whoever yields himself or herself as a willing vessel. Third, if you don’t have the gifts of the Holy Spirit that you desire to have, you can ask God for them. Many people think desiring the things of God is a bad thing. This is a fallacy. God wants us to align our desires with His will. God is happy that you desire what He has to offer you. Jesus urges believers to approach God boldly as His children and ask Him anything. “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13). So the simple answer is yes, you can ask for the gift of tongues.
“Until now you have not asked [the Father] for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete.”
John 16:24 (AMP).
The benefits of incorporating these gifts into your prayer life.
Before we end this post with the benefits of incorporating these gifts of tongues into your prayer life, I did like to mention that asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise Jesus made to His disciple with regard to sending a helper. John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11) and Jesus (Acts 1:5) emphasized the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one-time thing. When you confess your sins and accept Jesus as your lord and savior, you have sent an open invitation to the Holy Spirit, inviting him to dwell within you. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16). Asking for either the gifts of the Holy Spirit falls under asking for the filling of the Holy Spirit, which existed even before Jesus came to the world. Key examples from the Old Testament are Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9) and King Saul with his servants (1 Samuel 19:18-24). In the New Testament, we also see the same thing happen to Peter (Acts 4:8) and Paul (Acts 13:9). Do not get caught up in the arguments revolving around the filling and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Just focus on the fact that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all believers, and you can, from time to time, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you up. To sum this all up, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one-time thing that results in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when you become saved. In comparison, the filling of the Holy Spirit happens when you surrender to the Holy Spirit for spiritual empowerment (Acts 4:31).
That was a lot! with regards to the benefits of incorporating the gifts of tongues into your prayer life, think about it this way: if God has created a means for you to speak a language that only He can understand to form an even deeper level of intimacy with you and the body of Christ, what will you do with this opportunity?
One final thought, many believers in Christ are not living out their truth. They hide their gifts and don’t even seek the opportunities God has already provided to them to build intimacy with Him. Ask yourself this question, what area of your Christian walk with God are you resisting spiritual growth? This might be in the area of the gifts of tongues or any other gifts of the Spirit. It could also be in the area of the fruit of the Spirit. Whatever that means to you, God is calling out to you today. How will you respond?
But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.
Jude 1:20 [AMP]
Closing Prayer
Salvation Prayer (say this prayer of confession if you desire to dedicate your life to God and trust Him to be Lord over your life): Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I am sorry for living my life following the will of my flesh and my sinful nature. I renounce my covenant and longing for a glorified sinful lifestyle. I proclaim that all my heart desires are the things of God. My Lord and my God, I want to do your will. Forgive me for every time I have tried to initiate or impose my will as your will for my life. Come into my life afresh and make me whole again. I believe you, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, died on the cross, bore my sins, and rose again that I might become the righteousness of God. I accept this invitation to become a child of God. Holy Spirit come into my life and guide me in all truth. Teach me the ways of the Father as I study scripture. My good God and Heavenly Father, show me where you are already at work in my life and give me a willing and obedient heart to join you in fulfilling your will at your timing, walking in your way at your command, and abiding in a continual fellowship with you. So help me, God. Amen.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
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Till next time, Shalom!
