A GIFT FROM GOD

 

Something of Significance:

      

SUBJECT:  ONE OF THE DYNAMIC GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-

                   PRAYING IN TONGUES-GOD’S HEAVENLY LANGUAGE

 In Acts 1, after Jesus’ resurrection to heaven and return to earth, he appeared to his followers for 40 days and talked to them about the things of the kingdom of God.  One particular day, he was in their company and eating with them and he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised of which he said you have heard me speak,

For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

They were asking Jesus a lot of questions about coming events and timing of his return, but it seems like he was trying to get them back on the subject at hand, which was the promise of the Father, to send the Holy Spirit because he began his public ministry with (Dunamis) power after the Holy Spirit came upon him!

 Dunamis is the Greek word for power and is rooted in our word for dynamite!

Jesus said to them: “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the very   ends of the earth!”

 Chapter 2 says they were all together praying when the day of Pentecost came when suddenly there came a sound from heaven in the house where they were sitting and there appeared to them tongues, resembling fire, which were distributed and settled on each one of them….

 (Fire in the Greek language figuratively represents transforming what it touches.)

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues and in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance!

 Because it was Pentecost, Jews were gathered from every nation and they heard the disciples, many in their own language, TELLING OF THE MIGHTY WORKS OF GOD!

 Jesus described the Holy Spirit in John 15:26-27:

 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor,

Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, He will testify regarding me, but you will also testify and be my witnesses….”

Jesus was sharing all the different ways this power source, THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY, would help them!

Jesus said, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send him to you.”  John 16:17

When we give our lives to the Lord and receive him as Savior, we are baptized into his Body and become one spirit with Him.

Jesus told his disciples to go and wait for the Gift, the Promise, which was the Holy Spirit they would receive who would indwell them and empower them dynamically to be his witnesses after he went back to heaven.

 Speaking with tongues is the unique spiritual Gift identified with the church after the day of Pentecost and is beneficial in all areas of life for us today.

 Jesus told his disciples:

 And these signs shall follow them that believe.

 “In my name they shall cast out devils; and

 They shall speak with new tongues….” Mark 16:17-18

  The Apostle Paul asked some of the followers on one of his mission trips:

 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  So, Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”  John’s baptism,” they replied.  Paul said:  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.  He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”  Acts 19:2-6

Paul said, OK.  Let us get you baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit!

The believers in the Upper Room at Pentecost received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit while praying—

and

As above, some followers of Christ received by the laying on of hands!

Some of the benefits of speaking in tongues are:

Communication with God in heaven’s language:

1 Cor 14:2 “For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding).”

V4. “He who speaks in tongues edifies and improves himself….”

Jude 1:20 “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit.”

I heard someone say, praying in tongues is like charging your spiritual battery.

The longer you do it, the stronger you get!

Romans 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning (sighs) too deep for words.”

1 Cor. 14:15. “What am I to do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

The Holy Spirit knows what to pray concerning God’s will and plans for our lives that we do not always understand or know about in our natural lives!

Romans 8:27 “And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the Saints according to the will of God.”

“But as it is written:  Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him, But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God.  1 Cor. 2: 9-10

Receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is a means to receive all that Jesus died for us to receive, the deep things of God that He wants us to experience that we have not even thought about!

God’s gift was his Son given for the redemption of the world and Jesus gave the Holy Spirit as a gift to his church.

Our Holy Spirit language gives us wisdom for ourselves and how to minister to others!

1 Cor 14:18-19 the Apostle Paul said, “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, but in the church (setting) I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

He was saying how vital praying in tongues was to him personally and his ministry; however, in church he would speak with his mind so that all could understand what his message to them was.

He obviously knew the believers around him prayed in tongues, but he apparently felt the need to stress the importance of doing so by saying:  I pray in tongues more than you all!

Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes, He will lead and guide you into all truth.”  John 16:13

We do not always know the best course or action to take, but the Holy Spirit has been given to us to help keep us on course!

Following is a powerful prayer Kenneth Copeland Ministries suggests we pray so we can become established in our heavenly language:

Heavenly Father,

I am a believer.  I am your child and You are my Father.  Jesus is my Lord.  I believe with all my heart that your Word is true.

Your Word says if I will ask, I will receive the Holy Spirit.  So, in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, I am asking You to fill me to overflowing with Your Precious Holy Spirit.  Jesus, baptize me in the Holy Spirit.

Because of Your Word, I believe I now receive, and I thank You for it.  I believe the Holy Spirit is within me and, by faith, I accept it.

Now, Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God.  I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance.

He also adds:

Begin to praise God for filling you with the Holy Spirit.  Speak those words and syllables you receive—not in your own language, but the language given you by the Holy Spirit.  You must use your own voice.  God will not force you to speak.  Do not be concerned with how it sounds…. It is a heavenly language!

 

Diana Sykes

www.dianasykes.com