Do you want to boost your faith? Speaking in tongues is one of the best ways to do it! This spiritual gift is primarily meant to build you up in your faith (Jude 1:20). It aligns your thoughts with God’s Spirit, helping you to discern His leading more clearly. Everyone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit has the ability to speak in tongues. Want to learn how? Keep reading! But first, let’s take a look at the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The Difference Between the Holy Spirit ‘In’ You and ‘On’ You
Just to be clear: there is a difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to live in you the moment you repent and give your life to Jesus (Ephesians 2:1). He is the resurrection power that fills you from within, removes your old, sinful nature, and makes you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Holy Spirit in you leads you into all truth, reminding you that you are a child of God (John 16:13; Romans 8:16). He helps you in your weaknesses, comforts you, teaches you, and brings God’s Word to your remembrance (John 14:16; John 16:13; John 14:26). He enables you to live in the fullness and freedom that Jesus purchased for you on the cross (2 Corinthians 3:17).
But there is also the Holy Spirit on you.
Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV) says:
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”
At that point, the disciples were already born again and had received the Holy Spirit within them (John 20:22), but they had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit. That happens in the next chapter of Acts. This shows that the Holy Spirit in you is a completely different experience from the Holy Spirit on you.
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Your Life
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) says:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”
This passage shows that the primary purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to receive power to be a witness for Jesus. If you read Peter’s bold sermon in Acts 2, you’ll see the result: 3.000 people repented and were baptized that same day (Acts 2:37-41).
The Holy Spirit wants to baptize you, too, with His fire, boldness, and power (Matthew 3:11; Romans 8:15)! It will transform your life and make you a radical witness for Christ. You will no longer be afraid to openly speak about Jesus, and you won’t care what people think about you anymore.
One of the effects of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in tongues. This gift is available to every born-again Christian!
What Speaking in Tongues Does in You
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, the disciples immediately began speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). The same experience is available to you. Speaking in tongues—also called ‘tongues of angels’—is a spiritual gift that your mind cannot understand (1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:2). You don’t have to learn it, and you don’t have to earn it—it is a gift from the Holy Spirit that you can receive if you so desire.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit releases an anointing on your life to serve others. But speaking in tongues is primarily meant for yourself. It builds up the faith in your spirit (Jude 1:20). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that he prays in tongues often. However, he then goes on to explain that in a group setting, it’s better to prophesy because only God understands tongues.(1 Corinthians 14:2). Unless, of course, it is interpreted, which is a separate spiritual gift—the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10). But that’s a topic for another time.
Aside from strengthening your faith, speaking in tongues also quiets the chatter in your mind. Your thoughts become aligned with God’s Spirit as the Holy Spirit Himself prays through you. (Romans 8:26). Did you know you can also sing in tongues? (1 Corinthians 14:15)? Even in overwhelming situations where your mind is uncertain, praising God in tongues allows you to worship Him with your spirit.
Experience the Power of the Holy Spirit Like Never Before
Maybe you’re unsure if you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Maybe you still struggle with fear, worry about rejection, or feel hesitant to share Jesus openly with others. Get baptized in the Holy Spirit today and be filled with His power. Receive the gift of tongues and begin praying in tongues as often as you can. You’ll soon notice that all aspects of your faith walk will rise to a whole new level!
Activation
Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit by praying this prayer out loud:
“Father God, thank You for the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit because I have become Your child in Christ Jesus. Your Word says that You give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, and that Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, I ask You now—baptize me with the promise of the Father. Baptize me now with the Holy Spirit. Fill me as You have promised. I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit now, in Jesus’ Name. Clothe me with power from on high so that I may perform miracles and boldly testify to the Gospel of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Now, receive the gift of tongues by faith. You don’t need to feel anything first—just believe you’ve got it. Stop overthinking it and begin worshiping God. Let new sounds flow from your mouth. It may feel unfamiliar at first, but keep going. After five or ten minutes, you’ll notice that it will start to flow like rivers of living water from within you!
After all, God promises this in His Word.
Luke 11:13 (NKJV)
“If you then, being evil, 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!”
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