Reply To: Gifts of the Spirit – Week 1: (September 11th – September 17, 2016)

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Speaking in tongues is extremely important for every believer. First off, this is the sign confirming that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, that our comforter and guide is there with us as with the disciples on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. They received what Jesus told they would be baptized with in Acts 1:5 “but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost..”.   Jesus promised us in John 14:26 that the Comforter would come, He knew that we would need help.  We need the Holy Spirit to teach us, He knows all things, and to help us remember what God has said to us.  When we speak in tongues it builds us up in our spirit man 1 Cor. 14:4, because He’s there recharging us!  We’re built up knowing that we’re speaking to directly God as stated in 1 Cor. 14:2.  Every time we speak in our heavenly language, we’re having a chat with Daddy!  In addition, the more we speak in tongues, the more we are reminded that the Spirit is a forever presence in us (John 14:17).  The way we live our lives change, because we’re no longer flying solo.  He’s there as a front seat eyewitness to the way we go through our walk, and we most definitely don’t want to make decisions that would grieve Him (Eph.4:30).</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Speaking in tongues is also important to help us know that we’re speaking out things that are in line with God’s will.  Because the Holy Spirit is one with God and knows the heart of God, we can be sure that what we’re praying is what God wants.  The Holy Spirit will only pray “..according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27). Tongues also enables us to pray for things, situations, or people that are unknown to us but know to the Spirit.  Rom. 8:26-27 clearly states that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought”.  There are soo many things going on in this world, and there is no way for us to possibly know every situation, BUT Holy Spirit knows exactly what is needed when its needed.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Tongues is also instrumental in helping to build my faith in God, to trust Him more.  I have to trust and believe that the phrases or words coming from my mouth are being given to me from my Father.  It grows my confidence in him, which helps me to believe God for things in other areas of my life.  It keeps me “rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith..” (Col. 2:7).</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>As we go through our lives, there are soo many negative influences around us, and we need to speak in tongues to help us stay clear of being contaminated by the world.  God’s word in Rom. 12:2 warns us to “be not conformed to this world”, and the Holy Spirit helps to keep us free from all the surrounding ungodliness.  When we’re on the job, at the mall, even at the doctor’s office, and things are being presented to our eyes and ears that are not beneficial to our spirit man, we can pray in tongues to help keep un in check.  We can also speak in tongues to give glory to God in those same situations (1 Cor. 14:17).  Ephesians 5:19-20 shows us that in these moments, we can speak to ourselves and sing spiritual songs to Him, making a melody in our hearts to the Lord, which is a great way to block the outside distractions.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Our spirits are also refreshed when we speak in tongues!  God wants us to enter into his rest (Heb. 4:5), and the Holy Spirit takes us to that place where we can rest.  Isaiah 28: 11-12 makes it evident that speaking in tongues causes us to enter into a rest and a refreshing in our spirit.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Finally, we all know that the tongue is an unruly and we are told to “refrain our tongue from evil” in 1 Pet. 3:10.  Speaking in tongues helps us to give it over to the control of the Holy Spirit.  As the book of James says in chapter 3:8, no man can tame it.  The Holy Spirit is our only help in this area!</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>There is definitely a connection between the infilling of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit.  I’ve come to see that there is no way we can receive the gifts without having the Spirit within.  The Holy Spirit brings the gifts and operates them as He pleases, the gifts are not independent of Him.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I have been praying in the Spirit for about three or four years now, but I have not been consistent.  However, I have seen that I am stronger when I do.  I’m more inclined to pray in the spirit now because I have a better understanding of its importance in my life.  I see that its got to become more than just a once in awhile prayer, but my every minute of every day way of life.</p>