Talking In Tongues? NLM Whitehorse Yukon.

I believe God's word talks about this in Luke 12:49-53. 49 “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and I wish that my task were already completed! 50 There is a terrible baptism ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to bring strife and division! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favour of me, and two against—or the other way around. 53 There will be a division between father and son, mother and daughter, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.” (NLT)

I'm not talking just about the born again Christian experience, but the next step.

When we find out the truth about something, sometimes even though we know it as truth, it can be hard to accept. Or sometimes we refuse to change what we believe simply because we have believed that way for so long. We may say; "why change now, what will my friends think, what will my co. workers think? I have heard so many reasons for not accepting the truth that I have lost count. Really, they are excuses, rather than reasons.

When new information comes our way we all face "the time of decision". Do we accept the information as truth, and admit we did not know it all - allowing us to grow from it? Or do we protect the image we have of ourselves and what we "believe" others see us as... and do nothing? The one thing that really made a difference in my life - that literally saved my life so many times - the huge revelation that set me free - the knowledge that was the key to all knowledge... "I don't know it all and God is smarter than me"!

Whenever I come up against a decision or a new piece of information - I can say... "I don't know it all and God is smarter than me". Isaiah 55:8-9 reads 8 “My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

We have all heard the term universal language or official language: when referring to the most used language in a certain country, right? What language does God speak? If we are English we think He speaks English. If we are French we feel God speaks French and so on. When we pray we pray in the language we understand & when God speaks to us, He speaks in the language we speak and understand.

The one event that determines whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell is the decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and saviour. Christianity, to be a Christian is not about whether you go to church or not, it is about a decision. When we accept Jesus into our heart and receive the salvation He provided on the cross of Calvary we become, born again, as Jesus refers to it in John 3:1-7 while talking to Nicodemus...

"1 After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, 2 came to speak with Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. 7 So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again" (NLT).

The born again experience is a supernatural experience that we as humans can not fully comprehend. As we receive it as truth, by faith, our eternal destiny is determined. So many Christians stop there and think that is all there is. I'll just be good - go to church and live happily ever after. Do you know that is not reality; life happens to each and everyone of us between the time we become born again and the time we leave this earth. It's not always pleasant times either, right?

It wasn't God's plan that we get born again and then leave us to fend for ourselves. He provided all we need to live each day in victory, total health and prosperity in every area of our lives - heaven on earth. God wants us to study His word and walk daily in all His provision and power. So many Christian's prayer life is powerless, they feel frustrated when praying because they don't know what to pray or how to pray about situations that arise in their lives.

In God's Word we read in Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will". (NLT)

Rena Mae & I attended a service in Fred Price's church in Anaheim California via Internet. Pastor Creflo Dollar said "wisdom is knowing what to do when you don't know what to do". "The wisdom of God is the Word of God". When we speak in tongues, we speak mysteries, hidden secrets, the wisdom of God. God allows us to speak these secrets for our benefit. Yet, when some Christians hear about being baptized in the Holy Ghost, they come up with all kinds of reasons, excuses really, as to why they continue to do what they always have done.

I mentioned before when new information comes our way we all face "the time of decision". Do we accept the information as truth, and admit we did not know it all - allowing us to grow from it? Or do we protect the image we have of ourselves or what we "believe" others see us as? Personally I want to protect the image God has of me, not how I see myself or what I believe others see me as... Amen?

When I first heard of the baptism in the Spirit I took my position as man of the house. I said, "Lord if this is truly of you give it to Rena Mae first". The truth is He honoured my prayer and she did receive the gift first. I believe one of the reasons the Baptism in the Holy Spirit has been so controversial is that Satan realizes the power that comes with this experience and he doesn't want the church to be in unity and realize the full power of God on this earth.

The church is entering into more revelation, more power, more anointing than ever before. So what am I talking about? I'm talking about the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. In Acts 1:4-5 we read; "4 In one of these meetings as He (Jesus) was eating a meal with them, He told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (NLT)

Continuing in in Acts 2:1-4; "1 On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability". (NLT)

Something real happened that day. These followers of Jesus, Born again Christians, experienced something they did not understand. When they where filled - there was a sign; what was that sign? The sign to them and to whoever heard them was - speaking with tongues or languages that they did not know before the event.

Let us look at more examples in Acts 8:14-17 we read; "14 When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit". (NLT)

Acts 10:44-46 "44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles, too. 46 And there could be no doubt about it, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” (NLT)

Acts 19:1-6 "1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior provinces. Finally, he came to Ephesus, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we don’t know what you mean. We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was to demonstrate a desire to turn from sin and turn to God. John himself told the people to believe in Jesus, the one John said would come later.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. (NLT)

Mark 16:17 "17 These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages." (NLT)

Quoting Kenneth Hagin he said; "speaking with tongues is an initial supernatural sign or evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling. It is the beginning of it all. I have found in my own life that the more I pray and worship God in tongues, the more manifestation of other gifts of the Spirit I have. The less I talk in tongues, the less manifestation I have. Speaking in tongues is the door into the rest of the spiritual gifts." This statement says so much to me. We respect and have gained so much knowledge through Kenneth Hagin's Ministry and from many others that have studied under him. The body of Christ, the Church, has been lifted to another level because of this man's revelation in the Word Of God.

Kenneth Hagin's mini book titled "Why Tongues" gives us some answers. When we speak in our Heavenly language, we edify or charge ourselves. We stir up our faith.

1 Corinthians 14:2 "2 For if your gift is the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking to God but not to people, since they won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious". (NLT)

Tongues is the official language that God speaks. Satan does not understand it, we don't understand it either, but God will give us the interpretation if we ask Him to. Tongues reminds us of the Spirit of God within us. John 14:16-17 "16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't’t looking for him and doesn't’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you". (NLT)

Praying in tongues is praying in line with God's perfect will. Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will". (NLT)

Kenneth Hagin said "speaking in tongues keeps selfishness out of our prayers". 1 Corinthians 14:14 "14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying". (NLT) We do the talking, He gives us the utterance. When we pray in tongues it is our Spirit praying; by the Holy Spirit within us. When we pray in tongues it stimulates Faith. We see this in Jude 20 "20 But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

Speaking in tongues helps keep us from worldly contamination. Whenever we are in a situation that we can overhear ungodly conversation we can quietly pray in tongues and speak to God from our Spirit and not have to be a part of the worldly talk. Praying in tongues gives Spiritual refreshing. We see this in Isaiah 28:11-12 "11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear". (NLT)

1 Corinthians 14:15 reads "15 Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand" (NLT).

That is the decision I made when I believed God's word and accepted the Baptism in His precious Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 "17 These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” (NLT)

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God. He gives us the words, but it is up to us to speak them. God doesn't force it on us we must believe His word and ask Him for this wonderful gift, but more than that we must receive it. If someone says I have a gift for you, it doesn't become a blessing, until we receive it. Do you want to receive the free gift from God - the Baptism in the Holy Ghost? First of all you need to be born again. Like I explained earlier to be born again you must make a decision to believe Jesus died on the cross for all the sins of the world. By His death and resurrection, we have eternal life. For more information see "My Friend Jesus".

Second, if you are born again and you want this free gift today, read this prayer out loud and believe you receive. Jesus will fill you with His Spirit and you will speak in other tongues, as the bible says as a sign of His Spirit within you. After you pray this prayer just begin to worship God with all your heart. Tell him how much you love Him. Express your gratefulness for all that He has done and all that He is. As you continue to express your admiration yield to the word or words that come up inside you. Speak them out of your mouth. It may be words you don't understand or maybe at first just short syllables. In the natural a new born must learn to talk, with some people you will need to learn to yield to your heavenly language.

Jesus I believe you are the only Son of God. I believe you came to earth and took upon yourself the sins of the world, my sins, so that I may live for eternity with you. I believe you took my sickness so I may have health. I believe you took on yourself the curse of debt so I may have all my needs met. Jesus you are my Lord. I choose to believe your Word and accept you this day as my Lord and saviour.

Jesus I ask you to baptize me in your precious Holy Spirit. I believe, that as I receive your baptism, I'll speak in other tongues according to your Word. Jesus please baptize me now. Lord I receive all that you have for me. Fill me now.