It is the will of God for every believer to speak in tongues. First Corinthians 14:2-4 shows us one of the tongues that is your prayer language. For those who say, “This doesn’t belong to me,” then my question would be, “Does edification belong to you as a Christian?” Of course.
So how can you receive this gift of speaking in tongues?
1. You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters” (John 7:38). It doesn’t say these rivers will flow out of the throne of God. Instead, you have this well, “a river of living waters,” that wants to be released through your mouth.
2. Relax. In Acts 2:2, it shows us the disciples were not striving, or kneeling and praying—they were sitting. Sitting is a relaxed position. Speaking in tongues is the Holy Spirit being released through you. It’s about surrendering. Rest in His love for you.
3. Your choice is involved. The Scripture says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak” (Acts 2:4). It does not say the Spirit spoke—they spoke in tongues. The Lord will not override your free will.
4. Your faith is needed. Some people believe something just comes over you and you begin to speak in tongues. That’s not the case; it takes faith to trust that God will add meaning to the sounds you release.
5. You must remove every fear that the tongues spoken are not from God. Luke 11:13 shows your heavenly Father is not going to give you a stone. He won’t fill you with a demonic entity when you ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Trust in God and in His Scripture.
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Vladimir Savchuk is the lead pastor of Hungry Generation Church and author of Break Free, Single, Ready to Mingle and Fight Back. He is also a founder of a virtual online school. To download free e-books, sermon series and small group study guides, go to vladimirsavchuk.com.
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