Why Tongues 1 Series

Title: Baptism of the Holy Ghost – 2

“Why Tongues – 1”

Text: Mark 16:17

Last week we started a series on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Has anyone started to read the book that was given away last week? If there is anyone that has never received the baptism and does not have a copy of this book, I want to get it into your hands, so please let us know. We have more on order now, they should be coming in soon.

Last week we set a foundation for this series. I spent some extensive time explaining that tongues is the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost. We also learned that we don’t receive the baptism at the time of salvation, nor do we need the baptism in order to be saved. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a necessity in the believer’s life. However, it comes after salvation. Last week we talked about the believers who were filled in Samaria, the believers who were filled in the house of Cornelius, the believers who were filled in Ephesus and also talked about Paul’s experience of being filled with the Spirit. This morning and again tonight we are going to talk about 10 reasons why every believer should speak in tongues.

The Apostle Paul wrote wrote much about the subject of speaking in other tongues. He practiced what he preached for he wrote in I Corinthians 14:18; “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.” I, like Paul, thank God that I speak in tongues on a regular basis. There is hardly a day that goes by that I do not use my prayer language. The reason I am preaching this series is because it is my heart’s desire that every believer experience this gift the way that I have. I am hoping that we all begin to realize the source of power that each and every one of us have. Throughout the day today I want believers to see the blessing that can be yours through this wonderful gift of tongues.

I. TONGUES IS THE INITIAL SIGN

We already touched on this last week, but repeating helps get it inside.

Acts 2:4; “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The Word of God makes it very clear to us that when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. It is the initial sign of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, the first reason every believer should speak in tongues is because it is the supernatural evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling.

II. TONGUES IS FOR SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION

I Corinthians 14:4; “He that speak in an unknown tongue edifies himself;”

Paul is writing to the church of Corinth and he is encouraging them to continue the practice of speaking with other tongues in worshipping God and in their prayer lives as a means of spiritual edification.

Greek language scholars tell us that we have a word in our modern language that is much closer to the meaning of the original word edification. That word is “charged,” it is used in the sense of charging a battery. Therefore, we could paraphrase this verse, “He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies, charges, builds himself up like a battery.” How many could stand to be charged up a little? You’ve had a rough week, things seems to be wearing you down a little. The Bible says that when you speak in tongues, it gives you a charge up. We have a remote control car at home. After running it for a few minutes, it gets mighty slow. Some of you are running on that kind of steam. You dragged yourself out to church this morning. You drag yourself to work. It seems hard to get motivated at times. Well, I have good news for you. If you could learn to use your prayer language a little more often, it will charge you. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not going to make your hyperactive. But it will keep you upbeat. It will keep reminding you that you are an overcomer. It will keep reminding you that greater is He that is in you then he that is in the world. Speaking in tongues builds you up.

I Corinthians 14:2; “For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (KJV)

Weymouth’s translation of this verse says: “He speaks divine secrets.” God has given to the church a divine, supernatural means of communication with Himself.

I Corinthians 14:14; “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (KJV)