Why Tongues 2 Series

Title: Baptism of the Holy Ghost – 3

“Why Tongues – 2”

Text: Mark 16:17

Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, “Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.”

Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man shouted, “Suck it out with a pump!” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.

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 we started talking about 10 reasons why every believer should speak in tongues. We are going to go a little further in this evening’s message. This morning we got to 3 reasons why every believer should speak in tongues.

The first reason every believer should speak in tongues is because tongues is the initial sign that you are filled with the Holy Ghost. It is also important that every believer speak in tongues because tongues are for spiritual edification. We learned that edify is actually to build up or to charge like a battery. Speaking in tongues builds you up in your Christian walk. Speaking in tongues also reminds us that we have the Holy Ghost residing on the inside of us. It reminds us of the Spirit’s indwelling presence.

A minister’s twelve-year-old daughter once lost her temper and was talking rudely and hatefully to her mother. A visiting evangelist overheard the scene. When the girl looked up and saw him, knowing he had witnessed her tantrum, she was embarrassed and broke into tears. “I’m so sorry you saw me act this way and heard what I said,” she cried. “Honey,” he said, “there is One greater then I am who saw you and heard you. You are a Christian aren’t you?” “Yes.” “And filled with the Spirit?” He asked. “Yes.” “Well then, the Holy Ghost is in you. He knows what you said and how you acted. But if you repent, the Lord will forgive you.” They prayed together. She repented and in a little while began to worship God in tongues.

Then he said to her, “Here is a secret that will help curb your temper. If you will pray and worship God every day in tongues, it will help you to be conscious of the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost. If you will remember that He is in you, you won’t act that way.”

Some years later the evangelist returned to preach at the church, and the pastor’s daughter told him, “I have never forgotten what you said. Every day for the past few years I have prayed and worshipped God in tongues and I have never lost my temper again.”

We can learn a lot from that story. Unfortunately, we all know people who have been filled with the Holy Ghost, yet still lose their tempter and say and do things they know they shouldn’t. Have you ever met anyone like that? It is so easy, when we are not aware of the presence of the Holy Ghost and resides in us, to become irritated and frustrated. It is so easy to lose our cool when we forget that the Lord is with us everywhere we go and He hears everything we say. When you are constantly aware of the Spirit’s presence in your life, it becomes a lot harder to sin. Tongues remind us of that indwelling presence.

IV. PRAYING IN TONGUES IS PRAYING IN LINE WITH GOD’S PERFECT WILL

Romans 8:26-27; ¶ “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”