Levels Of Praying In Tongues? The 61 Top Answers

After being baptized in the Holy Spirit, how do you activate speaking in tongues?

A heavenly prayer language is available to every believer baptized in the Holy Spirit.

This language is referred to as praying in the spirit, praying in tongues, or speaking in tongues. So how do you start speaking in tongues?

Speaking in tongues can be activated anytime after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. To activate speaking in tongues, simply switch from praying in your native tongue to praying in your heavenly language by saying aloud the syllables that come from your mind.

It might sound stupid at first, but it’s ok. Keep going.

The more you pray in tongues, the more developed the language becomes. It’s getting easier and easier to transition to praying in tongues. It literally becomes a second language to you.

This spiritual language exists in every believer who has been filled with the Holy Spirit. Don’t doubt it’s in you.

The ability to pray in tongues is there, but you must activate it. you must speak The Holy Spirit will not take control of your mouth. You have to move your jaw and tongue and pronounce the syllables of your mind.

If you have never prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, stop now and ask the Lord for this incredible gift!

Prayer for the baptism in the Holy Spirit

How do you activate the gift of tongues?

Some people begin praying in tongues as soon as they are filled with the Holy Spirit. This is ideal and immediately available to everyone. But some people have trouble using their prayer language right away because they have received bad teachings about speaking in tongues in the past. If that’s you, then that’s fine.

Here are some tips to help you activate speaking in tongues:

Start thanking God for giving you the ability to speak in tongues. Keep praising and thanking Him in your native language. When you hear certain sounds coming out of your mind, start saying them.

Turn on the worship music and start worshiping God. Relax your tongue and let the syllables come up.

Read the written word until you feel another language spring up. Start saying that out loud.

Listen to someone else praying in tongues and try to “imitate” their language until your own language comes out. Yours won’t be the same as theirs, but sometimes that helps.

Pray in your native language until you feel another language appear. Relax your tongue and jaw and start saying it.

Ask another Spirit-filled believer to pray in tongues with you

The more you practice speaking in tongues, the more natural it becomes. It’s like learning another language. At first it just sounds like a few broken syllables, but eventually you will become fluent. Keep it up! The present is here.

Can speaking in tongues be taught?

Speaking in tongues cannot be taught because every Spirit-filled believer has their own unique prayer language.

This language comes from the Holy Spirit, not from man. There is no one who can teach you this language. However, if you are having trouble activating the gift, listening to someone else pray in tongues may help.

You can mimic another person’s tongue at first if that helps, but eventually your prayer language will sound different from theirs. You will know when your own language has taken over.

How do I know if I’m speaking in tongues?

At first, you may not be sure if the sounds coming out of your mouth are actually tongues. You will have thoughts like “I’m just making this up”. That’s common. Just go on. Your brain cannot understand what is going on. Just keep practicing and sooner or later you will know for sure that this is your prayer language.

It is your own unique language, so praying in tongues will not sound like other people. But it will sound like your language.

You’ll know you’re speaking in tongues because it starts to sound like a language.

Each time you pray in tongues, it will sound very similar, if not exactly the same, as the last time you spoke in tongues. This is your unique language and you speak directly to God!

For whoever speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; in spirit, however, he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2

You don’t have to wait until you have a strong anointing that overwhelms you to pray in tongues. You can pray in the Spirit anytime, anywhere. You can turn it on and off at any time.

If you’re bilingual, you know you can switch from one language to another at will. It is the same with your heavenly language.

There may be times when you feel particularly impressed about praying in tongues. Follow this impression and pray! But you don’t have to wait for that feeling to pray in the Spirit. The Bible encourages us to pray in the spirit all the time!

always praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18

Who Can Interpret Tongues?

Paul encourages us to pray for the interpretation of our personal prayer language.

Therefore let him who speaks in tongues pray that he may interpret. For when I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren. 1 Corinthians 14:13-14

When we pray in tongues we do not understand what is being said, but when we interpret this hidden wisdom becomes a revelation for our minds to receive. The interpretation may not come right now, but it will come in different forms if we believe in it.

This differs from the public use of tongues for the edification of the church. This is when someone speaks a message in tongues and someone else interprets it. When someone speaks a message in tongues in a church service, it has to be interpreted. This interpretation is a gift of the Holy Spirit. This is different from our own personal prayer language.

If anyone speaks in tongues, it may be two or three at most, each in turn, and one translates. But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

Why is speaking in tongues important?

Speaking in tongues is important because it allows direct communication between your spirit and God. It should be a part of everyday life for a Christian. Paul said he prayed in tongues more than all the Corinthians.

I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all; 1 Corinthians 14:18

Probably Paul received so many revelations! When you pray in tongues you edify yourself until your spirit is able to receive spiritual revelation. You will be able to understand spiritual things and understand the written word like never before.

He who speaks in tongues builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4

When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit inspires the words and allows you to communicate with the Father directly from your spirit, without the interference of your natural mind. This gift of tongues allows you to pray perfect prayers! It builds you up in your most sacred faith and releases the hidden wisdom of God.

But you, beloved, build upon your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20

Isaiah prophesied that God would speak to his people in this language of the spirit.

For with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people, to whom he said: “This is the rest with which you can put the weary to rest” and: “This is refreshment”; But they didn’t want to listen. Isaiah 28:11-12

Note that speaking in tongues will bring calm and refreshment! Regular prayer in the Spirit will strengthen your immune system, keep you in tune with the Holy Spirit, and protect you from being deceived by misleading teachings and untruths.

When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s personal plan for your life! The Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth.

However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will lead you into all truth; for he will not speak of his own accord, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things that are to come. John 16:13

There are so many reasons why praying in tongues is important that I have devoted an entire article to discussing it entitled 9 Reasons We Need to Pray in Tongues.

Is praying in tongues for everyone?

Prayer has been an integral part of Christianity since its beginnings. Prayer is an integral part of the Christian faith and permeates all forms of Christian worship.[1][2] Prayer in Christianity is the tradition of communicating with God, either in God’s fullness or as one of the Persons of the Trinity.[1]

In the early Church, worship was inseparable from doctrine, reflected in the statement: lex orandi, lex credendi, i. H. the law of faith is the law of prayer.[3] The Lord’s Prayer was an essential element of early Christian meetings, and over time a variety of Christian prayers arose.[4][5]

As early as the 2nd century, Christians indicated the direction of prayer to the east by placing a Christian cross on the east wall of their home or church and prostrating before it while praying at seven fixed prayer times.[6][7][]8]

Christian prayers are diverse and may vary by Christian denomination. This can be public prayers (e.g. in the context of the liturgy) or private prayers by a person (e.g. praying the seven canonical hours with a breviary).[1] Prayers can be offered as worship, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (abbreviated as ACTS).[9][2][10]

A broad, three-level hierarchical characterization of prayer begins with vocal prayer, then moves to a more structured form related to Christian meditation, and finally reaches the many levels of contemplative prayer.[11][12] Contemplative prayer follows Christian meditation and is the highest form of prayer aimed at achieving close spiritual union with God. Both Eastern and Western Christian teachings have emphasized the use of meditative prayer as an element in expanding one’s knowledge of Christ.[13][14][15][16]

Development of the three stages of prayer[edit]

Early Christianity[edit]

Prayer and reading the Scriptures were important elements of early Christianity. In the early Church, worship was inseparable from doctrine, reflected in the statement: lex orandi, lex credendi, i. H. the law of faith is the law of prayer.[3] Early Christian liturgies emphasize the importance of prayer.[17]

The Lord’s Prayer was an essential element in the congregations of the very early Christians, and it was spread by them as they preached Christianity in new lands.[4] Over time, a variety of prayers were developed as the production of early Christian literature intensified.[10]

By the 3rd century Origen had held the view that “Scripture is a sacrament.”[18] Origen’s methods of interpreting and praying over Scripture were learned from Ambrose of Milan, who taught them to Saint Augustine towards the end of the 4th century, thereby introducing them to the monastic traditions of the Western Church.[19][20 ]

Early models of Christian monastic life emerged in the fourth century when the Desert Fathers began seeking God in the deserts of Palestine and Egypt.[21][22] These early communities gave rise to the tradition of a Christian life of “continuous prayer” in a monastic setting, which eventually led to meditative practices in the Eastern Church during the Byzantine period.[22]

Meditation in the Middle Ages[edit]

During the Middle Ages, the monastic traditions of both Western and Eastern Christianity moved beyond aloud prayer to Christian meditation. These advances gave rise to two distinct and distinct meditation practices: Lectio Divina in the West and Hesychasm in the East. Hesychasm involves the repetition of the Jesus prayer, but lectio divina uses different scriptures at different times, and although a passage may be repeated a number of times, lectio divina is not repetitive in nature.

read, meditate, pray, think. The four movements of the Lectio divina

In the Western Church, in the sixth century, Saint Benedict and Pope Gregory I introduced the formal methods of biblical prayer called Lectio Divina.[24] Under the motto ora et labora (i.e. pray and work), daily life in a Benedictine monastery consisted of three elements: liturgical prayer, manual labor and lectio divina, a silent devotional reading of the Bible.[25] This slow and thoughtful reading of Scripture and the subsequent contemplation of its meaning was her meditation.[26]

In the early 12th century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was instrumental in reemphasizing the importance of Lectio Divina within the Cistercian order.[27] Bernard also emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in contemplative prayer, likening it to a kiss from the Eternal Father that enables union with God.[28]

The progression from Bible reading to meditation to loving respect for God was first officially described by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk who died in the late 12th century.[29] Guigo II’s book The Ladders of the Monks is considered to be the first description of methodical prayer in the western mystical tradition.[30]

In Eastern Christianity, the monastic traditions of “constant prayer” dating back to the Desert Fathers and Evagrius Ponticus established the practice of hesychasm and influenced the 7th-century book The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus. These meditative prayers were promoted and encouraged by Saint Gregory Palamas in the 14th century.[15][22]

Priest reading from the Holy Scriptures in preparation for meditation and contemplative prayer

From meditation to contemplative prayer

In the western church, reforms of the clergy and monastic institutions were carried out in the 15th century by the two Venetians Lorenzo Giustiniani and Louis Barbo. Both men viewed methodical prayer and meditation as essential tools for the reforms they were conducting.[32] Barbo, who died in 1443, wrote a treatise on prayer entitled Forma orationis et meditionis, also known as the modus meditandi. He described three types of prayer; voice prayer, best suited for beginners; meditation aimed at advanced learners; and contemplation as the highest form of prayer, attainable only after the meditation stage. At the request of Pope Eugene IV, Barbo introduced these methods to Valladolid, Spain, and at the end of the 15th century they were used in the Abbey of Montserrat. These methods then influenced Garcias de Cisneros, who in turn influenced Ignatius of Loyola.

The Eastern Orthodox Church has a similar three-tier prayer hierarchy.[35][36] Again, the first level prayer is vocal prayer, the second level is meditation (also called “inner prayer” or “discursive prayer”), and the third level is contemplative prayer, in which a much closer relationship with God is cultivated. [35]

Hierarchy of prayer forms[ edit ]

prayer [edit]

Prayer is an integral part of the Christian faith and permeates all forms of Christian worship.[1][2] Prayer in Christianity is the tradition of communicating with God, either in God’s fullness or as one of the Persons of the Trinity.[1] Christian prayers are diverse and may vary by Christian denomination. These can be public prayers (e.g. as part of the liturgy) or private prayers by a person.[1]

The most common prayer among Christians is the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples to pray according to the Gospel accounts (e.g., Matthew 6:9-13).[37] The Lord’s Prayer is a model for worship, confession and petition prayers in Christianity.[37]

The first centuries of Christianity witnessed an intense growth of religious literature, often involving prayer.[10] The prayers recorded in early Christian literature can be divided into six types: supplication (including intercession), thanksgiving, blessing (or benediction), praise, confession, and finally a small number of lamentations.[10] The first five of these types have survived through the centuries and have been expressed in a large number of Christian prayers.[2] However, some prayers may combine some of these forms, e.g. Praise and thanks, etc.[2][10]

meditation [edit]

Christian meditation is a structured attempt to contact and consciously reflect on the revelations of God.[38] The word meditation comes from the Latin word meditārī, which has a number of meanings including reflecting, studying, and practicing. Christian meditation is the process of consciously focusing on a particular thought (e.g., a Scripture passage) and reflecting on its meaning in the context of God’s love.[39]

In the 20th century, the practice of Lectio Divina moved out of the monastic setting and reached lay Christians in the Western Church.[40] Regardless, meditation on the rosary remains one of the most widespread and popular spiritual practices among Catholics.[41]

While meditation in the Western Church was built on the foundations of Lectio Divina, a different form of meditative practice arose within Eastern Christianity during the Byzantine period as the practice of hesychasm gained a following, particularly on Mount Athos in Greece. Promoted by Saint Gregory Palamas in the 14th century, hesychasm remains a part of Eastern Christian spirituality.

Both Eastern and Western Christian teachings have emphasized the use of Christian meditation as an element in expanding one’s knowledge of Christ.[13][14][15][16] Christian meditation aims to strengthen the personal relationship based on the love of God that characterizes the Christian community.[43][44] It is the middle level in a broad three-level characterization of prayer: it involves more reflection than first-level oral prayer, but is more structured than the many levels of contemplation in Christianity.[11]

contemplation [edit]

Sometimes there may not be a clearly defined boundary between Christian meditation and Christian contemplation, and they overlap. Meditation serves as the foundation on which the contemplative life stands, the practice by which one enters the state of contemplation.[45]

In discursive meditation, mind and imagination and other skills are actively used to understand our relationship with God.[46][47] In contemplative prayer, this activity is limited, so contemplation has been described as “a glimpse of faith,” “a quiet love.”[48]

See also[edit]

References[ edit ]

Roman Catholic beliefs on Christian prayer

This article is about Roman Catholic beliefs about Christian prayer. For an overview of prayer in Christianity as a whole, see the article on Christian prayer

In the Catholic Church, prayer is “the lifting up of one’s mind and heart to God, or asking good things from God.”[1] It is an act of the religion’s moral virtue, which Catholic theologians identify as part of the cardinal virtue of the Justice.[2]

The prayer can be expressed vocally or mentally. The prayer can be said or sung. Spiritual prayer can be either meditation or contemplation. The basic forms of prayer are worship, repentance, thanksgiving and supplication, abbreviated as A.C.T.S.[3]

The Liturgy of the Hours, the seven canonical hours of the Catholic Church prayed at fixed prayer times, is recited daily by clergy, religious and devout believers.[4][5]

Daily prayer[edit]

In the Catholic Church, the laity are encouraged to pray daily the canonical hours contained in the Liturgy of the Hours, which are performed at seven fixed times of prayer. Clergy and religious are obliged to pray the prayer of the day.[4] Sources commonly used for praying the Liturgy of the Hours include the full four-volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours, the one-volume Christian Prayer Book, and various apps on mobile devices.[5]

Teachings about prayer[edit]

The Roman Catholic teachings on the subject of prayer are contained in the Catechism, where, to quote John of Damascus, prayer is defined as “…lifting up one’s mind and heart to God, or asking good things from God”. Thérèse of Lisieux describes the prayer as “…a surge of heart; it is a simple gaze to heaven, it is a cry of approval and love, encompassing both trial and joy.”[1]

Through prayer one recognizes God’s power and goodness and one’s own need and dependency. It is therefore an act of virtue in religion, which implies the deepest reverence for God and accustoms a person to expect everything from him. Prayer presupposes faith in God and hope in his goodness. In both, God to whom one prays moves the individual to prayer.[6]

Prayer Expressions[ edit ]

voice prayer [edit]

Prayer can be divided into vocal and mental types. Voiced prayer is that which is done using an accepted form of words, read or recited; such as the Sign of the Cross, the Liturgy of the Hours (worship), the Angelus, grace before and after meals, etc. Spiritual prayer is that which is performed without the use of words or formula. Catholics are exhorted to beware of underestimating the utility or necessity of aloud prayer. Common chant prayers include the Lord’s Prayer (Vater Unser, Pater Noster), the Ave Maria (Ave Maria, Angelic Salutation), the Glory Be (Gloria Patri, Minor Doxology), and the Apostles’ Creed (Symbolum Apostolorum).

Catholics consider loud prayer an essential element of the Christian life. The chanted prayer can be as simple and uplifting as “Thank you, God, for this beautiful morning” or as formal as a mass celebrating a very special occasion.[7]

When two or more people gather to pray, their prayer is called congregational prayer. Examples of congregational prayers are the Rosary, devotional prayers including novenas and litanies, class prayers and especially the Mass.[7]

song [edit]

Ambrosius introduced the antiphonal singing of the Psalms “in the Oriental style” in Milan.[8]

Spiritual prayer[edit]

Spiritual prayer was defined by John A. Hardon in his Modern Catholic Dictionary as a form of prayer in which the feelings expressed are one’s own and not those of another person. Spiritual prayer is a form of prayer in which one loves God by speaking to him, pondering his words, and pondering him.[9] It is a time of stillness that focuses on God and one’s relationship with Him. It differs from oral prayer, which uses set prayers, although mental prayer can be continued through the use of oral prayer to enhance dialogue with God.[10] Spiritual prayer can be divided into meditation or active spiritual prayer; and contemplation, passive spiritual prayer.[11]

meditation [edit]

Meditation is a form of reflective prayer that involves thoughts, imagination, emotions and desires. There are as many methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters.[12] Ordinary or active spiritual prayer consists of two operations; one belongs to the mind that uses imagination, memory, and understanding to consider a truth or a mystery. The other operation depends on the will, compelling one to love, desire, and ask for the good suggested by the mind, and to make resolutions to attain it. According to Teresa of Ávila, at this stage the soul is like a gardener who laboriously draws water from the depths of the well to water his plants and flowers.[13]

contemplation [edit]

Contemplative prayer is a silent mindfulness contemplating God by contemplating and worshiping His attributes. Teresa describes contemplative prayer [oración mental] as “…nothing but close sharing among friends; it means frequently taking time to be alone with him whom we know loves us”. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is on the Lord Himself.[14] Contemplation, like all prayer, is a mere gift and not something that can be achieved.[15]

Forms of prayer[edit]

The tradition of the Catholic Church emphasizes four basic elements of Christian prayer: (1) prayer of adoration/blessing, (2) prayer of repentance/penitence, (3) prayer of thanksgiving/gratitude, and (4) prayer of supplication/request /Intercession. These elements are easy to remember using the acronym ACTS: Worship, Repentance, Thanksgiving, Prayer.[3]

Worship is man’s first attitude, acknowledging that he is a creature before God. Worship is the form of prayer that most directly recognizes that God is God. It praises and honors God for himself, far beyond what he does, but simply because he is.[16]

In its broadest applications, the word “blessing” has a variety of meanings in scriptures. It can be taken in a sense synonymous with praise; says the psalmist: “I will praise the Lord always; praise will always be in my mouth.”[17][18] The prayer of blessing expresses praise and honor for God and is man’s response to God’s gifts.

Repentance is sincere regret or regret for sin,[19] the determination to avoid sin in the future,[20] and the turning of the heart to God,[21] with hope in His mercy[22] and trust in the help of his grace.[23][24] Repentance is similarly a sorrow of the soul and abhorrence for the sin committed, together with a determination not to sin again.[25] The Catholic Church also offers the sacrament of penance, through which members can receive forgiveness of their sins from Jesus Christ through his ordained priests, according to the words of Jesus Christ to his apostles: “Whose sins ye shall forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins you shall keep, they shall keep.”[26]

Gratitude is thanking God for what He has given and done.[27]

Catholics pray the Lord’s Prayer in Mexico

A supplication is a request to God asking Him to fill a need.[28] Through supplication, Catholics confess their dependence on God. This expression is not intended to instruct or instruct God what to do, but to appeal to his goodness for the things we need; and the appeal is necessary, not because he is ignorant of his own needs or feelings, but in order to give a definite form to his desires, to focus his whole attention on what is recommended to him, to help one in our close personal relationship appreciate him. The expression need not be physical or vocal; internal or mental is sufficient.[6] Supplication is, at its core, an act of faith, since the one who prays must first believe in the existence of God; and second, that God is willing and able to grant the request. The catechism states that asking for forgiveness, combined with trusting humility, should be the first phrase of a supplication (see repentance above). Jesus said that we should bring all our needs before God in His name and assured that “whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you” (John 16:23). You can ask for God’s help in every need, no matter how big or small. According to the Catechism, Christ is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name.[29]

Intercession is a supplication that leads to praying like Jesus. He is the only great intercessor with the Father on behalf of all people, especially sinners. As the body of Christ, we are also called to intercede for one another[30] and are encouraged to seek intercessory prayers from those members of the body of Christ who have preceded us[31][32] and are in heaven[33] [34] and from the holy angels .[35][36] Mary, Mother of Christ and our Mother[37] is especially asked to intercede for us because of her communion with her Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and our devotion to her, to the saints, to the holy angels. and to one another, does not lessen, but increases the understanding that Christ remains, above all, the Head of the body of Christ and the One Great Advocate before Our Father in Heaven.

Psalms [edit]

The Psalms have always been an important part of the Catholic liturgy. From earliest times to the present day, Christians have viewed the Old Testament as the forerunner of Christ. The evangelists cite the words of the Psalms as on the lips of Jesus during his passion. In this sense, ancient monks and nuns in the Egyptian desert heard the voice of Jesus in all of the Psalms. They believed that the Psalms were written by King David, but they also believed that the pre-existent Christ inspired David to write the Psalms (Ps. 110:1). For this reason they prayed the entire Psalter daily. This tradition has grown and changed, but it still lives on, true to the old practice. In Christian monasteries and many religious houses around the world, professed men and women gather three to seven times a day to pray the Psalms.[38]

The Liturgy of the Hours focuses on singing or reciting the Psalms. Early Catholics also used the Psalms in their individual prayers. By the end of the Middle Ages it was not unknown for lay people to sing along to the Lesser Office of Our Lady, which was an abbreviated version of the Liturgy of the Hours and provided for a fixed daily cycle of twenty-five psalms being recited.

Devotions [ edit ]

Devotions are prayers or devotional exercises used to demonstrate reverence for a particular aspect of God or the person of Jesus, or for a particular saint.[39] Catholic devotions take various forms, from formalized prayers such as novenas to activities that do not involve prayer such as Eucharistic adoration, veneration of the saints, and even horticultural practices such as tending a Marian garden. Common examples of Catholic devotions are the Rosary, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Sacred Face of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the veneration of various saints, etc. The Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican publishes a register of devotions and devotional practices.[40 ] The Rosary is a devotional meditation on the mysteries of the joys, sorrows and glory of Jesus and Mary. Lucia dos Santos said: “The Most Holy Virgin, in these last times in which we live, has given a new efficacy to praying the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem no matter how difficult it is, temporal or higher anything spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, our families… that cannot be solved through the rosary I tell you there is no problem, I tell you no matter how difficult it is that we cannot solve through prayer of the Holy Rosary.” [41] In his 2002 encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II emphasized that the ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be transformed or “transfigured” into Christ, and the Rosary helps those believers to draw nearer to Christ by contemplating Christ 42]

Spiritual bouquet [ edit ]

A spiritual bouquet is a collection of prayers and spiritual acts given or offered for a specific purpose.[43][44]

Learning to pray[edit]

Although many promises are associated with prayer, Pope John Paul II, in his book The Way to Christ, warned against “mechanical prayer” and pointed to the need for self-reflection before prayer.[45] And in his message for the 42nd “World Day of Prayer” he said:

“We must learn to pray: learn this art again and again, so to speak, from the mouth of the divine master himself, like the first disciples: ‘Lord, teach us to pray!’ (Luke 11:1).”[46]

In the Catholic tradition there are many legends about the power of persistent prayer. In the fourth century, Monica of Hippo is said to have prayed for the conversion of her son Augustine for fourteen years[47] and he eventually became an influential figure in Christian thought.

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

This article deals specifically with the biblical benefits of speaking in tongues and is not intended to be an exhaustive study of the subject of tongues or the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I have an extensive free online Bible course on the Holy Spirit that also covers Spirit baptism and speaking in tongues.

Also if you have questions about tongues; for example “is tongues for everyone or for today?”, “what is the connection between the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues” or “what is the baptism in the Holy Spirit and is it relevant for us today?” (or similar questions) ; please see the other articles on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as we address issues that people question, doubt, or struggle with in this area.

The gift of tongues is a powerful gift from God that enables us to communicate with God directly from our spirit, without the hindrances of the flesh. Jesus made this gift available to us when he rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God.

This gift of tongues is for every individual Christian. The Lord never intended that His people should forego this precious gift under the New Covenant. In fact, it was even prophesied in the book of Isaiah.

For with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people, Isaiah 28:11

To receive the gift of tongues, ask the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The gift of tongues comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The only requirement is that you are a born again Christian.

When we speak in tongues, we are speaking directly to God from our spirit man, and we are praying to the hidden wisdom of God. For more information on the amazing benefits of speaking in tongues, visit Is Tongues Real?

For whoever speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries 1 Corinthians 14:2

Receive salvation before you speak in tongues

The only requirement to receive the gift of speaking in tongues is that you receive salvation and become a born again Christian.

This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That means you believe that He is the Son of God and that He came in the flesh and died for your sins. It also means you believe that God raised him from the dead.

When you receive salvation, your spirit person is immediately recreated as holy, righteous, and born of God. You literally become a child of God. You become an entirely new creation. Your old spirit dies and you become brand new.

So if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are gone; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This means no matter where you are from, what nationality you are, or what background you are, if you call on the name of the Lord you will be saved.

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. Romans 10:13

that if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

There is no sin too bad to be forgiven and receive salvation. There is nothing that can disqualify you. When Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world on the cross, he also took upon himself every bit of your sin.

If you have not already taken this step, you must become a Christian before you can receive the gift of speaking in tongues. To read more about salvation, including a sample prayer to receive salvation, read Salvation by Faith: Exactly What It Means.

How to pray for the gift of tongues

Once you have received salvation, you can now ask Jesus for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is a separate experience from salvation, but should be your immediate next step. John the Baptist prophesied that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be given by Jesus.

I baptize you with water to repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to wear. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

When you pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, believe that when you pray you receive. Just as you received salvation as a gift, you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a gift. This requires faith, just like everything else we receive from God.

So if you are wicked and know how to give your children good gifts, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

You may not feel anything when you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Some people feel and some don’t. It doesn’t matter if you feel something. You can be assured that you will receive it when you ask for it.

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8

The ability to pray in tongues is given to each individual who receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts we see that the ability to speak in tongues always came with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit expressed them. Acts 2:4

And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6

If someone who has already been baptized in the Holy Ghost is available to pray with you and lay hands on you, that’s wonderful, but it’s not a requirement to receive the Holy Ghost and the gift of speaking in tongues. If you are alone, that is totally fine. You can still receive from God yourself.

Well, that’s the trust we have in Him to hear us when we ask anything of His will. And when we know that whatever we ask, he hears us, we know we have the requests we asked him to make. 1 John 5:14-15

It is always God’s will that you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Once you have received salvation and become a new creation, you have a brand new spirit that is forever perfectly holy and righteous and ready to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

After you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the ability to speak in tongues is there, but sometimes you don’t automatically start speaking. The language is available but requires your cooperation. To learn more about how to start speaking in tongues, read How to enable speaking in tongues.

What is water baptism?

Water baptism is a separate experience from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At some point after you become a follower of Jesus Christ, you want to be water baptized. This is not a requirement for salvation, but simply an outward expression of what happened inside you.

Being submerged in a water baptism is an outward sign that your old man was crucified with Christ.

I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

When you come out of the water, it is an outward sign that you are risen with Christ.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly kingdoms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6

Your old man has died and the new spirit has risen. Your new spirit is alive to God, free from sin and contamination. In fact, the Holy Spirit has sealed your new spirit forever so that sin can never touch it! It’s really amazing.

In Him you also trusted, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13

In the early church there was a foundation that was laid for every person who chose to follow Jesus. An essential part of this foundation is receiving the Holy Spirit.

When the apostle Paul met some Christians, the first thing he tried to do was to find out whether they had already received the Holy Spirit.

“Paul came to Ephesus through the upper regions. And when he found some disciples he said to them: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1-2).

Notice that he didn’t say, “Hey guys, how are you?” or “Hey, tell me how you were saved?” No, the first thing he said was, “Have you received the Holy Spirit yet?”

It was so important to the apostle Paul that he asked her first.

We read shortly thereafter that they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. So Paul shared the gospel with them, baptized them, and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:5-6).

In our church today, we have forgotten the fundamentals that made the early church so successful. In this article, we will dive deep into one of those fundamentals, which is how to receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.

Let’s start.

How can I receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues?

You can receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues by following these few simple steps:

You must be a follower of Jesus.

Jesus said that the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit, only those who love him and keep his commandments (John 14:15-17). Peter said something similar when he preached the gospel to the high priest, saying, “We are his witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Therefore, if we are to be able to receive the Holy Spirit, we must obey Christ by repenting of our sins and choosing to follow Him.

You must realize that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift for every believer in Christ.

The Bible makes it clear that the Spirit of God is not for the superchristians, but for all who follow Jesus.

“Repent, and be baptized each of you into the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and your children and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).

The term “the promise” is used repeatedly in this passage and also by Jesus to refer to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Realize that you only need to receive the Holy Spirit

It is important to understand that you do not have to ask God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. The reason for this is that God already gave the Holy Spirit to the church on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.

All the believer has to do now is receive Him. You don’t have to wait for the Spirit to fill you.

Here are some verses that reveal this:

“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14- 15).

“Paul came to Ephesus through the upper regions. And when he found some disciples he said to them: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1-2).

Notice now from these two passages that the apostles never prayed that God would give them the Holy Spirit, but that they prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. If we don’t understand this, we could be waiting for God to do something he has already done.

If you still have questions on this topic, I have an article that covers this in much more detail. It is titled Waiting for the Holy Spirit (All You Need to Know). You can check it by clicking this link.

Receive the Spirit by asking the Father in faith

Now all that is required is to ask in faith that the Spirit of God will come and fill you. Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul affirm that we need only by faith ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, and He will gladly give Him to us.

“If then you are wicked and know how to give your children good gifts, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

“Wherefore does He that bringeth the Spirit to you, and works wonders among you, by works of the law, or by hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5)

“…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14)

God desires to baptize us in his Spirit more than we want to be baptized by him, and all we have to do is ask in faith.

Now it is important to say that we should not get caught up in the manifestations that the baptism of the Holy Spirit can bring. It is important to remember that the spirit is a person. When we receive Him, we don’t receive a feeling, but a divine personality that wants to live within us.

Feelings can come naturally, but are not a requirement. Just as we are saved by faith and baptized with water by faith, so we are baptized by faith in the Holy Spirit.

We should never compare our experiences with others, for the Bible says that those who “compare one another are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Just because someone has had an incredible experience and you haven’t, doesn’t mean you are less filled with the Spirit of God.

We receive the Spirit by faith, and faith always works independently of the senses. Just as the writer to the Hebrews says, “Faith is the substance of hope, the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

If you are interested in knowing more about manifestations related to receiving the Holy Spirit, I cover this topic quite extensively in another article entitled What Does the Baptism in the Holy Spirit Feel Like?

Start speaking in tongues

Once you ask the Father to baptize you in the Holy Spirit, all you have to do is start speaking in tongues, believing that the Holy Spirit will guide your words as He did for the 120 disciples in the upper room (Acts 2 Cor ,4). .

They do not speak in a natural, known language, as many teach, but it is a supernatural language that “no one understands” (1 Corinthians 14:2). If you have been taught otherwise, I recommend this article: Is Speaking in Tongues a Real Language? Or is it gibberish?

Prayer to receive the Holy Spirit

Pray with me: “Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for already doing your part and now all I have to do is receive the Spirit by faith. So I ask you, Father, right now, baptize me in the Holy Spirit.”

If you have just prayed this prayer in faith, begin speaking in tongues. It doesn’t matter if you feel something or not. When you have asked in faith, the Holy Spirit is there and will enable you to speak in tongues.

I believe that any of you who are reading this and want to receive the Holy Spirit will definitely do so. Feel free to email and let me know if you received this wonderful gift!

If you’re still curious about the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can check out my in-depth study on the subject and I hope it will answer all of your questions.

What can hinder speaking in tongues?

Speaking in tongues can be hindered primarily by false teachings. Some common teachings that prevent speaking in tongues are: “The spiritual gifts have ended”, “Tongues are not for everyone”, “Tongues are of the devil”, “The Holy Spirit will take over” and “Tongues are a real language “. .

Now let’s briefly address these common objections.

“The spiritual gifts have ceased.” The person who believes this has usually been taught that either the gifts ceased with the apostles or they ceased when “the perfect came” (1 Corinthians 13:10).

People who hold the latter belief say that what is perfect is the Bible, so now that we have the Bible we no longer need the gifts of the Spirit.

Of course, I also believe that the Bible is perfect, but I don’t think that’s what this verse is talking about. Let’s take a quick look at the passage.

“But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will disappear. For part we know and part we prophesy. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is partial is put away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

However, if we stop here, it would be a valid belief, the author continues.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I discarded childish things. For a moment we look into a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I partially know, but then I will know, even as I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12)

Here these verses are saying that when the perfect comes, we shall be mature, we shall see face to face and no more vaguely, and we shall know as we also are known of the Lord.

Does it sound like this has already happened? Of course not. We don’t know everything, our understanding is sometimes still a bit blurry.

Now to address the other faith – the apostles never stopped, nor will they ever stop until Christ comes again. There are still apostles today, we just don’t name them so often because everyone is afraid of them.

“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, that the saints might be equipped for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Son of God, a perfect man, to the measure of the greatness of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

This verse reveals that the apostles will not be abolished until we all come to the unity of faith and until we all become perfect as Christ is. Well, that certainly hasn’t happened and won’t happen until Christ comes again!

“Tongues are not for everyone.” Here are some verses that say otherwise.

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).

“Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak in tongues, and the ignorant or the unbeliever come, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (1 Corinthians 14:23).

“If anyone speaks in tongues, there shall be two, or at most three, each in turn, and one shall translate.” (1 Corinthians 14:27)

“Pray always in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18). This is for the whole Church.

“But you, beloved, build up yourselves in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20). Praying in the Spirit is speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).

“Tongues are of the devil.” God tells us to speak in tongues (see verses mentioned above). So speaking in tongues cannot be of the devil.

“The Holy Spirit will take over.” The person who believes this thinks that when the Holy Spirit fills them, He will control their mouth to speak through them. That is not what the Bible reveals.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit expressed them” (Acts 2:4).

Notice the disciples who were filled with the Spirit spoke and the Spirit gave the utterance. That is, all God did was simply to direct their words as they willingly spoke. The apostle Paul says the same thing in his letter to the Corinthians.

“For when I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren. What should I do? I will pray with my spirit.” (1 Corinthians 14:14-15)

“Tongues are a real language.” The Bible says: “Those who speak in tongues do not speak to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he speaks mysteries in the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). I have an entire article that covers this objection fairly thoroughly. You can check it here.

What Happens When You Receive the Holy Spirit?

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are simultaneously filled with God and immersed in God. He comes to live in us, to enable us to live as Christ walked. Sometimes people have experiences where they feel the Holy Spirit tangible, this can be common but is not required.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

You see, the whole purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t to give you goosebumps, it’s actually to receive a divine Person indwelling in you and with you.

So the most important thing that happens when you are baptized in the Spirit is that you receive God who is able to work in you and through you.

Now you may feel something tangible coming over you, or you may see a vision, or you may blurt out speaking in tongues and prophecy. But none of these things are the focus. In fact, I’d say they’re the exception, not the rule.

focus on him. Receive Him. Grow in relationship with Him. And soon you will be walking in character and strength like Christ.

Can one have the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues?

It is possible to receive the Holy Spirit without first speaking in tongues. However, it is not possible to have the Holy Spirit and not have the ability to speak in tongues. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive all that He is, which means we also receive His spiritual gifts.

Think about it like this; If I give you a Swiss Army Knife and you receive it, you now have that Swiss Army Knife ability. You can’t use the blade or spoon right away, but you still have the option to use them if you wish.

It’s the same with God. The Bible says that “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Corinthians 14:32). That is, the gifts of God are available to us.

Sometimes when the Holy Spirit fills us, we have so many concerns about languages ​​that we choose not to speak at that moment. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have the Holy Spirit.

You still have the Spirit of God, all you have to do is choose in faith to use the gift that God has given you.

We can do this simply by seeing what the Bible really says on these subjects, receiving the Holy Spirit if we haven’t already, and then speaking in tongues in faith.

Speaking in tongues is one of the many charisms given by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Church. The biblical basis for this gift is found in the resurrected Jesus’ commission to preach the gospel in Mark 16:17 and in two other New Testament books: Acts and 1 Corinthians.

The gift of tongues has been the subject of much study and various terms are associated with it, including glossolalia, xenoglossia, and xenolalia. What is the difference between these terms?

The word glossolalia derives from the Greek expression glōssais lalein, which literally means “to speak in tongues”. In Christian theology, glossolalia usually refers to speech-like sounds given by the Holy Spirit for use in private or public prayer.

The term xenoglossia comes from the Greek words xenos, “foreign,” and glōssa, “tongue,” meaning “to speak in a foreign language.” Similarly, Xenolalia comes from xenos, “foreign,” and lalia, “speaking,” and also means “to speak in a foreign language.” These terms are often used interchangeably and refer to speaking or writing in a human language that has not been acquired naturally.

In the New Testament, Paul and Luke present the gift of tongues in different ways. Luke shows tongues as a sign of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost as they “proclaimed the wonders of God” in different languages ​​and dialects (Acts 2:1-2). -13). It is sometimes argued that the true miracle of Pentecost was hearing, and that the “tongues” were actually a form of ecstatic utterance rather than identifiable language. However, this appears to be a misreading of Acts, which records both “speaking in tongues” and listening in the “native tongue” of those present. Luke, therefore, views the Pentecostal phenomenon as Xenolalia speaking in actual human languages ​​unknown to the speakers.

Luke records further utterances in tongues at Acts 10:46 when the spirit comes upon the Gentile house of Cornelius, and again at 19:6 when the Ephesian disciples receive the spirit from John the Baptist. On these occasions there is no indication that the languages ​​were languages ​​actually recognized by any of the listeners. But the content of tongues in all three texts is the mighty works of God. Although the term “mighty works” is used only at Acts 2:11, the related verb “bless” is found at 10:46 and 19:17, suggesting that what they spoke in tongues was praise God was.

Paul lists tongues among the gifts of the Spirit in his instructions to the Corinthians on charismatic gifts (1 Cor 12:10; 14:2, 5). Paul seems to have two different forms of the gift in mind: speaking in tongues as a public message for the congregation and speaking in tongues as a form of prayer.

Speaking in tongues in the first sense is a prophetic gift, the understanding of which requires the presence of an interpreter (1 Cor 14:26-28). The interpreter does not translate the message, but rather is moved to convey its general meaning. Paul sees a variety of functions fulfilled by this gift, including praise to God and revelation to the church.

Three chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians deal with the various wondrous manifestations of the Holy Spirit. There are nine such wondrous manifestations listed in I Cor. 12:8-10. Of these nine, the ability to speak in an unfamiliar language is probably the one most frequently claimed by people bearing the name Christian. Having observed such speaking in tongues many times over the years, a number of things seem to contradict what the Bible actually teaches on the subject. Therefore, in this article, we want to deal with this topic. No doubt not all who have read this article have read the Sampson Independent of the past few weeks, the purpose of miracles has been discussed there, the heart of the matter being that the purpose of miracles is to confirm that the speaker is indeed the Word of God speaks (Mark 16:15-20), and so does the miracle of speaking in an unknown tongue.

Let’s start with the first example of speaking in an unknown tongue in the New Testament, Acts chapter 2. Verse 4 says that after the Holy Spirit came upon them, they “began to speak in tongues like the Spirit gave them utterance”. First, who is the “she” speaking in tongues in this case? The answer is the twelve apostles. Some would attribute the tongue that speaks here to the one hundred and twenty mentioned in verse fifteen. However, the rules of our language do not allow this. Realizing that the chapter divisions did not exist when this was written, i.e. no thought break between the last verse of chapter one and the first verse of chapter two, one must conclude that they are from Acts 2:1 Matthias and the eleven apostles was added. This, of course, is the fulfillment of what the Lord promised His apostles the night He was betrayed (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).

The second thing to note here really needs to be applied to what is called “speaking in tongues” in this present age. Speaking in unknown tongues in the New Testament was speaking in a language not previously learned. Notice that the crowd was confused because these men spoke in “their own language” (Acts 2:6). They spoke no gibberish that no one could understand. With about fifteen people of different nationalities present, they said, “We hear them speaking in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11).

Now let’s get back to the purpose of this spiritual gift of tongues. As mentioned earlier, the purpose is the same as with all wondrous abilities to validate the Word. Notice what was accomplished through the apostles speaking in the languages ​​of the many nations present. They were amazed (Acts 2:7, 12). They realized that this was a wonderful achievement. The end result was that approximately three thousand people heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel of Christ and were added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:37-41, 47). The aforementioned three chapters of 1 Corinthians contain more information, including regulations for speaking in tongues. However, there is a statement in it that points to this purpose of speaking in tongues. Paul said, “Therefore speaking in tongues is a sign, not for those who believe, but for those who believe not…” (1 Corinthians 14:22).

Now we know that someone who would speak in tongues as revealed in the New Testament would be speaking in a language he did not know before. In other words, if I could get up and speak Russian fluently, I would do what they did. We also learn that even then there were regulations regarding speaking in tongues. For example, if more than one was to speak, they had to speak in turn and there had to be an interpreter for those who could not understand that language (1 Cor. 14:27-28). To be honest, most have to admit that those who claim to speak in tongues today are not doing what they did in the New Testament.

The final point we want to consider regarding what the New Testament teaches about speaking in tongues is that no one can do it today! The purpose of all miracles has ceased. There is no need to prove that what they teach is miraculously from God, the inspired Word of God has already been proven by miracles and needs no more miracles to be the Word of God. Second, in these three chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul declared that they would cease, especially speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 13:8). Finally, the means of acquiring all spiritual gifts, including the ability to speak in unknown tongues, are no longer available. “By the laying on of hands of the apostles the Holy Spirit was given…” (Acts 8:18). The last apostle to die was probably the apostle John, who died in the late 1990s. There are no apostles today who lay hands on anyone and give them the ability to speak in unknown tongues.

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By Robert Oliver Contributing Columnist