Meet the Holy Spirit
The Infilling of the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues
(Please read the scripture references for yourself in your Bible)
Every person that receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Savior is a new creature in Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:17) Being born again, as Jesus refers to it, is the recreation of the inner man, that is, the human spirit. (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5, Ephesians 5:26) In the very moment you were born again, you were baptized into the body of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
There is a further step after being born again by the Spirit and it’s to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues. John the Baptist said that when Jesus came, he would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. When you were born again, you were baptized in the Holy Spirit but didn’t yet receive the fire of the Holy Spirit, this is called the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
In the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit entered into His office of power, recreating men and giving them the ability to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) The word witness means one that gives evidence that cannot be denied. We can see the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer demonstrated throughout the entire book of Acts. This belongs to every believer and not only to those that are chosen (Mark 16:17-20).
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is so important that Jesus never preached a message or did a miracle without first receiving it. Without the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we would never be able to understand the deep things that are found in the Word of God (John 10:12, 13, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
In Acts 2:1-5, we see that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the manifestation of speaking in other tongues. We can see that speaking in other tongues has to do directly with the fire that John the Baptist said that we would receive (Acts 2:3). There is evidence throughout the entire book of Acts that that when they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit it was always accompanied by the manifestation of speaking in other tongues. Those who are opposed to this say that the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit without tongues, but this is not the truth. (Acts 8:4-18) We find that the apostles laid their hands and received the Holy Spirit. “When Simon saw that by the laying on of hands by the apostles the Holy Spirit was given…” Simon saw a physical manifestation. You cannot physically see the Holy Spirit. There had to be a physical sign for Simon to know that they had received the Holy Spirit. Everything indicates that the evidence was in the speaking of other tongues. If we are to have the same experiences that they had in those days, they will have to be our model to be able to continue today.
In Acts 10:44-46, we see that the Holy Spirit fell upon some men and they began to speak in other tongues and to magnify God. They were not Israelites. The circumcised (Israelites) realized that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on them when they heard them speak in other tongues.
In Acts 19, we see that some men received salvation and right away, Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in other tongues. (Verse 1-6) Notice that they did not need to wait or “qualify” for this. They simply believed and therefore were able to receive the Holy Spirit. Saul did not have to wait to receive it. He received salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit when Ananias came and laid his hands on him. It is true that it does not say that Saul spoke in other tongues, but there is no doubt that he spoke in other tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18).
It is easy to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things (the Holy Spirit) to them that ask him?” You only need to ask with faith. (Mark 16:17) You do not need to have a feeling to speak in other tongues. The manifestation of tongues and the infilling of the Holy Spirit are not governed by feelings. If you are waiting for a feeling, you are wasting your time. The Holy Spirit is a spirit.
The most common manner in which you will receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit is through the laying on of hands. (Acts 8:17-18, Acts 9:17, Acts 19:6) This is not always the case, but being with other believers is beneficial. You will begin, by faith, by moving your lips and tongue, believing that He will give you the words to speak in that moment. He is our Helper and He will not control us. This is why you must open your mouth and step out in faith. You were given a free will and God will not violate that. Notice in the scriptures that we read in the book of Acts where they received the Holy Spirit that the believers cooperated. In other words, they initiated the action and then the Holy Spirit gave them the words. This is how God works in many other areas in life also. This correctly conforms to the Word of God in that it shows us that He helps, facilitates and guides us after we take the action.
It is as easy to speak in other tongues as it is to speak in your own language. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (When you speak in other tongues, you are the one who prays, not the Holy Spirit. He gives you the words but you are the one who vocalizes those words giving a sound and saying them with your mouth.) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ”Notice that the apostle Paul equates praying with the understanding with praying in other tongues. His purpose was to show that one is as easy as the other. So how do you pray in your understanding? Through an act of your will or “whenever you want”. In the same way that you can speak in other tongues after receiving the Holy Spirit, with one act of your will, or when you want. You do not have to wait to feel anything. This is how you first receive and then keep speaking in tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 14, the apostle Paul was not saying that we do not speak in other tongues because he says in verse 39 “…covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues “. The discussion was about praying within a structure of order. We should not disregard the importance of using our spiritual language.
We want to give you some reasons why all believers should speak in other tongues:
Speaking in tongues is the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4)Speaking in tongues is for edification and to build our faith. (1 Corinthians 14:2; 4:14)To give thanks (1 Corinthians14:15-17)It reminds us of the inward presence of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17)We pray for the unknown according to the perfect will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)It refreshes one spiritually. (Isaiah 28:11,12)It gives the angels of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 13:1; Hebrews 1:14)It causes the wisdom of God to arise. (Colossians 2:2,3)It puts the tongue under subjection and keeps us from contamination. (James 3:8)
Realize that the wisdom of God is in you if you are a believer. Proverbs 20:5; 10:11 and 18:4 (in that order) shows us that the wisdom of God overflows out of our spirit through our words. How will perfect words of wisdom come out of your mouth? Through speaking in other tongues, the Holy Spirit will speak His wise words through you. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says that we speak divine mysteries with God when we pray in tongues. This is where the wisdom of God is found. We are also able to ask to receive the interpretation of tongues so that we are not left without understanding (1 Corinthians 14:13).
You can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of speaking in tongues by asking God to fill you with His precious Holy Spirit and to give you the words. Then the spiritual language that you receive, whether it is few words or many, can be used at any time.” 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 groaning which cannot be uttered” Romans 8:26). You will begin to see, as the spirit prays through you, that your spirit will be edified and things will change around you because you are causing things to change in the spirit realm.
Although the laying on of hands was present in many instances where people received the Holy Spirit in the Bible, God is able to meet you wherever you are, alone or in a group of believers, as long as you believe.
Here is a prayer that you can use as a guideline:
Father in Heaven,
I want to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit and so I invite you to fill me with Your presence right now. I ask that you will give me the words. I thank you, that like Your word says, I will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon me and that I will become a witness. (Acts 1:8)
I believe that all I have to do is ask in faith, and You, as my Father in Heaven, will grant me this gift of Your Holy Spirit living in me. Let my mouth and spirit pray in accordance with Your perfect will.
I open my heart and my mouth in faith. Thank You, Lord.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.