The Holy Spirit has pressed upon me to share my testimony of how I received the gift of tongues when I was writing a post on prayer. I know that many have desired this gift but have not been able to receive it.
I was at my pastor’s small group when his wife said her friend struggled to receive this gift. I shared my testimony because I also struggled until someone walked me through the process of receiving tongues. My pastor then said the church teaches people how to prophesy and evangelize; why wouldn’t we teach people how to receive tongues?
This is a true statement. If it hadn’t been for the person who walked me through how to receive tongues, it may have taken me much longer to receive this gift. As soon as I thought about creating this page, the next day, Sid Roth had an episode on tongues. The Lord told me to watch it. At the end, he walks everyone through how to receive this gift. The way he teaches people to receive was exactly what I went through to receive tongues. He also wrote a book on tongues that he gave away for free. Please listen to this episode and request his book if you struggle to receive this gift. This will help you build the faith you need to receive and give your head an understanding of how to receive it.
First, I want to dismantle a lie I was told, and I believe many are told. I was told at a young age that the gift of tongues was not for everyone. I knew in my heart this was wrong. I think it’s man’s explanation as to why some people are not able to receive the gift. When Paul said I desire all pray in tongues, but I desire that you prophesy more than you pray in tongues(1 Corinthians 14:5). In context, he was talking about what happens in church. The Lord desires that we all pray in tongues for our edification. But when the body meets together, he desires the body to prophesy for the edification of our minds. Why would Paul have to clarify that? They were adding to the church daily and learning how to do church. They were receiving the baptism in tongues and, I believe, were speaking in tongues at church because they knew it was powerful and God’s gift, so why shouldn’t they speak in tongues when they come together? Paul was clarifying the order in the church. Tongues will edify our inward man, but prophesy is the word of the Lord, and like the written word, it edifies the mind so it can be renewed and submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Prophesy is much like tongues. There is a bubbling up that comes from your spirit. He encouraged the body to increase in their giftings and desire the gift of prophecy.
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
1 Corinthians 14:19
It is the Lord’s will that all pray in tongues, but in the church setting for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the body, the Lord wants us to develop the gift to prophesy. How can it be developed into prophecy? Paul says to pray to receive the interpretation of tongues so that the church can be built up (1 Corinthians 12-13). The gift of tongues is for all. Jesus said if your child asks you for bread, would you give him a stone? No, you would not. He goes on to say how much more will our Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask (Matthew 7:7-9).
When someone asked me if I wanted to receive the gift of tongues I said yes. She prayed for my sister and me to receive it. After she prayed, I sat there waiting. My sister received it right away, but I did not. The lady told me my head was getting in the way, but I had no idea what she meant by that. Now I do. The gift comes by faith. I sat there with my mouth closed, waiting for the Holy Spirit to take over my tongue and let tongues burst out of me, or I thought I would hear the word in my head and then speak it out. I had no clue what to do. I wanted this gift. I kept asking the Lord for it. I was at the bookstore with my mom, and she said I feel like you need to read a book that will help you. So I looked for a book. I found a book about the Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn. Up until reading Benny Hinn’s book, I thought the Holy Spirit was just a power, the power of God. I had no idea he was a person of the God Head. The Lord had plans for me to learn about the person who would impart this gift to me. He wanted me to receive this gift and learn about the Holy Spirit, who abides within each believer.
Reading this book made me even more hungry to receive this gift from the Holy Spirit. The Lord set me up with a leader on the evangelism team at my church. I was paired with him for street evangelism as one of the prayers he witnessed. He asked if I had received the gift of tongues. I told him I wanted it but hadn’t received it yet. He let me know that was why we were paired up that day. He said the Lord uses him to help people receive tongues. He told me his testimony of how he got one word from the Lord. He thought it was him making something up, but he said it for three days, and finally, on the third, God gave him the rest of his prayer language. He let me know that I had to open my mouth for God to use it physically. He said to pray, and one word might pop up in my spirit. He said to say that word repeatedly until you get more. He said I could even use one word in tongues. He spoke for me just so that I was speaking and God would give me the gift. He said by the end of the night, you will have it, I know it.
I followed his advice. I kept praying, and a word bubbled up in me. I thought the same thing he did. I thought I was making it up, but kept saying that word repeatedly. After witnessing the evangelism, the team always returned to the church to pray for those who received Jesus that day. As we were all praying in a circle, suddenly, my prayer language came like a flood. He came up to me after smiling and said you got it, didn’t you?
If you have read any of my posts, you’ll learn that faith is an action. For the gift of tongues, our action is to simply believe and open up our mouths. Our heads get in the way. We want to understand it. We think God will take over and control our tongues, but it’s more like we submit our tongues to a bubbling up in our spirit and believe he will fill our mouths. Our minds can’t comprehend it, which is okay; they don’t have to. We can’t just sit there with our mouths shut; we have to take action. Maybe you are like me and need other resources to build your faith. Please watch the video from Sid Roth and request a copy of his free book. Maybe your faith starts here to read my testimony; that’s an action. Watch the video and read the book; that’s another action. Before you know it, you will have faith rise up in you to open your mouth and speak the words bubbling up. You could be praising him, but open your mouth and stay in tune with your spirit as you praise him. A word may pop up in your spirit; you may think you’re making it up but do not dismiss it. The Holy Spirit won’t control your tongue. He won’t force it to open or to make you speak that word. Speak the nonsense sound that popped up in your spirit, and he will fill you with the rest. You are on your way to praying in the Spirit.
Before Jesus spoke about the Heavenly Father giving good things to his children, he said, ask, seek, and knock, and the door will be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7-9. When you take these steps of faith and keep asking Him, He will impart His faith (His divine persuasion) so you can believe and receive the gift of tongues. When my evangelism leader spoke to me, it built my faith. The Holy Spirit was lining me up with someone who could persuade me to believe I would receive. The Lord orchestrates our steps. He gave me faith through that man. The Holy Spirit wants you to receive it; believe that you are worthy to receive it because of Jesus’ work on the cross that made you worthy. You are made righteous through Jesus, and You are an heir. The Father sent him; that’s how much he loves and longs to father you as a good father would. The Holy Spirit wants you to receive it more than you do, so he brought you here. I believe that you will receive it.
Pray this prayer, Lord; I repent and renounce the spirit of doubt and any lying spirit that has come against me receiving this gift. I come out of agreement with this spirit, and I command it to leave me now. I will receive the gift of tongues because you are a good Father and do not withhold good gifts from your child. I ask you to fill me. I praise you, Father, you are good. When I speak, and you fill my spirit with your word, I will speak your word. Reach your arms up, grab what he is giving you, and keep speaking; speak whatever comes up in your spirit and mind. Whatever you do, do not quit; keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Watch the video below.