How To Speak In Tongues

For those who say, that the gift of tongues doesn’t belong to them, I would ask, does edification belong to you as a Christian? Of course it does. It is the will of God for every believer to speak in tongues. Here are a few differences you should understand as you seek to receive this gift.

The Two Types of Tongues

1. Tongues for Private Edification

To begin with, the tongues for self-edification don’t need to have interpretation. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4, shows us that these tongues are your prayer language. This tongue belongs to everyone. 

The 120 disciples in the upper room began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4), and nobody was there to interpret. Another example is the house of Cornelius when they began to speak in tongues (Acts 10:6). This gift of tongues, the prayer language, belongs to every believer; we should all desire this gift and practice this gift. The Bible says, “These signs will follow those who believe… they will speak new tongues…” (Mark 16:17).

2. Tongues for Public Edification

Then, there are also the tongues for public edification of the Church. These tongues are to be accompanied by an interpretation. We see this example in 1 Corinthians 14:5-18, 23-25. Tongues are not only something that we can pray in, but we can also speak in tongues. It’s not just in prayer, we can speak and sing in tongues. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:14 that we can pray in tongues, in Acts 2:4, we can speak in tongues, and in 1 Corinthians 14:15, it shows that we can sing in tongues. As a person filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s one of the most beautiful things we can experience.

How To Receive This Gift

• First, you have to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you believe in Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit; when you speak in tongues, you release the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in John 7:38, “out of his belly,” it doesn’t say that this river will flow out the throne of God. It says it flows out of your belly, out of your spirit, or your innermost being– where the Spirit of God lives. You don’t need to speak in tongues to be saved, you need the blood of Jesus for that. You’re saved through the gift of Jesus’ grace. Once you are saved, you have this well, “a river of living water,” that wants to be released through your mouth. That river is the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and that river is a precious gift from the God called tongues. 

• Relax. In other words you need to surrender. In Acts 2:2 it shows us that the disciples were not were striving. You don’t receive this gift by working hard or praying earnestly. The harder you try to earn it the more it’ll escape you because it’s a gift you receive and it’s a gift you release. Relax. It’s about releasing it. It’s no longer about receiving the Holy Spirit but about releasing the Holy Spirit. When you understand that, it takes the pressure off. Your striving is not necessary. Having childlike faith and surrendering is the key. 

• It involves your choice. The Bible says, “they spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). It does not say that the Spirit spoke – they spoke in tongues. The Lord is not gonna force it upon you; He will not override your free will. It’ll have to be your choice to open your mouth and release the sound. For example, when the water pipe is connected to your house, the water is there but it will not come out if the faucet is closed. Anytime I need to drink water from my house, I don’t call the city, now, it’s up to me. Many times people say, “If God wants me to have it, I will.” No, it’s up to you.

• You need faith. Some people believe that something just comes over you and you begin to speak in tongues, but that’s not the case. Everything with God requires faith (Hebrews 11:6). This reminds me of the story I heard about a little girl whose dad overhears her reciting the alphabet in prayer. After several nights of this, the dad asks, “Why are you saying the alphabet when you’re supposed to be praying?” The little girl responds and says, “I’m just giving God the letters and I’m trusting God to rearrange them as He wants.” That’s the same with speaking in tongues. You release the sound by faith and God adds the meaning. 

• You must remove the fear that the tongues you speak may not be from God. So many are afraid that what they are going to speak will be demonic. I want to clarify this point. The tongues you speak will come from you in the sense that you are the one who will begin to speak them, but they won’t be demonic. The Scripture clearly says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13). Your heavenly Father is not going to give you a stone. He won’t give you a demon and fill you with a demonic entity when you ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will baptize you in the Holy Spirit because you asked Him to. Trust In God and in His Scripture. 

Faith in Action

If you desire to speak in tongues, pray this:  Lord Jesus, Fill me with your Spirit. Lord Jesus, baptize me into your Holy Spirit. Begin to release the sounds that come not from your mind, but from your spirit, and continue in prayer. 

It’s that simple.

Read: 5 Steps to Deeper Relationship With the Holy Spirit