By Apostle Aje Pelser

The Holy Spirit promised on the old and the young:

Joel 2:28

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Christ the giver

Matt 3:11

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Receive the gift when you ask

Luke 11:13

“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!”

Only to those who believe

John 7:39

“(But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

New Testament examples

Promised by Jesus

Mark 16:17

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”

In Jerusalem – the Jews

Acts 2:4

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Paul – Apostle

Acts 9:17

“And Annanias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.””

Samaria – The Samaritans

Acts 8:17

“Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Cornelius – The Gentiles

Acts 10:44

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.”

Ephesus – Disciples of John the Baptist

Acts 19:6

“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

Many people ask why tongues are only recorded in Acts. The reason is that Acts is the only book in the New Testament, which has a historical purpose. The other letters are like sermons; Acts is a day-to-day account on what happened in the church. Although Paul writes on this subject in Corinthians, this is the only place where it is recorded that people actually talked in tongues.

10 reasons why you need to talk in tongues

1. It’s a sign that you actually are filled with the Holy Spirit. Falling down, crying or shaking would not be such an effective proof. Acts 10:44-46 Peter explained by pointing at the fact that they (Gentiles) spoke in tongues was enough proof that they also had received the same gift they did. Although there must be more signs or fruit in your life like power and fruit of the Spirit, this is the ultimate sign.

2. It will help us to praise God:

1 Cor 14:15-17

“What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

“For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit [the human spirit as moved by the Holy Spirit] is praying, but my intellect confers no benefits upon others. Wuest’s Greek New Testament.

Acts 10:46

“For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “

3. It will help us to be ever conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. Spirit praying to spirit. The devil not knowing what you speak.

4. It will help us when we don’t know what to pray:

Rom 8:26-27

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because H