THE POWERFUL PROMISE
One day while I was at work a lady asked me if I had received Jesus in my heart. My response was, yes! I even quoted scripture
to show her that I knew how to receive salvation from God’s Word.
During our conversation, she asked me a series of questions. Had I received the Holy Ghost? Had I spoken in tongues? Had I received this gift? I had no knowledge of this gift. However, I told her that if she could show me what the Bible says about the gift, then I would believe what the Bible says because I believe what’s written in it.
So, we read Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
After reading this scripture, I was ready to receive this gift from God. Therefore, we exchanged telephone numbers and agreed to speak later that evening. At about 7:00 p.m. my phone rang, and it was the lady from work. After we gave one another a nice greeting, she asked me, are you ready? I said, yes! Then she began to speak in a strange language that I had never heard before. Instantly, I thought, “what have I gotten myself into. This lady is crazy!” After about two minutes of listening to her speak in this strange language, I told her that I had to get off the phone.
I was disappointed because I thought I was going to receive something from God. I said out loud, “God, give me the Holy Ghost this lady is talking about. “To my surprise out of my mouth came words and syllables. I was shocked! I sat on the side of my bed and spoke in tongues for about two to three minutes. It was different. I had never experienced anything like this before. Since that initial experience, I have learned a lot about God’s gift and the person of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I was no longer afraid, but rather eager to pray in my heavenly prayer language. In addition, I learned why it was so easy for me to receive this gift. The Bible teaches us in Luke 11:9-13, that if we ask God for a good gift, that He will give it to us.
Luke 11:9-11 says, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him as a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
I was qualified (like you) to receive this good gift because I was saved and I had asked the Father in faith. God is not a respecter
of persons. Any Christian wanting to receive this gift can do so by simply meeting the qualification.
After I had received this gift, I had wondered whom I was speaking. Then I had learned of another scripture found in
1 Corinthians 12 14:2. This portion of scripture clearly reveals who a person is speaking to when he or she prays in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man
understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
I encourage every Believer to speak in tongues daily which will enhance his or her time with God. Below are a few things that
praying in tongues will do for you.
Praying in tongues will strengthen you; praying in tongues will cause you to be more sensitive to God’s voice; and, it will
empower you to be an effective witness of Jesus!
Pray. Listen. Follow. Grow, and change your world!
Below are scriptural references for this gift:
The Powerful Promise: Luke 24:49
The Gift after Salvation: Acts 2:38 and Acts 19:1-6
Ask God in Faith: Luke 11:9-13
Empowered to Witness: Acts 1:8
Speaking to your Father God: 1 Corinthians 14:2
You Do the Speaking, Holy Spirit Gives the Words: Acts 2:1-4
You will Hear Yourself Speak: Acts 10:44-46
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Read More from the GROW and Change the World Booklet - Chapter Three
by Evangelist Marie Diggs