When Jesus saved me 40 years ago this fall I had no idea what had happened. It was all outside of church you see. I still needed much help and felt so devastated and needy.
One morning before leaving for work I watched a testimony on the old PTL club. It was Shirley Boone telling how she went to pray and looked up later and realized she had been speaking in another language for a good while. I had never heard of such a thing but thought well, she's a celebrity's wife so I can see God doing that for her. That's how little I knew about God.
I was praying and weeping before God that afternoon and her testimony came back to me. With it a strong thought "if God did that for that woman maybe He'd do it for you".
I never would have thought that. So I began to make up words, anything to speak. In a minute or so I didn't have to make them up! God had baptized me in the Holy Spirit and I didn't even know what it was.
I was praying on the spirit when the Lord gave me the interpretation and told me my wife was pregnant with the son He had promised us after 14 childless years. That Son is 36 now. Did I get to hear God? Yes.
I've been praying for 40 years in this wonderful gift. Here are some very critical scriptures on this gift from Jesus!
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the evidencing gift of tongues. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is always evidenced by the gift of tongues given to those receiving. Always.
Job 29:21 — Job 29:23 (NKJV)
“Men listened to me and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech settled on them as dew.
They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
Intercessory prayer in the spirit (tongues)
Job 32:18 — Job 32:20 (NKJV)
For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
Isaiah 28:11-12 KJVS
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
[12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Zephaniah 3:9 KJVS
then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord , to serve him with one consent.
The pure language mentioned is praying in the spirit, tongues. Reference Jude, Ephesians 6th chapter, 1 Corinthians 14th chapter, Mark 16th chapter.
Mark 16:17 KJVS
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Acts 1:8 KJVS
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 2:1-4 KJVS
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Cornelius and others are saved then baptized with the Holy Spirit and receive the gift of tongues. Later they were water baptized. This is the case when I was saved.
Acts 10:44-47 (NKJV)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
Acts 19:1-7 KJVS
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
[2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[5] When they heard this , they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
[7] And all the men were about twelve.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 KJVS
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
[10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
[11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and DO NOT FORBID speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 18-19, 39 ESV
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:18 ESV
Jude 1:20 (NKJV)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Job 37:19 KJVS
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
How long can you pray with your mere understanding? Not long. Not for hours on end. Only prayer in the prayer language, tongues can continue without ceasing. The language may be either a known one or an unknown one. Tongues of men and of angels Paul says in 1Corinthians 13.
Forbid not he states in 1Corinthians 14.
1 Corinthians 14:34, 38-39 (NKJV)
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
Now look at these scriptures.
Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
VS 16, these had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. They were saved. Saved as saved can be. But wait! There was more. THEN they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. How do you suppose they KNEW that these men had received the Holy Spirit? That's right. They did what everyone else did. Spoke - prayed - praised God in tongues. Prayer in the spirit.
For a good while after He gave me this in my given prayer language I would often say yeshua. But the pronunciation was never like I hear it. It was "YESH-ua" with the emphasis on the yesh and the "ua" falling off. Not the "yesh-SHUA" I hear so often.
Charge your batteries and pray in the spirit. Hallelujah!