THURSDAY September 22, 2022 

Filled with the Holy Spirit 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
 Acts 2:4

Not one person in the upper room was left without the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Christ’s disciples were given the ability to speak with other tongues when they were filled with God’s Spirit. The Spirit gave them the ability––not man. Every person was praising God for the wonderful works of God. They were not giving a message or preaching the Gospel. 

On this one occasion, everybody was speaking in tongues, but not everybody receives the gift of tongues, as described in 1 Corinthians 14. That is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, there are 21 gifts of the Holy Spirit. What is the value of being baptized with the Holy Spirit? We can be empowered to live a victorious Christian live––not submitting our lives to sin. God desires to use our lives and spiritual gifts for His Kingdom.

 When some people get baptized with the Holy Spirit, they can become very emotional. They begin to act out of their emotions by praying really loudly, shaking, falling down, and losing control. That is evidence of the flesh––not the Spirit of God working. They are only bringing attention to themselves. Understand, when a person is baptized with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit always remains in control. He always gives attention and glory to Jesus Christ. 

When the Holy Spirit gives you the gift of tongues, it is so you can pray. You are speaking to God––not man: For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:4) or divine secrets. Why? Because nobody understands what you are saying. 

Again, the gift of tongues is not for everybody in the Church. The individual person who has the gift of tongues is edified because the Holy Spirit is assisting them in their personal prayer life: He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself... (1 Corinthians 14:4). 

The gift of tongues is not only to assist you in your prayer life, but it is to assist you in your worship of God.
~Chuck Smith~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!