The first time the New Testament mentions speaking in tongues is in Mark 16:. Jesus was commanding His disciples to go into the world and tell every living soul the good news of God’s salvation. He promised to empower those who believe and obey with the ability to perform supernatural signs and wonders. One of these extraordinary acts was the ability to speak with tongues:
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And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. – Mark 16:15-18 KJV
Jesus was asking them to evangelize the whole world. They would take the gospel to the nooks and crannies of communities, cities and countries. And as they obeyed, Jesus promised to give them the power to speak with new tongues. Speaking in tongues here has two different meanings. One, is the power to speak like they had a fresh tongue that is so anointed by the Holy Spirit that it could convince sinners to accept the lordship of Christ. The second meaning is the ability to speak in languages they never knew, heard or learned.
The second meaning was need for preaching outside Jewish communities. Even in Israel, there were people from other parts of the world who came to worship or do business in Jerusalem at that time. In Acts 2, when Peter and other disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit, they praised God in unknown tongues and many of the people who gathered there heard them speak in their native languages.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? – Acts 2:6-12 KJV
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How to Receive the Gift of Speaking in Tongues
The ability to speak in a new language comes from God. When you become born again by grace through faith, God sends His Spirit to live on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit helps you to become strong in faith and in the knowledge of God’s promises. Once you understand what the promises of God are, you can ask God to fulfill those promises He made in the Scriptures. One of these promises is the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is a Gift from God, just like salvation. You don’t merit it, but God chose to give you this amazing Gift of His own free will (Ephesians 2:8-9).
When you receive this Gift of the Holy Spirit, the initial evidence is the ability to speak in tongues. This is a sign that the Spirit has come to dwell in you. However, you must say prayers of faith to receive this power. God gives His gifts to only those who believe. If you doubt and consider yourself unworthy of God’s grace, you may never receive any of His promises. So you need to look away from yourself and focus on the faithfulness and mercy of God. As long as everything you receive from God is based on unmerited favor, you have nothing to fear.
Reasons for Speaking in Tongues
God gives the ability to speak in tongues for special reasons. One of the reasons of the gift of tongues is to bring edification to the speaker. When you pray in tongues, you speak directly to God and becomes spiritually edified. You experience special joy and assurance that others don’t have. Although your mind may not understand what you are saying, your spirit touches God in ways human words cannot describe.
God gives believers the ability to speak in tongues to help them in prayer. The gift of tongues brings with it the ability to pray fervently and with the help of the Holy Spirit. Praying in tongues connects one with the Spirit of God who uses this channel to pray in accordance with the will of God.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. – Romans 8:27 KJV
You Can Have the Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Gift of the Holy Spirit is by grace. None of us deserve the least of the kindness of God. No one is qualified to receive God’s best. But Jesus Christ paid the price to make us worthy of the blessings of God’s grace.
As Peter told the crowd on the day of Pentecost, the gift of the Spirit is free for all children of God (Acts 2:39). All you need is to ask God in prayer by faith. God is willing to give you this power more than you’re willing to pray.
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? – Luke 11:13 KJV
God is for you, and all His promises and blessings belong to you. Come in simple faith and He will give you all that He promised.