THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest gifts you could ever have as a Christian. If anyone knew the importance and ministry of the Holy Spirit in man, it was Jesus. He said, “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 1:8). That’s why He commanded the apostles not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father – He was referring to the Holy Ghost. He wanted them to be imbued with power from on high so they could live the supernatural life of the Kingdom and carry out His ministry.
There is no authentic Christianity without the Holy Spirit. No one can live the victorious and triumphant life in Christ without the Holy Spirit. Even your service to God only becomes acceptable to Him when you render it through the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16, Hebrews 9:4).Therefore, learn to always honour the Spirit and appreciate His presence in your life; never take it lightly. His presence is the most important thing to you.
THE BENEFITS OF PRAYING IN OTHER TONGUES
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself..." (1 Corinthians 14:4).
Praying in tongues is an effective means of spiritual communication with God. It's a heavenly language that transcends the natural mind or intellect (1 Corinthians 14:14). When you pray in tongues, you're stirred: the anoninting wells up like currents within your spirit. The anointing, impacts your physical body and rejuvenates you. It works on your mind, such that you are able to pick up some of the finest signals from the realm of the spirit, and you're transported to the higher realms of glory.
The Living Bible tell us that one who speaks in tongues "helps himself grow spiritually." Which means, for you to experience serious spiritual growth, you must pray in tongues consistently. The Bible says when you pray in other tongues, you're building up your self like an edifice: ""But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 1:20). Through praying in tongues, you embolden your spirit; you charge yourself up like a battery.
Praying in tongues is a tremendous blessing for God's people. The Weymouth translation of 1 Corinthisns 14:4 says, "He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself." You do good to your spirit, soul and body.
Speaking in tongues is not optional for the child of God. If you want to be healthy spiritually, mentally and even physically, then you must pray in tongues often.
This was one of the secrets of Apostle Paul's success in ministry. He said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (1 Corinthians 14:18). If you're born again and have received the Holy Spirit, then you can and should pray in tongues as often as possible. You don't need to wait for special prayer times; wherever you are, you can quietly speak in tongues under your breath. It will renew, refresh and vitalize you. It will programme your spirit to receive God's Word.
If you are born again but you haven’t been filled with the Holy Ghost, the Lord
wants you to receive Him today. Your salvation is the only qualification you require to receive the Holy Spirit. Now, you can simply ask by faith and receive Him into your spirit.
Say these words out loud in faith, expecting to receive:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Gift of the Holy Spirit. As Your child, I now receive Him by faith to come and dwell in my heart. I receive Him into my soul and my body. I receive Him into every fibre of my being. I am now filled with the Holy Spirit, and according to Your Word in Acts 2:4, I speak with other tongues as He gives me utterance, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
You have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Now open your mouth by faith and begin to utter those words of the Spirit that are coming from your innermost being. Praise the Lord!
The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life makes you more than a man. You may still look, talk and walk the same way but you have become His living tabernacle. You have become more than a man as the very life and power of God now dwells in you.