He Gives Us His Gifts

‘A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church’ 1 Cor. 14:4

The gifts of the Holy Spirit edify and build us up. The Holy Spirit gives us His gifts to build us up as individuals and as a Church. The word edify in the Greek is translated oikodomio; oiko means to build while domio means dominion. It literally means to build a house. The word edify means to build up, to embolden, or to encourage. The gift of prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, working of miracles, diverse kinds of tongues, and so on are gifts of the Holy Spirit. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to embolden and build up the Church. The gift of speaking in other tongues particularly builds up the individual. When we speak the tongues given to us by the Spirit we are building ourselves up. In speaking in tongues we experience a lifting up. You are fortifying and encouraging yourself spiritually. ‘For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church’ 1 Cor.14:2-4. Speaking in tongues is a powerful gift. As Christians, not all of us are baptized in the Holy Spirit but everyone can be. The fact that you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit does not mean that something is wrong with you; it does not mean you are less of a Christian or you will go to hell. However, the gift of the Holy Spirit opens you to a fresh dimension of God that you can only experience with the help of the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing and the Bible says that when we speak in tongues it means that we are edifying ourselves. The Holy Spirit achieves His ministry as the Comforter by praying through us. We have to choose to yield ourselves to Him in prayer.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I ask that You fill my life afresh. Give me new tongues and pray through me. Strengthen me from the inside and take me higher in my walk with God, in Jesus Name.