Learning to Speak in Tongues
Having had the opportunity to help hundreds of people through the years to speak in tongues, I would like to offer the following suggestions that will be helpful for you, the reader, to speak in tongues.
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Learn about God's salvation plan—which He wrought through Jesus Christ—through a knowledge of God's Word, so you can be born again (or saved) as outlined in Romans 10:9. Jesus Christ is the way, the Truth and the life (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven whereby you must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Romans 10:9:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -
Learn what God's Word teaches about speaking in tongues and build a desire to do it. Build into your heart a confidence and a trust in what God's Word says about speaking in tongues.
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Realize while you are seeking that God would not give you a counterfeit. God loves you and as our heavenly Father He only wants the best for you.
Luke 11:11-13:
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
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?
The Actual Doing of it
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Understand the mechanics of speech. Realize what it takes to speak physically, then apply this to speaking in tongues. The believer has to move his or her lips, mouth, and throat and say the words. God is not going to use you like a puppet and force words out of your mouth. You have the freedom of will to speak or not to speak. God is always there with the words for you to utter when you speak forth.
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Realize that God does not possess or force you to speak in tongues automatically. You have to initiate the process with your desire by opening your mouth and forming the words.
When I first learned to speak in tongues, there was one thing that held me up. I was waiting for God to move me. I soon learned that I could not wait for God to push me over the cliff, so to speak. You take the initiative to just start speaking sounds, keep it going, and do not stop. You have to form the words and give it the push so it comes out. God will not do it for you. -
Freedom of will always applies to speaking in tongues. The believer has to will to do it. You do not have to wait for God to move you to speak in tongues. You can do it any time you desire. That is what so wonderful about it. We have the freedom of will. We have to take the initiative and say the first word regardless of how it sounds. Then we keep it rolling.
It is very important, when you first speak in tongues, to do it a lot. Some people will do it a little and stop and then get talked out of it by the adversary, saying, "Did you really do it?" Step out and just speak forth the sounds. It will sound strange and very different. If you have ever heard foreigners speak around you, you would say their language sounds odd. So it is when you first speak in tongues. Jesus Christ taught His disciples about manifesting holy spirit when they would receive it in the future (John 7:38,39).
John 7:38,39:
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Once you speak, keep on speaking for a long period of time. Remember, you are talking to God, magnifying Him, giving thanks unto Him, worshipping Him and more. - Speak out boldly. You take the first step in moving your mouth, lips, and throat to give the words. You do not need to think about what words to speak. God is always there. Just move your mouth and speak out loud boldly.
If at this point, you have not spoken in tongues by now, then take a rest and then start over. This time, take your time and go over each step carefully. It would help to ask someone who is experienced in helping other people, to assist you.
I encourage you to take God at His Word and speak in tongues. Be blessed in all the fullness of what God has made available through His gift of holy spirit. He wants you to speak in tongues, so be patient and persistent in your endeavors to speak in tongues. Nothing brings more real peace to the soul than to speak in tongues.
Knowing the significance of speaking in tongues, you will want to speak in tongues often. One of the greatest places to speak in tongues is in your car while driving alone. You can speak out loud, you can sing in tongues to your favorite tune. Remember, speaking in tongues is for your private prayer life. It is not designed for speaking out loud in front of others. Many people say their spiritual life really takes off once they are speaking in tongues. For me, there is nothing more awesome than to speak in tongues.