Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Tongues

Dan A. Rodriguez Articles, Books, and Podcasts

The purpose of this article is to build faith, dispel unbelief, and prepare anybody to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues. Many will receive from the Lord when their particular question is answered. Others will receive as they begin to see this awesome truth in the Word. Others will receive as they hear the teaching. Get ready to receive the moment you begin to hear and receive the Word! Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and He is ready today to baptize you in His Spirit!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the next step when you come to Jesus and make Him Lord of your life. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the entrance into the supernatural manifestations of God. People without this glorious baptism will NEVER make it in these final hours of the church upon the earth. There is too much to do, and it will take POWER to do it! There are billions that are hell bound that have to be reached. There are sick people all around us that need God's healing power. There are people bound by addictions, perversions, and all forms of darkness that need the delivering power of God. How are these things to come to the billions that need it? It will come about on earth by the hands, words, and actions of believers empowered by the Holy Spirit! (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:1-20; Mark 16:15-20; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 14:1-5, 14, 18, 39)

If you are satisfied with the new birth and think that is all God has for you, then you are missing a powerful blessing promised by the Lord to all believers. God has much for you! The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues, is what opens the door to infinite possibilities with God. We will show you what the Bible says about it, and then it will be up to you to receive this glorious experience.

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues as of fire splitting off (into individual fires); and these sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3, 4)

The apostles and all the people that gathered (120 individuals) had already received the Holy Spirit into their lives and hearts. They had already been regenerated and received Jesus as their Lord before Acts 2:4. Can we prove this?

The doors were shut where the disciples were gathered... Jesus came and stood in the middle of them, and said to them, “Peace (shalom) to you!” And after He said that, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw it was the Lord! Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you. As My Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-22)

Notice that they received the Holy Spirit at this time. This was before Jesus ascended visibly into heaven. They received the Spirit of Christ as it says in Romans 8:9-11, and the Holy Spirit came inside them, and they were born of the Spirit. Yet, Jesus explained to them that something else was needed from the Holy Spirit to empower them and propel them into the supernatural things of God. Right before His ascension into heaven He said:

I send the promise of My father on you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

Jesus was saying that receiving the Holy Spirit inside of them (the new birth) was not all that there was to the promise of the Father. God had more in mind for His people. God wanted more for them than only an internal and personal experience with God. Power would come from on high to rest on His people. It would be a glorious external manifestation worn like a coat or a suit of clothes.

The one believing in me as the Scripture said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. But He said this concerning the Spirit that those that believe in Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38, 39)

Note that Jesus said that the one that already believed, trusted in, and become faithful to the Lord, was to have something else from the Spirit of God. These verses speak of another experience with the Holy Spirit, one where from your belly flow rivers of living water. The rivers of water speak of this mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this of the mighty experience with the Holy Spirit they were to receive. When He breathed on them they were birthed from above, but nothing happened externally in their lives until Acts 2:4.

Miraculous power from on High

There was no real show of God's power to the entire world until Acts 2 and beyond. They were good "Christians" but with no evidence to demonstrate to the world about the reality, not just the words, of their God.

...But you will receive (miraculous) power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Do you see the reference here to the Holy Spirit coming upon you? This is saying the same thing as Luke 24:49. It is a being clothed upon with the power of the Holy Spirit. What is the purpose of this empowering? The purpose was so we would be witnesses to the world. The word witness means one that comes with clear and irrefutable evidence of what they are saying. Jesus told us what we would be doing with this power, and this is exactly what we see the apostles and disciples doing after the Acts 2:4 experience of receiving this power upon their lives.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to everybody. The ones believing, and those being immersed will be saved (delivered or made whole). And the ones that do not believe will be condemned (damned). And these signs (miraculous works of power) will accompany those believing: In My Name (dominion, authority, power) they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Look at Acts 28:3-5 for an example of a serpent attacking Paul and he was supernaturally protected from its venom! The serpents and drinking deadly things by accident are a part of supernatural protection from harm. Take a look also at Psalms 91, the mighty protection Psalm, and notice how it totally agrees with this part in Mark 16:17 and 18.

The above verses in Mark mean that when Jesus gave authority and power to heal the sick and cast out demons to His the apostles and to 70 other disciples, that it was localized, temporary, and unique to a limited group of his followers before the cross and the resurrection. (Luke 9:1, 10:1, 10; Matthew 10:1). It was not yet available to all His followers. After His resurrection, that power and authority was extended to ALL His followers! That means that you didn't need to be an apostle or prophet, or some especially selected disciple to walk in power to heal, deliver people, and have supernatural protection that can only be attributed to God. All God's people should be clothed with supernatural power. Each believer should speak in new tongues, cast out demons, and heal the sick in His Name.

For those of you that fuss over Mark 16:8-20 because it is not found in two of the most ancient complete manuscripts (the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus), I have three words for you, "Get over it"! It is found in all other ancient New Testament manuscripts (hundreds), and it is clearly proven as a Bible truth in the book of Acts, 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14, and by numerous references in the New Testament. So, get over lame excuses for not being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. That is one of Satan’s methods to keep you out of this glorious experience with God. Traditional ignorance, and a theological debate based in unbelief of anything supernatural, has kept many denominational churchgoers from getting in on these glorious truths.

God wants to clothe us with power to do signs and wonders in the Name of Jesus. He wants us to have not just words but power in demonstration in our lives. He is not only interested in the presentation of the Gospel to the world with words but with miraculous signs that no one can deny! (1 Corinthians 2:4) It starts with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) shall baptize (immerse) you with the Holy Spirit and with fire... (Matthew 3:11)

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to come with "fire." That is that power that we have been talking about. It comes upon those that receive this gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As the resurrected Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ is the One that personally baptizes you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He does that for all those that will receive this precious and very necessary gift. Did you connect fire here with the "fire" that showed up on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:3? You should!

Even Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry without the Holy Spirit empowering Him to do the miraculous. (Matthew 3:16)

No miracles, healings, signs, or wonders were done until after He was empowered by the Holy Spirit for His ministry. Notice how He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit after being clothed with this power from on High. (Luke 4:14) Then, and only then, did the miracles begin to happen. The Holy Spirit in power released the miraculous in His life. Even though Jesus came as God manifested in the flesh, (John 1:1, 14) without this special empowerment, He did not do even one miracle or healing. If Jesus needed the power of the Holy Spirit in His life, how much more do you and I need it!

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power at the Jordan River. That was when the Holy Spirit came upon Him like a dove, and that was when His ministry began. No one should even think about beginning a ministry without the power of the Holy Spirit upon their lives! That is another subject.

Why all the Emphasis on Speaking in other Tongues?

The first evidence that was manifest when the Holy Spirit and fire came on the 120 in the house where they were seated was speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4) If this was the only place this happened, then maybe we would have to say that it was something special for them that day, but it was not unique to Acts 2:4.

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the word. And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the (non-Jewish or Gentile) nations also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts 10:44-46)

This Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is here called a gift. In Luke 24:49 it was called the promise of the Father. It is the desire of the Father to grant this promise and gift to you right now.

Much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him. (Luke 11:13)

It is a promise and a gift that is yours for the asking and the receiving. The Father will never turn down any born again believer from receiving. It is His perfect will that you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with this initial evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Why do I say that speaking in another tongue is the initial evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? I just gave you the second scriptural proof of this great truth in Acts 10:44-46. The people that came with Peter knew these people had received the same gift as they had in Acts 2:4 when they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

He (Paul) said to them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Then to what were you baptized?” And they said, “To John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in Him that was coming after him, on Jesus Christ. And hearing this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:2-6)

This portion of Scripture makes some correction to traditional theology. Paul's question was pointed. "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" He did not ask if they got the Holy Spirit when they believed, but since they believed. Paul believed that there was another Holy Spirit experience beyond the believing in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit in the salvation experience. If you have doubts that they were already believers (born from above or born again), notice that when Paul told them about Jesus, they heard the Word, they believed on Him, and were baptized in water. They were born again before Paul laid his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with tongues. In this case, they even prophesied. There you have three places that clearly show that tongues were the initial evidence that the Holy Spirit had baptized or immersed them in His power and fire; Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:1-6.

The Supernatural Connected to the Natural

Praying in other tongues is supernatural and natural. Tongues come out of the human spirit as given by the Holy Spirit. That is the supernatural side. The words given by the Spirit and coming out of the human spirit must be formed by the tongue, given sound, and spoken by the mouth. That is the physical side.

The benefits of speaking and praying in other tongues are clearly taught in Scriptures, and in this audio message and article, we clearly present the facts that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues is for EVERY believer. The confusion comes in when people don’t understand the difference between tongues and interpretation of tongues as a manifestation of the Spirit used for ministering to others as the Lord wills (1st Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-30), and speaking and praying with tongues to edify yourself and to speak in mysteries to God whenever you want to (1st Cor. 14:2, 4, 14-17).

Let’s study it with some more details.

Some have thought that not everybody needs to speak in tongues when they get Spirit baptized because they think that Paul didn't speak in tongues. Wrong! Paul makes this statement:

I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all. (1 Corinthians 14:18)

Paul spoke in tongues frequently and consistently.

He also said:

Do not forbid speaking in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39)

Again, Paul spoke in tongues frequently and consistently. He also commanded that Christians should not forbid speaking in tongues. Yet, most traditional, denominational churches (Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, and many others do exactly that! They forbid anyone from speaking in tongues, and are so traditionally brainwashed as to think that speaking or praying in tongues is of the devil! No, their refusal to believe the Scripture is of the devil! Tongues come from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

The Power of Praying in Tongues

1. Speaking divine secrets

For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit... If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels... (1st Corinthians 14:2, 13:1a NET)

You speak divine secrets before God in tongues. Satan has no way of knowing what is happening or what is being said! You are speaking divine secrets or "divine code" that he cannot decipher. It is speaking to God and not to man. God understands them, though you and no one else around you may understand them. Speaking in tongues can be speaking supernaturally the tongues of men or angels, but spoken in a way that only the Lord understands.

2. The door into the spirit

If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. (1st Corinthians 14:14, 15 NET)

Notice that praying in tongues means that you are praying in the spirit. You can't pray in the spirit in your understanding. Regardless of the fervency of prayer in the understanding, it is just that, prayer from your mind or understanding. Though you may frame the prayer in spiritual language according to the Scripture, it is still a prayer stated via the understanding. Though there is a spiritual element to prayer when it is according to the Word, it is still not full blown prayer in the spirit. Do you get that? Prayer in the Spirit is ONLY via tongues.

Tongues open the door into the spirit, into the supernatural spiritual realm. Tongues come from the spirit man on the inside and not the mind or intellect. It bypasses intellect completely. That is why your understanding is unfruitful. Your head just doesn't get it or understand it! We are supposed to pray in the spirit (tongues) and in the understanding. The issue is that praying in the understanding is limited to what you know, which is very limited. Praying in the spirit is unlimited because one gets over into divine secrets when one is praying.

Praises can be sung in the spirit or in other tongues. Praising in the spirit with singing or in other tongues is also a very rich part of spiritual language.

3. Praying the perfect will of God

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27 NET)

When I do not know what or how to pray for as I should, I can depend on the Holy Spirit to give me words of the spirit that will pray out the perfect will of God for the saints, which are the children of God or the church. I can be praying for myself as a child of God or for others. That is what I do when I pray in tongues.

4. Building up the inner man

The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. (1st Corinthians 14:4 NET)

Speaking in tongues edifies or builds up the inner man or spirit . We build up ourselves on our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit or in tongues.

But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20 Amplified)

We make progress as we pray in tongues and rise higher and higher like a building. That is the meaning of the original Greek word used here for "build".

5. Access to wisdom

And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. (1 Corinthians 2:13 Amplified)

Human language is limited to the mind. Spiritual language that comes out of your spirit by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the combination of spiritual truths with spiritual words. Read the entire portion of Scripture in 1st Corinthians 2:5-13. We have been granted powerful access to God's wisdom through the practice of praying in other tongues.

6. Spirit to spirit communication

God is a Spirit being (John 4:24). Tongues are your human spirit contacting God who is the Father of Spirits in a way that is pleasing to Him (Heb. 12:9; 1st Cor. 14:2). It is spiritual communication.

7. Praying without error, ignorance or unbelief

Since tongues bypasses your mind, this means that you can pray without error, ignorance, or unbelief when you pray in the Spirit (1st Cor. 14:14). Thank God! In Acts 2:4; they spoke in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. It is the human spirit receiving unction to speak in an unknown language to the speaker. One Greek commentary says that they spoke as they were infused by the Holy Spirit to speak.

Some of these do overlap, but you can see that the Word of God has quite a bit to say about tongues, and that was only a superficial explanation.

Look at some words that will help you understand that this is all talking about this glorious experience.

The Holy Spirit coming upon you

In Acts 2:4, it was the fire of the Holy Spirit sitting upon them. In Acts 1:8, it is the Holy Spirit coming upon them. In Acts 10:44-46 it was the Holy Spirit poured out on them. In Luke 24:49 it was them being clothed with power. In Acts 10:38, it was being anointed with the Holy Spirit. To "anoint" means to rub on (externally) or pour on.

In Matthew 3:11 it is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. "Baptism" means "immersion” into something else. For example "water baptism" means to be immersed in water. Sorry all you "sprinkling" folk, but you are mistaken.

When you first came to Jesus, you drank from the fountain of life and life got in you. Now you are being immersed in power, fire, and anointing, to carry out the great commission in Mark 16:15-20. The anointing, the fire, the Holy Spirit upon us is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.

If you are not in a church that lays hands on people to receive this gift, then you need to go somewhere else! They should at least pray for you so that the Holy Spirit comes on you just like He did in Acts 2, 10, and 19. Get ready to speak in a language that you do not know with your mind the moment they lay hands on you in faith, or pray for you that you receive this gift.

Speaking the words given to you by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit will come on you and give you words to speak, but you must speak them out of your own mouth. The Spirit gave them the words but they had to do the speaking. Tongues are not the Holy Spirit speaking. The Holy Spirit does not, nor ever will, speak in tongues. He gives you the words so you can speak in tongues.

Notice these phrases in Acts:

They... began to speak in other tongues... (Acts 2:4)

They heard them speak with tongues... (Acts 10:46)

They spoke with tongues... (Acts 19:6)

Therefore, the Holy Spirit will not force you to speak with tongues. He will not overpower your tongue and make you speak. It may actually feel like that at times, but it happened so strongly because YOU yielded to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not overpower your tongue and force you to speak if you resist Him. He will give you the ability to speak in tongues, but you must speak them out by faith. They may sound silly, ridiculous, and dumb. Tongues are not mental, so they do not make any sense to your mind. They will not sound necessarily intelligent. Get over that hump. According to 1 Cor. 14: 2 and verse 14, tongues will not make sense to you at all unless God gives you interpretation. From personal experience, I can tell you that many times you will not know what you are saying or for what you are praying. Don't get hung up here.

When you begin to speak in other tongues, at first, there may not be many words. Some people do receive what sounds like an entire language with many different words and variations. Others receive a sentence or two. Some may get a few words. It will greatly depend upon you and your receptiveness. If you have a strong yearning in you for this powerful experience with God, then most likely you will get more tongues than others will at first. Then, please don't stop praying in the tongues the Holy Spirit gives you. Pray in tongues every days and as often as you can.

Turning tongues on when YOU will!

Once you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, you can turn tongues on and off anytime you want to. There is no need to wait on some special anointing or feeling to pray in tongues.

"I will pray in the spirit, (prayer in tongues- 1st Cor. 14:14), and I will pray in the understanding." (1st Corinthians 14:15)

Once you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, tongues can be exercised at will just like praying in your own language. Just like you can pray in English, you can also pray in tongues. Don't forget that.

After you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues, here is Satan's #1 strategy to get you to stop. The devil may tell you that you made them up. Just rebuke his lies in Jesus' Name and begin to speak in tongues right in his face. He will absolutely hate every moment of it, and get out in one piece while he can!

Praying in the spirit- making progress

Once you receive, pray in tongues as often as you can, every single day of your life. As I mentioned earlier, the Amplified Bible in Jude 1:20 says that we make progress as we pray in Holy Spirit. That is exciting to know. The more I pray in tongues, the more progress in the Lord and in life I can make! No wonder Paul said he prayed in tongues more than all the Corinthians (1st Cor. 14:18).

Now, I am going to pray for you receive this wonderful gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. The Father wants to give you this gift, and Jesus wants to baptize you right now in the Holy Spirit and fire!

Are you ready to receive right now?

Over the years, we have seen many thousands of people receive the Holy Spirit after they followed these simple instructions. You are no exception. When I finish praying, the Holy Spirit of God will come on you, and He will give you words in your mouth, and out of your innermost being will come a flow of unknown words to you. Speak them out by faith and enjoy it!

Now say this aloud:

“Father you said, “How much more will you give the Holy Spirit to them that ask you.” I ask you for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I receive this gift from you. Jesus said that these signs would follow the believers. He said that in His Name I would speak in tongues. I am a believer and I receive this mighty gift with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. The moment brother Dan prays for me, I will receive from the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit who is the Lord Jesus this power from on high with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.”

Now hush the English or any other known language. No more words in any known language for now and let me pray over you.

“I pray for you now in the mighty Name of Jesus. Receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you. Receive the Holy Spirit in Jesus Name! Now begin to worship God in other tongues in Jesus Name!”

As soon as you read these words, throw your hands in the air in a receiving mode, open your mouth and speak whatever words the Holy Spirit is giving you right now. That's it. Begin to speak out those words by faith in Jesus' Name. Keep doing it. Relax in Him and in the tongues and let them flow out of you!

All who read these words and follow these instructions will receive without exception and without any delay in Jesus Name!

The audio podcast strongly compliments the article. Don't miss it!