The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

When a believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the believer’s spirit is immersed in the Holy Spirit. Just as water has the effect of wetting the believer’s body when it is immersed in it at water baptism, the Holy Spirit has an effect on the believer’s spirit when it is immersed in the Holy Spirit at Holy Spirit baptism. The effect of the Holy Spirit on the believer’s spirit is the phenomenon of glossolalia. Glossolalia is speaking in tongues. This is the supernatural ability of the born again believer to speak directly to God in a language he or she has never learned and does not know. The believer does this by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence or sign that a believer has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Therefore, glossolalia is for every believer. (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6)

There are two uses of glossolalia. They are

1. Personal. (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,14,18)
2. Ministering to others. (Acts 2:8,11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 14:6,13)

When a believer speaks in tongues, he speaks directly to God and edifies himself. (1 Corinthians 14:2,4) This is the personal use of tongues (praying in the Spirit). When a believer ministers to others through the use of tongues, the believer speaks in a language the hearer can understand (Acts 2:8,11) or gives the interpretation of what was said in tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:10,30) Speaking in tongues plus the corresponding interpretation equals prophecy. (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:5)

All believers have the ability to speak in tongues for personal use. (Mark 16:17) All believers are not used by the Holy Spirit to minister to others through the use of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:11,30) The ability to minister to others through the use of tongues is manifested at the discretion of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7,11)