Every Christian has the Holy Spirit, but too often the Holy Spirit is dormant in their lives. This message explains the ministry of the Holy Spirit and gives the keys to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in your life and ministry. God never called anyone to do His work without His power, and you can have the power of the Holy Spirit operating in your life!

This message, which was delivered at New Life Fellowship in Tolna, North Dakota is like a fireside chat about the work of the Holy Spirit. There are many illustrations, stories, and testimonies set upon a biblical framework in a very relaxed, informal, intimate and transparent way. This message comes from many years of walking with the Holy Spirit in life and ministry.

This lesson focuses on how to activate the Holy Spirit in your ministry, especially through praying on other tongues. Many people are confused about speaking in other tongues. This message defines the different biblical ways that tongues are used and emphasizes the value to praying in tongues for personal edification.

I believe that this lesson will help you to gain a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. There are some nuggets of truth in this lesson that will help you to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and to see a greater release of His comfort, power, and guidance in your life and ministry.

This lesson is a part of our Online Believer’s School of Ministry>>>

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2Corinthians 4:7, NKJV).

The purpose of this lesson is to impress upon the believer the need to rely on the Holy Spirit for ministry, and to teach how to activate the Holy Spirit in a greater way in your life. 

This is a more advanced lesson. Recommend “BSOM105: Receiving Power to Change the World” for basic training on the power of the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN LIFE!

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — (John 14:16, NKJV).

Another—one of the same kind; like Jesus, He, the Holy Spirit, conveys heaven’s blessings from the Father and the Son. See John 14:12-30

Seven-fold Helper…

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor — Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever — (John 14:16, Amp15).

The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to live the victorious Christian life.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5, NKJV).

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1Corinthians 6:17, NKJV).

The Holy Spirit helps us to live in victory so we can help others.

Stengthened with might. Filled with the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:14-21, John 1:16

The also helps us to walk in love and the fruit of the spirit so we can BE a witness. Galatians 5:16-26, Acts 1:8, Rom 5:5

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13, NKJV).

Tom’s story. Don’t be condemned, but use the tools.

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN MINISTRY

God never intended for you to do work without His power. Mt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:23-31. The purpose of the power—to reach people. Some charismatics and pentecostals are like a tea pot. They’re always blowing off steam but not getting much done. We need to be a like a steam locomotive. Using the power to get moving for God.

Holy Spirit is the power behind the expansion of the church in the book of Acts. (Acts 2, 3, 4, etc.

Guidance Acts 16:6-10

Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the profit of all. 1 Cor. 12:7-11

Ability to fulfill an office of ministry. Eph. 4:11-12

Kenneth Hagin story about a pastor counseling a church member. 

Ability to fulfill your mission as a believer. 

To minister to one another…

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1Peter 4:10, NKJV).

To witness for Christ…

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NKJV).

ACTIVATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Focusing on tongues here, but there are other avenues for activating the Holy Spirit:

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• Worship (private and public). Acts 13:1-4, Eph. 5:18-19
  
• Fasting Isaiah 58, Matthew 17:19-21, Acts 14:23
  
• Meditation of the Word of God. Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:15
  
• Prayer with understanding, especially surrender and repentance. 1 Cor. 7:8-11
  
• Quietness. Psalm 46:10
  

Tongues is like the trunk of an elephant. It’s not all there is to an elephant but it is definitely a part. 

If I didn’t speak in tongues, I wouldn’t worrry about it. I would ask for the gift and trust God and just get caught up in worshipping God. It will come. When I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I just spoke a few syllables and prophesied. But it has developed. Man starts out with “Abba.” Develops later.

Story of pastor who had a word of knowledge and didn’t even know it. Doesn’t speak in tongues. But speaking in tongues would help anyone because he that speaks in tongues edifies himself.

By praying in other tongues 1 Cor 14:1-5,14-15, 39

Tongues as a sign, Tongues as a message, Tongues for intercessory prayer, Tongues for devotional prayer.

This verse in context is about the ministry of speaking in tongues as a message:

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1Corinthians 12:30, NKJV).

Paul shortly after says that he wishes everyone in the church would speak in tongues but even more prophecy, because prophecy edifies the church:

 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. (1Corinthians 14:5, NKJV).

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (1Corinthians 14:1-4, NKJV).

Paul is emphasizing prophecy to a church that was good at speaking in tongues. In fact, they had an imbalance in this area. But at the same time we can learn about speaking in tongues here. 

v2 When you speak in tongues, you speak mysteries (divine secrets). Notice:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1Corinthians 2:12, NKJV).

We can receive intellectual knowledge by reading the Bible, but we need the Holy Spirit to receive revelation knowledge in our hearts.

v4 He that speaks in tongues edifies himself.

v14 When you pray in tongues, your spirit prays

v15 We need both!

v39 do not forbid to speak in tongues.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21, NKJV).

Keep yourself in balance with the entire word of God. Keep walking in love, and keep your focus on eternal life. Stay in the Word. 

I once spoke to a man who was against speaking in tongues. He said, “See, the Bible says that he that speaks in tongues builds himself up. That’s not good.” He thought building yourself up meant building yourself up in pride. 

Illustration: Athlete builds himself up to help the team. That’s good!

Tom when a pastor as a discipline prays in tongues one hour a day as a pastor. Result was sermon preparation became extremely easy.

Story of Missionary Jackie Pullinger. Book: “Chasing the Dragon.” Also, Dave Roberson.

Tom’s recent experience with praying in tongues. Using a notebook. He brings to remembrance. Evolution of devotional time. Interpretation. Singing in the Spirit, not mechanical. He’s a person. He does different things. Sometimes:

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• Comfort peace rest (John 14:16)
  
• Remembrance (John 14:26)
  
• Guidance. Prayer produces sensitivity to the Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
  
• Intercession groaning (Romans 8:26-27)
  

Some of us have a tongues deficit. In other words, we need to speak in tongues more. Once we get that in line, we need make sure to have the other things too. Reading the Word. Focusing on the message of salvation. Walking in love and the fruits of Spirit. 

Praying in tongues is a gateway to the gifts and the operation of the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Discussion Questions

1. 
   
2. What part did the Holy Spirit play in you coming to the Lord?
   
3. How has the Holy Spirit helped you in your ministry?
   
4. Do you have a testimony about how praying in tongues has made a difference in your life?
   
5. How do you think the Lord wants you to implement this teaching in your life?
   

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