David Diga Hernandez - How You Can FINALLY Receive the Gift of Tongues

How can the believer who has been praying for the gift of tongues finally receive that gift and see it fully operational in their life? I pray that by the end of this, the gift of tongues will be released through you, enabling you to pray in that beautiful, heavenly prayer language that God has given you. Every believer can pray in tongues; that is their personal prayer language. So, it is not a matter of receiving this gift but of releasing it. Yes, the gift of tongues is for every believer. Often, we reference First Corinthians chapter 12, where the Apostle Paul is asking a series of rhetorical questions: Do all have this? Do we all pray in tongues? But it’s important to note that Paul is talking about a very specific expression of the gift of tongues, namely the prophetic expression of the gift of tongues, which is to be used in tandem with the gift of interpretation.

Now, let’s take a look at the often misapplied portion of Scripture: First Corinthians 12:29–31. «Are we all Apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?» Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Context matters; you can’t just take portions of Scripture out and then build entire doctrines on them. The Apostle Paul here is specifically talking about a set of gifts that are to be used in the context of public church assembly or among fellow believers. How do I know that? Well, First Corinthians chapter 12, verse 7, makes it clear that a spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other. All of these spiritual gifts listed in First Corinthians chapter 12 are to be used by one believer for the benefit of another.

But let’s look at this now: Are we all Apostles? No. But does that mean that we are not all to be involved in helping to establish new ministries? Does that mean that we are not all to be about our Father’s business? Are we all prophets? No, we are not all called to fulfill the office of a prophet. Does this mean only a few believers can hear from God? Does this mean that only a few believers can share encouragement, which is a form of prophecy? We don’t apply that reasoning to any of the other spiritual gifts. We’re not all Apostles, but we should all still expand the kingdom. We’re not all prophets, but we should all still hear from God. We’re not all teachers, but we all need to know the word. Not all of us have the gift of miracles, but we can still believe for miracles. Not all have the gift of tongues, or the ability to speak in tongues, or the ability to interpret tongues.

Notice how the text ties the two together; even though the two separate senses are mentioned in the same breath, it ties the two together. It’s the gift of tongues and tongues interpretation: where is that used? It’s used in the context of the public assembly of believers, and therefore, that is talking about the prophetic expression of the gift. This is a very specific use of the gift of tongues that is not for every believer. This is about the public gifts of tongues and tongues interpretation.

However, First Corinthians chapter 14, verses 2 and 4 make it clear that there’s also an expression of the gift of tongues that’s used for self-edification. When you pray in that tongue, you’re praying in the Spirit. When you pray in that tongue, you’re praying in a way that strengthens the inner man. So, there is a difference between the prophetic expression of the gift of tongues and your own personal prayer language. By the way, look at what Paul wrote in First Corinthians 14:4-5: «A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but the one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more, I wish you could all prophesy, for prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying, so the whole church will be strengthened.»

Let me ask you: why would the Apostle Paul wish for something that was contrary to the will of God? And why would the Holy Spirit allow for that desire to be recorded in Holy Scripture if it were indeed contrary to God’s will? Not all have the gift of tongues and tongues interpretation, but every believer can pray in a personal tongue to God. Now, what blocks this gift from becoming operational in one’s life? Ultimately, it comes down to one word, and you’re not going to like this. I understand that this might be offensive to some, but it’s important that you hear this. I’m saying this to you in love, and I’m going to say it, and then I want you to let me explain it. What’s blocking you from receiving the gift of tongues can be summarized in one word: ego. It’s all ego.

Now, you might be saying, «Wait a minute, David. I’m not prideful. I don’t feel proud; I’m not puffed up; I’m not boastful.» Well, that’s not what I’m talking about. Pride is an expression of the ego, but the ego is simply self. In other words, we get in our own way and complicate things that are rather simple. So, the first obstacle we should look at here is fear. Now, there are many fears surrounding the gift.