Episode 11 :: Question 5 on the Sign of Receiving the HolySpirit

Question 5 – Nathaniel (Ghana): Hello Pastor Chris, please I want to ask whether speaking in tongues is the first sign to see after receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Also, can a sinner receive the Holy Spirit? I ask this because some Pastors always pray for new believers to speak in tongues on their first church service.

Answer 5: Firstly, your question is about “whether speaking in tongues is the first sign to see after receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” You don’t need a sign when you receive the Holy Spirit; you don’t need any sign. The Bible doesn’t promise a sign to receive the Holy Spirit, and you don’t walk by signs. You receive the Holy Spirit as an act of faith. What sign did you have when you received Christ into your heart? Why do you need a sign when you receive the Holy Spirit? I know that a lot of times, many Christians say that the sign that you have received the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues; well, they worked that out, not because the Bible said so. They worked that out because many Christians believe that when you receive that Holy Spirit, you should speak in other tongues – not necessarily.

Speaking in tongues is very very important, but it is not a sign that you have received the Holy Spirit. That’s not what it is about. That’s not the reason for it. That’s not the purpose.

Secondly, you said that “can a sinner receive the Holy Spirit?”  No, because the Bible says that He gives the Spirit to the ones who obey Him – that means “obey the gospel of Christ.” But you said, “I ask this because some Pastors always pray for new believers  [now, remember you called them believers] to speak in tongues on their first church service.” Well, if they are believers, they can receive the Holy Spirit. So, they are not non-Christians. You said they are new believers, so the Pastors are right and to expect them to speak in other tongues on the first day when they are ministering to them is also good, because when someone ministers to you to receive the Holy Spirit, the earlier you are able to pick up your faith like that and act faith and speak in other tongues, the better it is for you, the easier it is for you. Otherwise, it gets a bit more difficult for you, because you allow unbelief to come in. Those Pastors are right.