In Acts, when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit enabled them to speak in tongues. I don't know any Christian who can speak in tongues. I cannot speak in tongues. Where is the Holy Spirit?
Filled with the Holy Spirit
No outward forms can make us clean. No regulation, by whosoever administered, or after whatever mode, can supply the need of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The purifying and cleansing power of the Holy Spirit alone can produce that purity of heart, and those holy affections, which accompany salvation. We only have to ask to receive. Water is the emblem of the Holy Spirit; as water refreshes, cleanses, and makes the earth fruitful, so do His influences the soul. This gift of the Holy Spirit is the great blessing,
We have to seek after the infilling with the Holy Spirit. It is a free gift and we have not to do anything else but as to believe to receive it.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This is the promise that is given to us by Jesus. The reason why we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit is because He is our Helper and He will teach us and lead us. The Holy Spirit works with us to help us to understand the scripture, working through us to perform miracles.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
So many people ask how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and its so easy because its a free gift from God. We have to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then we ask God to fill us with His Spirit. The gift will be transferred with the laying on of hands from a Spirit-filled Christian to the one who is seeking to be filled. People do have to understand that they do not have to be holy before this can take place. So many times people think they have to be holy (sinless) before they can receive the Holy Spirit, but this is a free gift. The sign that follows being filled with the Holy Spirit is the speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongue is the language of the Spirit. Its a way to communicate in the spiritual world. (We also get a body language that sometimes speaks louder than words). Many churches that do not believe in speaking in tongues and its robbing us of a free gift that God has given us.
Acts 19:4 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
There is always confusion with speaking in tongue because people do not understand it clearly. There are two kinds of tongues; the OTHER tongues and the UNKNOWN tongues. On the day of Pentecost, the people were filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time and they spoke in tongues but they spoke in different languages that the other people there recognize as their own language and was amazed thereby they knew it was an act of God. They knew that the people speaking in their language were not able to before.
Acts 2:2-11 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with OTHER tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
The speaking in UNKNOWN tongues is the spirit language. No man understands it unless there is someone who can interpret it. If speaking in tongues are in other recognizable languages, there is no need for interpretations because everybody knows their own language. It is only with the unknown languages that we need to have them interpret, so that humans may be able to understand what is being spoken in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an UNKNOWN tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
A newborn Christian is still in sin and slavery but God gave us the power to become sons of God. We repent from our sins, are baptized with water in the name of Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit. These three steps are the born-again stage. This gives us the power to become Sons of God. These three steps are like a seed; say like a tomato seed that we received. We have to plant it and water it. The seed has to grow to the fullness of a plant to be able to bear so fruit. We are the same after being re-born. Its only our spirit that is new; we have to work on our soul and body to come in line with the word of God.