The Supernatural Gift of Tongues

Kids often get filled with the Holy Spirit at a special meeting or Kids Camp but then rarely, if ever, pray in tongues again. This needs to change. Why ask God for a gift and then only use it once?

God gave us the gift of tongues for a reason. Praying in tongues is a powerful, supernatural gift that we should use every day.

That’s why it’s a good idea to follow your teaching on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with a lesson about the benefits of praying in other tongues. Kids need to understand what happens when they pray in the Spirit and why this gift is so important.

Here’s the deal: If kids don’t understand the benefits of praying in tongues, it opens the door for the enemy to try to steal what God has given them. He may whisper things like, “You didn’t really receive,” or “You’re just making it up.”

In Matthew 13:19, Jesus taught that the evil one comes to steal the Word that has been planted in someone’s heart.

Satan doesn’t want believers praying in the Spirit because when we pray in tongues, we are praying supernatural prayers. That’s why we must teach our kids not only how to receive the Holy Spirit, but also why they should continue praying in tongues.

Parents, here are some practical ways you can help your kids use this spiritual gift at home:

• Be bold about praying in tongues at home.
  Don’t shy away from it. Let your kids hear you pray in the Spirit. If you are embarrassed about praying in tongues, your kids may become uncomfortable with it too.
• Pray in tongues with your kids every day.
  During your regular family or bedtime prayer time, spend five minutes praying in tongues together. Like the Apostle Paul, teach your kids to pray both with the Spirit and with their understanding.
• Use everyday situations as teaching opportunities.
  When your family encounters a difficult or confusing situation and you don’t know how to pray, remind your kids that this is one of the reasons God gave us the gift of tongues. The Holy Spirit helps us pray when we don’t know what to pray.
  
  “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” — Romans 8:26
• Celebrate the gift of tongues.
  When you receive an answer to prayer, remind your kids about the times you prayed for that situation. Help them recognize how God was working and answering prayer. This reinforces that praying in tongues is a real and powerful supernatural gift from God.

Resources to Help You

We’ve created two resources to help parents and children’s ministry leaders teach kids about the Holy Spirit.

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