‘Tongues’, COVID-19 and Labour Pains!

By Helen Jesze, 29^th May 2020

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

John 7, 38-40 KJV

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, (in other tongues) as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak,”

Acts 2, 4 WEB

A pastor told how God brought him through Covid-19, and he said some important things for us to note, especially as it is Pentecost weekend. I will call him John (name changed).

John was very ill, suffering not just physical effects but also having hallucinations. He had no appetite and could eat hardly anything and was rapidly declining. A friend, who had himself recovered from the virus, wrote: “You MUST eat! If you don’t, you are going to die!” So they changed the porridge he had been eating to one breakfast biscuit, and he forced himself to eat it. Soon he progressed from 1-2 biscuits. He was moved downstairs and the rest of the family were isolating themselves, just bringing him food, but John lay on the couch with his head near a glass window, so they could see if he was still alive or unconscious.

The toilet was only a few steps away, but because of his weakness and incessant coughing it took John up to 3 hours to get there and back to his couch. He prayed many times to be healed, but came to the point that just the physical act of praying brought on terrible coughing. One day he decided to pray in tongues instead of English, and within a few minutes, the coughing stopped and he felt peace come into his chest and tortured lungs!

John gave this testimony on Christian TV and a lady emailed in and said it did not make any difference whether you prayed in a normal language or spoke in tongues, and that God answers prayer anyway. Yes, thank God he does answer prayer, also those spoken in our normal language, but John was reporting what had happened to him. John fully recovered and gave God the glory!

This weekend is Pentecost, when we celebrate how the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 disciples and others in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, over 2000 years ago. One of the last commands Jesus gave to His disciples before he was taken up to Heaven was to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and empower them. They were obedient to Jesus’ command, and after 10 days praying together, the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a rushing, mighty wind and filled the house. Tongues of fire appeared over their heads as they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and each of them began to speak in other languages or tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

I came to faith in Jesus when I was 9 years old and received this baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit when I was 14. Many positive changes happened in my life after this experience, but there may be some of you who have not had this. That does not mean that you are a second-class Christian, or that God has withheld some blessing from you. I want to encourage you today to seek after this. Jesus is the Baptiser and is waiting to fill you! Some others of you may have already been baptised in the Spirit and have spoken in tongues, but that was a long time ago, and you now no longer use this wonderful Gift. Start to stir it up again in your spirit, and you will be edified and built up in your faith. We will need it more than ever before, in the days that lie ahead.

John was not only helped spiritually by speaking in tongues, but physically. Jesus said, that the Holy Spirit will flow from our belly or innermost being, our abdomen. When I was in labour with our first child, the midwife came at 10pm and said,”Oh, you’ve got a long way to go yet. I’ll see you about 7 o’clock tomorrow.” Then she went home. I was trying to breathe in with the contractions and instead of crying out with the pain as I breathed out, I decided to speak in tongues. Shortly after, the contractions came quicker, my waters broke, the midwife was called and as she rushed in, she said, “What? The head’s already there!” Our son was born at 2.25am! So ladies, that’s a tip for your next birth or for your daughter?! The Holy Spirit living in us can bring healing and deliverance as we appropriate Him and give Him room to move.

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you,”

Romans 8, 11 KJV

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to edify and build us up; to teach, guide us into all Truth, comfort, bring revelation, heal and deliver. Rise up within us and pour down upon us in a mighty way this Pentecost season. Change our hearts, bring rivers in our desert, glorify the Father and Jesus the Son in our lives, we pray! Holy Spirit, unblock our spiritual wells that we will speak in tongues again and not despise this mighty truth which the Father has given us. Jesus, baptise those who are seeking! Lift them out of their discouragement. You have promised to give this Gift to the thirsty!

Thank you for healing this pastor and for all those who have recovered. We pray for healing to come to those who are suffering from the virus, and a wave of healing over our world, and deep comfort for those who have lost loved ones. Holy Spirit, we welcome you and your anointing this Pentecost weekend! In the Name of Jesus, Amen!

Disclaimer: In writing this, I am not saying that speaking in tongues is a sure remedy for overcoming COVID-19 and helping you to give birth. I am just reporting this pastor’s testimony and what I experienced. But it sure is worth trying, isn’t it?! Also for many other things!