Springs Article 2020-12 (1)
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
1 Corinthians 14:14-18
Romans 8:26-27
What is ‘speaking in tongues’?
- Speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit in an unknown language
- Inspired speech in an unknown language, coming straight out your human spirit and bypassing your mind
- Mark 16:17, Acts 2:4
Why is ‘speaking in tongues’ the most basic and most prominent gift of the Spirit?
- Death and life are in the power of the tongue! Proverbs 18:21
- Speaking ‘under the influence’ of the Holy Spirit provides the means for spiritual edification (strengthening) of the individual believer and the church (the body of Christ)
- Speaking in tongues is a gift that can be used for praying (speaking unto God) and also for prophesying (speaking unto men)
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
What is the greatest weakness in the life of a believer?
- We don’t know how to pray as we ought to!
- We are either praying for the right thing in the wrong way or praying for the wrong thing in the right way
- We need the help of the Holy Spirit in the place of prayer
- He provides us this help through ‘praying in tongues’
- Romans 8:26-27, James 4:2-3
What are the prayer uses of the gift of tongues?
- It can be used for praising God in the Spirit
- It can be used for giving thanks in the Spirit
- It can be used for making supplication in the Spirit
- It can be used for intercession in the Spirit
- It can be used for consecration in the Spirit
- It can be used for recharging (strengthening) in the Spirit
- Praying in tongues is praying in the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 14:14-18, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20
What is the difference between genuine tongues and fake tongues?
- Fake tongues are the product of unbelief(mental or demonic performance)
- Real tongues come straight from your born-again human spirit but you are still in charge of yielding to and speaking them with your mouth
- If you are born-again, the Holy Spirit already lives inside you. All you need to do is yield fully to Him
- You speak in tongues by faith!
- 1 Corinthians 14:14-15
- When you believe in the gift of tongues and apply your heart in yielding to the Holy Spirit, and then speak from your heart in response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the only outcome is genuine tongues
Do I need to understand what I am saying in tongues?
- If you are praying in tongues, God understands exactly what the Holy Spirit is helping you to say in your spirit, Romans 8:27
- If you believe that God is hearing you, He will hear you!
- 1 John 5:14-15
- The Holy Spirit will grant you interpretation of the direction or answer to your prayers, as is necessary. As you believe and persist in praying in tongues, light and understanding will come to you
- 1 Corinthians 2:9-12
Do I need to interpret my speaking tongues to others?
- If you are speaking to other people or you are leading a prayer that needs the agreement of others, then you have to speak (or interpret by the Spirit) in an understandable human language
- However, personal prayer is between you and God. It does not need any interpretation to others
- Believers can pray together in tongues in a church meeting. In this case, they are speaking to God and not to men. All they need is coordination in an understandable human language
How can I make the most of praying in tongues?
- Speaking or praying in tongues is an act of faith!
- You have to yield your heart to the Holy Spirit and your mouth to speaking the unintelligible promptings from your heart in order to produce supernatural results
- You apply your heart by believing in what you are doing and yielding yourself to the Holy Spirit