Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Why Tongues?


But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20 NKJV

 Previously, we began a study asking who's afraid of the Holy Ghost? We looked closely at the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. With that understanding, it seems good to go further and deeper into the study of the power of the Spirit. This power from on high that is made available to all who call on the name of Jesus and receive His Grace.

 With any study of the Baptism in the Spirit, the subject of Tongues is inevitable. When a believer receives the infilling of the Spirit they receive the personal prayer language God gives them. Again, praying in the Spirit, the Baptism in the Spirit, are not marks of maturity. They aren't a sign that those who've received are somehow superior to other Christians or better than another believer. 

 With that understanding, and the foundation of the Baptism in the Spirit already laid, let's examine this question why Tongues? Why speak in tongues? Why would one desire to pray in a language you don't know? Why speak words that are unknown to your natural mind? What purpose does it serve? In what way is it beneficial?

 I want to take the time to answer these questions and reveal the amazing benefits of praying in the Spirit, speaking with tongues. So relinquish traditions of men. Let go of any fear or concerns. God is a Good Father and He only gives good gifts to His Church.


Graceful benefits of praying in the Spirit

 1. Tongues serve as evidence of one having received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. 
Acts 2:4Acts 10:44-46Acts 19:1-6  all clearly reveal tongues as the evidence one has received this Baptism in the Spirit. Peter used this experience of the Baptism in the Spirit evidenced by speaking in other tongues as proof that God was granting salvation to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. 

 These passages reveal the first benefit. Tongues serve as a sign, as evidence that you have received the fullness of the Spirit. That you have indeed been filled with the Spirit. This helps you when the enemy comes with his lies, his temptations, his accusations, and wants you to believe you're powerless and helpless. This prayer language reminds you that you've received the mighty infilling of God's Spirit. That you're more than a conqueror, and that you have power over all the lies of the enemy. 

2. Tongues serve as a reminder of the indwelling presence of God. It helps us be more God inside minded. 
 Jesus declared the Spirit will be upon us and shall be in us. Becoming God inside minded makes us more aware of His presence within. We won't be overcome by feelings of loss, abandonment, or loneliness when we realize that He is always with us.

 In this life, we may feel alone or as if we are going through it all by ourselves. When we are God inside minded, we know He is with us, always. It serves as a reminder that we are not doing life on our own. His power and presence are with us. 

 When we pray in the language only He can give, it reminds us He is right there in our midst. It tells us He is with us and directing our prayer. He is listening and ready to answer in His power and love.

3. When we pray in tongues we are praying divine secrets or praying mysteries.
 Paul revealed this wonderful benefit in his Epistle to the Corinthians. This word translated mysteries in the original Greek reveals some powerful truths. In Greek, it means a hidden thing or secret thing not obvious to the understanding. It's hidden counsel or purpose. It's hidden counsels concealed to the ungodly and World but made plain to the righteous. We tap into these hidden counsels by praying in the Spirit.  

 There is so much to be said about the benefits of praying mysteries. 
 You see, a person speaking in an unknown language is not addressing the church because he is really addressing God—those who overhear don’t understand because he is speaking in the Spirit the depths of the mysteries of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 14:2 Voice

 When someone speaks in tongues, no one understands a word he says, because he’s not speaking to people, but to God—he is speaking intimate mysteries in the Spirit. 
1 Corinthians 14:2 TPT

For he who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses God not men; no one understands him; he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit.  
1 Corinthians 14:2 Moffatt 
 
 When we pray in the Spirit, we are praying intimate secrets. We are praying out the will of God in secret. When we pray in the Spirit we are going deeper in prayer and intimacy with the Father. This strengthens our walk and relationship with God. It gives us better insight into the heart of our Good Father. 
 
 We've seen just three of the great benefits of praying in the Spirit. One may be thinking what must I do to receive? How can I get this in my life? The good news is this amazing prayer language is free. It is readily available to any of God's people who simply desire it and simply ask for it. You can't earn what's free!

 In summation, we aks why Tongues? Because of the amazing benefits. There are so many benefits to praying in the Spirit. Religious tradition is afraid of the Holy Ghost so they create obstacles and objections to this beautiful prayer language. Don't let the enemy or religion rob you of all God has provided for. Simply receive by Faith what Grace has freely provided. 


Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

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