Release the Power of Tongues: Benefits to Praying in the Spirit
The language came “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
Utterance means the ability to speak plainly, to declare openly, or to have the ability to enunciate with clarity. The people spoke, but the words came through the ability or enabling of the Holy Ghost. They spoke as the Spirit gave utterance.
When you do something you are doing it with assistance. If you walk across the room, you are walking as your feet move. Your feet are the tool being used to carry out the mission of walking.
Suppose you fly to Chicago It could be said that you traveled to Chicago as the plane flew, meaning that you flew by the auspice of the plane.
The believers at Pentecost spoke the language of Heaven, but only as the Holy Ghost gave them utterance.
God Gave A Pattern
The Old Testament conveyed many truths, but they were concealed in types and shadows. Everything in the Old Testament tabernacle depicted in some type or shadow the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The tabernacle was not an idea imagined by Moses. As God gave him the blueprint, Moses built it after the pattern he saw in Heaven (Exodus 25:8-40).
Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount (Hebrews 8:5).
Moses merely built what Heaven had envisioned. Tongues are no different than a pattern.
As Moses was commanded to build by the pattern, so we are to speak by the pattern as the Spirit gives utterance. Tongues come because the Spirit gives the utterance or the ability to speak or enunciate.
People with hearing problems almost always have a speech impediment. Our ability to hear gives us the ability to articulate or enunciate. Without hearing, we are limited in our ability to speak. The same is true in the Spirit.
We must hear before we can speak. At Pentecost they heard “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. …And they…began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2,4). They heard the sound, then they spoke.
God said Israel would not hear Him because of their uncircumcised ears. This simply means they were carnal and fleshly. We must walk in the Spirit to hear the Spirit. To understand the ways of God, we must listen not to human logic but to the One who “knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit” (Romans 8:27).
In the Old Testament, God spoke a pattern of what He wanted to be built on earth. God also used a sound to witness to the Old Testament saints. God hasn’t changed His methods for we who live today.
Exodus 28:33-35 describes the design of the high priest’s garment. On the hem of his garment were pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, symbolizing freshness of life, royalty, and the blood.
A golden bell was fastened on either side of the fruit for a sign to the people. When the high priest went into the holy place to minister as mediator, he took blood and offered it upon the mercy seat. The people could not see him, but if they heard the golden bells they knew the sacrifice had been accepted and the priest lived. This sound was a sign for the people that their sins had been atoned for.
After the resurrection of Christ, He showed Himself to the disciples and others for 40 days. Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus told His followers to wait for the promise of the Father. They gathered for prayer and waited as Christ took up the office of high priest forever.
The Jews knew that the Passover resulted in the death of an innocent lamb. Fifty days later marked the beginning of their harvest or the feast of ingathering. Jesus said He was the Passover Lamb Pentecost marked 50 days since His blood had been poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
The disciples’ wait ended. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come…there came a sound” (Acts 2:1-2). This was the fulfillment of the pomegranates and golden bells. The bells were a sign that the sacrifice had been accepted, and the Holy Ghost was the sound that our sins had been atoned for.
Have Tongues Ceased?
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
Many denominations have interpreted this verse to mean that spiritual gifts, including tongues, have ceased. But is this theory accurate?
They say “that which is perfect” is the complete, written Scriptures. If this is the case, then knowledge is also done away with—and we know that isn’t true. By putting the verse in context, tongues, prophecies, and knowledge still exist because “that which is perfect” (the second coming of Christ) has not yet taken place.
The gifts of the Spirit enable us to see a glimpse of His glory, but we still “know in part, and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). The shadow, the images, the glimpse of His glory will pale in comparison to Christ Himself when He reigns in glory. The gifts help us and attend to many of our needs. But when we see Jesus face to face, we will graduate from gifts, which are only a glimpse, to the giver—Jesus Christ Himself.
No matter how spiritual we become, no matter how much Greek and Hebrew we may learn, and no matter how much we pray and study, our understanding of God at its best is only partial.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Until then, however, tongues continue for the use and edification of the believer.
Why Tongues?
God chose tongues as a sign for a significant reason We can understand His sovereign selection of tongues from this passage:
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:2-8).
Let’s summarize some of these truths:
Every beast and animal has been tamed by mankind except the tongue.
If we can control the tongue, we can control the whole body.
Very large things can be controlled by something very small.
The tongue is a fire.
God often employs natural examples to bring about spiritual understanding. Jesus often used natural, physical, tangible analogies in His parables. He talked about a man who sowed seed, a woman who searched for a lost coin, and servants who invested their master’s money to describe the Kingdom of God.
In this passage God uses the tongue to teach truth. The tongue is a fire—something out of control, some- thing that is difficult if not impossible to tame. If we can control the tongue, this enables us to control every aspect of our lives.
“Taming the tongue gives us power to control our lives.”
James pointed out that something very large can be guided by something very small. A horse can be controlled by the bits in its mouth. James knew a horse wasn’t tamed by chaining its feet or wrapping something around its neck. A horse can be guided by controlling its movements from the mouth.
A large ship can be guided across rough waters with little effort by using a small wheel, the helm, which guides the ship and controls its direction.
When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, He acts as a deterrent. He places bits in our mouths and bridles our speech. Just when you feel like telling someone off, the Holy Ghost takes control. Isn’t it exciting that God took the tongue, a member of our body known for being “a fire, a world of iniquity,” and sanctified it for His purposes?
When God filled the disciples on the day of Pentecost, He sent tongues of fire to sit upon each of them. God caused them to speak with a heavenly language, proving He had control of these believers.
Why did God choose tongues as a sign? He took the most difficult, uncontrollable member of our body and caused it to yield to divinely inspired speech. Bridling the tongue may be impossible for man to do in his own strength, but the supernatural outpouring of the Holy Ghost enabled these disciples to use their tongues for the purposes of God.
Two Types of Tongues
Speaking in tongues can occur in two different settings. A believer may pray in tongues privately to commune with God:
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. …He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself (1 Corinthians 14:2,4).
Scripture also teaches on the gift of tongues or “divers [different] kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10), which are used in a public assembly. The apostle Paul gave instructions on regulating this gift.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret (1 Corinthians 14:27).
Without the interpretation of tongues, the church will not be edified.
I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying (1 Corinthians 14:5).
We also find the phrase “to one is given” (1 Corinthians 12:8), which implies that not all will have the same gift any more than members of a body have the same functions. A body has many members, yet their functions differ from each other. The hand cannot function as a foot or vice versa In the same way the Spirit gives different gifts to different people. We also find in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 four important truths:
Gifts come by the Spirit (vs. 4).
Each gift has a different administration (vs. 5).
Each gift has a different operation (vs. 6).
Gifts are given “to every man to profit withal” (vs. 7).
The gifts of the Spirit are always manifested to minister and help people, never to cause harm, confusion, or division.
There is a difference between the gift of tongues and tongues used as a prayer language. The gift of tongues benefits the hearers; the prayer language benefits only the speaker. If you fail to understand the difference between speaking in tongues and the gift of tongues, you have missed the whole issue and will become confused. As a result, you may even confuse others.
“The gift of tongues benefits hearers; the prayer language benefits the speaker.”
When the gift of tongues is given in a public assembly, the message needs to be interpreted for the hearers to benefit. Sometimes, however, such as on the day of Pentecost, the gift of tongues is given to minister to the hearers in their own language (Acts 2:6).
For example, suppose you were in Russia and the Holy Spirit enabled you to speak fluent Russian. This miraculous sign would cause the people to understand in their own language and it would be a witness and a confirmation of the gift itself.
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe (1 Corinthians 14:21-22).
God said that He would speak to men in other tongues and with other lips, “yet for all that will they not hear me.” Isn’t it amazing that men can see the gift of God in operation and hear the manifestation of the Holy Ghost but fail to believe? Mockers concluded, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).
Being filled with the Holy Ghost, however, gives us tremendous power for living the Christian life.
Empowerment Not Entertainment
The Holy Ghost has not been given to the church to entertain congregations but rather to empower them. Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Ghost gives us power not to just shout, run the aisles, or to put on a show. He empowers us to intervene in society as a witness.
Jesus gave these instructions to His disciples:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18).
The Book of Acts records the amazing signs and wonders that occurred through the disciples What was the catalyst for these miracles? Pentecost After being endued with power from on high, “they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).
That’s the kind of power we need to transform our lives, families, churches, and society.
