One of the
great blessings of the Pentecostal experience is the gift of a spiritual
language (or languages) known as speaking in other tongues.
All of
God's gifts are given for specific purposes and all are so the people of God
and the Church "can profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7, KJV).
Rather
than Spirit-filled Christians being caught-up in arguing with negative
believers over the "rights and wrongs" of tongues (God told us way
back in Isaiah His people would refuse to accept Him speaking via the avenue of
tongues - Isaiah 28:11-12), we need
to know the positive purposes of why we should speak in tongues regularly. Let
the Scriptures speak and let us receive with an open heart all that He desires
for us in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I have discovered in Scripture why
believers should speak with other tongues:
1. God Speaks to us Through Tongues: "For with stammering lips
and another
tongue will He speak to this people ..." (Isaiah 28:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:21).
2.
We Speak to God: "For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to man, but to
God" (1 Corinthians 14:2).
3.
In the Spirit we Speak Mysteries ("secrets between friends; what is
known only to the initiated"): "For he that speaks in an unknown tongue ... speaks unto God
... in the Spirit he speaks mysteries" (1 Corinthians 14:2).
4.
We Edify ("build up") Ourselves: "He that speaks in an
unknown tongue
edifies himself" (1Corinthians 14:4 and Jude 20).
5. Tongues and Interpretation are
Gifts of The Holy Spirit:
"To
another many kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:10).
The nine
Gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are given to unite and
build up the Church via the individuals who exercise (or manifest) them in the
love of Jesus. These two gifts are specific gifts which not every Spirit-filled
believer exercises, while general speaking in tongues is for all. "I
would that you all spake with tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:5).
6.
Tongues is our Spirit Praying: "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit
prays" (1 Corinthians 14:14).
7.
Tongues are for Speaking, Praying and Singing unto God: "What is it then? I will
pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I
will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding
also ..." (1 Corinthians 14:15-17).
8. Tongues are to Bless ("to speak well of, praise, as men toward
God") and
Give Thanks to God: "Else when you shall bless with the spirit,
how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned ("one who has
no professional knowledge" - of the Spirit; has not been initiated or
sealed - Ephesians 1:13) say Amen at your giving of
thanks, seeing he understands not what you are saying"
(1 Corinthians 14:16-17).
9. Tongues are for a Sign to
Unbelievers: "Wherefore
tongues are for
a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not" (1 Corinthians 14:22).
10. Tongues are for All to Benefit
Spiritually: "I
would that you all spake with tongues ... I thank my God, I speak with tongues more
than you all ... Wherefore, brethren ... forbid not to speak with
tongues" (1
Corinthians 14:5, 18, 39).
Let me
encourage ALL to "press in" to the Holy Spirit more and more to gain
the benefits of "speaking mysteries to God."
"Now
on the final and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood forth and He
cried in a loud voice, 'If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He
who believes in Me - who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me - as the
Scripture has said, Out from his innermost being springs and rivers of living
water shall flow (continuously). But He was speaking here of the Spirit, whom
those who believed - trusted, had faith - in Him were afterward to receive. For
the (Holy) Spirit had not yet been given; because Jesus was not yet glorified
(raised to honour)" (John 7:37-39, Amplified
Bible).
Jesus has
now been glorified!
The Holy
Spirit has now been given!
You and I
can now be gloriously filled with the Spirit and speak forth in other tongues
to fulfil the purposes of God for our day!
Jesus
said: "These signs shall follow them that believe; In My name ...
they shall speak with new tongues" (Mark 16:17).
In Jesus' Name I am doing it!
How about
YOU?
