SPEAKING IN TONGUES

By Jemima Rayan

Speaking in other tongues has created more fuss than any thing else in the modern day church. God did not intend this when He gave the ability of speaking in new tongues to the body of Christ. But sadly, some churches are divided and some denominations have evolved as a result of speaking in tongues. "Tongues" has caused churches to split and has caused lot of pain in the body of Christ. Do you know who gets the joy out of this? Satan. Satan is the father of confusion and all kinds of strife and envy.

Satan is so afraid of our ability to pray in tongues that he is making every effort to stop people from using this wonderful tool that the Lord has so graciously given every believer. When a tongue-talking believer engages in spiritual warfare, the enemy cannot stand any longer. One of Jesus' last words when He walked the face of this earth is that the believers would talk in tongues.

Mark 16: 17 says, "In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues ". Why isn't that every believer talks in tongues? Who is to be blamed? Not God for sure but the devil is the one who has caused people to come up with the idea that tongues is not for today. 'Tongues are for today and forever more till Jesus returns'.

The devil knows that praying in tongues is the only way you can pray beyond your human ability. It is the tool God has given us to tap into the mind of the Holy Spirit. You would have been praying your own thoughts and plans so far. Now get to the higher level of praying God's thoughts and God's plans! His thoughts are higher. His plans are greater. Reach to the higher level of your spiritual walk. Begin to exercise the gift.

When we pray in tongues, we activate the Holy Spirit. He begins to enlighten the eyes of our understanding. We love to quote the life of St. Paul and want to follow his godly example. He is the only apostle who wrote most of the books in the New Testament. He writes in 1 Corinthians 14:5, "I wish you all spoke with tongues".

Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:18, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all". He spoke in tongues more than anyone in all of Corinth. The first Church in Jerusalem did not have a New Testament to read. They did not have Christian TV or Christian radio. They could not turn to Romans or Philippians to find out what the Word of God says. They had to just pray in tongues until they heard the Holy Spirit speak to them in their hearts. They had used this tool so effectively that they made a lasting impact on the whole world.

Praying in the Spirit builds your faith. We all want our faith to grow up. We want to go from glory to glory and from faith to faith. Jude 20, 21 says, "But, you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit". God knows that though our born again spirits are reaching for God, our untrained flesh will still have a tendency to yield to the temptations of this world. The flesh at times is weak and might give in to the surrounding situations. These are the times we can build our faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. God has given us the ability to pray in other tongues, to strengthen our spirit and build it up. Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered".

God's word encourages us to speak in tongues always. There is not a definite time to talk in tongues. You can be driving and still be speaking in tongues. You can be walking and talking in tongues. In the whole armor of God, praying in tongues plays a key role. Ephesians 6:18 says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints". Praying in the Spirit means praying in tongues. Don’t' let any temptation catch you sleeping. Make sure your spirit is strong enough to rise above any kind of temptation.

Our spirits become sensitive to the Holy Spirit when we talk in other tongues. We adjust our spiritual tuner by praying in other tongues. It is the fastest and the most effective way to tune into God. When we pray in tongues, we pray mysteries to God. In the Spirit, you are calling forth God's plan you don't even understand with your natural mind. By the unction of the Holy Spirit you are praying the perfect will of God. Paul even wanted prayers that utterance be given to him in Ephesians 6: 19.

Hence, speaking in other tongues is great gift of communication where you can talk and hear from God directly. Isn't that awesome!

May the Lord enable you to speak with new tongues in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

send this article to a friend