Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14 v 2 - 4: "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.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."
Speaking, praying, singing in tongues is a wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, which allows us to communicate our innermost needs and desires to our Father without knowing what we are saying. The huge blessing is that the devil cannot understand them either so he can't interfere in blocking the answers.
That is why there is a lot of controversy surrounding the gifts of the Holy Spirit especially that of speaking in tongues. Some mainstream churches consider unknown tongues to be related to devilish practices, and do not consider them as needed for the modern church. We have outgrown the need for the gifts now that we have Bibles, is their considered opinion.
I personally received this gift in 1978 and it has been a constant source of joy and blessing to me. As whenever I am faced with a complex situation which baffles me, I pray in an unknown tongue directly to the Throne of God in Heaven. Neither I nor Satan know what I said. Before long my spirit is flooded with inspiration and my mind becomes fruitful with answers, wisdom and truth from our Father.
Acts 19 v 2 - 6: "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
In Acts 19 above when Paul saw certain disciples baptizing converts he asked if they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and they said they had not heard anything about the Holy Spirit. He then baptized them in the name of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Speaking in tongues has become the accepted sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit but in a few instances I have noticed a gift like discerning of spirits emerging ahead of tongues. Over the years since I received the Holy Spirit and tongues I have seen every gift of the Spirit operate through my life when it was required. I could never deny that this is not Godly because the fruit of the ministry is always so powerful.
One little girl was healed of an inoperable tumour the size of an orange on her spine. Instantly healed. A women who was raped daily by 4 members of her family from age of 2 to 16 fell into a trance for 45 minutes - 1 minute for every year of her life - and emerged with her memory and soul wiped clean of every trauma by Jesus. I prayed over her in tongues for the entire 45 minutes. Her first comment said in complete amazement was that she felt like she had just been born and felt brand new.
A man who had ten or more homosexual acts daily with different men, who had a pregnant wife and wanted Jesus to make him straight was instantly set free. Another gay man in his final coma from AIDS-related diseases was healed completely during a phone call from which he woke out of coma and told his family that I was standing next to his bed.
These are a few that stand out to me but the Holy Spirit works without ceasing and in unknown places and I could fill books with the miracles I have witnessed. Jesus does the work when I do my part which is to pray in my closet. Paying in tongues edifies our minds to receive accurate, powerful instruction from God.
Visiting a church one Sunday a woman wearing a neck brace after a car crash went forward for prayer. A man in the congregation had a short commanding phrase in tongues. Another person interpreted the tongues as "Take off the brace!" The pastor did so and the woman was completely healed without any further prayer needed.
When you speak in tongues you speak from your spirit to God in mighty words of worship and adoration. In John 4 v 24 Jesus says God is a spirit; they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. I know no other way to worship God in spirit than through tongues.
We can sing praises all day long with our mouths and all our heart but when we sing in tongues it transcends this world and we join the angels in Heaven to worship the Father and Jesus. There is nothing to equal it.
I read a book called Michael Michael Why Do You Hate Me? Written by a former New York Jewish Rabbi. He was stuck in a traffic jam in New York and rolled down his car window and heard this incredible singing. He told his driver to park the car and went into the church drawn by those hundreds of Christians singing in tongues.
When the singing stopped a woman he later discovered was a char lady with poor education, spoke a clear loud message in tongues. Only one person understood her. Rabbi Michael. She spoke in the High Hebrew only Rabbi's speak with and said, "Michael, Michael, why do you hate Me, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting?" A "Damascus Road" moment for the Rabbi who became a born again Christian and is now a pastor.
Paul said that he spoke in tongues more than anyone and wished that everyone spoke in tongues because it builds you up in your spirit. It accelerates your spiritual growth and increases your knowledge of ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul also said that people should rather prophesy in the church or interpret the tongues so that everyone could be edified.
The number of people bringing a message in tongues or prophesying in the church should be limited to three per meeting. Apparently the Corinthians were getting carried away in this regard and it left no time for preaching and meeting ministry needs.
The congregation were able to judge those prophecies and if they did not witness to the truth they could object. That never happens today where in some charismatic churches a 65% accuracy in prophecy is 100% acceptable. To man perhaps but not to God.
Speaking in tongues is a beautiful and powerful gift from God that must not be abused. It is a language which flows and is never harsh or gutteral. The enemy in satanic covens also has a form of tongues. It sounds extremely harsh and ugly and chills the spine. Various cults like the Mormons also have a form of tongues but it is not a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Use the gifts of God wisely and frequently to His glory and worship which will open Heaven for spiritual blessings to rain down.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for all the years I have been able to worship You in spirit and receive Your abundant blessings. Please fill those who desire it with the Holy Spirit and bless them with tongues and all the other gifts too. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.