If you have come to this page via the Pathway on the Finding Jesus page on my website (if not then check it out), then you are a significant way along your journey with Christ. This is not to say that you have or have not yet reached maturity, but if you understand about the processes of repentance, baptism, freedom from sin, freedom from law, righteousness by faith and you have received the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues, then you should be in a position to find and walk the pathway to maturity in Christ.
It is not often taught how important and valuable it is to have the gift of speaking in tongues. This one gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all who receive the Holy Spirit and it is mainly used in personal worship, although there are situations where it may be operated in a church setting as well. In this section however I am focussing on the personal worship aspect of speaking in tongues.
What is speaking in tongues?
Speaking in tongues is where the indwelling Holy Spirit uses the voice of the person they are dwelling in to speak with and communicate with God. It is a form of prayer, praise and worship by which the Holy Spirit intercedes to God on behalf of the person. It is also always in a language that the speaker themselves do not understand, and it may be a human language or the language of an angel.
Speaking in tongues is also a weapon given to us by which we can wage war in the Spirit. We can use the gift of tongues to overcome when we are being attacked in the spirit by the evil one. We can also use the gift of tongues to overcome our own personal passions and desires so that we do not succumb to temptation.
Some scriptures which back up these points I have made are as follows:
Scripture References
Tongues as a gift to all who receive the Holy Spirit
“Now I want you all to speak in tongues”
(1 Corinthians 14:5)
And also:
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
(1 Corinthians 12:7)
And also:
“The wind* blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit*.”
(John 3:8)
*Note the same Greek word is used for both wind and Spirit.
Using the voice of the person:
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)
Communicating with God on behalf of the person:
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
And also:
“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 14:2)
A language of angels or men and not understood by the speaker:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
And also:
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
(1 Corinthians 14:14-17)
Overcoming our passions:
“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself…” ESV (1 Corinthians 14:4)
These are just a few of the references to tongues and there are many others. In order to understand them and to get the most out of this gift I recommend the following resources.
The Proposed Pathway
As you have already received the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, some of this may already be known to you. However, revision is also not always a bad thing and perhaps you may add more to your knowledge. My recommendations for you are as follows:
- You can download a FREE copy of my book Foundations of Christianity eBook and read the sections on “Laying on of Hands” and more importantly “Walking in the Spirit.” Or as a FREE alternative,
- Subscribe to the eCourse “Nine Steps to become a Christian” to ensure all the other necessary building blocks are in place. Pay particular attention to the later lessons, which cover walking in the Spirit and later on, walking in love.
- Email me to answer any specific questions at the “contact me” address below.
Speaking in tongues is not the end of the journey. Paul tells us that only one thing lasts forever and that is love. He further says that speaking in tongues will cease when perfection comes, but we are a long way from that point yet. It is through walking in the Spirit, of which speaking tongues plays a major part, that we can become like Jesus and learn how to walk in love.
I hope you find something here to help you or add to your own knowledge. If you have any questions, then please feel free to contact me.
