3 Ways the Gift of Tongues Releases Supernatural Power in Your Life

Excerpted from Holy Spirit: God Within You.

While there are many ways in which we can daily surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, there is a gift God has given to us to which we must pay special attention.

Paul wrote of how the Holy Spirit prays for the believer.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will (Romans 8:26-27 NLT).

Consider the potency of these prayers, and then think of what might happen if you were to come into agreement with these prayers. There’s power in praying for yourself what the Holy Spirit prays for you. In fact, there’s a way in which the Holy Spirit can pray for you by use of your own voice. Some call it a “prayer language” and the New Testament calls it “tongues.” Because of the nature of this blessed gift, I like to call it the language of the Holy Spirit. Truly, tongues is the language of surrender.

We know that every believer has the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). We know that to have the Holy Spirit is to be one with Him: “But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT). We know that the Holy Spirit prays for us (see Romans 8:26-27). Now consider this: when you pray in tongues, your spirit is praying.

For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying (1 Corinthians 14:14 NLT).

Let’s now tie together these threads of truth. The Holy Spirit prays for you. Your spirit is one with the Holy Spirit, so your spirit prays what the Holy Spirit prays. When you pray in tongues, your spirit is praying. Therefore, when you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is praying for you, through you.

Three Expressions

Though simple, the gift of tongues has been the subject of much debate. Much of the confusion on this matter arises from the unawareness of the three expressions of the gift of tongues. As you study the New Testament, you’ll begin to notice that there are three expressions of the gift of tongues.

• The Personal Tongue

• The Proof Tongue

• The Prophetic Tongue

Personal Tongue

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church (1 Corinthians 14:1-4 NLT).

The personal tongue does not benefit others, but that doesn’t mean it holds no value. The Bible says, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.” The personal tongue is for self-edification, and it’s a Heavenly language. Those who use it aren’t speaking an earthly dialect; they are speaking mysteries—only God can understand them.

This personal expression of the gift of tongues strengthens you personally.

Proof Tongue

The second expression of the gift of tongues is the proof tongue. Now this is the expression of tongues that is heard as an earthly language. We see this demonstrated in Acts 2:

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers (Acts 2:4-6 NLT).

Many heard their own languages being spoken by the believers. It was a true miracle. The Holy Spirit supernaturally empowered the believers to be heard speaking in earthly languages they did not know. The gift was a sign to the unbelievers; thus, I call it the proof tongue.

Prophetic Tongue

The prophetic tongue is the expression of the gift that is used in the context of a church assembly. This gift, when used, commands the attention of the assembly of believers. Because this expression of the gift can disrupt the flow of a church service if misused, Paul put some regulations on it:

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately (1 Corinthians 14:26-28 NLT).

The prophetic tongue is meant to be spoken aloud in a gathering of believers. The tongue is then to be supernaturally interpreted so that the believers present can be helped by the prophetic message.

Clear Distinctions

No doubt, there are three different expressions of the gift of tongues. The gift of speaking in tongues is a multi-faceted gift, a versatile phenomenon. When studying the gift of tongues, it becomes undeniably obvious that there are different functions to the gift of tongues—there are very clear lines of distinction between its three expressions. Allow me to embolden the lines of distinction.

Benefits

• The personal tongue benefits the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).

• The prophetic tongue benefits the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26).

• The proof tongue benefits the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22).

Interpretation Requirements

• The personal tongue requires no interpreter or interpretation to be beneficial to the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).

• The prophetic tongue requires an interpreter to benefit the Church (1 Corinthians 14:26).

• The proof tongue requires no interpreter for the interpretation to be understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).

Recipients

• The personal tongue is understood by no one but God (1 Corinthians 14:2).

• The prophetic tongue is understood by the Church with the aid of an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27).

• The proof tongue is supernaturally understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8)

One gift, three expressions. Each expression serves a different purpose. Now that we have a simple, working, biblical definition for the gift of tongues and now that we can see the three distinct expressions of this gift, we have the framework needed to best answer some of the most common questions about the gift.

Can Every Believer Speak in Tongues?

Just as with the other misconceptions, the idea that not every believer can speak in tongues is derived from an inaccurate reading and then forced upon the unsuspecting. Here’s the portion of Scripture often quoted in regards to the matter:

Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all (1 Corinthians 12:29-31 NLT).

There, Paul is asking a series of rhetorical questions. He’s listing gifts and then asking if all believers possess each one of these. The obvious answer is “No.” So is that it? Here, one might be tempted to say, “There it is! Debate settled.” However, while the Bible is inerrant, man’s interpretation of it isn’t always accurate. So instead of being led by emotion and ego, we must resist the urge to act on impulse and instead approach the text methodically and with a level head. What is the context of Paul’s writing? What is the original intent?

Paul is writing of the spiritual gifts which are given for the edification of the body of Christ. In other words, the gifts he lists here are meant to be of help to others. They are others-centered.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT).

We see that these gifts are designed to function in the context of the church. They cannot be used in isolation. Apostles lead others. Prophets communicate divine messages to others. Teachers teach others. And so forth. So by simply looking at the context we see that Paul, in these verses, cannot be speaking of the personal prayer language. The personal prayer language can be used in isolation, as it can benefit the user (1 Corinthians 14:2,4). By contrast, we see that the expression of the gift of tongues being described in 1 Corinthians 12 is the one that is to be used among the assembly of believers. This would be the type of tongues used in tandem with the gift of interpretation of tongues. Paul wrote, “Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?” The personal tongue doesn’t need to be interpreted, as it’s not being directed at others. On the other hand, the prophetic tongue, which Paul is describing in 1 Corinthians 12, does require interpretation.

Do all have the gift of tongues that’s used in tandem with the gift of interpretation? No. But that’s only one kind of use of the gift of tongues being described in a very specific context.

Think about this: Since all are not apostles, does that mean that only a select few can help to establish new ministry works? Of course not. Since not all are prophets, does that mean that God doesn’t speak to all believers? No. Since not all are teachers, should only a small percentage of believers be able to teach the Word? Not even close. In fact, the Scripture tells us:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT).

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it (1 Peter 3:15 NLT).

Furthermore, since not every believer has the gift of miracles, should some believers be restricted from believing for miracles in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones? Since not every believer has the gift of healing, should some believers refrain from praying for the sick? That’s not what Jesus said.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed (Mark 16:17-18 NLT).

The point I’m making here is that there’s a difference between the gifts to be used as public expressions of ministry within the body of Christ and the everyday functions of the believer.

So concerning the personal prayer language, what should we conclude? Can all pray in a personal tongue? The Scripture makes it clear we can. Paul writes:

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened (1 Corinthians 14:4-5 NLT).

Why would Paul the apostle wish for something that was contrary to the will of God? And why would the Holy Spirit allow for that desire to be recorded in holy Scripture if it were, indeed, contrary to God’s will? Not all have the gift of tongues and tongues interpretation. But every believer can pray in a personal tongue to God.

Moreover, when describing the infilling of the Church, the Bible doesn’t tell us that only some spoke in tongues.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4 NIV).

Consider also the words of Peter. When the Church corporately received the infilling of the Holy Spirit and when they all began to speak in tongues, Peter said:

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God (Acts 2:39 NLT).

The promise is for all who have been called by the Lord our God. That would mean you, every believer. What is the promise? Peter tells us:

And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today (Acts 2:33 NLT).

The promise was the Holy Spirit. And His presence was marked by what was seen and heard. What was seen? An empowered Church. What was heard? The believers speaking in tongues.