Speaking in Tongues: Unlock the Language of the Spirit for Powerful Prayer
People have asked the question, “Why do you talk about speaking in tongues so much?”
It’s not that I talk about speaking in tongues a lot, but I think people tend to have a lot of questions about it, so there’s a lot of discussion surrounding it.
Speaking in tongues is distinctive of the dispensation of grace that we live in and enjoy today. Seven of the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 have their entrance in the Old Testament. But we don’t see anyone speaking in tongues in the Garden of Eden. None of the judges of Israel spoke in tongues. The prophets experienced the demonstration of God’s power in exponential proportions, but they never spoke in tongues. Kings and military leaders experienced the power of God to conquer nations and rule wisely, but none of them ever spoke in tongues.
Miracles, signs, and wonders marked the ministry of Moses from its inception. Elijah and Elisha saw the physical world affected by the anointing that resided in a mantle they wore. Joshua saw the elements of the universe align themselves to accommodate the will of God in battle as the “sun stood still” (Joshua 10:13). The prophets saw the unseen realm open to them where angels, apocalyptic visions, and even the similitude of God was discerned. But none of these spoke in tongues.
It is so interesting to me that God would reserve this supernatural demonstration for the church age. Out of all the ways He could have His entrance into the New Testament church, why would He choose speaking in tongues? Surely God didn’t save the worst or the least manifestation for last. Why would God choose to infuse all the manifestations of the Old Testament into a seemingly ornamental act of speaking in tongues? I believe that there is possibly more to this gift than just bumping gums and getting a dry mouth. If we can identify a supernatural advantage of speaking in tongues, I believe we can unlock the power of God to not only change our praying, but to also change our world.
Speaking in tongues is not a mystical practice that an elite number of Christians experience. Neither is it something that is merely decorative to the life of a believer. It is a supernatural experience in prayer where an individual can pray without being limited by intellect. When you speak in tongues, you are speaking a supernatural language from the Spirit of God that is God’s perfect will concerning the situation up for discussion. And we know from previous chapters that if we pray anything according to His will, He hears us. If He hears us, we have the answer to our petition.
Filled With the Spirit
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
This was a monumental day for the church. After days of praying and seeking God concerning the next series of steps for them and the global Church, this group of believers experienced an outpouring of the power of God that proved to change the world forever. This outpouring was the first time that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking of tongues was experienced.
I must point out that the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak in tongues. Verse 4 is very clear on who was speaking—the people spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. Although church culture may have promoted a desire in us for an uncontrollable experience, this is not what happened in this scripture. Tongues are indeed the language of the Spirit, but it is a language that escapes our lips by our own permission and volition. This scripture passage does not say that the Holy Spirit overpowered anyone.
It says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and from that filled state, the Holy Spirit gave them something to say. We know that they heard what the Spirit said because they spoke it out. So if there is a formula or method to speaking in tongues, it’s found right here in this scripture.
First they were filled with the Spirit. Being full of the presence of the Holy Spirit will always precede speaking in tongues. And there is no secret as to how to be filled with the Spirit. In Luke 11:13, Jesus says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” The disciples were praying when the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts chapter 2. This tells us that simply asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit is one way to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Although you can simply ask and receive the Holy Spirit, there are a lot of people who will not receive that way. Some people won’t release their faith until someone lays their hands on them. That is perfectly okay because God has made provision for that with the ministry of the laying on of hands. There are three instances in the book of Acts where people received the baptism of the Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18, 8:19, and Acts 9:17).
Being filled with the Spirit is the prerequisite to speaking in tongues. What must be stressed here is that speaking in tongues is a supernatural expression. When you speak in tongues, you’re not speaking “jibber jabber,” or merely making up a language as you go. This language is inspired by the Holy Spirit, of whom you must be full of.
Supernatural Language
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).
There is no room for error in this scripture if you accept what is writ- ten without adding any further interpretation. It says that they (the people who were gathered in the upper room) were all filled with the Spirit and began to speak with other tongues. Who began to speak with other tongues? All of the people in the upper room who were filled with the Holy Spirit.
The miracle in this scripture is not found in who is doing the speaking. We know that the people who were filled with the Spirit did the speaking. The miracle is in the language being supplied to the speakers. This language was not premeditated or learned. It is a language that goes beyond the ability of the mind to construct. It is the language of the Spirit designed to convey the mind of God in a way that guarantees answered prayer.
When you speak in other tongues, you are speaking from a place that your mind cannot find. That is because the language doesn’t come from your intellect; it comes out of your spirit where the Holy Spirit lives. Job 32:8 says, “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” Your spirit is the catcher’s mitt for the things of the Spirit.
When the Spirit of God wants to supply you with the supernatural language of tongues, He will bring that language to your spirit, your heart. I use these terms interchangeably because they locate where God lives in you by the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t live in your brain or your foot. He lives in the center of your being—the part of you that is eternal, your spirit. So it is no mystery that when the Holy Spirit wants to feed you intelligence, He brings it from the place where He lives— your spirit, the center of your being, or what we would call your heart.
So when you are filled with the Spirit and you want to speak in other tongues, you don’t need to look any farther than your own heart. Why? Because the Giver of the utterance is in you and He is going to feed your heart utterance that He has designed to escape your lips. The scripture says that they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them (their hearts) the utterance. That means the Spirit gave them the words to say, but it was up to them to speak.
The Holy Spirit is not going to make you speak in tongues any more than He is going to make you speak English or whatever is your native language. He will prompt, inspire, encourage, and nudge you to speak. But under no circumstances is He going to reach His hand down your throat, grab your tongue, and make you speak in an unknown tongue. To expect the Holy Spirit to do that is to give Him a job that doesn’t belong to Him. Remember, you are the one who speaks. His only function in this instance is to provide you with what to say. That may not be as spectacular as we would like, but it’s no less supernatural than what God designed.
My wife and I often minister the baptism of the Holy Spirit in our church services. We lay hands on people to receive the fullness of the Spirit and many times the power of God fills them so much that they fall down to the floor. But many people who even fall to the floor, don’t speak in tongues immediately. So I’ve asked them, “When I laid hands on you, did you feel the power of God?” They all have replied, “Yes.” My next question to them is, “Did you have a desire to say anything that wasn’t in your known language? In your imagination can you see yourself speaking in tongues?” Again they answer “Yes.” So then I ask them, “Well, why didn’t you speak out what you were hearing in your heart? Why didn’t you allow yourself to speak what you felt like speaking?” And without fail, they say something like, “I didn’t want it to be me speaking. I wanted to make sure it was really the Holy Ghost.”
But to expect the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues is contrary to New Testament doctrine. The Holy Spirit doesn’t speak in tongues— you do. I understand the line of thinking that says, “I don’t want to fabricate an experience with the Holy Spirit that isn’t legitimate.” I understand that feeling all too well. But we have to make sure that we are clear on what our role is and what the Holy Spirit’s role is not. Remember, the Holy Spirit’s only job is to supply you with utterance. He doesn’t take charge of your tongue and cheek muscles in order for you to speak in tongues. You take control of your physical body and you speak out what He is saying to your heart. This is how you speak in tongues.
