But what Baptism in the Holy Spirit does do is create an advantage. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and more specifically, speaking in tongues, gives access to greater realms of God which benefits us deeply and those around us profoundly.
This post is not an apologetic defending Spirit baptism but it's for those who have experienced the fullness of the Spirit and want to go deeper in understanding its power and benefits.
In this article, I’ll share with you two lists. The first list defines five general, yet very important reasons, for what happens when we speak in tongues. The second list gives much more specific reasons why it’s so important to engage the Spirit by speaking in tongues.
Five General Reasons to Speak in Tongues:
1. When we are speaking in tongues, we are speaking directly to God.
This answers the, ‘who am I speaking to when I pray in tongues?”. When we are speaking in tongues, we are speaking in a language God has given us to speak to him.
1 Cor. 14:2 “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men to God,”
2. When we speak in tongues, we are
speaking mysteries.
Mysteries are invitations into greater depths of God’s heart and greater realms of revelation. We begin to get access to these mysteries by praying in the spirit.
1 Cor. 14:2… in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3. When we speak in tongues, we strengthen ourselves.
When we speak in tongues we are given the ability to strengthen, i.e. bulk up, the spirit man.
1 Cor. 14:4 “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,”
Jude 20 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
4. When we speak in tongues, we build capacity for God.
Praying in the spirit widens our capacity for the life of God and builds and strengthens our connection with our spirits and God’s.
Eph. 3:16,19 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… 19 “… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
5. When we speak in tongues, we experience personal transformation.
The Holy Spirit has come to not only empower the believer but to make them more the Jesus. Sin’s influence weakens as we make room to strengthen our spirits ushering us into the Power of Christ within us.
Rom 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Here are twenty reasons why speaking in tongues is so important:
- Tongues were the visible proof that the disciples received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
- Tongues were the sign that Christ’s church had been born in both the Jew (Acts 2) and the Gentile (Acts 10).
- Speaking in tongues is what convinced both Peter and the governing church authority (the Apostles) that the Gentiles are saved and could be saved (Acts 11).
- Speaking in tongues was a vital part of both the Apostle Paul’s life and teaching (1 Cor. 14:18).
- Speaking in tongues is tied to the Gospel Marks' great commission (Mark 16:14–20).
- Speaking in tongues is the supernatural language given by God to believers thus it is the language of God’s Spirit and His Kingdom.
- Speaking in tongues gives us spirit to spirit communication with God (Rom. 8:26-27).
- Speaking in tongues allows us to access the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 14:2).
- Praying in tongues is the number one way believers strengthen themselves (1 Cor. 14:2).
- Speaking in tongues tames the tongue which James says in the most unruly member of the body (James 3:1–12).
- Praying in tongues is always the perfect prayer (Rom. 8:26-27).
- Praying in tongues releases miraculous intercession for people whom we know and those we don’t.
- Praying in tongues is governmental because it accesses the heart of God and prays what He wants to do on earth (Rom. 8:26-27).
- The gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues is used by the Holy Spirit to both edify and strengthen the church (1 Cor. 12, 14).
- Speaking in tongues leads people to repentance.
- Praying in tongues is the main way to fulfil the mandate to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).
- Speaking in tongues is part of our spiritual armour (Eph. 6:18).
- Praying in tongues brings our spirit into unity with God’s purposes.
- Praying in the Spirit renews our minds.
- Praying in tongues builds the interior life of the believer.
Hopefully, these two lists will help you start and/or strengthen your journey in living out the Spirit-filled life.
Aaliyah Aaliyah
The Primate
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