The bridal language of Christ releases life-changing benefits for every believer. I will never forget a time in Houston one Sunday morning when about 50 children confessed Christ and received the Holy Spirit. While they were praying softly in their new prayer language, a little Mexican boy about six years old started shouting in his new tongue. As he carried on in a loud voice I, lacking understanding or discernment on what was happening, tried to calm him down. It didn’t work. He continued to pray loudly in tongues.
About fifteen minutes later I heard a cry from the back. A tall Mexican gentleman rushed forward weeping, hugged his little son, and gave his life to the Lord. This man had turned away from his family. His little son was praying through in the Spirit for his father, not knowing he was standing in the back of the auditorium. The dark cloud lifted from the father, who that day received Christ. Like his son, He received the infilling of the Spirit with tongues and later was reconciled with his family.
When we ask Christ into our heart, we become new creations in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Most of us, however, still carry in our heart pictures of the past: shadows of rejections, fears, and wounds from the past. Even though we may desire to sing a new song of joy, often it is the old records of gloom and failure that begin playing again. God wants to come in and break those hurtful records.
Immediately after receiving the new birth experience, believers in the New Testament started speaking in new tongues. A fearful, motley crew became a dynamic army, boldly proclaiming the gospel with signs and wonders. I see tongues as a powerful force helping to erase the images of past hurts, failures, and fears.
Speaking in tongues carries enormous and valuable benefits for believers. Let’s look at some of them.
1. When we speak in tongues we keep a commandment of the Lord.
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.…let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord (First Corinthians 14:15,37).
2. When we speak in tongues we spiritual build an edifice of faith for our lives. I would ask every believer: Is your structure a skyscraper or a shack? If you feel your structure is small, there is a God-given plan for how you can build yourself up and add on to your faith. In its place, tongues assists the building up of a wonderful edifice of faith, pictures in our heart of victory in Christ.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church (1 Corinthians 14:4).
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
3. When we speak in tongues we walk in obedience to the Lord and experience more of the power of His Spirit while fulfilling His great commission.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18).
4. Our prayer language calls forth the secret truths and hidden things only known in the intimate places of Heaven.
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2).
For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding] (1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP).
5. When we speak in tongues we convey the glorious acts of God.
We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11b).
6. When we speak in tongues it is a literal “jump-start” in the Spirit activating an explosion of faith into every area of our life.
Over the years we have experienced tremendous miracles in our ministry. Whenever I confront a faith challenge in my life, I immediately and quickly start speaking in tongues. It is my mustard seed release of faith for every challenging situation.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).
7. Whenever we speak in tongues, we offer perfect prayer to the Lord. Because we are in perfect agreement with the Lord, we are able to break through the heavenlies and reach the throne of God. The Message paraphrase of Scripture eloquently states how the Holy Spirit relieves us of our burden as we bare our heart concerns before the Lord.
God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! (Romans 8:16-17 The Message).
8. When we speak in tongues we pray for things beyond our knowledge and comprehension. It takes us beyond our intellectual capacity and out of the grasp of the natural realm. The more we realize that we need to get our analytical mindset off its throne, the more Jesus will be enthroned in our lives. Within that glory of the enthroned King is an atmosphere pregnant with miracles that will astound us all.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).
9. Speaking in tongues causes our spirit to stand side by side with the Holy Spirit, laying hold of all the promises of God regarding our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Using our prayer language we validate the claim of our inheritance as a child of God.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:16-17).
10. Speaking in tongues is a holy instrument given by God for rest and refreshing to all believers to circumvent the effects of weariness and stress.
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear (Isaiah 28:11-12).
11. Like an athlete training for a race, speaking in tongues causes our inner man to be toned and invigorated for the race set before us.
…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).
12. This love language of the Bride can woo those who don’t know Christ and cause them to believe.
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe (1 Corinthians 14:22).
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).
13. As I pray in the spirit it is a compass in my life pointing true North, always assuring me of the Lord’s presence through every challenge.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God (Acts 10:45-46).
14. Exercising my prayer language releases the essence of wisdom, guidance, and discernment.
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2).
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory (1 Corinthians 2:7).
15. There is an ease in thanksgiving and a heartfelt rejoicing as we proclaim the goodness of God in this heav enly language. Ephesians 5:19 says, “speaking to one another…singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always…” The Bride should always be in this atmosphere of harmony and thanksgiving. A heart of murmuring, complaining, and unthankfulness will stop the supernatural flow of the river of God. Whenever I see that happen to someone, I tell him or her, “You are stuck in the river.” The best way to get unstuck is to let the water rise through aggressive prayer in the Spirit and through worship and praise. Ephesians 5:18 is a divine prescription: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit…” When we are filled with the Spirit people often will think we are inebriated because the more we soak in the presence of the Holy Spirit the more joyful we will become.
Most major civilizations throughout history began around river basins. In the natural, wherever rivers are, life blossoms, commerce expands, and agriculture grows. In the spiritual realm, as we pray in the spirit, the river of God starts bubbling out resulting in life, healing, restoration, and provision.
…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4).
16. When we speak in tongues, allowing the Holy Spirit to take charge, our tongue is brought under God’s control. Other areas of our lives that are in disarray will be brought into alignment with God’s Word.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8).
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
I recall leading a pastor’s seminar in another state on the gifts of the Spirit, where several hundred pastors attended. After the morning session, about 150 of us went to a very large restaurant for lunch. With that many ministers together in one place, the noise level was quite high. It seemed as though everyone needed something from the waitress.
I calmed myself by praying softly in tongues, and an ocean of peace seemed to surround me. My eyes fell on one harried waitress who was trying hard to keep up with the many demands of such a large crowd. Suddenly, in my spirit I started seeing a picture of a five-year-old boy on a kidney dialysis machine. As I prayed in the Spirit some more I suddenly realized the picture was connected with the young waitress. I waited to see if any of the other pastors would say anything to her regarding her need. No one talked with her except about his or her food order.
At the conclusion of the lunch I called the waitress over. She appeared nervous, perhaps expecting some kind of rebuke. I took her hand and said, “I have never met you but the Lord shows me that you are a single mother with a five-year-old son critically ill with kidney failure. The doctors have given a poor prognosis.” She started to cry and asked, “Who are you?” I replied, “I am simply a servant of God.” She kept crying saying, “My little boy is dying.” I said, “I believe the reason I got this supernatural word is that the Lord is going to heal your son.” She wept and thanked me.
The picture the Lord gave me as I prayed in the Spirit that day was 100 percent true, and once again the Holy Spirit ministered the mercy of Jesus. The gift of the Spirit we have been talking about here is to comfort, bless, and heal a hurting world. The anointing has come to heal the brokenhearted and give good news to the poor (see Luke 4:18).
This example illustrates one of the greatest values of speaking in tongues: it puts us in a place of being able to hear and understand the voice of the Lord.