WHY SHOULD I SPEAK IN TONGUES?
The most obvious answer to this question is that the Scriptures encourage it. Jesus said it was one of the signs that was to follow the ministry of Christians: “And these signs will accompany those who believe…they will speak in new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
And Paul, while recognising the need for propriety in the public manifestation of tongues, nevertheless urged Christians to receive and make use of this significant gift. “Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts….Now I want you all to speak in tongues….I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all” (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 18). As the late Reverend Samuel Shoemaker observed, “The Christian needs every gift God offers.”
The willingness to yield our tongues to God may also indicate a more profound surrender than almost any other act. The tongue is the primary instrument of expression of the human personality, and until God has dominion over the tongue, His control over us is relatively slight.
So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.
The willingness to yield our tongues to God may also indicate a more profound surrender than almost any other act. The tongue is the primary instrument of expression of the human personality, and until God has dominion over the tongue, His control over us is relatively slight.
So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:5–8)
In addition, experience shows that prayer in tongues, which the Scriptures also refer to as “prayer in the Spirit” (see 1 Corinthians 14:14–15; Ephesians 6:18), enables us to pray with an ability and authority not our own.
In addition, experience shows that prayer in tongues, which the Scriptures also refer to as “prayer in the Spirit” (see 1 Corinthians 14:14–15; Ephesians 6:18), enables us to pray with an ability and authority not our own.
We do not always know how to pray in a given situation, but, holding the need up to the Father, we pray in tongues, knowing that our prayers are guided by the Holy Spirit.
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God….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. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
(Romans 8:15–16, 26–27)
Why speak in tongues? Because it grants the Christian a freedom in prayer that enables him to praise God extravagantly, beyond the limiting confines of known speech.
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God….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. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
(Romans 8:15–16, 26–27)
Why speak in tongues? Because it grants the Christian a freedom in prayer that enables him to praise God extravagantly, beyond the limiting confines of known speech.
Our Lord had nothing but praise for those who have worshiped Him extravagantly, or served or trusted him extravagantly—the poor widow who gave God all the money she had (see Luke 21:1–4), the Roman centurion and his tremendous faith in Jesus’ healing power (see Matthew 8:5–13), and Mary, who was extravagant in her devotion in anointing Him with precious ointment (see John 12:3).
Yet, many of us are so stingy and pinched in our relationship with God that any real freedom in prayer or worship is beyond us. Such freedom can come through praying in tongues.
It may also help to realise that there are strong biblical reasons for speaking in tongues. Dr Henry Ness, in his booklet “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit,” lists twenty Bible reasons for speaking in tongues.
1. Speaking with tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance is the unique spiritual gift identified with the church of Jesus Christ. Prior to the day of Pentecost, all other gifts, miracles, and spiritual manifestations had been in evidence during the Old Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, this new phenomenon came into evidence and became uniquely identified with the church. (See Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.)
2. Speaking with tongues was ordained by God for the church. (See 1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:21.)
3. Speaking with tongues is a specific fulfillment of prophecy. (See Isaiah 28:11; Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2:16–18; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
4. Speaking with tongues is a sign of the believer. (See Mark 16:17; John 7:38–39.)
5. Speaking with tongues is a sign to the unbeliever. (See 1 Corinthians 14:22.)
6. Speaking with tongues is a proof of the resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ. (See John 16:7; Acts 2:22–24, 32–33.)
7. Speaking with tongues is evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 2:4, 10:45–46, 19:6.)
8. Speaking with tongues is a means of preaching to men of other languages (Acts 2:6-11.)
9. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for self-edification. (See 1 Corinthians 14:4.)
10. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for spiritual edification for the church. (See 1 Corinthians 14:5.)
11. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for communication with God in private worship. (See 1 Corinthians 14:2.)
12. Speaking with tongues is a means by which the Holy Spirit intercedes through us in prayer. (See Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:14.)
13. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for “singing in the Spirit.” (See Ephesians 5:18–19; 1 Corinthians 14:15.)
14. The apostle Paul was thankful to God for the privilege of speaking in tongues. (See 1 Corinthians 14:18.)
15. The apostle Paul desired that all would speak with tongues. (See 1 Corinthians 14:5.)
16. Speaking with tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12:10.)
17. The apostle Paul ordered that speaking with tongues should not be forbidden. (See 1 Corinthians 14:39.)
18. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a “rest.” (See Isaiah 28:12; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
19. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a “refreshing.” (See Isaiah 28:12; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
20. Speaking with tongues follows as a confirmation of the Word of God when it is preached. (See Mark 16:17, 20.)
It may also help to realise that there are strong biblical reasons for speaking in tongues. Dr Henry Ness, in his booklet “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit,” lists twenty Bible reasons for speaking in tongues.
1. Speaking with tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance is the unique spiritual gift identified with the church of Jesus Christ. Prior to the day of Pentecost, all other gifts, miracles, and spiritual manifestations had been in evidence during the Old Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, this new phenomenon came into evidence and became uniquely identified with the church. (See Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.)
2. Speaking with tongues was ordained by God for the church. (See 1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:21.)
3. Speaking with tongues is a specific fulfillment of prophecy. (See Isaiah 28:11; Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2:16–18; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
4. Speaking with tongues is a sign of the believer. (See Mark 16:17; John 7:38–39.)
5. Speaking with tongues is a sign to the unbeliever. (See 1 Corinthians 14:22.)
6. Speaking with tongues is a proof of the resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ. (See John 16:7; Acts 2:22–24, 32–33.)
7. Speaking with tongues is evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 2:4, 10:45–46, 19:6.)
8. Speaking with tongues is a means of preaching to men of other languages (Acts 2:6-11.)
9. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for self-edification. (See 1 Corinthians 14:4.)
10. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for spiritual edification for the church. (See 1 Corinthians 14:5.)
11. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for communication with God in private worship. (See 1 Corinthians 14:2.)
12. Speaking with tongues is a means by which the Holy Spirit intercedes through us in prayer. (See Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:14.)
13. Speaking with tongues is a spiritual gift for “singing in the Spirit.” (See Ephesians 5:18–19; 1 Corinthians 14:15.)
14. The apostle Paul was thankful to God for the privilege of speaking in tongues. (See 1 Corinthians 14:18.)
15. The apostle Paul desired that all would speak with tongues. (See 1 Corinthians 14:5.)
16. Speaking with tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12:10.)
17. The apostle Paul ordered that speaking with tongues should not be forbidden. (See 1 Corinthians 14:39.)
18. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a “rest.” (See Isaiah 28:12; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
19. Isaiah prophetically refers to speaking with tongues as a “refreshing.” (See Isaiah 28:12; 1 Corinthians 14:21.)
20. Speaking with tongues follows as a confirmation of the Word of God when it is preached. (See Mark 16:17, 20.)
