The ABCs 4

As we learned in our last post, Paul admonished the church to avoid drunkenness but to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit….” Ephesians 5:18 

If we are serious about following the Lord and being discipled, we will naturally desire to have all the Father has provided. We will also learn to become teachable and pliable to His ways, even when we do not fully understand the why. I am quite certain Peter did not understand why Jesus instructed him to go fishing for one special fish so they could pay their taxes, but he obeyed and found a coin in the fish’s mouth, which covered their tax bill. In the natural, it does not make sense, but God’s ways do not always make sense to our natural mind.

It is similar with being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues.  To communicate with the Father things our natural mind cannot comprehend is beyond our grasp but as we do it in faith and obedience to the scriptures, the results will follow.

Why Tongues?

First God promised it in the Old Testament.

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, (12) 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 

Secondly, Jesus said believers would speak with tongues.

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 

Thirdly, we have several New Testament examples to illustrate how the early church understood and emphasized the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-48; 19:1-6).  

Fourthly, Peter clearly stated the Promise of being filled with the Holy Spirit was not just for the early apostles or the 120 who were in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. It was for all who are called of God (Act 2:38-39).

Last, but not least, the apostle Paul, who wrote at least half of the New Testament, said he spoke with tongues more than anyone in the church (1 Corinthians 14:18) and gave instructions on the private use of tongues, and ‘gift’ of tongues that needed interpretation in the public assembly.

Paul explained the benefits of speaking with tongues.

1.   It enables the believer to speak (pray) mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 14:2) by bypassing their intellect to allow their spirit (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to prayerfully communicate divine mysteries that can activate heaven’s purposes on the earth. Prayer is the mechanism by which we activate God’s will on earth, but we often do not know how or what to pray (Romans 8:26-27).

2.   It edifies the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4). The Greek word used in this passage carries the connotation of ‘building a house’ or ‘charging a battery.’ Praying in tongues builds us up in our spirit, which impacts our soul and body.

3.   Tongues with interpretation, either in private devotion or public ministry, can release revelation, knowledge, teaching, or prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:6).

4.   Speaking in tongues gives us an excellent way to give thanks, praise, and worship (1 Corinthians 14:13-17). This divine blessing grants us a remarkable capability for worshipping the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:24). We can focus our hearts on the Father as we pray in tongues, then shift back and forth to our native language in adoration and worship. You will be surprised how much deeper your worship is even in your natural tongue.

5.   Praying in tongues while reading the scripture has opened a whole new window of revelation to many believers. The scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and as we pray in the spirit (in tongues) we often broaden in understanding and capacity for more insight into the mysteries of the Word of God.

6.   Speaking with tongues opens a doorway to the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you take notice, you will see that all the signs and wonders mentioned in the book of Acts were done through believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. The book of Acts is often called the Acts of the Apostles, but it might be best described as the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.

7.   Finally, when we speak in tongues often, it helps us to stay spiritually sensitive. Our awareness of spiritual things is sharper. Our discernment increases. We are more inclined to stay in close fellowship with the Father and the Lord Jesus (1 John 1:3), and are more easily led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). It becomes easier for us to hear the gentle whispers from the Father, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit because we are more in tune with the Kingdom of God than the noise and distractions of this world.

As previously mentioned in our last post, praying with tongues opens a completely new horizon for the believer. It frees us from the limitations of the natural mind, and allows the Holy Spirit to aid us in prayer, so we align more fully with the Father’s will and purpose.

Tongues is a gateway to a richer walk with the Father, but it does not mean you have arrived, or you will be exempt from trials and temptations in life. The apostle Paul is a great example of this. He prayed in tongues more than anyone he knew, but also endured more trials and hardships than many of the other apostles. I believe speaking in tongues with the interpretation helped him through the many difficulties he suffered (2 Corinthians 11:22-33; 12:6-10).

Next time, as we continue our study on the ABCs of the faith, we will cover the importance of the Word of God. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.

James Brown CST 08/29/2026