Praying in tongues is a very special way to pray to God that a every believer or any committed Christian should adapt.
It is a situation where the Holy spirit takes the lead in prayer. You open the mouth and the Holy spirit directs the utterance of words and many times you may not know what you are speaking. (Some very mature Christians and gifted by the Holy spirit may know what they are praying).
It can also be described as a spiritual practice where a believer speaks in a language they have not learned, given by the Holy Spirit.
Praying in tongues or in other tongues is in the category of quality prayer since sometimes we come before God to pray and maybe end up bubbling before him. For example, it has been said that we pray and do not receive from God because we pray amiss.
We sometimes walk into our pray rooms(chambers) with anger, you pray that your enemy should be struck dead or be punished seriously. In this situation you and I may not be alone, why? King David made that hash prayer when you read the book of psalms chapter 35. (Verse 8- may ruin overtake them by surprise, may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin). This kind of prayer can be prayed and could be answered but it is not accurate and on target compared with praying in tongues.
In academic terms, when you are asked to answer a question and you give the right answer, they say, you are accurate or providing the right solution. Teachers also say you show mastery, comprehension, or validity in your work.
In military terms, when you shoot right, they should say one has hit the right target. (It sometimes can attract a reward because maybe you killed an enemy).
Similarly, when we pray in tongues, we are accurate, spot on and we hit the target- we speak to God and he hears or answers.
The phrase praying in tongues is majorly introduced to Bible readers when we read the book of the acts of the Apostles chapter 2. As the disciples were waiting praying in the upper room on the day of Pentecost the spectacular happened, “a violent rushing wind filled the house, tongues of fire rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in other languages”.
Some known benefits of praying in tongues;
Personal Edification: The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that the person who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves.
Spirit Intercession: Romans 8:26 notes that the Spirit helps in weakness when people do not know what to pray for.
Restrictions on praying in tongues in public;
Apostle Paul however teaches that gifts like speaking in tongues should be kept private (private prayers) but could be made public like in church should there be need to share a special message from God and as well if there is availability of another gifted person who can interpret them to the public (church service).
Key Bible verses about praying and speaking in tongues come primarily from the Book of Acts and the First Letter to the Corinthians. These passages describe the origin, purpose, and practice of this spiritual gift in the New Testament
The First Outpouring (Acts)
- Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
- Acts 10:46: “For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.”
- Acts 19:6: “And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Purpose and Personal Prayer (1 Corinthians 14)
- 1 Corinthians 14:2: “For one who speaks in a tongues speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” [1]
- 1 Corinthians 14:4: “He who speaks in a tongues edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” [1, 2, 3]
- 1 Corinthians 14:14-15: “For if I pray in a tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also.” [1]
- 1 Corinthians 14:18: “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” [, 2]
Praying in the Spirit (Ephesians and Jude)
- Ephesians 6:18: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
- Jude 1:20: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.” [1, 2]
Speaking in tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, used for private devotion and spiritual strength. In Acts 2, the disciples spoke and listeners heard them in their own native regional dialects.
Dry Tongues:
Sometimes we are dry in our spiritual lives and so when we pray using the old tongues (those that we received when we were baptized by the Holy spirit), this now if not refreshed will not make any spiritual sense as a form of prayer.
They say culture grows, language also grows, so should the tongues. I mean there must be something fresh in the tongues we speak (take it deeper, refresh them with a vibrant Christian life).
How can we make our tongues fresh?
It is important that we keep yearning for a fresh torch From God, every day. That is when we renew our spiritual life and the tongues that we speak.
King David the psalmist prayed and stated, create in me a clean Heart ooh God and renew a right
Spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence oh God — -). From this scripture a song was composed. This is also a famous prayer from Psalm 51:10 in the Bible. King David wrote these words to ask God for forgiveness, a fresh start, and a pure mind after making a big mistake.
Then also the Bible tells us that those wait on the Lord Shall renew their Strength. Isaiah 40:33. When you are hungry for God, he will keep you fresh and automatically you will pray in fresh tongues and be blessed.
Is praying in tongues a preserve of Born again (Balokole) christians only?
No, all christians (committed) especially the Anglicans/protestants or Church of Uganda
can be spirit filled and speak in tongues some of our brothers of (C.O.U) perform miracles (God uses them to perform miracles in Jesus’ name).
Should all Christians speak in tongues?
– Yes, the team of prayer that prayed with Apostle peter and all were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (Acts chapter 2:1-12).
Finally, when all is said and done and you can now pray in fresh tongues, do not forget
to love your brother, sister and neighbor, why Jesus says when Christians love each other, the world will know they are his disciples (John 13:35) and 1 Corinthians 13:1.
Sometimes, fellow Christians may hurt or attack you; like is the case in Kampala-Uganda where some Pastors are accustomed to attacking each other, but find a way to love them who hurt you so that your prayers and spiritual life is not hindered. Hallelujah and be blessed!
The above teaching was made by Pastor Magara Darious
Email; dmagara2000@gmail.com
Mobile contact: +256702434884
