More on Tongues

I Corinthians 13:8-10, "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away."

 There are those who have used verse 8 in this portion of scripture to declare that the gift of tongues has ceased.  When read in context, through verse 10, we find that verse 8 is comparing God's love to the gifts.  Let's look at the first part of verse 8. "Love never fails"  Love as used here is the Greek word, "agape". (This is the same word used in I John 4:8 which states that God is love.)  The word "fails" in our Corinthian passage in the Greek means - "perishes".  God's love never perishes.  It is not temporal.  It is eternal.  Paul goes on in verse 8 to tell us that the gifts of prophecies, tongues and knowledge will one day cease.  They are temporal.  However, as we continue on, we are told when these gifts (which allow us to know in part) will cease.  Looking at verse 12, it says, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly but then face to face.  Now I know in part..."  Verse 10 again says, "But when that which is perfect (complete) has come, then that which is in part will be done away."  The word "perfect" refers to the completion of God's purposes after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:18)  The entirety of God's gifts are needed by the church until Jesus returns - and that has not happened yet.

 I stated in my last blog that there is a distinction made between tongues spoken in public and that which is spoken in private.  I Corinthians 14:3-5, states, "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification."  So, we see that tongues spoken in public needs an interpretation, which equals prophecy.  Prophecy, which we will speak about later on, is a divinely inspired message given to bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to the one or ones to whom it is spoken -  be it either a group or individuals.

 Tongues spoken by an individual in private is an entirely different matter.  We often refer to this as a prayer language and has various applications.

 Acts 2:4, " And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

 Acts 19:1-6, "And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."  Here we see that Paul, while in Ephesus, prayed for a group of  men to receive this same gift and they also spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 "Other tongues" refers to a human language not known or learned by the speaker.  It also could be referring to the language of the angels. (I Corinthians 13:1). 

 I Corinthians 14:2 reads, "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."   (In Weymouth's translation, it reads, "he speaks 'divine secrets'.")  Wow!

 According to I Corinthians 14:4, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church."  The Greek for the word, "edifies" means : to charge up like a battery!  This is our way of plugging into the Holy Spirit as our source of power.

 As you can see here in Jude verse 20, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,"... praying in the Spirit builds up your faith.

 So then, when we pray in the Spirit, we let Him tell us what to pray and we have a direct line to God, which enables us to pray in His perfect will.  Verses which confirm that the Holy Spirit helps us pray according to God's will are found in Romans 8: 26,27, "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. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

 This is great news when, in addition, we read in I John 5:14,15, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." In fact, it bears repeating!  When we ask (pray) according to God's will, we will have what we ask.  Since the written Word of God is His will, the same is true when we pray God's Word. 

 If you want to have a powerful prayer life, God has provided the way for that, in giving you the Holy Spirit.

 Ephesians 6:10-18, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-".  So according to these verses, when we fight spiritual warfare, our ultimate weapon is the Word of God.  We also see in verse 19 that part of spiritual warfare is praying "in the Spirit."  The kingdom of satan has no means of defense against this Holy Spirit inspired prayer!

 Worship is another area that can be greatly enhanced with the gift of tongues.  Ephesians 5:18-20, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"  We are encouraged in verse 18 to sing "spiritual songs", which are impromptu rhythmic lyrics given by the Holy Spirit.  These songs can be given in one's own language or in tongues.

 We see the value of worship in spiritual warfare in 2 Chronicles 20:20-24, "So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped."  It is amazing to realize that when the people worshipped, the Lord, Himself, set ambushes against the enemy!

 I Corinthians 14:15, "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."

 In order for us to be able to enter into that place of intimacy with God that He desires and we desire, He knew we needed the ability to enter the supernatural realm , apart from the earthly realm.  This is what God has provided for us by the gift of tongues through the Holy Spirit.  When we pray in the Spirit, we enter into that supernatural realm and speak with Him according to His divine will and mysteries.  This causes us to come into His presence and commune with Him on a completely different level.

 Psalm 91:1, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

 Psalm 27:4,5 - "One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock."

 Psalm 31:19,20 - "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."

 Remember, to have this relationship with God's Holy Spirit, you only have to ask.  Then believe.

 Luke 11:13, ""If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

 I pray this study encourages you to take that step to grow in your intimacy with God, by receiving and exercising this gift.

 Let me know what you think!  God bless!