10 Reasons to Speak in Tongues

12 Sept 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-

 

Before Jesus left his disciples, he promised that he would send them an advocate, called the ‘Spirit of truth’ (John 14:15-17). And this advocate, the Holy Spirit, would teach us and remind us everything we learned about God (John 14:26).

“Jesus has prepared the Holy Spirit for us. Start with a faithful prayer, ask for him, seek for him and do not doubt,” said Rev Ingolf Ellsel, speaker of Special Topics on August 29 at the World Pentecostal Conference 2013 and Chairman of the Pentecostal European Fellowship.

“Experiencing the Holy Spirit should be a lifestyle, not only a Sunday experience,” he added.

 

 

Here are TEN reasons why use this gift of tongues day-by-day:

 

1. When Christians speak in tongues, it shows the sign and wonder of God.

 

1 Cor 14:22

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 

 

2. Those who speak in tongues edify themselves.

“When you’re trained in tongues more and more, you realize it’s more of your personality,” said Ingolf who would speak tongues even in his sleep without his knowledge, according to his wife.

“This is my springs, God’s gift to me. I don’t understand but I know that this is my heavenly nature,” he added.

 

1 Cor 14:4

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

 

3. Those who speak in tongues train in the spirit

“When you accept Christ, this Spirit with gifts would enter. It does not want to be silent but it wants to be activated,” said Ingolf. “Anyone who speaks in tongues speaks in the spirit.”

 

1 Cor 14:2

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

 

 

4. When you speak in tongues, you get to rest your mind.

“Your mind can rest, we are trained in our education system to use our minds but Paul says that though his spirit prays, his mind is unfruitful,” said Ingolf.

 

1 Cor 14:14

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Prov 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

 

5. When you speak in tongues, you remember God, knowing it’s only possible when we receive the Spirit of God.

 

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

 

6. You are 100% praying in the Will of God, without sabotaging the prayer with our personal needs.

 

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

 

 

7. Speaking in tongues strengthens your faith.

 

Jude 1:20-21

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

 

8. When you speak in tongues, you find that you can never sin. As we know, our tongue can utter evil things (James 3:8-9).

 

James 3:8-9

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness

 

9. You will be speaking secrets with God.

 

1 Cor 14:2

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

 

 

10. Speaking in tongues help you pray the perfect prayer, without missing the words your heart wants to say. In fact, Paul said that he would like every believer in the Corinthian church to speak in tongues (1 Cor 14:5).

 

Romans 8:26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

 

Speaking in tongues come from the Holy Spirit in us. Hence, like knowing what our date likes, understanding the Holy Spirit– what He likes and dislikes– is important for our walk with Him. The answer, according to Rev Ingolf Ellsel, lies in John 16.

The Holy Spirit likes to show that Jesus Christ isthe only way to be righteousness and free from judgment (John 16:8-11). He loves to glorify Jesus (John 16:13). Known as the spirit of truth, the Spirit likes to guide us in all truth and remind us of everything He hears from the Lord. He also likes to show us things yet to come(John 16:13).

Although Jesus has sent us such a powerful advocate, unfortunately many of us do not know or have experienced the Holy Spirit. Therefore, pray today and ask the Lord, “Dear God, please show me and help me understand the Holy Spirit at a deeper level. Help me Lord to discern His Voice and may you give me the gift of tongues as you desire to give every of your children.”

 

 

Note: Dr Ingolf Ellssel was elected as the President of the Pentecostal Movement in Germany from 1996 to 2008, and the Chairman of Pentecostal European Fellowship in 2001. In 2010, he was elected as Executive Committee Member of the Pentecostal World Conference.