Are Tongues For Today
by Karen M. Presley, Temple Hills, MD
Catagory: Volume 1, Issue 7 and 8 July/August 1999
Many people today have so many questions about our heavenly prayer language called tongues. People have stated that tongues went out with the Bible day church and others think they’re just not necessary. But what does the Word of God say about tongues?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever and He changes not (Hebrews 13:8 & Malachi 3:6). The Bible says that God and His Word are one in the same. Therefore, if God never changes, then we conclude that His Word never changes either. The Word of God was given to us to profit us, convict us of sin, bring correction in error, discipline us in obedience as well as train us in righteousness, so that man might be complete and thoroughly equipped unto every good work (II Tim 3:16,17). I thank my God for you that as you read and hear the Word on tongues, you will receive it not as the words of man, but truly the Word of God, which is actually working in you as you believe.
Matthew 28:18-20... and Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying ... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16:15-18... and he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believe and is baptized shall be saved,· but he that believed not shall be damned And these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues.
Luke 24.·16-19... and he said unto them... that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem ... and behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
These are three different accounts of Jesus' last command to His disciples before ascending to heaven and taking His position at the right hand of the Father. It is clear from these scriptures that we are to go out and preach His Word to all people. The Bible also says to us who believe on Him that one of the signs that would follow us is tongues. We see that after receiving our commission from Jesus, we must be equipped with the Power of the Holy Ghost to carry out our assignment on earth.
Acts 2:1-4... and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, ... and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This was the fulfillment of what Jesus spoke in Luke 24:49 when the disciples had to wait until they were “endued with power”. The endwelling of the Holy Ghost was the gift and the promise from God to the disciples, so they could carry out His Purpose on earth. In the book of Acts, the disciples were preaching and teaching the Gospel, seeing signs and wonders, and following the Word, because of the dynamic power of the Holy Ghost working through them.
Why Are Tongues Important?
How Will They Profit Us?
Jude 20 [amplified]... but you, beloved build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit.
Every spiritual weapon, tool and gift God gave us will profit us, and one gift is not to be esteemed above another. However, every gift has its own purpose and will benefit us, the believers, if we release our faith in it. The above scripture tells us that when we pray in the Holy Spirit, or tongues, we are building ourselves up in our inner man. Praying in the Spirit will cause you to make progress, move forward and rise up like a large, strong, tall building (edifice), in half the time than someone not praying in the Holy Ghost.
For he that speak in an unknown tongue speak not unto men, but unto God; for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries (I Corinthians 14:2).
When we pray in the Spirit (tongues) we are speaking unto God and releasing the mysteries found in Him. Mysteries are hidden truths, not hidden from us but for us. There are treasures, nuggets, and hidden truths found in God's Word that will unlock answers to every situation and circumstance we encounter. The Bible says when we pray in tongues we are not speaking to man, but it is our heavenly language to communicate with God on a higher level than praying in our native tongue. Although our understanding is not fruitful, we can trust and believe the Word when It says that we are praying mysteries (hidden truths) unto God.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory (I Corinthians 2:7).
Here we see that when we pray in tongues we are speaking the Wisdom of God in a mystery. The previous scripture already told us that tongues release the mysteries. We can only pray in our native tongue to the extent of our knowledge, but God has given the believer a weapon that He ordained before the world that will edify and strengthen the believer. This gift of our heavenly prayer language is for the believer unto our glory, and it will cause the believer to make supernatural progress in the Kingdom of God.
I Corinthians 9-11... but as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him, but God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God According to vs 9, God has some things laid up for the believer who loves Him and worships Him, that has not even entered into the heart of the believer. The Holy Ghost, who knows the Heart, the Mind and the Will of God, is revealing them to us when we pray in tongues.
Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8.·26-28.) Now we see that the Holy Spirit helps us with our infirmities and weaknesses in the area of our prayer life. When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is praying on our behalf, because we do not know for what to pray. Now we can boldly say that whatever we encounter in life, we know it will work out for our good. Our understanding may not be fruitful when we pray in tongues, but the Holy Spirit, whose job is to lead and guide us into all truth, will direct us into the manifestation of the hidden truths we release in tongues. Paul said in I Corinthians 14, I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also So I leave you with this final thought, PRAY, PRAY and KEEP ON PRAYING IN TONGUES. If God says He is the Lord and He changes not, and we know that God and the Word are one in the same, then we can be assured that His Word concerning tongues has not ceased. Praying in the Spirit will give you the Power to overcome and be victorious in every area of your Christian life.
