We have established that the flesh is not the enemy because God has given us the power and authority over the body. The body can be used as an extension of the kingdom of God in righteousness. What happens in the body is determined by our yieldedness to the Holy Spirit. We have the power to yield to the Spirit or the flesh. When you consistently yield yourself to demonic thoughts and influences by practicing rebellion and disobedience you are opposed to the nature of Christ, you will not see the results of God in your life. As you yield your mind to the flesh, the body becomes an instrument of unrighteousness, on the contrary when you yield your soul to the influence of the Holy Spirit your body becomes an instrument of righteousness in advancing the kingdom of God.
The Spirit is made alive to God by the work of salvation; however, it is your responsibility to yield your soul to the influence of the Holy Spirit so that you can be delivered from the control of the flesh. Consistent obedience to the Holy Spirit and the word of God works transformation in your soul which in turn brings your body into alignment with the ways of the Kingdom of God. We will look at the role our tongue plays in the work of transformation because one of the ways to renew our minds is to make the right confessions that bring us into the reality of God’s power and influence over our lives.
Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue
“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” - Romans 10:8 ESV
“Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both [b]fresh and bitter water?” - James 3:3-11 ESV
“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” - Proverbs 6:2 KJV
“But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into Heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down; or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible].” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” - Romans 10:6-10 ESV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” - Proverbs 18:21 ESV
The scriptures demonstrate that the words that you speak can bring forth justification or condemnation. Your words can bring you liberty or ensnare you because death and life are in the power of the tongue. Thoughts that are not verbalized are not powerful enough. You can have good desires, but if you don’t know how to engage your tongue in life, you may never bring them to pass. People have good intentions, but they speak what is contrary to what God has spoken so their own words hinder the manifestations of everything that God has planned for them.
I’ve discovered that the tongue can determine your journey of faith and whether your life will yield to the direction of God’s will.
Your Tongue as the Property of the Holy Spirit
God has given us the power to yield our tongue to the Holy Spirit. In James 3 we learn that no human can tame the tongue except by the Power of the Holy Spirit. One of the key blessings of being born again is the ability to consistently yield our tongue to the influence of the Holy Spirit. As a believer, it is important to understand that your tongue can become the property of the Holy Spirit, as you yield to him in obedience, and it will change your life.
Remember the words that you speak can justify or condemn you. In Romans10:8, Paul demonstrates this truth by stating that by the mouth confession is made in consent to the faith of your heart {resulting in and confirming salvation}. Thus believing in the heart without confession is invalid because the tongue has to be engaged in agreement with the faith produced by conviction of the Holy Spirit in the heart. What we say can draw us to God or create barriers and walls of separation. The use of the tongue can help us to yield to the Holy Spirit or draw us away.
Some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit highlighted in 1 Corinthians 12 like speaking in diverse tongues, interpretation of tongues and Prophecy requires the power of the Holy Spirit to express. When Jesus described the signs that would follow the believer, speaking in new tongues was one of the key determinants of his followers.
Speaking in New Tongues is a Sign For Believers
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” - Mark 16:17 ESV
Jesus emphasized the importance of yielding the tongue to the Holy Spirit, which is why speaking in new tongues was one of the hallmarks that distinguished his disciples. There is a lot of confusion about the relevance of praying and speaking in tongues. It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, it’s part of the gifts for believers. The new tongues that Jesus was referring to would be given by the Holy Spirit, it wasn’t the language that we can learn or study. The sign of speaking in new tongues is made available for all believers, it is not for a select few. Jesus commissioned his disciples promising them that these signs would follow all those who believe. Every expression outlined in Mark 16:17-18 is supernatural and by the Holy Spirit. In as much as we are comfortable with the healing of the sick we ought to be comfortable with speaking in new tongues because it is the provision made by Christ for all believers.
Misconceptions about Praying in Tongues
The main arguments about praying in tongues are based on the wrong interpretations of Apostle Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians 14. Some people believe that you should only pray in tongues in private, if it is to be done publicly, there should be interpretation and without which no one should speak. Paul never said you should not pray in tongues, or to pray only in private. Paul was trying to correct the error in the Corinth church whereby people were getting carried away with gifts, confusion and disorder had become the norm.
He was speaking about an expression of tongues that is not for prayer but prophecy. When someone speaks in tongues and interpretation is given, it is the same as prophecy. There are diverse kinds of tongues which can be categorized in the tongues of man or angels. Paul demonstrated in his writing the depth of revelations about the gifts of the Holy Spirit specifically the speaking gifts. One of the biggest misconceptions is the difference between the tongues that can be used to edify the body (in prophecy) or the supernatural tongues in prayers or the gift of tongues that build you up as a believer.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 ESV
It’s important to understand the context of the church he was writing to. Based on further readings in the book of Corinthians we learn that the Corinth church was very disorderly and carnal and the abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was very rampant there. There are three tiers of engagement about speaking in tongues. One is prophesying, that is when you can speak in tongues and there is interpretation. Another is when you pray to God in tongues, your understanding is unfruitful. The last is when you pray in tongues for personal edification ( in Jude 20 it says build yourself up in your most Holy faith.
Speaking in Tongues a Common Sign Among Disciples of Christ
The predominant sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts is the evidence of speaking in tongues. It was not a strange occurrence to have new believers experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in tongues. The story of Peter and Cornelius highlights the willingness of God to give us the gift of the Spirit.
As soon as his household received the gift of salvation, the Holy Ghost came upon everyone in Cornelius’s household and they all began to speak in new tongues.
“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.” - Acts 10:44-46 ESV
At some point Paul met John’s disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed.
“And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.” - Acts 19:1-6 ESV
In Acts 2, they all got filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in new tongues as evidence. In that instance they spoke tongues of men because God was using them as the first witnesses to bring sinners to Him and three thousand souls got converted. It’s important to note that there are different expressions of tongues in the bible.
Expressions of the Gift of Tongues
Tongues can be used in prophesying. A person can give a message in tongues with interpretation for the purpose of edification or someone gives a message in tongues and another interprets for the purpose of edification. When interpretation of the tongue spoken is given in understanding to edify the hearers, it equates prophecy. Prophecy is given in order to edify, comfort and encourage. So, there’s a speaking in tongues to edify, which must be accompanied by interpretation.
“On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” - 1 Corinthians 14:3-5 ESV
In this context Paul desired that people would prophecy in order to build the church, however this scripture is misinterpreted, and people think that Paul was speaking against the gift of tongues when praying to God personally or building yourself up.
“Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?” - 1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV
“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” - 1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two-- or at the most three-- should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.” - 1 Corinthians 14:27
"If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God." - 1 Corinthians 14:28 ESV
Paul’s emphasis was the use of the gift of tongues in building up the church, which is impossible without the interpretation of the tongue. When believers come together in fellowship it is for the purpose of being equipped and built up so it’s important that if there is an expression of the gift of tongues for the edification of the body interpretation is necessary. However this is not the case when we pray to God because Paul explains that the understanding is unfruitful.
Praying in the Spirit
Another expression of speaking in tongues is when you speak to God in prayers. When we pray in the Spirit, we are speaking to God not to men. It’s an expression of faith, using the divine enablement given by the Holy Spirit to speak to God, not to men. It’s important to understand that your understanding is unfruitful because you are speaking mysteries to God.
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 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.” - 1Corinthians 14:1 ESV
There are a lot of benefits tied to praying in tongues. Paul was bold enough to declare that he prayed in tongues than all of them. He would not discredit a practice that he engaged in consistently. He was speaking about praying in the Spirit in fellowship with God, not in building up the body of Christ. Some believers live under the yoke and bondage of wrong doctrine and they can’t express the life and power of God in the use of their tongue. They go to prayer meetings but refuse to express the power of the Spirit by praying in tongues. When the apostles received the power of the Holy Spirit with the gift of tongues it was expressed publicly not privately. It is wrong to assume that praying in the Spirit should not be done in public worship but rather in the comfort of your home because it is in opposition to the examples in scripture. Moreover, Christ promised that one of the signs that would be evident in the life of a believer is speaking in new tongues, a sign that would point others to God because it would be by divine empowerment to engage such a gift.
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” - 1 Corinthians 14:14
When we pray in tongues our Spirit prays and the mind is unfruitful. We don’t need interpretation to engage spiritually.
“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.” - Romans 8:26
There is another dimension when the Holy Spirit in us prays through us with groanings too deep for words! 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.
“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” - 1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV
Praying in tongues is for your personal spiritual benefit; it builds you up and helps your spirit to talk to God. So you can engage this gift in private or in the public because you are praying to God not man and God has not placed parameters on when we can engage this gift when we pray to him.
Benefits of Praying in Tongues
Transition from the Realm of the Flesh into the Spirit.
There are different levels of engagement in praying in the Spirit, each engagement is vital if we are to grow in a way that exposes us to all the provisions of God. God has given us the Holy Spirit so he can tame our tongues and help us to move from the realm of the flesh into the Spirit. I’ve seen in the scriptures that your tongue, like the rudder of a ship, can determine the destination of your life. The first thing that the disciples did after being filled with the Holy Spirit was to speak in tongues. The Holy Spirit took over their tongue and we can see the result of his Lordship throughout the book of Acts.
Gain Ascendence over Carnal Understanding
Upon receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they began to speak languages that they had no knowledge of. The Holy Spirit gave them utterance far higher than the limitations of their carnal mind. They gained ascendance over their carnal understanding and they started uttering the wisdom of God by the spirit. The wisdom of God that is too deep for words, that pierces the heart of man bringing them to the point of repentance is only by the Spirit. This dimension of tongues enables you to speak a language that can be understood clearly by others that you’ve never learnt. It is by the Spirit that we can gain ascendance over carnal understanding. One of the ways that we are enabled by his is by the gift of tongues.
Building Yourself up in Your Most Holy Faith
"But ye beloved, build yourself up on the foundation of your most holy faith, continually progress. Rise supernaturally like an edifice. Higher and higher, pray in the Holy Spirit." Jude 1:20. AMPC
When we consistently practice praying in tongues it helps us to build our faith because it exposes us to the realm of the Spirit. For example you can read a scripture but lack understanding. When you pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives you understanding and clarity which in turn helps in building up your faith. Some Christians are stunted spiritually because they neglect this powerful gift given for the benefit of every child of God.
Helps us to Worship God
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24
It is a Sign that Points Unbelievers to God
In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 1 Corinthians 14:21-22. The gift of speaking new tongues is a sign to unbelievers. When an unbeliever see’s you speaking in tongues, he knows that this person is different.
The Holy Spirit Helps Us in Intercession
“Likewise the Spirit helps our infirmities; our weaknesses. We do not know what to pray for as we ought to, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, too deep for words.” Romans 8:26.
When you yield to the Holy Spirit in intercession, you engage the ability to pray accurately and correctly. Your human understanding is very limited in praying according to the will of God. As you engage in praying in the Spirit the Holy Spirit helps you pray according to the will of God about an issue that you might not even be aware of. The Holy Spirit knows the spirit realm better than us, he is the best guide in engaging prayer and intercession.
Putting on the Armour of God
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:11-18 .We are instructed to pray at all times in the Spirit which means praying in tongues, this activates the spiritual weapons that we have in God. These weapons are not sourced in the physical realm but the spirit realm when we are quickened by the Holy Spirit to deploy each accurately.
No Human can Tame the Tongue Except the Holy Spirit.
“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” - James 3:5-8
When you get born again and you have the privilege of the Holy Spirit taking over and giving you utterance, your tongue will start speaking words that will direct your life in the direction of the will of God. The gift of tongues is a pure release of life that is sourced in the Holy Ghost in your innermost being, that is now born-again. When you speak in tongues it is the language and thoughts that God agrees with. God uses the gift of speaking in tongues to bring us from the flesh closer to him, because it renews the spirit of our mind. It is only by the Spirit that the tongue is tamed and moved into the direction of God’s will. The Holy Spirit is our refiner, the purifying fire that purges our tongue, if your tongue is purged, your life will be purged. When you learn to pray in tongues often, you will start speaking power words that release life in different areas of your life. When power is activated, assurance of faith comes by the conviction in your Spirit and you become different in your approach to the things of God. Learn to engage this act of faith and yield your tongue as a tool for the Holy Spirit to use in prayers. This is how we activate the power that is within us which enables us to live supernaturally engaging all the provisions of God in Christ Jesus.
