8 Tongues

Perhaps the most misunderstood gift of the Spirit is “tongues.” Let’s talk about that.

Paul wrote the Corinthians and thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than anyone else in their church, which indicates not only its authenticity but its viable place in the life of a follower of Jesus. Tongues of men and and tongues of angels are everywhere in the Bible. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit manifested himself through “tongues of men” - known languages from that current day and age. Many times afterward, when the Spirit showed up, tongues also showed up.

Just to clear the air: A person exercising the gift of tongues doesn’t go into a zombie-like trance with white foam oozing out from the sides of their mouth anymore than a bilingual person does when speaking in their second language.

The language of the Spirit is... well, a language. And, just like any other language, it comes with its own vocabulary, dialect, expressions, grammar, in-fluctuation, syllables, and so on. A person with the gift of tongues can speak, pray, or even sing their gift almost anywhere they please - at church, in the car, or even at the gym. Some can even use their gift in their mind - like you do when you talk to yourself. It’s use is solely at the discretion of the user.

What is the value of the gift of tongues. Scripture says a person who has the gift of tongues builds himself up in the faith. That means the strength of the Lord may be magnified, lifted up, or encouraged in the heart of a person when they praying tongues - perhaps something akin to taking a spiritual vitamin.

In addition, tongues is useful in situations when your unclear exactly how to pray, or when you’re prayed out over a situation and running on empty. This can be especially useful when passing the scene of an accident on the freeway, or pulling over for an ambulance racing to the hospital. I have personally noticed that my spiritual discernment seems to sharpen after I have spent time praying in “the Spirit.” This is especially helpful just before I lead worship or pray for others.

The first time I prayed in tongues it happened in a far-a-way field near the college I was attending and under the cloak of darkness...

At that time I didn’t believe in the gift of tongues but did believe, if tongues were real, that God was big enough to give them to me if I asked.

As mentioned earlier, I had also had substantial Bible teaching telling me that the gifts of the Spirit had died out when the Bible had been written. So, by asking God for the gift of tongues, I was fearful that I would get a gift of satan instead. It was all a bit spooky for me. So, with no one around (and when the airy cloud moved mysteriously crossed over the face of the full moon), I prayed. “God, I’m going to try this. But, if it’s not your will, I pray you will shut my mouth. Guide my tongue because here I go.” Then I started talking in make-believe.

Within a milli-second two distinct things happened. First, my mind was barraged with all manner of thoughts of personal condemnation, telling me I sounded like a full-fledged idiot - and that I was a “lousy, illogical witness for the cause of Christ.”

Within a milli-second of the first milli-second, the Spirit of God got a hold of my tongue and I took off - speaking be in a new, heavenly language! Just like that.

It wasn’t nearly as difficult, or strange, as I had made it out to be. In a distant way, it seemed almost normal. It was quite a powerful experience, though. I experienced a immediate sense of the presence of God and a corresponding surge of joy. In fact, the presence of God became so intense that I had to ease back on it. I had never had such an intense physiological experience with the the Lord before then. I got up from the field, looked up at the stars and said, “Wow, I guess tongues are still around.”

After an experience like that one would think I’d become fluent in the language and use it every day. But that wasn’t the case. In fact, in the years to follow I rarely revisited the gift and pretty much forgot all about it. Indeed, within a short period of time, I essentially talked myself out of the gift of tongues altogether.

About two years later found myself living on a kibbutz in Israel. One particular Saturday morning, I was in church when the pastor led the congregation into of time of “free-form singing in the Spirit.” It was beautiful. The entire place turned into a most holy place. The presence of God was all over the place - not unlike that night in the field. As the praises increased I heard a particular someone singing a magnificent praise to the Lord. Though I couldn’t make out the language, I knew it was glorifying God in an almost angelic language. It was so beautiful that I had to open my eyes to see who it was singing these beautiful song. I opened my eyes, traced the melody with my ears and – lo and behold – it was coming from me. It was a hallelujah moment.

That did it. From that day since (some 28 years) I have used this gift almost every day - when praying for others, when worshipping, or when simply clearing the pipes in my head before I teach. It’s never led me astray and - quite to the contrary - it has blessed others.

While tongues can build up an individual in the faith, they can also serve to edify a church, or a gathering of people. I believe there are at least two types of tongues. The first are those that are angelic, or other worldly. This is the type I was singing that day in Jerusalem. It is an intimate expression of praise, worship, intercession, and/or prayer, said in faith, mixed with love, and directed to God. These languages can be said simultaneously with others who have this gift in corporate settings because they are directed to God and are not intended as a prophetic gift for the gathered.

A second type of tongues manifest as actual languages of the world - like Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, or Indian. They are unknown to the user but are understood by anyone in the general vicinity who could understand what’s being said. These are given to impart a prophetic message - a word of encouragement and (sometimes direction) - to the people gathered. This type of gift is readily understood because it is heard from natives of the country of the tongue. When non-believers hear the words of the Lord in their own language, and additionally see that the tongue-talkers aren’t even from their own country, it is a tremendous testimony to God.

There is a use of the gift of tongues which is also prophetic in nature. They sound like angelic tongue - a language that is not of this world - yet their application takes the on the form of a prophetic word to those gathered. In these situations another spiritual gift must come into play - the interpretation of tongues - so that everyone can know what the person with the gift of angelic tongues is saying.

There is a danger in tongues. Tongues are fun. It’s the kind of gift that can be abused. Paul really came down hard on the church at Corinth because, each time they gathered, they did nothing but speak in tongues. The danger was that no one understood what was being said. So, if you have the gift of prophetic tongues, ask the Lord to give you an interpretation so you can follow your pronunciation in a known language – or ask the Lord to give someone else the interpretation. Or else, don’t do it at all.

What about the gift of tongues? Is it for you? As I mentioned a few chapters back, the big gift is the Holy Spirit himself. And, as I said, if you have the Holy Spirit in you then you have the potential for all the gifts of the Spirit - including tongues.

Could you speak in tongues? Most likely. I believe God would have Christians speaking in tongues much, much more than they do now. we are currently doing. Can you imagine that - waiting for a bus somewhere and speaking the marvelous praises of God in the precise language and dialect of the Muslim standing there next to you? The gift of tongues is a powerful form or prayer, intercession, spiritual warfare, and prophecy – and boy, in our day, do we need it.

If the Holy Spirit is in you – which He is – why not try it? Why not place this blog aside, sit back right now and ask Him to release the gift of tongues in your life? You don’t have to sneak away somewhere under the cloak of darkness. You can ask him to release the gift in your heart right here, right where you are now.

After you ask for it, give it a moment of silence and, when you feel the peace of the Lord resting upon you, simply start talking. It may sound like gibberish at first - no, let me correct that... It will sound like gibberish at first - and you will have your sincere doubts. But within a milli-second, the Spirit will get a hold of the water of your words and change them into the wine of a holy, heavenly language.

He may not do it - not now, anyway. But he just may. You’ll never know, until you ask.