The manifestations of holy spirit were designed to function as a unit. Each has its specific profit and purpose, and they work in conjunction with one another as we walk in the spirit. In Part V of Living in God's Power we began the instruction in the operation of the manifestations with speaking in tongues. That's because speaking in tongues is the foundational manifestation.

  Of all the manifestations, speaking in tongues is the most versatile and the most presently available. Because speaking in tongues can be spoken out loud or silently to oneself, it can be operated at almost any time. It is a means God has provided us to express our love for Him.

  Speaking in tongues:

  Speaking in tongues is a wonderful way to develop our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in the family of God. It is our avenue of perfect prayer where we can give thanks well. It provides an ever-present opportunity for praise whereby we may speak the wonderful works of God and magnify God. It is proof of sonship and God's working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is a means of personal edification and brotherly intercession. It's hard to stay angry with someone for whom you are speaking in tongues.

  It is such a wonderful means of expressing our love for God, demonstrating our delight to acknowledge Him in all our ways. It is not illogical, magical, or mystical. Speaking in tongues is operated by choice. It is a freewill renewed mind decision to act on God's Word. After all Jesus said I should speak in tongues (Mark 16:17), and Paul said I could speak in tongues (I Corinthians 14:5a).

  Although speaking in tongues bypasses our understanding, it is not an unthinking endeavor. What we do with our minds directs the power of God where it needs to go. If I lift my heart in thanksgiving to God, I know I'm giving thanks well. If I keep an image of my brother in mind as I speak in tongues, I know I am making intercession for him according to the will of God. When I speak in tongues as I anticipate my activities for the day, I know it is perfect prayer. As I sing in tongues, I know I'm making melody in my heart to the Lord.

  What a unique and simple way God has made His power presently available to us. When we know the benefits of speaking in tongues and use it as God designed, for the purposes He intended, we are well on our way to walking by the spirit. [Too often, SIT is just associated with trouble and crisis and not with opportunities of service.]

  Although I've used many techniques to increase the amount of time I spend speaking in tongues, it all comes back to my relationship with Him. The love in the relationship activates us to do whatever we need to do to endear ourselves and enjoy the fellowship one with another. I don't know of many married couples who haven't tried different techniques at times to improve their relationship. However, if after 15 years they are still awkwardly following a deliberate regimen of prescribed action, there has been little development in their relationship. At some point, we love enough to learn enough about each other so we do what blesses each other. Speaking in tongues blesses God and edifies us. It's tough to beat that combination.

  Speaking in tongues magnifies God. It brings us closer to Him, and allows us to see more of His greatness and majesty. It's an exchange of divine secrets whereby our communication with God is enriched and we are built up in our most holy faith. Using our God-given ability to speak in tongues builds a habit of operating holy spirit that provides a solid foundation for the operation of the rest of the manifestations. Just like we become versatile in using speaking in tongues for all the specific purposes and profit for which it was designed, we learn to use the other manifestations as they were designed to be used as each of them also has specific profits and purposes.