SOUNDING
OUT:
Speaking In Tongues
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 Gods Power we began the instruction
in the operation of the manifestations with speaking in
tongues. Thats 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:
| 1. Edifies you |
I Corinthians 14:4;
Jude 20. |
| 2. Provides a way to speak divine
secrets to God |
I Corinthians 14:2. |
| 3. Provides a way to speak the
wonderful works of God |
Acts 2:11. |
| 4. Provides a way to magnify God |
Acts 10:46. |
| 5. Provides a way to pray perfectly |
Romans 8:26,27. |
| 6. Provides a way to give thanks
well |
I Corinthians 14:17. |
| 7. Provides a way to have the Spirit
bearing witness with your spirit that you are His
beloved child |
Romans 8:16. |
| 8. Provides a way to know you are
a joint heir with Christ |
Romans 8:17. |
| 9. Strengthens you with might in
your inner man |
Ephesians 3:16;
II Corinthians 4:16. |
| 10. Is a sign to unbelievers |
I Corinthians 14:22;
Mark 16:17. |
| 11. Rests your soul |
Isaiah 28:11,12;
I Corinthians 14:21. |
| 12. Proves God's resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension |
Acts 2:32,33 |
| 13. Guarantees a new body in the
future |
Ephesians 1:13,14 |
| 14. Produces fruit of the spirit |
Galatians 5:22,23 |
| 15. Provides a way to declare Jesus
as lord in your life |
I Corinthians 12:3 |
| 16. Provides a way to bring a message
directly from God for the edification of the people
present, when interpreted |
I Corinthians 14:4,5,13,27,28 |
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 Gods working in us to will
and to do of His good pleasure. It is a means of personal
edification and brotherly intercession. Its 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 Gods 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 Im 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 Im 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 Ive 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 dont know of many married couples
who havent 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. Its 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. Its 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.
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