Tongues: Of God? I Want It! – 5 Reasons To Pray In Tongues
Tongues: Of God? I Want It! – 5 Reasons To Pray In Tongues
[1Co 14:14-15 NASB95]
Azuza Street Revival brought Baptism with Holy Spirit (with speaking in tongues) into forefront. God used William Seymour and others to facilitate this revival that is still taking place.
According to Pew Research Center and other groups, the Pentecostal church is the fastest growing religion in the world today. Additionally, Dr. Vinson Synan notes that, historically, churches that embrace tongues have grown larger than those churches that rejected it. For example, the “Assemblies of God” has ten times as many members as the “Christian and Missionary Alliance,” which took a “seek not, forbid not” position on tongues. (A. B. Simpson who coined that phrase pastored in Louisville, KY.)
In the U.S., 49% of Pentecostals report that they don’t pray in tongues. Among “charismatics,”1 that figure is 32%. Dr. Francis MacNutt
Jesus said that one of the signs of believers would be they spoke in other tongues.
Is all praying in the Spirit praying in other tongues? Yes and No. I Corinthians 14:14-15 – equates praying in spirit with praying in tongues.
Note: Tongues is the initial physical evidence of Spirit Baptism. Of the 5 mentions 3 specifically mentions tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 19:6); 2 infer tongues (Acts 9:17- Paul – I Corinthians 14:18; Acts 8:17-18 Simon saw something)
When I was 14, my response was “if it is of God, I want it” in reference to Spirit Baptism.
The biggest reason to pray with tongues is that is of God.
What are the benefits of praying in the Spirit, particularly in tongues?
The following are five benefits to praying in the Spirit, in particular praying in tongues:
Praying in the Spirit edifies your faith: Jude 20, I Corinthians 14:4
Modern vernacular “charge” like charging a battery.
Many things in this world that try to take away our zeal and strength.
God provided a way for us to keep the fire, maintain the spiritual glow.
Allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you.
You will help others and yourself, but in any event, it builds you; charges you
II. Praying in the Spirit purifies your walk: [Jhn 14:16-17 NASB95]
Howard Carter, who was general supervisor of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain for many years, and founder of the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the world, pointed out that we must not forget that speaking with other tongues is not only the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit’s infilling, but is a continual experience for the rest of one’s life.
Praying in the Holy Spirit will remind you that you are not alone, He will help you to rise up to become the person God called you to become.
No road rage when police officers around
Allow the Holy Spirit to Help You walk
III. Praying in the Spirit assists your warfare: Ephesians 6:18, I Corinthians 14:2
Part of our praying is warfare praying.
There is a real enemy that is trying to stop the church.
Paul says that when we are engaged in spiritual warfare, we need to pray in the Spirit.
Two ways:
Praying about things you do not know in the natural
Your prayers go directly to God.
IV. Praying in the Spirit expands your worship: I Cor. 14:15, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16
Paul tells them to Speak to one another, using psalms, hymn and spiritual songs.
When we come together, our worship is magnified as we join with each other.
Their voices encourage us, as we inspire them.
Separation from local assembly deprives a person of this relationship and its strength. Assemble often and praise much.
Psalms: scriptural lyrics in song; hymns: humanly inspired lyrics in song; spiritual songs: impromptu rhythmic lyrics given by the Holy Spirit in tongues
Allow the Holy Spirit to direct your worship: private and public
V. Praying in the Spirit focuses your prayer: Romans 8:26, I Cor. 14:14
P.C. Nelson, a scholar of the Greek, said that the Greek literally reads here, “The Holy Ghost maketh intercession for us in groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate speech.” Articulate speech means our regular kind of speech. He went on to point out how the Greek stresses that this not only includes groanings escaping our lips in prayer, but also praying in other tongues.
Many people pray for and receive from God things that are outside of the will of God. Israel wanted a king, God gave them one, but it was clearly not His will.
Allow the Spirit of God to pray the perfect will of God through your lips.
I Corinthians 14:18, Paul says that he prays in tongues more than all of them. They prayed in tongues, so he must have prayed a lot.If you haven’t committed to spending some time each day praying in tongues, make one now.
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