Why Tongues

Acts 11:16 NASB
[16] And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

If you can’t speak in tongues, that doesn’t mean you don’t have the Holy Spirit. It does mean that there is yet more for you to access. It also means that there is a deeper level of surrender before you that will unlock deeper levels of transformation. This is the transformation we need in order to become like Jesus. 

Without surrender to Holy Spirit there is no transformation. Without transformation, we are left to try to change ourselves. Transformation is really nothing more than us surrendering our identity for the identity He gives. Any person who does not surrender to Holy Spirit, and receive the baptism of Holy Spirit, will eventually become a legalist. Why? Because they try to serve a God they are constantly failing. Holy Spirit is the agent of change that produces Godlike behavior by giving us God’s nature. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, is the first moment of intimate encounter with Him. 

I realize this sounds harsh but understand that without transformation we will never be free of sin’s power. Without transformation, the best we can hope for is that we manage our sin problem well. Again, without surrender to Holy Spirit, there is no transformation. God has not called us to manage sin. He has called us to become like Jesus through the ministry of Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:14-15 NASBS
[14] And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. [15] And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

We fondly need to ask and believe, and God will fill us with His Spirit. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. The gift of tongues is a sign that we are a believer. “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;” Mark 16:17 NASB. 

In the book of Acts, every occasion where someone received the baptism, they immediately started functioning in a power gift, plus they spoke in tongues. There are some other indications that a person received the baptism but functioning immediately in a gift of the Spirit is obvious evidence. The scriptures frequently say that they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Jesus lists speaking in tongues as a sign that a person was a believer when He gave the great commission in Mark 16:15-18. ‘Signs following a believer’ is obviously important to Jesus. 

The gift of tongues has other distinctions rather than just being one of the spiritual gifts. The gift of tongues has subcategories. There is a gift of tongues for speaking in foreign languages. There’s another gift of tongues that requires interpretation – because it effectively serves as a method of prophecy with two people participating. 

The most significant gift of tongues is the one often referred to as strictly a personal prayer language. This is the gift we often recognize as accompanying the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This gift of tongues for prayer is extremely important. It allows the receiver to develop a spiritual life, empowering them to connect to Holy Spirit in new dimensions. This gift of tongues should not be underestimated in its value. Because we are learning to become spiritual beings, and we are learning how to function and flow with the Holy Spirit, it is imperative that Christians understand how to make this most intimate connection with their spirit. And the prayer language of tongues allows this connection to happen. Holy Spirit unlocks a capacity within us that allows our spirit to speak into the spirit realm. Without it, we remain as mostly fleshly beings trying to have a spiritual relationship with God.

The intimacy of this encounter

This demonstrates another reason that tongues as a prayer language, is so significant. Praying in the spirit is deeply intimate. For us to start praying in a spiritual language we have to access a deeper level of intimacy than many people are comfortable with.

Think about what it means to surrender control. Can you really trust God with your tongue? James says that the tongue is like a bit in a horse’s mouth. When you let God change your language, it can feel like you are surrendering control to Him. 

James 3:2-3 NKJV
[2] For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. [3] Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

This is what surrendering to the ministry of the Spirit does. Because we are surrendering control to Him, we are allowing Him to work His perfection into us. Surrendering the tongue is like our promise to keep surrendering until all we are has been surrendered to Holy Spirit’s leading. Those that are “led by the Spirit will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” We are surrendering to be led just like a horse is led by the bit in its mouth. Surrendering our identity is a deeper surrender than surrendering our language. Surrendering our language can feel very uncomfortable to some who feel the need to maintain control, even if for only a moment. 

For most people, this surrender is not uncomfortable because it is just another new experience with love. When Holy Spirit comes, He wraps us in His embrace. This love is very comforting. His embrace feels familiar, and we let ourselves relax into His love. The baptism of Holy Spirit feels like the next step in letting God love on us.

Many of us have failed to yield to Holy Spirit’s ministry, thinking that once we got the baptism that we got everything we needed from Him. I know that I have fallen into that trap myself. But surrender to the Holy Spirit is what produces transformation. And you need to know that you can trust the work He does.

To some people, the idea of Holy Spirit changing their language seems like some unknown external force is coming to take over them. But this is not true. Holy Spirit is a lover not a violator. He will never force His will. Their fear is coming from their lack of interaction with God. Holy Spirit is also not external. He is a fountain of life flowing out from our innermost being. 

This is from the section called, “How to be Filled with Holy Spirit” at the end of this book

Just like the struggle to hear God, you must believe that God loves you enough to baptize you with His Spirit, and that He wants to baptize you. As I will discuss later, The Lord told me that the Holy Spirit is God’s expression of love. So, those who have been baptized with the Spirit of God have received a manifestation of God’s deep love for them.

Before you begin, you must settle in your heart if you believe that God loves you enough to fill you with His Spirit. Notice that this question you are asking yourself bears a striking resemblance to the intimacy of marriage. I am not being vulgar here. The Lord prayed in John 17 that we would be one with God just as He and the Father were one. Paul tells us that we are to be married to Christ receiving the fruit of intimacy (Romans 7:4). This descriptive language is to show just how deep the intimacy is that God desires to have with us. If you are part of the Bride and a son then the answer is a definitive, “Yes, He does love me enough.” But if you only view yourself as a servant or hired hand, then you might be struggling with this question. I have found that it is often older men, who have grown accustomed to shame, that struggle with the idea of God loving them. You must settle this issue, before you can stand in faith.

All encounters with Holy Spirit can feel deeply intimate. God does not lead us around like a bit in the horse’s mouth, but recognize how intimate it must be for a horse to trust the owner to place this metal in his mouth. That closeness and trust is wonderful. Now realize that we are also trusting God to lead and minister to us as we surrender our very language to Him, trusting that the words we speak are both from Him and for us.

The more we practice this trust, the easier it becomes to surrender to Him as He leads us in other areas. 

Notice which verb does not end in “-ing” in this next verse. 

Jude 20-21 NASB
[20] But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God.” Every other part of this sentence is focused on and modifies this one phrase. The phase is the most important part of the whole sentence. According to this verse, the entire purpose of praying in the Spirit is that we may keep ourselves in the love of God. The purpose of building our most holy faith is so that we keep ourselves in the love of God. Praying in tongues empowers our faith, allowing us to encounter deeper levels of God’s love which empowers abiding in His love.

Most people who struggle to receive are struggling to believe God’s love and struggling to receive God’s love. If you’re struggling, remember you must only answer the one simple question from above, “does God love me enough to fill me with the Holy Spirit?”

Luke 11:12-13 TPT
[12] Do you know of any father who would give his daughter a spider when she had asked for an egg? Of course not! [13] If imperfect parents know how to lovingly take care of their children and give them what they need, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit’s fullness when his children ask him.”

Below is an excerpt from my father’s (Kevin Martin) book:

Kingdom Expansion Ministries International – “Holy Spirit Led Healing & Deliverance”
What Prerequisites Exist to Be Baptized In the Holy Spirit? 

1. You must first be born again; evident in Acts

2:38 above, also Acts 19:2.

2. You receive by faith alone. See Mark 11:24. 

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6, 7 

3. You must ask for it. Neither the Father nor Jesus will put anything on or within you without your permission or your request. You must ask. 

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:  how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9, 13 

Our Father in Heaven gives good gifts to all His children, when they ask. We don’t earn gifts. We receive them because we are His children. As you received salvation without earning it (Ephesians 2:8, 9), so you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit by simply asking and receiving. 

How Is He Received? 

1. He either descends upon you as you ask, or He is received as someone lays hands upon you. People today report one of these two ways of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts 2:4, no one laid hands on anyone on Pentecost morning. Yet, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Acts 8:17 relates that in Samaria, Peter and John did lay hands on those who had believed, and they received the Holy Spirit.

2. You may receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit any time after you have become a born-again Christian. It does not matter where you are. You can be in a church meeting or alone anywhere. You simply ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and believe that He will. See Luke 11:9 above. 

How Do You Know When You Have Received the  Baptism In the Holy Spirit? 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 

And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6 

In the book of Acts are several evidences of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapters 3, 4, 5 and 7 the primary evidence is power to be witnesses for the Lord beyond your natural ability as seen in the disciples’ boldness before the High Priest and the rulers of the temple. Prior to being filled with the Holy Spirit, they were fearful and hid from these authorities. Now, they trusted God even under persecution. 

Another form of evidence is understood in chapters 2, 10 and 19; those who received spoke in tongues (languages) that were not known to them.  

In Acts 2 unusual behaviors caused some of those who observed the disciples to conclude that they must be drunk. Peter refutes their assumption in verse 15. We have no description of their behavior; however, many have witnessed peoples’ reactions to the power of God falling upon them over the centuries since then. It is only important we observe that the hearts of these people are changed so that now they trust God like never before. 

Acts chapters 2 and 19, as well as 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 show that gifts of the Spirit are further evidence. The Holy Spirit disburses gifts as He wills in the body of Christ to build up the church, so the Gospel is preached. 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father for every generation of Christians to enable them to be witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person they encounter in their world. If you are going to live as a witness for Jesus without fear, then you need to ask Him to save you and baptize you in the Holy Spirit; believing Him to do so. 

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  

8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4, 5, 8 

The most compelling evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is that you no longer must do the work of witnessing; you are anointed to be a witness of the resurrection life of Jesus within you.  

THE DIVERSITY OF TONGUES 

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28 

There is unexpected strength, support and peace for me in the operation of my calling as a teacher and pastor. That strength and support has come as I have seen clearly the role of the diversity of tongues as a help for each of the seven other gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28. This is important and must be as clearly understood by us as any of the other gifts to the body of Christ. 

BUILD YOURSELVES UP ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH 

¹⁷But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  Jude 17-21  

People who are ruled by their five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch are also those who can be controlled by their thoughts and emotions. These are called sensual persons and they are not led by the Spirit of God. Paul told the Galatians (5:16) to walk in the spirit so they would not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  Yet it seems most tongue-talking believers are more controlled by their senses than they are able to walk in the spirit. 

According to Romans 12:3 we are each given a measure of faith. So we have faith.  Then Romans 10:17 tells that faith can be added by hearing the word of God.  Many read the bible and attend good bible studies all the time, yet their faith is not what was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). 

When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we are immediately given access to an additional way to build ourselves up on our most holy faith. Jude speaks of “building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” This is a submission of your will to God, under a provision of the blood covenant of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the baptizer (Matthew 3:11) and He told us tongues would be a sign of those who believe in His name (Mark 16:17). To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is a choice. Then to speak in your personal prayer language is a choice. By choice we can build ourselves up above a walk dominated by the five senses as we pray in the Holy Spirit. 

As we build ourselves up on our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, we submit our wills to the will of God. The key is not more self-denial by the power of your will. The key is to yield your will in this particular way; offer your body in this particular way: pray in the Holy Spirit, using that supernatural language called tongues. This makes the devil so mad he tries everything to discredit it, so you will not do it. 

FOUR DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES 

²⁸And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 

When Paul wrote this to the Corinthians, they were well familiar with his teaching and practice of speaking in tongues “more than you all.” They were not confused by his question, “Do all speak with tongues?”, as many are today. They knew that Paul was talking about one variety of speaking in tongues among a diversity of at least four gifts of tongues. The obvious answer to his question is that, no, all do not speak with the particular form of tongues that are meant to be interpreted, nor do all interpret tongues. However, Paul taught about four gifts of tongues, one of which is for every believer. The other three are available through every believer as the Spirit of God wills. But not all believers will be used in those particular ways. 

1. Tongues for Personal Edification. This is a supernatural language the Spirit prays through us. We can make use of tongues for personal edification as often and as long as we desire, just because we want to grow. 

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4 

2. Tongues for Interpretation. A supernatural language the Spirit prays through us as He wills. It is for public hearing to be followed by supernatural interpretation. Tongues and interpretation together equal prophetic utterance. 

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:5 

3. Tongues of Intercessional Groaning. A supernatural language the Spirit prays through us as He wills to make intercession on behalf of others. 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 

4. Tongues as a Sign to the Unbeliever. The Spirit prays through us in a human language, unknown to us, but known to unbelievers to testify to them about Christ.  See Acts chapter 2. 

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22 

PRAYING IN TONGUES 

²For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 

⁴He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4 

Each of us receives a prayer language for personal edification when we receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. God uses this language to transfer divine secrets and mysteries from His Spirit to our spirit so that we (our spirits) are built up and prepared for things He wants to lead us into. Any believer who wants to can receive this Baptism and their own prayer language by faith; so they can be edified.  As you pray in tongues godly traits like love and wisdom are built up on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit builds strength to walk in love and wisdom into your spirit. 

The other three diversities of tongues operate as the Spirit of God wills and moves upon you. He will not force you. As you yield, He will speak. All nine gifts of the Spirit operate as He wills, not as you will. But tongues for personal edification operate as you will to speak. You are the steward of this gift. You must “will” to grow and be built up this way. No one will make you. Not even God. 

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.  1 Corinthians 14:14 

Who does Paul say prays in a tongue in this verse? Not the Holy Spirit. Your spirit prays. You are in charge of your spirit, not God. So, you pray in the spirit as you will, to be built up in the Holy Spirit, for though you choose to pray, He supplies the words. All we do is begin in faith to speak and the Holy Spirit immediately begins to create that supernatural language, not in your brain, within your spirit. You choose and He meets you deep inside your spirit. Thus, Jude encourages believers to be, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 

Praying in tongues causes the mind of Christ to be manifested in you. The Holy Spirit will take the mysteries you have been speaking before God and open them up to you by revelation. Until that moment the praying in tongues is edifying you in a process of building an edifice inside you that is big enough to hold and use the revelation that finally unfolds to you. You must be made capable of holding and using the divine revelations God would reveal to you or they could destroy you.  Praying in tongues builds you up on the inside on your most holy faith until you are ready to operate in the greater callings and giftings God has been holding in store for you. He wants to release these callings in you as gifts to the body of Christ for their benefit. But He does not want you destroyed in the process. 

Be patient and let His process of building you up do its work until you are ready.  Do you want to shorten the time? Pray in tongues all the time and do not allow the devil to discourage you.

~ Kevin Martin, “Holy Spirit Led Healing & Deliverance”

* You can find a step-by-step walk through in the section title, “How to be Filled with the Spirit.”

* If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you might be saying to yourself, “but that seems scary. How can I trust what you’re saying is true? “I’m not asking you to trust me, I’m asking you to trust Father. Refer back to the article titled “Holy Spirit Can’t Be Trusted.”