Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying

The Lord says, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” [1]

Love for God and love for God’s people is why we should desire spiritual gifts.

The Holy Spirit anointed the Christians in Corinth with spiritual gifts and also with teaching about them. He emphasizes at the beginning and at the ending of His teaching on the gifts that Christians should desire them. His teaching is clear on this topic and should neither be doubted, denied nor spoken against by anyone in the body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit says, “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.” [2] He is saying that this tongue is given by God as a prayer language... to speak to God. “In the spirit he speaks mysteries” indicates that the person doesn’t understand what he is praying but nevertheless it is a valid and beneficial gift. We don’t always know what exactly food is doing for our bodies, but we know that it is good for the body so we eat. So, we should be willing to partake of this spiritual gift and not deny it.

The Holy Spirit says, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself...” “I wish you all spoke with tongues.” “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” “Do not forbid to speak with tongues.” [3]

So, prayer language builds up the praying one. The Holy Spirit wants to give this prayer language to everyone. It is like wind in one’s sails to pray. You don’t know what the Spirit is praying but He is praying through you. Singing in tongues is also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul testified that he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthian Christians. He needed the edification to carry out the Lord’s great commission, and so do we. He says not to forbid the prayer language.

I find that I switch back and forth during my prayer time. I pray in tongues, and as I do people and situations come to mind that I pray about with my understanding... in English. By praying in tongues I extend my prayer time to cover more people and more situations with prayer. I can pray for an hour at a time. What a wonderful gift!

The Holy Spirit also gives the gift of prophecy. This does not mean adding words or subtracting words from the Bible. It means having a word, impression, vision or dream from God that edifies or helps the Church.

The Holy Spirit says, “He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” “He who prophesies edifies the church.” “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” “In the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than 10,000 words in a tongue.” “You can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy.” [4]

The Holy Spirit gives the prophetic gift to comfort, exhort (build up) and edify the Church, that is, the members of the body of Christ. His goal is to edify (feed) the Lord’s sheep with revelation, wisdom, understanding, teaching and knowledge that helps us to navigate our walk with our Good Shepherd and to serve Him. Those who are receivers from the Lord should be encouraged to receive from Him and share what He is giving them. It should be done one by one. Everything that is said is subject to the prophets. In other words, it should align with the Bible, and the Holy Spirit should bear witness with our spirit that what was shared was indeed from God.

The Holy Spirit, when welcomed and asked to move among the members, orchestrates a heavenly time with God.

“Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent for God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” [5]

So, liberty should be allowed for the Holy Spirit to give someone a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue message ( if there is someone is there who can interpret) and a prophecy. He does express boundaries. Two or three! Leave time for the preacher to preach what the Lord has given him! The others are to judge what is being said and done against what the Bible says. God is not the author of confusion means that the Holy Spirit will not give a message that contradicts the Bible. It also means that people should not be trying to speak over one another. The Lord says, “Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own.” [6]

The Apostle Paul was not expressing his personal opinion when he wrote about spiritual gifts. He wrote, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” [7]

The Lord Jesus wants the members of His Body, the Church, to receive from Him via His Spirit and speak with words that are like arrows hitting a target. Words that are timely and beneficial to everyone involved! Words that help! Words that nourish His sheep!

Moses asked Joshua, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” [8]

[1] 1 Corinthians 14:1
[2] 1 Corinthians 14:2
[3] 1 Corinthians 14: 4-5, 14-15, 18, 39
[4] 1 Corinthians 14: 3-6, 12, 18, 24-25, 31-32, 39
[5] 1 Corinthians 14:26-33
[6] 1 Corinthians 13:6
[7] 1 Corinthians 14:37
[8] Numbers 11:29