UNDERSTANDING SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

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The first occurrence of speaking in tongues in the New Testament is in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-6 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language."

The Greek word translated tongues literally means "languages." Therefore, the gift of tongues is often speaking in a language a person does not know in order to minister to someone who does speak that language. The Jews visiting from the Diaspora that came to Jerusalem for the festival were taken aback by these local folks speaking their languages back at home in their various foreign lands instead of the Hebrew Language.

Speaking in tongues is the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable a Believer sent to preach the gospel be able to speak in another language hitherto unknown to him/her. For instance, if the Holy Spirit sent me to go and preach say in China and on getting to China, I do not speak the Chinese Language and there is no one to interpret for me in English, the Holy Spirit may give me utterance to speak the Chinese Language in that part of the world in order to bring the gospel to the people. Again, this is a spiritual gift and the Holy Spirit is the only One who decides when to empower me or any believer for that matter to exercise this gift. This is not a gift one can turn on and off as one wishes. Apostle Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 14: 1-40 how the gifts of speaking in tongues should be utilized from the Holy Spirit.

However, the Bible shows that it is not in all cases that speaking in tongues (sometimes rendered “praying in tongues”) requires speaking in language a person does not know in order to minister to someone who does speak that language. Take a look at the scripture below:

1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMP) "For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]” .

Praying in tongue is a universal gift from the Holy Spirit. The above scripture shows that you do not need to know what you are uttering with your mouth and your mind cannot conceptualize those words, but the Holy Spirit hears and understands. Praying in tongue can be said to be a spiritual language which the Holy Spirit understands and act on.

Romans 8:26-28: And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress (our infirmities or weaknesses) For we do not know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

We do not know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. However, with our groaning that cannot be expressed in words (in other words by praying in tongues) the Holy Spirit prays for us.

Praying in tongues also builds up your most holy faith. It is a gift that the believer needs to exercise to strengthen his/her faith as well as embolden his/her spirit.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Praying in tongues can be personal. The bible shows that if there is no interpreter, the speaker can speak to himself and to God. You can pray in tongues during your prayer devotion as many times as you can and in diverse places as you can, if you are by yourself or in the company of fellow Christian believers, who have the gift of praying in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God”

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