One of the wondrous gifts of the Holy Spirit made known to us by the Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul is the Diversity of Tongues. This is an amazing gift that really explains to us GOD’s use of the power of our tongue and establishes GOD’s awesome power and tremendous ability which He manifested during the time of people building the Tower of Babel.
1 Corinthians 12:8-12 “ :For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” ESV Bible
Genesis 11:6-7 “and he said, ‘Now then, these are all one people and they speak one language; this is just the beginning of what they are going to do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want! Let us go down and mix up their language so that they will not understand each other.” GNT Bible
Believers who have received the Holy Spirit of GOD, baptised in the Holy Spirit(empowered) and allowed themselves to speak in tongues would have at one time knowingly or unknowingly spoken a different earthly language that is not of his/her original language during the cause of praying in the Holy Ghost.
Note that praying in the Holy Ghost and speaking in different languages (tongues) is different.
The former speaks in words that are not understood by man or angels. It is directly channeled to the Father, even the devil and his cohorts do not understand this language.
Praying in tongues or shall we say praying in the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) can be done for intercession, revelation (GOD reveals mysteries and truth through dreams, visions, trances as He deems best fit to you), supplication (raising up a personal need, asking for a supply), thanksgiving and worship, edification (growing spiritual by means of praying in the spirit. You become empowered in the spirit and portals and realms are opened up to you. Your spiritual eyes is open to see, ears, nose are open and you can growing into different dimensions of the spirit and possess greater understanding of the word of GOD).
The prayer of Edification by the Spirit should be every Christian major focus because it makes making intercessions much easier and getting a better and quicker result, revelations and the rest really fulfilling. GOD desires all His children to grow and this is one of the ways it will be accomplished: Praying in the Holy Spirit. Hence you can say praying in the Holy Spirit, though may be used to intercede for others, is mainly directed to one’s personal relationship with GOD and his/her development in the Spirit. And why not?
Matthew 7:4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?” ESV Bible
During my prayers, a few times while praying, I have suddenly heard a voice speak “say it in English, I can not understand what you are saying. Say it in English so I can understand”. At those points, I smile. Still letting Holy Spirit pray for me in the Heavenly language, I know the devil is confused. He can see what is happening in the spirit and wants to stop/block the effect by distracting me, so he tries to give me a suggestion, a terrible trick. GOD forbids that I should obey him! Wasn’t it a suggestion he gave to Adam and Eve to make them lose the connection with GOD? Oh no devil, you have failed. I am loving this beautiful fellowship with the Father and I am not turning back just so you can understand and act as a barrier.
Daniel 10:12-14 “Then he said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” ESV Bible
All these times, I continue to speak in the Holy Spirit but somehow my mind speaks these words in English! The Apostle Paul said:
1 Corinthians 14:15 “What should I do, then? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray also with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will sing also with my mind.” GNT Bible
Now the latter in the fundamental explanation that can be given is in speaking in different earthly languages. It also includes speaking in languages that angels understand. As it is, they also understand earthly languages and have their own language in the heavens too. This is different from the language only understood by the Father of Light.
This is one of the gifts I have a strong attachment for although all gifts must be desired strongly and will only be given you as the Spirit wills. Apostle Paul said to desire the best gift. It didn’t mean that one is greater than the other. It actually meant that in that scenario that you are in to the believer or unbeliever, the gift that will best be appropriate to such persons. Let us give two scenarios as the Spirit of GOD leads us, alright?
In a gathering, there is a sick young girl with her parent before the LORD in the midst of a people. The Holy Spirit is leading you to her.
Scene 1: He could tell you to go to her. Hold her hands, smile and say, “Child, you are healed in JESUS name”. Instantly, she receives her healing. The gift manifested here: the gifts of healings.
Scene 2: He could say from where you are staying/standing or sitting to say “ There is a young child here. You have been sick for the past three years thinking this would be your last meeting in the gathering of GOD’s people. The LORD said to tell you He loves you and He has made you whole”. Instantly again she gets her healing. The gift manifested here: the gift of prophecy and word of wisdom. Her sickness was revealed and knowledge of how long it has been and her thoughts, the latter what is doing and as has it is, has done.
Scene 3: The Holy Spirit could also lead in to say “ In the name of JESUS, I command all sickness, all infirmities to leave all right now. Everyone with a defeat tonight, sick in your body, sick in your mind, sick in your family, sick in your business, sick in your finances, I command you demons to loose your holds and I bind you in the name of JESUS”. Instantly or as she gets home over a couple of days, she is made whole. The gifts in operation here: gift of supernatural faith.
Scene 4: The LORD JESUS may also lead him to her and say to her “ Mother, let it go! You held unforgivingness against your husband for too long. You being angry with all that he owns and does, have encouraged hate. You both own this child and your inner thoughts surely holds against this child in your vexation against him. Husband, forgive your wife too! Don’t let the devil continue to thrive against you both. You are not the only victim. This girl is neglected and unprotected. Let it go! “ Once forgiveness is complete, and they give their marriage over to JESUS or it could also be the child holding in such too. The child forgives and the devil doesn’t have a ground any more for his continued existence. He is casted out in the name of JESUS and the child and their entire family is set free.
Yes, unforgiveness can do such a damage. It is biblically proven.
Matthew 18:34-35 “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” KJV Bible
Learn to forgive. It is not easy so we must ask GOD for grace and live by His Spirit.
Yup! (Laughing) so the gift manifested here: Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom.
Also, we can have this scene 4: The girl and her parent heard about the meeting. They decided to go there and see. They heard that GOD heals and may be, just may be they have seen someone or heard about someone that GOD did it for. Hence, they decide to go but they don’t really understand the language of the preacher. GOD sees and knows so He decides He wants to speak with them right there and right then in the midst of the crowd because He loves them and know their eagerness for His help. What does my awesome Papa do?
Drum rolling, it stops!
Yep! He speaks to them in the language they understand, and what’s more easy to understand than their own language in their native dialect. Awesome and cool, right? Yes, I knew you would say that too. And how does He do it?
Through His Holy Spirit in me and you! Yes child, even you! That’s one of the demonstration of our faith as we release ourselves to Him for His work. We may not even know what we are saying. We just keep talking but there is someone, even if it is only one person who understands. It is alright to us because that one person needs to encounter Christ just as we too. One person can lead thousands to Christ.
John 4:28-39 “So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? They went out of the town and were coming to him.” ESV Bible
So let’s go! The minister GOD uses (you and me, lol! Come on, everything is possible through Christ, don’t wallow in unbelief) is led by the Holy Spirit! Obediently, he follows. He says things as He had said to them in our scene 3. The family hears it. And she is instantly at that spot healed. They come running to the front with joy. What do you think is going to be the reaction of both you and me, as well as all the people present when eventually we get an interpreter who interprets their testimony? Or even when GOD uses us to interpret what he has said and done? Remember, these are may just be thoughts, yet GOD does even greater than these all the time, everywhere and everyday!
So my friend, no gift is useless or more important than the other. There are gift left not put into scenes in these but I believe you get the point. We should allow ourselves to be used as He wills. Because He manifested like so, the day before or this morning does not mean He will do the same now or in the evening. The goal my friends is to be led.
Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” ESV Bible
The gift of diversity of tongues and the other eight gifts of the Holy Spirit allows for the demonstration of GOD’s power, the authority He has given us over ‘serpents and scorpions – devils and evils”, the ministrations of angels as authorized by GOD through the believer. As we can tell, this is more beneficial to the Church and unbelievers that they may be saved than for personal development.
But the manifestation of any gift of the Spirit helps us believers to strengthen our faith in GOD, increase our dependence on GOD and make us more humble because we can’t do them even if we had wanted to if He hadn’t let us. He glorified Himself through you so that He can glorify you too. Give Him praise for being the GOD of Awesome Wonders.
Make it a goal to improve in praying in the Spirit by the asking the Holy Spirit for help to do so. Also, desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be made manifested through your life too. They are not only for ministerial offices. It is a blessing poured out for all believers. Walk in this light! Don’t forget the goal. JESUS said not just to some but to all; me and you too:
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” GNT Bible
See how much with our hands we have written, be bold!
May His Spirit be with us all,
H.S&P.M