The Blessings Of Speaking In Tongues

Introduction:

A few months ago, I read an article on a website of The Guardian, a British daily newspaper.

The article mentions that the chief leader of the Church of England (which has about 85 million members), Justin Welby, speaks in tongues every day as part of his 5 am prayer.

When I read that article, I was personally challenged because even after experiencing the baptism of the Spirit several years ago, I would go several days without speaking in tongues.

Now there is a lot of confusion about tongues among non-Pentecostals and even some Pentecostals.

Some receive the baptism of the Spirit with the physical evidence of speaking in tongues, but it becomes a one-time experience for them.

Probably some think that the experience of speaking in tongues cannot be repeated.

Or some may believe that since such experience is supernatural, repeated occurrences may make it trivial.

Some tarry and pray for a long time before they received the experience of speaking in tongues and hence, they don’t want to go through the intense period of waiting and seeking God all over again.

But if we fail to seek the baptism in the Spirit and the habit of speaking in tongues, we miss out on a lot of glorious blessings.

Let’s see as to how tongues can be a blessing in our spiritual lives.

Would you take God’s Word and turn your Bibles with me to 1 Corinthians 14:13-19?

I have entitled today’s sermon as: “The Blessings of Speaking in Tongues.”

I have taken the material for this sermon from the eighth chapter of Robert W. Graves’ book, Praying in the Spirit.

In today’s passage, we see that:

Central Proposition of the Text: Apostle Paul gives a few instructions about speaking in tongues.

Here, Apostle Paul says that he prays with his mind as well as his spirit.

This text reveals that speaking in tongues is not a one-time experience for Paul.

Rather, Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthians.

Since Paul didn’t always speak in tongues in an assembly, he probably spoke in tongues during his private time of prayer.

Fallen Condition Focus: Already dealt with.

The Purpose Bridge: To encourage the members of EAGC to be filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues regularly.

Central Proposition of the Sermon: Be filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues to receive tremendous spiritual blessings.

This passage shows that Paul spoke in tongues in three ways, praying (proseuchomai; verse 14), praising (eulogeo; verse 16), and thanksgiving (eucharistia; verse 16).

According to Paul, we can speak in tongues as we pray to God, praise him, and give thanks to him.

By examining Paul’s use of the above Greek words in other parts of the Scripture, we can learn how speaking in tongues can be a blessing in our spiritual lives.

We can talk about several ways that we can use our prayer language, but in this sermon, I will share 7 ways speaking in tongues can be a blessing in our spiritual lives.

I. WE CAN USE TONGUES DURING PRIVATE PRAYER.

1 Corinthians 14:14: For if I pray (proseuchomai) in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

Matthew 6:6: But when you pray (proseuchomai), go into your room and shut the door and pray (proseuchomai) to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The same Greek word is used for ‘pray’ in 1 Corinthians 14:14 and Matthew 6:6 (also see Mark 1:35; Luke 9:18; Acts 10:9).

Since the same Greek word is used in Acts 12:12 and Acts 21:5-6 in the context of corporate prayer, some Pentecostal scholars argue that we can pray in tongues corporately as well.

So, praying in tongues can be useful in your personal prayer time.

II. WE CAN USE TONGUES TO PRAY FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF OTHERS.

1 Corinthians 14:14: For if I pray (proseuchomai) in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

Philippians 1:9: And it is my prayer (proseuchomai) that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.

We can use tongues to pray for others.

When you pray for the spiritual welfare of your family members, relatives, friends, and church members, we can pray in tongues.

So, we can speak in tongues when we intercede for the spiritual well-being of other Christians.

III. WE CAN USE TONGUES TO THANK GOD FOR OTHERS.

1 Corinthians 14:16: Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving (eucharistia) when he does not know what you are saying?

Philippians 1:3: I thank (eucharisto) my God in all my remembrance of you.

1 Thessalonians 3:9: For what thanksgiving (eucharistian) can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God.