The Value of Prayer in Tongues
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. (1 Corinthians 14:18)
I. THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
A. The gift of tongues is not the same thing as praying in tongues, also called praying in the Spirit.
1. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, the gift of tongues is described as the supernatural ability to speak in other languages
(Acts 2:6-8), or an unknown tongue in a corporate setting. These utterances are to be accompanied by an interpretation.
2. In 1 Corinthians 14, it is clear that all can speak in tongues – a devotional prayer language in which we speak not
to men, but to God. This is because the language cannot be understood by man. When a man speaks in tongues, he
speaks mysteries in his spirit.
B. Paul spoke in tongues more than all, and thanked God for it. Paul speaks of unceasing prayer several times in his
epistles. Here Paul gives us a profound glimpse into his secret devotional life with God. Speaking in tongues was a large
part of Paul’s unceasing life of prayer. He is speaking of the regular daily life of the believer in the Spirit. We are called to
pray in the Spirit all the time, whatever situation we are in.
II. THE SPIRIT THAT SEARCHES THE DEPTHS OF GOD
A. God has placed His Spirit within everyone who has been born again. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, we have the power
of an indestructible life within us. Jesus defined the role of the Holy Spirit within us as leading us into the knowledge of
God and the revelation of Jesus.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority,
but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)
B. The Spirit is hearing things all the time – the deep things of God, the mysteries of His heart.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things,
yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even
so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)
1. The Spirit is constantly searching the depths of God, discerning what the Father is feeling and thinking. The Holy
Spirit is searching and seeing and hearing, and will gladly reveal His findings to those who will engage Him. Praying in
tongues is a powerful and practical way to engage with the Holy Spirit unto knowing more of the heart of God.
2. Mysteries are not hidden to be hidden; they are hidden for the purpose of being known.
As we pray in tongues and read the Word of God:
a. We understand more of what God’s heart is like.
b. The spirit of revelation touches us and we know more of our identity. We know more of what we look like to God as sons
of God, as the Bride of Christ, as the family of God, as the temple of the Holy Spirit, etc.
c. We know what God is doing in the earth. We understand His prophetic purposes. Sometimes God will speak a
sentence, phrase, word picture, or a question. God does not as a question because He needs the answer. A question
is an invitation. Sometimes, as with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, a question is an invitation into the realm of the prophetic and
supernatural.
3. These deep mysteries have been prepared by God for those who love Him. This is one of the express reasons
God has given us His Spirit - so that we might know these deep mysteries that are freely given to us by God.
4. The things that have been given to us. This is written in the past tense because the Holy Spirit has already been
deposited into our spirit at the new birth. The invitation then, is to find out or know those things that have been freely
given to us by God.
III. PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT WITH FOCUS
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
A. While praying in your devotional prayer language, it is important to put your attention on God. For example: focus on
Him as the indwelling Holy Spirit, or as the Father upon the throne.
B. Some Eastern religions believe that we are all gods, and talk to their own spirits. When we pray in the Spirit, we
want to pray to a Person – the Holy Spirit, the uncreated God.