This truth study will answer three questions. What is the language of Holy Spirit? How is this language accessed? What are the benefits of this language?
The verse of scripture 1 Corinthians 2:13 introduces the concept of Holy Spirit’s “words” or His “language.” Read this verse from the New Living Translation, the Amplified Classic Translation, and the Amplified Translation.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (NLT)
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (AMPC)
And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].
1 Corinthians 2:13 (AMP)
We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].
In this scripture, the Apostle Paul states that Holy Spirit has a language and there are words that He speaks.
We are also told about Holy Spirit’s language in Acts 2. This passage describes the scene in the upper room when Holy Spirit came to baptize the one hundred twenty disciples waiting as Jesus had instructed before He ascended to heaven. For context, this “baptism with Holy Spirit” as described in Acts 2 was prophesied by John the Baptist in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.
Matthew 3:11 (NLT)
“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luke 3:16 (NLT)
John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John 1:33 (NLT)
I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
In Acts 2 we see that this promised baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire” was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost fifty days after Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus had instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for this gift and it came as they were gathered in the “upper room.” As Holy Spirit fell upon them, He gave them a language.
Acts 2:1-4 (TLB)
1 Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the believers met together that day, 2 suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
In Acts 2:4 the concept of a language or words spoken by Holy Spirit is also presented as “speaking in languages they didn’t know.” It was Holy Spirit “who gave them this ability.”
For more context, it is important to relate the Gospel of Luke with the Book of Acts. The events of Acts 2 follow Luke 24 and Acts 1. The same person, a physician named Luke, wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He authored the books as letters to Theophilus (God-lover) to give a thorough account of Jesus’ ministry. The passages below from the end of the Gospel of Luke and the beginning Book of Acts are the final instructions Jesus gave his followers before His final ascent to heaven as reported in Acts 1. The Book of Acts opens with the words “the first account I made” and is referring to the book of Luke so this information flows from Luke to Acts. Near the end of the Gospel of Luke, in Luke 24:49, Jesus is quoted as saying the following.
Luke 24:49 (NASB 1995)
And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
There was a “promise of the Father” coming that would involve power. Jesus did not want His followers to leave the city of Jerusalem until they were given power from “on high.” This command was repeated in the companion book of Acts, chapter one, verse four.
Acts 1:1-8 (AMP)
1 The first account I made, Theophilus, was [a continuous report] about all the things that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day when He ascended to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given instruction to the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen. 3 To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak. 5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus was insistent that the disciples stay put in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit. He tells them that “power and ability” would come upon them when they were “baptized and empowered and united with Holy Spirit.”
We see in Acts 2:1-4, Holy Spirit falls upon the disciples with tongues of fire in the upper room just as Jesus had promised. This was their “baptism with the Holy Spirt and fire” (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). Upon being baptized with Holy Spirit and fire, as He came upon them in the upper room, each disciple received their own personal prayer language referred to in scripture as “tongues.” Read Acts 2:1-4 in the New American Standard Bible below.
Acts 2:1-4 (NASB 1995)
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
The baptism with Holy Spirit and fire upon the disciples in the upper room was accompanied by Holy Spirit’s language. They “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”
As one of the disciples in the upper room, the Apostle Peter was baptized with Holy Spirit and fire and spoke in tongues. He was completely transformed by this “power” that had been “promised” by Jesus. Peter was the disciple of Jesus that was so fearful of his association with Jesus that he denied he knew Him three times in one evening (Matt. 26:69-75, Luke 22:55-62). In Acts 2, after being baptized with Holy Spirit, he was so emboldened he preached a sermon to thousands of people in Jerusalem fearlessly. Using a passage of scripture from the book of Joel, Peter announced to the crowd that what was happening, this baptizing of the disciples with Holy Spirit, had been prophesied hundreds of years before. Peter had immediately realized that they were living out, in real time, Joel’s prophecy.
Acts 2:14-21 (NASB 1995)
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32. He went on to preach his first gospel message. He preached about how Jesus was delivered up to death by wicked men. He described how God raised Him from the dead and quoted Psalm 16:10 as the Old Testament prophesy of Jesus’ resurrection. After listening to Peter, who was now under a brand-new anointing from Holy Spirit, many people were convicted of sin. In Acts 2:38, 39 the “invitation” was issued for people to repent and be saved.
Acts 2:38, 39 (TLB)
38 And Peter replied, “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit. 39 For Christ promised him to each one of you who has been called by the Lord our God, and to your children and even to those in distant lands!”
Acts 2:38, 39 (NASB 1995)
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Notice Peter gives a three-part salvation experience. Turn from sin and return to God. Be baptized (in water). Receive the gift of Holy Spirit by being baptized with Holy Spirit and fire. Turning from sin and to God results in the new birth and makes the person a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Baptism in water cuts away the old sin nature (Colossians 2:11-13). Holy Spirit baptism turns on the power in your life (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8)
When a believer is baptized with Holy Spirit (or “filled with Holy Spirit”) it is accompanied by the gift of a personal prayer and worship language known as “tongues.” Throughout the book of Acts there are descriptions of people who received Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.
Since Peter received the revelation that our relationship with Jesus starts with a three-part experience, repentance resulting in the new birth, water baptism, and Spirit baptism we can look and see how the early church evangelized, as described in the Book of Acts. After Peter preached his first evangelistic sermon as recorded in Acts 2, many more instances of preaching the gospel are described. In Acts 3, Peter preached in the Temple in Jerusalem after healing a lame man. In Acts 4, Peter preached to the leaders and elders of Israel. In Acts 5, the apostles preached to and healed many people. The gospel of Jesus Christ spread and was preached by the disciples and by many people who shared their new-found faith in Jesus. In Acts 8, there is a report of people who heard the gospel but had not experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirt – they had only been water baptized.
Acts 8:14-17 (NLT)
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The new believers described here had heard the gospel of Jesus and believed, resulting in the new birth. Being “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” refers to their water baptism. These new Christians were not baptized in Holy Spirit until Peter and John laid hands on them and prayed.
In Acts 10, a massive shift takes place in the church. Up until the events of Acts 10, the gospel of Jesus was only preached to Jews. As far as the apostles knew, the gospel was only for Jews. They had no idea that God would grant salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to Gentiles. We will look at the conversion of the first Gentiles to watch Holy Spirit work.
Acts 10 describes a man named Cornelius who was a Roman army officer and a Gentile. He and his family were God-fearing people. One day an angel appeared to Cornelius and told him to send men to a town called Joppa and get the Apostle Peter and bring him back. In the meantime, Peter fell into a trance and saw a huge white sheet coming down from heaven filled with all kinds of animals and creatures. Some were “clean” meaning they were lawful food for Jews. Some of the creatures were “unclean” meaning Jews were forbidden to eat them. A voice spoke to Peter and said, “Get up Peter, kill and eat them!” Peter was horrified and claimed that he had never violated dietary laws and had never eaten anything unclean. The voice said, “…do not call something unclean if God has made it clean (Acts 10:13, NLT).” Peter was shown the vision three times and then the sheet was pulled back up into heaven. Peter was very confused about what the vision meant. About this time, the men sent by Cornelius, showed up looking for Peter. Holy Spirit said to Peter, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them (Acts 10:19b, NLT).” Peter met with the men, and they told him that the Roman officer Cornelius sent them to get Peter because “A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message (Acts 10:22b, NLT).”
Peter went to the home of Cornelius and preached the gospel to these Gentiles. It appeared that God was very eager to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles! He did not even wait for Peter to finish his message before Holy Spirit came upon them as He had fallen on the one hundred twenty people in the upper room and the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 10:44-48 (NLT)
44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
They heard the gospel and believed. Holy Spirit fell upon them with the evidence of speaking in tongues. They were baptized in water (Acts 2:38).
Because Jews were strictly forbidden from associating with Gentiles, Peter needed to see the vision with the sheet of animals. He also had to explain what happened to the other Jewish believers. Acts 11 describes what happened when the other apostles and Jews heard that Peter had preached the gospel to the Gentile Cornelius and his family. These Jewish believers were very angry at Peter and confused as to why he would consort with Gentiles. Peter described his vision of the sheet full of clean and unclean creatures appearing and the voice that told him “…do not call something unclean if God has made it clean (Acts 10:13, NLT).” The passage below is his report of what happened after he preached the Gospel and Cornelius, and his family, believed.
Acts 11:15-18 (NLT)
15 “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. 16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” 18 When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
Peter made it clear that the Gentiles in Cornelius’ home had received the baptism with the Holy Spirit following their belief in Jesus as Savior. The “gift” referenced in verse 17 was the ability to speak with Holy Spirit’s language and use His words. Hearing the new converts speaking in tongues was evidence that they had been baptized in the same Holy Spirit that Peter and the disciples had received in the upper room. The disciples in the upper room and the Gentiles had all experienced the same baptism with Holy Spirit with the same ability to speak with a personal Holy Spirit-given language. The invitation from heaven to every human is three-fold:
Repent, be baptized in water, and be baptized in Holy Spirit with the evidence of a personal prayer language (Acts 2:38).
Another example of believers receiving the baptism with Holy Spirit with evidence of Holy Spirit’s language is found in Acts 19. In this report, the Apostle Paul is ministering in a situation similar to Peter’s experience in Acts 8.
Acts 19:1-7 (NASB 1995)
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.
It appears that these “disciples” described in this passage had heard of their need to repent of sin and had been born again (see Luke 3:3), but their knowledge was incomplete. By their own admission they had not even heard of the existence of Holy Spirit, and they had not had the opportunity to be baptized in water or in Holy Spirit. When these people had the same experience of being filled with (or baptized with) Holy Spirit it was evidenced by their speaking with tongues. They also received an anointing to prophesy.
At this point in this study of Holy Spirit’s language, it is important to distinguish between 1.) your own personal prayer language of tongues and 2.) the spiritual gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul lists twelve spiritual gifts that Holy Spirit bestows on believers so they can bless and benefit the church and the world. Consider the following passage.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NASB 1995)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
The twelve spiritual gifts are granted to a believer as a manifestation of Holt Spirit’s power and presence. They are for the good of the church and for the good of the unbelievers. Holy Spirit distributes these gifts as He wills. It is Holy Spirit’s choice as to who He decides to operate through in any of these spiritual gifts. He can prompt a believer with a “word of knowledge” or “effecting of miracles” or “the distinguishing of spirits” in a church setting, at the grocery store, driving down the road speaking with another person, or a million other times and places. Spiritual gifts are given by Holy Spirit so that the person receiving the gift is blessed, encouraged, healed, receives a miracle, or gets personal confirmation from the heart of God. The study of the twelve spiritual gifts is vast and important for the spiritual growth and development of believers. For this study on Holy Spirit’s language, we make note that two of the twelve spiritual gifts are tongues and interpretation of tongues. It is clear in scripture that the personal prayer language that a believer receives upon baptism in Holy Spirit and the operation of the spiritual gift of tongues with interpretation are not the same manifestation.
When using your own personal prayer language and speaking in tongues, you can worship God and have fellowship with Him. You can have personal communion with the Godhead, ask questions, and receive revelation from Them. You can speak out loud or whisper quietly to yourself and God. You can even sing in tongues. You speak as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4). You are free to speak privately in tongues at any time. Baptism in Holy Spirit empowers you to use the Spirit’s language as you desire.
The spiritual gift of tongues is prompted by Holy Spirit as a manifestation of His presence and revelation usually for another person or group of people. The gift is given by Holy Spirit at a specific time, in a specific place, for a specific purpose. The spiritual gift of tongues must always be accompanied by the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues. When a tongue is given, it is Holy Spirit’s message to a person or group of people with His language. It must then be interpreted into the person’s native language with the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues. Giving a message to someone with the spiritual gift of tongues will not help them unless they understand what is being said in their own spoken language, so the gift of tongues is accompanied by the gift of interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:10).
In the fourteenth chapter of the book of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul goes into depth on the proper use of tongues in your own personal prayer, the use of tongues as a gift of the Holy Spirit in a church or public setting, and the spiritual gift of prophesy. The spiritual gifts of tongues/interpretation of tongues and prophesy are a great advantage to the church. Holy Spirit can speak to a group of people and give wisdom, comfort, exhortation or confirmation. First Corinthians 14 gives instructions on the proper and orderly use of tongues and prophesy.
Bearing in mind that there is the personal prayer language given when a believer is baptized in Holy Spirit and there are also spiritual gifts of tongues/interpretation of tongues and prophecy, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 and differentiate between them in this passage.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For 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. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
In verse 2 we gain more insight into the advantages of speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV)
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Paul is referring to the believer’s personal prayer language. Recall 1 Corinthians 2:13.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (AMP)
We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].
In time alone with our heavenly Father, we pray with spiritual words to express God’s spiritual thoughts. We can commune and fellowship with Him by praying in Holy Spirit’s language (read 1 Cor. 2:1-16). The words that we are speaking that are called “tongues” are sourced from deep within the heart of God and are full of His wisdom and mysteries. Consider the following passage.
1 Corinthians 2:11, 12 (ERV)
11 It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit. 12 We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.
Holy Spirit knows what God the Father is thinking. We have complete access to the thoughts and mysteries in God’s heart as we pray in other tongues. In our own times of Bible study, devotion and worship, using Holy Spirit’s language allows to commune with God intimately.
The third and fourth verses of 1 Corinthians 14 compare tongues and prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:4,5 (NKJV)
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
In a public setting like a church, a home fellowship group, or even while evangelizing at the grocery store, prophecy is a benefit to the people. It provides comfort and it edifies the hearers. However, Paul says that speaking in tongues edifies the believer. You are edified, your spirit, soul and body, by speaking in tongues. The word translated “edifies” is from the Greek “oikodomeo” (Strong’s Concordance G3618). Oikodomeo is a verb that has meanings which include “to build a house,” “to erect a building,” or “to restore by building up, to rebuild or repair.”
By speaking in Holy Spirit’s language – tongues – we literally become Holy Spirit’s building project. He restores us and repairs us as He speaks His words over us. It can’t be overstated how valuable this rebuilding becomes in the believer’s life. When a person is born again the spirit man is recreated and made alive to God by Holy Spirit’s power. Your spirit is perfectly perfect (see 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 4:24) as a born-again Christian. Your spirit can be strengthened, but it has been created alive to God and perfect. However, everyone has had damage done to their soul and many have damage to their bodies. Your soul, which is composed of your mind, will, and emotions, has been battered by living in a fallen world. No one gets a pass. Everyone needs repair to their soul. Spending time with God praying in Holy Spirit’s language (as your own personal prayer language) will restore and repair what life’s difficulties, heartbreaks, and challenges have done to your soul.
Also, many people have some kind of problem with their health. Time spent with Jehovah Rapha (the Lord our Physician, see Truth Study on the Redemptive Names of God) praying in tongues and allowing God’s thoughts and wisdom to come forth to saturate and envelop your body is a very powerful way to access the healing power of God. All believers should spend time every day praying in Holy Spirit’s language for their own soul and body edification.
Returning to 1 Corinthians 14 we pick up in verse 5 and see more comparisons between prophecy and the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:5 (NKJV)
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
The context of this verse is that the “church may receive edification.” What Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:5 is directed at a public gathering. He encouraged the church at Corinth to obey the promptings of Holy Spirit to manifest the gift of tongues. However, they were to make sure when a public tongue was given, someone in the gathering provided the interpretation of Holy Spirit’s words in the common language. Prophecy would be given in the common language, and it is also encouraged as a method of building up the church. It appears that the reference to “he who speaks in tongues” is the public use of the spiritual gift of tongues, not your own personal prayer language because of the context. Paul told the Corinthians that, in a public meeting, if a person speaks in tongues loud enough for the group of people to hear the words, they should provide the interpretation, thus referring to the spiritual gift of tongues the gift of interpretation of tongues. The implication is that, in a public gathering, your own personal prayer language should not be disruptive to the gathering (see 1 Corinthians 14:6-13).
Moving on the 1 Corinthians 14:14-19 we receive more instruction on the use of tongues, specifically the comparison of your spirit versus your mind.
1 Corinthians 14:14 (NKJV)
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Your personal prayer language and the spiritual gift of tongues are functions of Holy Spirit providing His language and words to and through your born-again spirit. Holy Spirit bypasses your brain. Speaking in tongues is a mechanical, physical process of talking just like any other words you speak out of your mouth as you talk. The difference is that your normal speech in your native language is formulated in your mind or understanding. Your conscious mind forms a thought, and your mouth forms the words and releases them into the air around you. When speaking in tongues, your conscious mind does not form the thoughts. The words are sourced from your born-again spirit. Since you do not know what you are about to say, it takes faith to open your mouth and begin to speak in tongues. Occasionally you will have a syllable or maybe a complete word in your mind to begin to speak in tongues but that is not necessary. Once you begin the mechanical process of moving your mouth muscles Holy Spirit fills your mouth with His words. You can start and stop at will. Holy Spirit never just comes upon you and overtakes you and you begin speaking in tongues. It is your choice and your faith that causes His words to be spoken out of your mouth.
Consider verses 15, 16 and 17.
1 Corinthians 14:15-17 (NKJV)
15 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. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
It is appropriate to pray in your spirit by Holy Spirit and it is appropriate to pray with your understanding in your native language. In a group of people, however, you should pray in the native language of those people so they will understand what you are saying and be edified.
Notice Paul encourages believers to sing in the spirit and sing with understanding. We all enjoy singing our praise to God with our understanding. It is a vital way to worship God. However, a Christian can also sing in the Spirit. Singing out the words Holy Spirit provides is a beautiful way to commune with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and worship in spirit (John 4:23). Your devotion to God, as expressed in Holy Spirit’s words, is an excellent way to bring God’s thoughts and wisdom into your worship and fellowship with Him (1 Cor.2:13).
Paul encouraged the Ephesian church to sing out their praise to God.
Ephesians 5:19, 20 (AMP)
19 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
“Spiritual songs” could include Holy Spirit inspired songs in your native language or songs that spring up from your spirit, uttered in tongues. A Christian can begin to sing out their praise and adoration to the Lord in words formed in their minds and run out of words adequate to describe His goodness, His greatness, His beauty. Exchanging the language of your understanding to Holy Spirit’s words allows you to bring forth new songs created with the wisdom and counsel of He provides.
In verses 18 and 19 Paul again compares speaking in tongues to speaking in native languages.
1 Corinthians 14:18, 19 (NKJV)
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
The Apostle Paul apparently spent large amounts of time worshiping and fellowshipping with the Triune God in tongues as his personal prayer language. In his own private time of prayer, Paul used his prayer language. He might have also used the spiritual gifts of tongues/interpretation of tongues in his public meetings. But he made the point, again, that using the native language of the listeners is best in a public setting.
In verse 21, Paul quotes from the book of Isaiah.
1 Corinthians 14:20, 21 (NKJV)
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”says the Lord.
This passage from Isaiah could be what Paul references as “in the law it is written…”
Isaiah 28:11, 12 (NKJV)
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12 To whom He said,
“This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear.
This is likely God’s word through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah concerning the baptism in Holy Spirit for New Testament believers and the accompanying ability to speak in tongues. There are two important things to note. First, speaking in tongues brings about rest and refreshing. Just like 1 Corinthians 14:4 says that we are edified (restored, repaired, rebuilt) by speaking in tongues, God declares tongues an avenue for rest and refreshment. We are three-part beings: spirit, soul, and body. Tongues edifies and refreshes our spirits, our souls, and our bodies. It is important for every believer to spend a period of time (appropriate for you and your responsibilities) praying in your personal prayer language. It is a benefit.
Second, God says, through Isaiah “yet they would not hear.” Sadly, there are those who will not hear the invitation to receive the baptism of Holy Spirit and the ability to speak in other tongues. For whatever reason, they reject this gift.
The rest of 1 Corinthians 14, verses twenty-two through thirty-nine are about doing public church meetings or gatherings in an orderly manner. The Apostle Paul addresses problems in the Corinthian church and explains that God is a God of order and church meetings should not be chaotic and disorganized. Church leaders should teach their congregations how to manifest Holy Spirit’s gifts in a well-organized way. Many churches have excellent protocols in place that allow for spontaneity of manifesting Holy Spirit’s gifts while maintaining order.
As already mentioned, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance has tremendous benefits for believers. The language of the Spirit is individualized and unique to each believer. It is truly a personal prayer and worship language between the Christian and the Godhead. We will look at more benefits of speaking in tongues.
Jude 1:20 (NASB 1995)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 1:20 (AMP)
But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit,
While Paul states the benefits of restoration and refreshment of spirit, soul, and body, the Apostle Jude states that as we pray in the Spirit we build up our faith. We make progress and “rise like an edifice” as we spend time praying in tongues. Praying and singing in tongues are faith-builders. God, in His infinite kindness and generosity, has provided a powerful tool for us to build and rebuild our faith. Any mountain we meet that challenges our faith should be met with time spent praying in tongues.
Recall from 1 Corinthians 2 that Holy Spirit knows the mind of God. He literally knows God’s thoughts and can pray them through us. Paul gave the church at Rome the same information.
Romans 8:26-27 (EASY)
26 God’s Spirit also helps us to do this. Because we are weak, we do not know how we ought to pray. But God’s Spirit himself prays for us. He cries to God on our behalf in a way that nobody could say with words. 27 God sees deep inside us, and he knows our thoughts. He understands what is in the mind of his Spirit. When the Holy Spirit prays on behalf of God’s people, he prays as God wants him to pray.
Romans 8:26-27 (NASB 1995)
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 (AMPC)
26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. 27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.
Theologian P.C. Nelson (1868-1942) suggested that the phrase translated “unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance” can also be can have the implication “groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate speech” leading to the idea that “groanings” can be likened to tongues.1 Paul says that Holy Spirit will search the hearts the those praying and, since He knows His own mind and intentions, will pray according to the will of God.
One way to look at these verses is to see the Christian as unsure of what or how to pray about a given situation. This is very common as we often do not know how to pray about a situation, especially as it concerns other people. The Christian prays over the situation in their own personal prayer language of tongues, not in their understanding (which is inadequate). Holy Spirit comes to help by considering the person’s heart in this request and prays with His own knowledge. His knowledge naturally contains the mind and the will of God. His prayers, in His language, agree with the best possible outcome for the situation as His language reflects God’s will. All the resources available to the Godhead can be brought to bear in the situation. There is unlimited power and knowledge in praying in other tongues. All the mighty works of God, all the supernatural and miraculous deeds of a loving and faithful God can be made manifest in the situation.
This is exactly what Paul said 1 Corinthians 2.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 (NLT)
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
Consider verse 10 from the Amplified Classic Bible Version.
1 Corinthians 2:10 (AMPC)
Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].
Holy Spirit sounds out the bottomless wisdom of God and uses His language to pray for us with the will of God as His objective. We can effectively pray about even the most complex, convoluted, difficult problems by using our personal prayer language. Holy Spirit might bring a person to mind and we do not know where they are and what they are doing but we can pray for them according to God’s will at that moment. It would be hard to exaggerate the value of this kind of prayer.
In summary, Holy Spirit has a language that is often referred to in the New Testament as tongues. The use of this language is given to the born-again believer when they are baptized with Holy Spirit and fire. This language is subject to the believer’s free choice. By faith, the believer opens his or her mouth and begins to speak and Holy Spirit fills their mouth with His words. Speaking in other tongues can manifest as a personal prayer language or as a spiritual gift given at the discretion of Holy Spirit. As a spiritual gift, the message in tongues should be accompanied by the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues.
The benefits of speaking in tongues include:
- personal worship (1 Cor. 14:2, John 4:24, Acts 10:46),
- being edified, built up, restored, repaired (1 Cor. 14:4)
- increasing your faith (Jude 1:20)
- experiencing rest and refreshment (Is. 28:11,12)
- praying over a situation with the mind and heart of God, praying past your own understanding (1 Cor. 2:10-13, Rom 8:26,27)
If you are like the believers described in Acts 8 or Acts 19, having believed but not yet baptized with Holy Spirit, you can ask your Heavenly Father to baptize you with Holy Spirit right now. Jesus reassures us that God is good and will not give you something that you should not have.
Luke 11:11-13 (NLT)
11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
To be baptized with Holy Spirit you can pray the following:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Holy Spirit as Your promise and Your power. I ask that Jesus, the One Who baptizes with Holy Spirit, would baptize me with Holy Spirit now. By faith, I receive this baptism with its power and the personal prayer language of tongues. Thank you for this great blessing and privilege.
As Holy Spirit prompts you, open your mouth and let Him fill it with His words. By faith, begin to speak and enjoy the benefits of Holy Spirit’s language.
Notes:
1 Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room, Kenneth E. Hagin, Faith Library Publications, 2007, p.177.