Praying in tongues is one of the most taboo topic in many Christian circles.
Many people have their own opinions on what praying in tongues is. Today, I want to look at one of these common questions – “Why do we need to pray in tongues?” – and see what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit.
Our Text
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:26-28 NKJV
Praying in Tongues is Praying the Perfect Prayer
Many times in life there are situations that we are confronted with that we do not know how to handle. That is one of the best opportunities to pray. James 1:5 says that if we need wisdom to ask God. But there are many times that we don’t know what to pray. If we knew what to pray, we would know how to fix our problems already.
In these times praying in tongues is the only way to pray the perfect prayer.
“For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.“
When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit inside of us is praying, but we have no clue what we are saying.
And some people will ask, “Well isn’t that weird? How can you trust that you are saying the right thing?! You could be saying all sorts of things and not know it!”
Exactly! If I knew how to pray in English, I wouldn’t need to pray in tongues, but I don’t and neither do you.
Praying in Tongues is Praying what God Wants
“27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit is praying the will of God for us. This is important because God will never violate His will. If we pray something against God’s will, you just wasted your time. God will only perform what comes in line with the Bible.
Where do [a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war. [c]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:1-3 NKJV
To pray in tongues is to be able to pray the exact will of God over your situation.
Praying in Tongues allows us to Pray Constantly
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NKJV
Now why would it say that? How in the world are we supposed to pray without stopping?
No one in themselves can pray constantly. Our brains are not wired that way, and when you add on the fact that we have to pray what the Bible, there is no way that anyone could pray all the time and not run out of things to say.
But when we pray in tongues the Bible says our mouths are doing the talking but it’s our spirit praying and not our head.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NKJV
All things work together for Good
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
Many people miss quote this verse because they don’t look at verses 26 and 27. It is only after we have prayed in tongues and prayed out God’s will in our situation that we know all things will work out.
Prayer is Both And
So then should we only pray in tongues? No!
Just as we saw in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15…
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NKJV
Paul is saying here that it is not all or nothing it’s BOTH AND. Pray both in the spirit and in English, and sing both in the spirit and in understanding (which is a whole other topic we will get into sometime).
Read More
This is just one of many posts in our series this month on the Holy Spirit.
If you are enjoying these posts and would like to see more you can check out our Fresh Bread posts page.
I would encourage you if you are looking for more information on the Holy Spirit to check out these pages.
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