Just as God gave you natural abilities, He can also give you supernatural ones. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to…speak in unknown languages” (1 Corinthians 12:7-8,10 NLT).
There are some truths in the Bible that generate much division among God’s children, and speaking in tongues is certainly one of them. It doesn’t need to be this way. The Lord desires unity in the faith, and it is up to us to strive for it.
The Spirit seeks unity, whereas the flesh seeks position. We should be “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NKJV).
Sometimes I hear the intellectual interpretation of this gift as being the ability to speak in a foreign language you do not know. But if it were simply a foreign language, why would we need the Holy Spirit to interpret what is being said?
Natural intellectual men must replace every spiritual truth with a false natural explanation, such that they can remain comfortable in their unspiritual self while trying to hold onto their fleshly pride that is in such a fragile state of being hurt by the Spirit of God.
Spiritual discernment doesn’t come by the natural reasoning of man but by the Spirit of God. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).
A spiritual gift has a spiritual source, and the gift of unknown languages is born out of the words spoken by the angels in heaven. These are heavenly languages that are not known here on earth and are given by the Holy Spirit to those here on earth as He chooses.
Spiritual gifts are not for you, but to be through you. “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV).
The heavenly languages can only be translated for us by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who will give some the ability to speak in the languages of angels and to others the ability to translate what is being said.
Be careful that you don’t only read and embrace that part of the Word that agrees with your natural premises. Too often, the limit of our belief is the limit of what we have experienced. Don’t allow the limits of your mind to hold you back from all that God wants to show you.
How much Scripture must you exclude so that your faith would not be troubled? The Lord Jesus prophesied, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17 NKJV).
Many churches will not teach on heavenly languages and are against anyone who would do so. Yet the Bible mentions these supernatural languages several times, and if God allowed this teaching in His Word, then we should be willing to try to understand it.
The sign of receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit is to speak in tongues. But this does not mean that the Holy Spirit will give you the ongoing spiritual gift of speaking in tongues as your dominant gift. He gives you what you need and when you need it.
There are some things that only the Holy Spirit can do in our lives.
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 NKJV).
“The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues…” (Acts 10:45-46 NKJV).
“When Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues…” (Acts 19:6 NKJV).
We need to be careful that we don’t try to force a spiritual gift onto another, nor make them feel incomplete because God has not yet given a language to them. None of us understands God in His entirety, so show grace to those whose experience is different from your own.
Love people just as they are, more than trying to change them to be like yourself. ”I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell” (1 Corinthians 13:1 GNT).
If someone desires to speak in a heavenly language, then pray with them and encourage them to draw closer to God. If someone does not want to speak in unknown languages or is still unsure of what it means, then give them space and pray for them.
There are some who will speak in tongues that they might be seen by others as having a higher form of spirituality. The proof of something not being from God is when you’re trying to bring glory to yourself. Be humble in whatever gift God might give you.
Not every gift is a guarantee, but it is only given as the Lord deems necessary. “…Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!” (1 Corinthians 12:30 NLT).
It is a most wonderful gift when the Holy Spirit would pour through you a heavenly language in which you can speak your heart to God with words only known in heaven. When done in humble reverence, your heavenly language will be pleasing to God and enriching for your ministry.
Some things should only be between you and God. “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. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Corinthians 14:2,4 NKJV).
Never worry if the heavenly language you speak sounds different from what you hear through other people. Be sure in your heart that it is from God, pleasing to God, and something which brings you ever closer to Him.
Your heavenly language is as unique as you are. “And God has appointed these in the church: …varieties of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV).
When you are with others who also share in this gift, it can be uplifting and fill the room with the Holy Spirit as you all speak together in your spiritual languages. I have seen blessed miracles take place when it is done in reverence to God.
Most Churches forbid anyone from speaking in tongues during the service. They use a verse that says not to do it without interpretation. That applies if the tongues are being used to convey a message, in which case it says to have an interpreter. Otherwise, the message should be spoken in words people understand. But this does not mean we can never speak in a tongue inside the church, only not as the primary way we give a message.
Stop using earthly measures when you’re trying to reach heavenly goals. “So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God’s message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39 GNT).
I remember being in a prayer room at a Chinese church, and a lady I knew was there who only spoke Chinese. But we could pray together in our heavenly language, and we could bond in the Spirit as we did so. This same church kicked us out for speaking in tongues. In a way, they kicked the Holy Spirit out of their church.
We don’t want to extinguish the flame that flows from heavenly languages that we should be able to speak in church. If you prevent spiritual gifts, then how can they help the church? There is a supernatural power that flows from heavenly languages.
It is the interpretation given from hell to the natural intellectuals and religious spirits in the church that tries to prevent the languages from heaven from being allowed into the halls of our churches. Don’t organize the Holy Spirit out of your church; welcome Him.
Sometimes we will think it is best not to speak in our heavenly language so we don’t create division or confuse those who do not yet understand. That was not the message that Paul spoke in the Word of God. Stand on the Word and let people know that you do.
Paul wrote: “…do not forbid to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39 NKJV). It is to be done in order, with interpretation if it is meant to be a message for others. But don’t take guardrails and turn them into stop signs, and expand them such that you extinguish the flame of the Holy Spirit.
If you don’t speak in a heavenly language now, I pray that someday you will. But more important than that is my desire that you would speak to God in the earthly language that you do know. Get close to God, for that is the best thing you can ever do.
The greatest miracle of God is not what He can do around you but what He can do within you. If you dare to let Him, pray that He would change you. “God, please make my heart new and clean. And make my spirit strong and true, deep inside me” (Psalm 51:10 EASY).
I do hope that you would be willing to be teachable so that God can teach you spiritual truths. Don’t allow your natural understanding to be the hindrance of the spiritual understanding that the Holy Spirit is trying to teach you.
You can never understand a spiritual truth with natural reasoning because you’re operating in the wrong realm. “And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom but with words taught us by the Spirit. And so we explain spiritual truths to spiritual people” (1 Corinthians 2:13 NCV).
May you be filled with grace so that you will show more grace. Let love be your response to anything, and it will be there that God is reigning within you, for God is love. May you be filled with spiritual enlightenment that opens your eyes to spiritual truth.
Just as you cannot read words in a dark room, so your spirit cannot understand Scripture apart from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised us, “The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things” (John 14:26 NASB).
Blessings to you always,
Paul Balius
If you can, watch this excellent video. It is an important message for our day.
Died & What Jesus Revealed About Speaking in Tongues Will Shock You – Dr David Yonggi Cho https://youtu.be/_-ukiavp2GA?si=bI0YXXYLaiZ6G8SA
Recently, I was sent into a very remote and isolated country (due to persecution, I cannot name it), and after many hours of travel, we came to a village where approximately 70% had received salvation. A large number of them were able to speak in tongues. It made me cognizant of how many in our land refuse the precious gifts of the Spirit.
Blessings
BT
BT, this is exactly the kind of revival needed in our countries, in this day, in our time. We need to be set free from the bondage of the religions of entertainment and intellectualism, and set free in the freedom of the Spirit of God welcomed into the churches and the meeting halls where He is so desperately need. God bless you and protect you in all your service for the kingdom of God.
Grateful to the merciful One Three Person God of all grace and all glory I am that fifty years ago I began speaking in tongues as described in 1 Corinthians 14. Neglecting or rejecting this supernatural ability, I want to emphasize greatly grieves the Spirit of holiness and intercession.
Praising/praying/prophesying/singing in supernatural, unlearned language for which the Holy Spirit directly, entirely bypassing the natural mind, and all self striving in doing so, gives fluently the utterance, is as per the perfect purpose and passionate pleasure of the One Beautiful Triune God. The Holy Spirit prays through the believer’s spirit the perfect, wondrous, omniscient will and prescient ways of the heart and mind of the Father and the Son with heavenly precision and prepotent, prevailing power. I do not believe even a single syllable is wasted or in vain.
Some verses in 1 Corinthians 14 which specially stand out to me are:
1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.
2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
4 He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself
5 Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues
14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the]Holy Spirit within me] prays
15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.
17 To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly)
18 I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together
Here are two video teachings from Dr. David Yonggi Cho and Rick Renner I highly recommend:
I Died & What Jesus Revealed About Speaking in Tongues Will Shock You
https://youtu.be/_-ukiavp2GA?si=JAkzqtvNGNAQrm1Q
Speaking in Tongues Explained: How it Changes Everything
https://youtu.be/UZh2wF4TOs8?si=nzxc3UAw1BKjJhfi
Thank you very much beloved brother Paul for another thoughtful, truthful teaching.
Thank you so much my brother. I especially loved what you wrote here, regarding speaking in this blessed language poured into us from heaven, “I do not believe even a single syllable is wasted or in vain.” I think we underestimate the power of the Words that flow from heaven. In a single word the Lord created all of the galaxies, if only we knew what He was doing when He speaks through us.
The baptism of (immersion in, infilling to overflowing with, setting ablaze by) the Holy Spirit is a transforming baptism of love because God is Himself love (1 John 8, 16, 1 Corinthians 13) that you may be filled and flooded with the fullness of God, Himself.
Ephesians 3:16-19 AMP
16 May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].
20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Scripture is luminously clear that our lives should be one of ever increasingly intimate, abiding love communion with the One Three Person God of all grace and all glory, thus giving us us to be continually filled with Himself. The initial experience of being filled with the Spirit of holiness and intercession was never meant to be a one-time occurrence. Instead, His lovingly affectionate heart of wisdom and transforming truth for us is that we continually, ceaselessly walk with the Lord, ever filled with His inimitable Spirit, in Whom we live and move and have our being.
So well written and truthful. Yes it’s all about His love, in us and through us.
Thank you!
There is so much truth wrapped up in your words that “God is love.” And because He is love, if He is in us and through us, there will be love in us and through us. The measure of God in us is love through us. May He continue to richly bless you with wisdom and love. Blessings always, Paul
Paul, I absolutely delight in the purity and simplicity of your comment here which is such strength and power extolling God Who Is Love. I thank our loving, liberating God for you, my dear friend!
Thank you my friend! I am so blessed by all the encouragement you given to me over the years. May God richly bless you for all you do!
WOW! Your words from on high, from the treasury of heaven, from the King of kindness, “The measure of God in us is love through us.” just so very deeply impresses the core of my being. I’ve this moment shared this exact expression word for word online, crediting you, your availability to the Spirit, and linking your page. Paul, beautiful, brother, burning blessings of Jesus’ boundless beauty in your being and intimate blessings of loving affection from His holy heart as Lord of history and King of heaven
I really like what you wrote, which was our availability to the Holy Spirit. I think you’re so right, that the Holy Spirit has so much for us, to give to us, to pour it into us, to pour out through us, and all he’s waiting for is that we will be available to Him, that he could use us. Take a look at my web page and the link to my books, if you’d ever like one let me know and I’d be glad to send one to you. It would be a great blessing to me, God bless you always, Paul
Grateful to the merciful One Three Person God of all grace and all glory I am that fifty years ago I began speaking in tongues as described in 1 Corinthians 14. Neglecting or rejecting this supernatural ability, I want to emphasize greatly grieves the Spirit of holiness and intercession.
Praising/praying/prophesying/singing in supernatural, unlearned language for which the Holy Spirit directly, entirely bypassing the natural mind, and all self striving in doing so, gives fluently the utterance, is as per the perfect purpose and passionate pleasure of the One Beautiful Triune God. The Holy Spirit prays through the believer’s spirit the perfect, wondrous, omniscient will and prescient ways of the heart and mind of the Father and the Son with heavenly precision and prepotent, prevailing power. I do not believe even a single syllable is wasted or in vain.
Some verses in 1 Corinthians 14 which specially stand out to me are:
1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.
2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
4 He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself
5 Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues
14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the]Holy Spirit within me] prays
15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.
17 To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly)
18 I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together
Here are two video teachings from Dr. David Yonggi Cho and Rick Renner I highly recommend:
I Died & What Jesus Revealed About Speaking in Tongues Will Shock You
https://youtu.be/_-ukiavp2GA?si=JAkzqtvNGNAQrm1Q
Speaking in Tongues Explained: How it Changes Everything
https://youtu.be/UZh2wF4TOs8?si=nzxc3UAw1BKjJhfi
Thank you very much beloved brother Paul for another thoughtful, truthful teaching.
Thank you so much my brother. I especially loved what you wrote here, regarding speaking in this blessed language poured into us from heaven, “I do not believe even a single syllable is wasted or in vain.” I think we underestimate the power of the Words that flow from heaven. In a single word the Lord created all of the galaxies, if only we knew what He was doing when He speaks through us.
Regarding speaking in unknown languages. My experience is that of the Holy Spirit flowing through a vessel. He the Holy Spirit is not impressed by titles, degrees, talents, positions, and certainly not by a proud vessel. Humility and the earnest desire to bring glory to His name, yes then if He chooses to come in power we are most blessed. 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives especially the ability to prophesy. Yes the subject is speaking in unknown languages, so what does that have to do with prophecy? Personally as well as corporately and thus far without exception my experience has been that of at times intense speaking in unknown languages (tongues) is followed by a very anointed translation that virtually electrifies the atmosphere and always brings glory to God. As wonderful as these experiences are, the real life changing experiences are that of loving God as David writes in Psalm 63. That is the abundant life that will include spiritual gifts in every dimension.
Thank you for your wonderful words here, Roger. I was so privileged to add this to another blog. You’re a blessing to the kingdom and especially a blessing to me!