FIRST REASON WE MUST SPEAK IN TONGUES

When you pray in tongues, you're talking to God; you're not talking to man.

Tongues is not a language that is understood by man unless there is the gift of interpretation. However, it is not a language spoken to man; it is a language spoken to God.

1 Corinthians 14:2 says:

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

So when we pray in tongues, it is your spirit communicating with God. It is your spirit talking directly with God.

Tongues is spirit-to-Spirit communication. It is a direct conversation and dialogue between your spirit and God. The human mind is not involved, and humanity is not involved in that conversation.

1 Corinthians 14:14 says:

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful."

Praise God!

So when you want to communicate with God, pray in tongues.

Now, what about English?

Notice what the Bible says. Prophecy is directed to people because people can understand prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:3 says:

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

The reason people understand prophecy is that it is divine utterance communicated in a language people can understand.

When we speak in tongues, we speak to God.

When we prophesy, we speak to men.

So, when you want to speak to God, you speak in a language that humanity does not understand but that God understands. When you want to speak to people, you speak in a language they can understand.

The gift of speaking in tongues has been given to you so that you can communicate with God. It is your spirit communicating, having fellowship, dialogue, and conversation with God.

Hallelujah!

This is very, very important.

Now, what is the effect of praying in tongues?

The Bible says that the one who speaks in tongues edifies himself.

1 Corinthians 14:4 says:

"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."

Now, what does it mean to be edified?

When we pray in tongues, what happens as we communicate with God?

Some people say edification means charging yourself like a battery. But I don't believe that is what the Bible is teaching.

The believer does not need to be charged because the believer is not like a battery that goes low and then becomes full again.

The Bible says we are complete in Christ.

Colossians 2:10 says:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power."

The Bible also says that we have received His fullness.

John 1:16 says:

"And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."

So the believer is complete and has received the fullness of Christ. Therefore, the believer is not a battery that goes on and off or becomes spiritually empty.

Hallelujah!

The believer is always full of God.

So, as we pray in tongues, we edify ourselves. As we communicate with God in tongues, our mind is filled with the power and life of God, and our minds are increasingly occupied with the life and realities of God.

As we continue communicating with God through the Spirit, our minds become saturated with the things of the Spirit.

Praise God!