At the end of the day, as with any other truth from God, there is an element of faith involved.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Always remember, any spiritual reality related to God has to be supported by God's Word.
1 Corinthians 14 reminds us, God is not the author of confusion, but brings us into harmony.
Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.
The primary purposes of a spiritual language are:
1. Personal praise and worship.
2. Self-edification. (Jude 20, Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.)
3. Praying out divine secrets.
4. Public exhortation.
1 Corinthians 14:32 (NIV)The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Here's the thing, after God introduces this spiritual reality, there's not one scripture suggestion it was only for a season, or that it wasn't to continue until He returns for His church.
What about "tongues will cease?"
1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NLT)Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child.
But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Paul's point in bringing up these spiritual benefits, and notice he didn't even mention all of them, are to remind us that they are temporary in comparison to love which is eternal.
As we said last week, according to the Bible, spiritual language is just as scriptural as the new birth, heaven, grace...
Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) 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.
1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (NKJV)He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (NKJV)For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.
Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.Let me also add this; spiritual language is not an escape from reality, or some self-induced state of mind.It is 100% spiritual, and completely scriptural.
1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 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.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue is speaking to God. Speaking mysteries by the Spirit.
So when I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
Acts 2:4,6-8,11 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
Peters first sermon was to a group of confused people who just witnessed spiritual language. And the first thing he does is take them back to the Word.
Always remember, any spiritual reality will always be proven through God's Word.
Now 10 years after Acts 2
Acts 9:17-18 (NKJV) And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
20 years laterActs 19:1-6(NKJV)And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them,“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
It's interesting that after God introduced spiritual language it continued throughout the entire book of Acts.
What we have to keep in mind is that God is progressive in His revelation of Himself to His followers.
Understand this, spiritual language is voluntary participation with the Holy Spirit.Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers.
There's so much confusion and reluctancy about spiritual language; one because we neglect to discus it as Christians.
Two, because we neglect to practice it once we've been privileged to take part in it.
1 Corinthians 14:10 (NIV) Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
Currently there are over 6000 known languages in the earth, not to mention, "tongues of angels"
So, to judge someone else's faith life solely on religious opinion and tradition is nothing more than prideful ignorance.
Not to mention the blatant disregard for love.
At the end of the day, spiritual language is simply another dimension of communion between God and His creation.
Let me encourage you with this, that by faith, even starting with a few syllables, with a right heart, will produce results.
Any Christian that will take the time to allow God's Word to shape their thinking can enjoy their Heavenly language.
Psalm 119:130 (AMP) The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple.
Put into practice saying, "in Jesus name" I speak these words in my spiritual language.The Holy Spirit doesn't speak through you. You speak, inspired.
1 Corinthians 14:14 (NLT)For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying
But for the sceptic, even if you refuse to put away the religious unbelief; listens to Paul's words in 14:39, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.