A Heavenly Language
I was driving to an appointment and I remembered a situation that I was in a few weeks back. I remembered that I didn’t care so much for the atmosphere because of the type of speech the people were engaged in. It was pity and victimization talk and it just rubbed me the wrong way; I knew I couldn’t stay there long.
Recently, I began to ponder why I disliked that atmosphere so much and the Holy Spirit said to me, “it was because of the language they were speaking. The Holy Spirit went on to say:
"You will never rise higher than your language; that’s why I came and I gave you a heavenly language!!”
Victims and defeated people have a language. However, the sons of God have a language, we have a dialect too.
In Acts 2, we have the first occurrence of believers speaking in unknown tongues.
A sound came from heaven than filled the house
There appeared to them divided tongues as of fire that sat upon each one.
They were filled with the Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit empowered them to speak.
The Result:
Peter’s boldness before those who crucified Jesus.
3,000 were baptized and added to the church.
3 Kinds of Tongues
1 Corinthians 12:10 says, “Different kinds of tongues.” And 1 Corinthians 14 outlines the appropriate usage and expression of those tongues.
1. Sign to the unbeliever. In Acts 2, the people in Jerusalem did not believe.
2. Tongues in an assembly to be interpreted
3. Tongues for personal edification
The apostles talked about praying in the Spirit i.e. different kinds of tongues.
Jude said to pray in the Holy Spirit
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [[a]make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;” Jude 1:20 AMP
Rise, higher and higher, your language takes you above, takes you higher.
Paul said to pray with supplication in the Spirit
"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--" - Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
In James 3:4-5, the same way a rudder steers a ship, the tongue though small, can steer our bodies and even our lives.
When the Holy Spirit came upon people they spoke in tongues [unknown, other, different tongues] and prophesied.
Acts 19:6
"And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied." - Acts 19:6 NKJV
Acts 10:44-46
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word." - Acts 10:44 NKJV
"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." - Acts 10:45 NKJV
"For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered," - Acts 10:46 NKJV
Tongues for personal edification
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 NKJV - "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church."
1 Corinthians 14:14 NKJV - "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful."
1 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV - "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;"
Signs will follow those who believe
""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
""they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."" - Mark 16:18 NKJV
I know tongues are for today because it is written in the Word.