In this article, I will discuss what God says about speaking in tongues. We know that speaking in tongues is a gift from God and it is obvious that God has something to say about it.
The obvious place to find out what God has to say about speaking in tongues is in His word. There are a number of scriptures that talk about speaking in tongues. I will not quote them as I have written about them already.
To know what God says about speaking in tongues, I will draw three important concepts that God reveals to us from scriptures that talk about speaking in tongues.
With these three concepts, you will understand the will of God concerning speaking in tongues.
What does God say about Speaking in Tongues? Concepts
1. Speaking in Tongues is God’s Gift
The first concept that God reveals to us about speaking in tongues is the fact that it is His gift. First, the Bible lists speaking in tongues among the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We know that the Holy Spirit Himself is a gift to us. He is a gift because we neither deserved Him nor asked for Him. God out of His love for us sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in our relationship with Him.
When the Holy Spirit came, He came with gifts which help us in our relationship with God. Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts and it specifically helps us in communicating with God, angels and one another.
Before the coming of the gift of speaking in tongues, we were bound to communicate with God with our understanding which is limited when compared to God’s infinite magnificence.
Speaking in tongues was God’s gift to us to enable us to communicate with Him at His level. When we speak in tongues, the Spirit of God formulates the words that we speak to God. Our work is to utter the words.
While in some cases we don’t understand what we are saying, God has provided the gift of interpreting tongues that enables us to understand what we are saying.
The important point that God wants us to learn is that He loves us and out of His great love for us, He has given us the gift of speaking in tongues.
The gift of speaking in tongues is God’s way of showing He is interested in communicating with us. The least we can do is accept His invitation.
2. Speaking in Tongues is God’s Wisdom
The Bible tells us that our God is the only wise God. We understand that every gift that God gives is given in wisdom. Speaking in tongues is no exception.
God wants us to understand that speaking in tongues is the manifestation of His wisdom.
Communication is challenging; there are many languages, many ranks, many expressions etc. The languages we speak show their limitations in extreme circumstances. Sometimes we experience emotions that no words can describe.
Our languages are also limited in showing the magnitude of emotions. At the same time, not everyone knows every language which means a lot of translation has to be done.
When we need to keep a secret in communication, it is a challenge to encode and decode messages.
God too faced these challenges when He was formulating a language to be used in His kingdom. But because He is infinitely wise, He created a perfect language which we call speaking in tongues.
Unlike our earthly languages, speaking in tongues is perfect in every way; it reflects the wisdom of God.
Not only did God intend to make communication effortless in His kingdom but He also wanted to showcase how wise He is for coming up with a perfect language.
Encoding messages, expressing the magnitude of emotions, communicating to different created beings was all integrated into one language which we call speaking in tongues.
Speaking in tongues is one language but it serves all communication purposes in the Kingdom of God.
God wants us to know that speaking in tongues is the dimension of wisdom in communication; it can’t get better than that.
3. Speaking in Tongues is God’s Mystery
We know that God is mysterious. Because speaking in tongues is a gift from Him, it carries His nature. Just like God, speaking in tongues is mysterious.
To this day, we don’t really know the structure of speaking in tongues. Sometimes it resembles earthly languages but other times it has no structure.
Sometimes we can get its interpretation but other times it is a complete mystery. To some it is a pure heavenly language and to others it is utter gibberish.
Some utter syllables when speaking in tongues but others groan.
The conflicting nature of speaking in tongues makes it impossible to understand it. In the same manner, God is mysterious.
Sometimes we know Him as a merciful Father but other times He is a merciless judge. He is the lion but also the lamb. He is the first but also the last.
His conflicting nature is not actually conflicting but complementary. To us it may appear as conflicting but it is actually complementary.
God manifested the same mystery through the gift of speaking in tongues. The controversy about speaking in tongues is endless. Right from the first day that tongues were spoken, they have never been free from controversy.
As His children, God wants us to know that we can never fully comprehend speaking in tongues. This teaches us to humble ourselves even as we practice the gift of speaking in tongues.
God wants us to speak in tongues with open hearts knowing that He alone knows what exactly speaking in tongues is.
Whoever tries to understand speaking in tongues will only end up more confused and will never get the benefits of the gift.
What does God say about Speaking in Tongues? Conclusion
God wants us to know that speaking in tongues is an extension of Him. Every aspect of His is reflected in the gift of speaking in tongues.
Once we understand that speaking in tongues is an extension of the character of God, we will appreciate rightly the power that the gift carries.
God has given the gift to us to be a blessing. The gift was given to us out of great love. We experience the full benefits of the gift when have the right understanding.
May God help us understand!