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Praying in Tongues is the Process by which the Holy Spirit Teaches
By Sade Tagbo | June 24, 2009
This is a long one, but the message was so crucial, I did not want to break it into parts. If you can’t read it all now, print it out and save for later:
There is a common misconception that when we become born-again, our spirit-man is fully grown and full developed in Christ, and all we have to do is tap into the great revelation that is in our spirit-man. The Bible says differently:
1 Peter 1:2
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
When we come into the kingdom of God, we come in as babies, children. It is now up to us to grow up into the full-grown stature of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4: 13 – 15
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
As babies in the Kingdom, the things of God are still mysteries. However, we now have a born-again spirit that is able to understand the things of God. Before becoming born-agin we could not understand the things of God’s kingdom.
This is why Jesus told His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” They could not understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God because they did not have born-again spirits that could receive the revelation. God is a spirit. His greatest desire is not to speak to our physical ear or our physical brain, but to commune with us spirit to spirit.
1 Corinthians 2: 7- 16
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
These verses are so wonderful. They contain the understanding of how God wants to relate to His born-again children. All through the Old Testament, God related to men, but He could not commune with them spirit to spirit because they were not born-again. Jesus was the very first man after Adam to live on the earth with a spirit-man that was alive unto God.
When we became born-again, we received the spirit of Christ. We now have a re-born, recreated spirit-man that has the nature of God. God can now commune with us spirit to spirit. But He doesn’t do it through our senses – seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, and smelling. No, He now communes with us in our spirit-man through the Holy Spirit.
God could not reveal His mysteries to natural (unsaved) men. He can only reveal them by His Holy Spirit. Now we no longer have the spirit of the world (a dead spirit). But we now have a new nature, a spirit-man which is of God, so now we can now know the things that are freely given to us of God. These mysteries of God are not things that man’s intellect or wisdom or knowledge can teach. These mysteries can only be revealed and taught by the Holy Spirit unto our spiritual mind (the mind of Christ) which is inside our spirit.
So, how does the Holy Spirit teach us these things? He doesn’t do it when you read a book, because that is knowledge passing to your natural mind. He doesn’t do it when you hear a sermon – same problem – you are getting information through your physical senses. He doesn’t do it through natural circumstances – that is still the process by which the human senses receive information.
All these things can help to renew your natural mind so that it comes into cooperation with your spirit-man, but they are not the ways that the Holy Spirit teaches. He is a spirit and He teaches your spirit. How?
1 Corinthians 14:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
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.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
When you speak in an unknown tongue, you are speaking mysteries! When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is praying out all the things that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, have entered into the hearts of a man, all the things that God has prepared for you!
Some of these mysteries are revelation understanding of the Bible that you read. Some of these mysteries are specific instructions about your calling, your ministry and your future. Some of these mysteries are issues in the world today that God is laying on you to pray for.
What Paul was saying in these verses is that as believers, we can’t use the gift of tongues for personal edification in the church setting, unless God has revealed the interpretation to someone else (or to you).
He’s telling these believers not to just stop at the ability to pray in tongues, but to pray themselves up to the point that God begins to give them words of prophecy in the public assembly so that other people can be built up and blessed by the revelation knowledge that God was sending.
When the Holy Spirit speaks to you or gives you revelation knowledge, He reveals it to your spirit-man. Spending long hours praying in other tongues gives Him the authority or permission to take over your spirit, teach you revelation knowledge, and give you instructions for your life.
Remember that God does not forcefully do anything to you. In the same way that He does not force you to receive salvation, nor force you to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, in the same way, He will not force you to come and learn of Him.
Some people have complained the praying in tongues is an “easy” kind of prayer. Why would God make it hard? Do you think He is trying to make it difficult for you to move into the manifestation of His life? Do you think He is trying to put obstacles in your way? No! If anything, His delight is to give you His Kingdom.
Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
You need to make a decision to give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to teach you one on one. Let Him become your personal spiritual tutor. Make time to pray in the Holy Ghost and meditate on the Word of God.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Blessings,
Sade Tagbo
Topics: Prayer | 2 Comments »
June 24th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Awesome! Very refreshing. I spoke to a homegroup and youth group recently and the Lord had me teach literally the same thing. He’s obviously wanting some foundation laid for people to understand how important it is – our reliance on the spirit to be taught by him.
Thank you!
July 9th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Awesome message and very timely too. I’ve been spending the last few days working myself to pray in tongues the entire day. Revelation knowledge comes pouring in when you do. Thanks!