Although Paul says lots of favourable things about speaking in tongues his primary concern is not with our private times with God but actually with sorting out how the gifts operate in public worship. On Sunday mornings and in small groups or prayer meetings.

The preference and the norm when we meet together should be more for prophecy rather than public tongues. Why? Because prophecy, unlike tongues, can be understood by everyone and therefore will upbuild, encourage, and console the church (1 Cor 12:3).

What good does it do if when we come to church there's a stream of people coming forward to the microphone and waffling away in tongues that no one can understand. How does that help anyone? It certainly doesn't help unbelievers because they'll come in and think we've all gone completely nuts (that's my personal paraphrase of verse 23!).

And they will leave our meetings not having moved any nearer to seeing Jesus as their Saviour as a result. But if they come in and they experience the gifts of the Spirit in ways that makes sense to them; like healing, hospitality, and prophecy; Then they will acknowledge that God is really among us and they may become worshippers to.

In verse 18 Paul says he speaks in tongues more than anyone. This suggests to me that he values the gift highly in his own personal and private times with God. I love speaking in tongues when I pray and worship. I can really feel the benefit as I do it. I find I sense the presence of God so much quicker if I spend time praying in tongues first. Also if I don't know how to pray in a particular situation tongues becomes a great way to express what's in my spirit that I'm struggling to put into words.

 

In verse 5 Paul says, "I want you all to speak in tongues". He doesn't want them to stop; he just wants them to stop overdoing it in public meetings and prophecy instead (more about that next time).

 

Your relationship with God will be greatly enhanced when you receive the gift of tongues. I want to encourage you to eagerly pursue this gift for your private and personal times in God's presence. I guarantee that if you speak in tongues for just 5 minutes every day you will notice an amazing difference in your relationship with God.

 

Now I know this is a tricky issue for some because maybe you have pursued this gift before and you still don't speak in tongues and so now perhaps taken the view that you don't need it; it may even be possible that you even have a bit of a bad attitude about speaking in tongues because of that.

 

But we see in the New Testament that when Christians got filled with the Holy Spirit they spoke in tongues. I think what often holds us back from receiving this gift is that it feels strange to speak unintelligible syllables, or because it feels strange that our mind is being bypassed when we do it.

 

Some worry that they are just “making it up”. It's actually quite hard to make it up and if your mind is focused on God at the ver least you will be making a joyful noise to the Lord! (Psalm 95:1-2)

 

Why not ask God afresh for this wonderful gift today. Just pray, believe it is for you and speak!