20 Reasons Why It Is So Important To Speak In Tongues

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Being baptized in the Holy Spirit does not make one believer better than another. There are no inferior believers in God's Kingdom.

But what the Baptism in the Holy Spirit does is create an advantage. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues gives access to greater realms of God, which benefits us deeply and those around us profoundly.

This post is not an apologetic defending Spirit baptism. Still, it's for those who have experienced the fullness of the Spirit and want to go deeper in understanding its power and benefits.

In this article, I'll share with you two lists. The first list defines five general yet essential reasons for what happens when we speak in tongues. The second list gives more specific reasons why it's so important to engage the Spirit by speaking in tongues.

Five General Reasons to Speak in Tongues:

1. When speaking in tongues, we are speaking directly to God.

This answers the, 'who am I speaking to when I pray in tongues?". When speaking in tongues, we speak in a language God has given us to speak to him.

1 Corinthians 14:2 "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,"

2. When we speak in tongues, we are speaking mysteries.

Mysteries are invitations into greater depths of God's heart and greater realms of revelation. We begin to get access to these mysteries by praying in the spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2 "… in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3. When we speak in tongues, we strengthen ourselves.

When we speak in tongues, we are given the ability to strengthen, i.e., bulk up, the spirit man.

1 Corinthians 14:4 "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,"

Jude 20 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

4. When we speak in tongues, we build capacity for God.

Praying in the spirit widens our capacity for the life of God and builds and strengthens our connection with our spirits and God's.

Ephesians 3:16, 19 "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… 19 "… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

5. When we speak in tongues, we experience personal transformation.

The Holy Spirit has empowered the believer and made them more like Jesus. Sin's influence weakens as we make room to strengthen our spirits, ushering us into the Power of Christ within us.

Romans 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Here are twenty reasons why speaking in tongues is so important:

1. Tongues were the visible proof that the disciples received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

2. Tongues were the sign that Christ's church had been born to the Jew (Acts 2) and the Gentile (Acts 10).

3. Speaking in tongues is what convinced both Peter and the governing church authority (the Apostles) that the Gentiles are saved and could be saved (Acts 11).

4. Speaking in tongues was a vital part of the Apostle Paul's life and teaching (1 Cor. 14:18).

5. Speaking in tongues is tied to the Gospel of Mark's great commission (Mark 16:14–20).

6. Speaking in tongues is the supernatural language given by God to believers. Thus, it is the language of God's Spirit and His Kingdom.

7. Speaking in tongues gives us spirit-to-spirit communication with God (Rom. 8:26-27).

8. Speaking in tongues allows us to access the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 14:2).

9. Praying in tongues is the number one way believers strengthen themselves (1 Cor. 14:2).

10. Speaking in tongues tames the tongue that James says in the most unruly body member (James 3:1–12).

11. Praying in tongues is always the perfect prayer (Rom. 8:26-27).

12. Praying in tongues releases miraculous intercession for people we know and those we don't.

13. Praying in tongues is governmental because it accesses the heart of God and prays what He wants to do on earth (Rom. 8:26-27).

14. The gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues is used by the Holy Spirit to both edify and strengthen the church (1 Cor. 12, 14).

15. Speaking in tongues can lead people to repentance.

16. Praying in tongues is the leading way we fulfill the mandate to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).

17. Speaking in tongues is part of our spiritual armor (Eph. 6:18).

18. Praying in tongues brings our spirit into unity with God's purposes.

19. Praying in the Spirit renews our minds.

20. Praying in tongues builds the interior life of the believer.

Hopefully, these two lists will help you start and strengthen your journey in living out the Spirit-filled life.

Question: How has praying in the Spirit benefited you? What has been your journey? Are there questions you still have about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?