Speaking in Tongues: The Door Into the Supernatural
I have found in my own life over a period of more than fifty-five years that the more I speak in
tongues — the more I pray and worship God in tongues — the more manifestation of the other
gifts of the Spirit I have in my life too. And the less I speak in tongues, the less manifestation of
the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit I have operating in my life.
Speaking with tongues is the door into all the other spiritual gifts. Some people like to jump in
and get all the gifts of the Spirit at once, but you have to go through the door to get into the
supernatural. Also, it is as the Spirit of God wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). In other words,
you can't force or "put on" a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.
The Bible teaches us to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1). The Bible also teaches us to
earnestly covet the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). But remember that those words were written to
people who already spoke in tongues. They weren't written to people who did not speak with
tongues.
In fact, the Corinthians had a superabundance of speaking with tongues in the public
assembly. It seemed that when these Corinthians came to church, all of them wanted to speak
in tongues at the same time. It is interesting to note, however, if everyone is speaking in
tongues all at one time, the entire church congregation cannot be edified or built up, for no one
would understand what is being said (1Cor. 14:2-19).
Therefore, Paul instructed the Corinthians that in public meetings only two or three people
should speak, and another should interpret (1 Cor. 14:27). Also, if there wasn't an interpreter
present, they should keep silent in the church (1 Cor. 14:28).
Paul didn't say that the Corinthians had received the wrong gift. They had received the right
gift, but they were just so thrilled and exuberant that they wanted to talk in tongues all at once.
They needed instruction on how to use this gift.
You see, if we are all praising God, it is fine for all of us to praise God in tongues altogether
and all at the same time. But it would certainly be wrong if everyone started talking in tongues
while the preacher was trying to preach or teach. And it would not be right for someone to
spend an hour speaking in tongues without any interpretation. The speaker would be edified,
but the listener wouldn't get anything out of it.
That's why the Bible said it is better to speak a few words with our own understanding so we
can teach others than it is to speak ten thousand words in tongues, unless we speak with
tongues and interpret what we've said so that all may be edified.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:18,19
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 YET IN THE CHURCH I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by
my voice I might TEACH others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Some folks, however, have made a mountain out of a molehill, so to speak, in this area. They
claim that Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians not to speak with tongues at all. This couldn't
have been his intention, however, for notice what he said in verse 18: "I thank my God, I speak
with tongues more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18).