how to use tongues for the glory of god

How to Use Tongues for the Glory of God

Ephesians 1:13

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

Acts 1:4-5

On one occasion, while He [Jesus] was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

It is a gift from God

Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while He [Jesus] was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Purpose = dynamic witnesses

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Power = dunamis = inherent power/ability

Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 10:44-46

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 19:1-7 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the

interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Apostle Paul

1 Cor. 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

1 Cor. 14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

In Jesus’ words….

“…And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues…”

—Mark 16:17

James 3:3-5

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

1 Cor. 1:27-29

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose

Top 10 Things You Need To Know…

1. Use your prayer language as much as possible!2. Not a mark of maturity, but a means to

maturity3. Increases intimacy with Christ

1 Corinthians 14:2

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.

Top 10 Things You Need to Know…

1. Use your prayer language as much as possible!2. Not mark of maturity, but means to maturity3. Increases intimacy with Christ4. Builds you up spiritually (builds your faith)

1 Corinthians 14:4

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Jude 20

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.


1. Use your prayer language as much as possible!2. Not mark of maturity, but means to maturity3. Increases intimacy with Christ4. Builds you up spiritually5. Stir yourself up when spiritually dry

2 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

“Whoever believes in Me, as

the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.”

—Jesus (John 7:38-39)


1. Use your prayer language as much as possible!2. Not mark of maturity, but means to maturity3. Increases intimacy with Christ4. Builds you up spiritually5. Stir yourself up when spiritually dry6. Helps when you don’t know what to pray

Romans 8:26-27

…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.


1. Use your prayer language as much as possible!2. Not mark of maturity, but means to maturity3. Increases intimacy with Christ4. Builds you up spiritually5. Stir yourself up when spiritually dry6. Helps when you don’t know what to pray7. Powerful weapon of spiritual warfare!

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

1 Corinthians 14:4

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.


8. Tunes you into the Spirit as you pray

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.


8. Tunes you into the Spirit as you pray9. Brings your tongue into submission to God

James 3:7-8

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue…


8. Tunes you into the Spirit as you pray9. Brings your tongue into submission to God10. Edifies the body (when interpreted)

1 Corinthians 12:7, 10

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

10 …to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:30-31

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:26

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

The gift is for all who desire it

Acts 2:17-18 In the last days, God says, “I will pour out My

Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

how to use tongues for the glory of god

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