I. Reason 3 why believers should pray in other tongues is that praying in tongues
reminds us of the Spirit’s indwelling presence.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you” (John 14:16-17).
Tongues help believers to be conscious of God’s divine, supernatural presence— if you
speak on purpose, by faith.
o Praying in tongues builds awareness of God because it is a spiritual
activity.
o God abides with you forever.
o Praying in other tongues is putting us in direct contact with God, and He
won’t take the gift back.
o Praying in tongues helps us face the challenges that are around us in this
world.
Howard Carter was the pioneer of the Pentecostal Movement; chairman of the
Assemblies of God in Great Britain; and founder of the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the
world.
o He said: “Speaking with other tongues is not only the initial evidence of the
Holy Spirit’s infilling, but it is a continual experience for the rest of our lives. For what purpose?
Praying in tongues assists us in the worship of God. Praying in tongues is a flowing stream
which should never dry up and will enrich the life spiritually.”
o This is more than congregational worship. It’s personal; it’s fellowship.
II. Having an ongoing consciousness of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit will affect the way we live.
Being conscious of the Holy Spirit brings us to a place of greater holiness to God. o “I
appeal to you, therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the
mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members
and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, AMPC).
o Your lifestyle should be a living sacrifice which is your reasonable service and worship. The
way we live our lives is how we worship God.
• Kenneth E. Hagin told the account of the importance of speaking in tongues to make us
continually aware of God’s divine presence.
A man who was holding a meeting was staying in the pastor’s parsonage. The
pastor and his wife had a 12-year-old daughter.
o It was the guest minister’s custom to take a walk after lunch. He would
return, rest, and prepare for the evening service.
o One day, the guest minister decided to stay in his room and write some
letters. The daughter thought he was out taking his walk.
o He heard the daughter and mother arguing with each other. The little girl
lost her temper and was very rude to her mother.
o In the middle of the argument, the girl looked up and saw the minister. She
was embarrassed, began crying, and apologized profusely. “Please forgive me
for what I said to my mother. I am so sorry you had to witness my behavior.” o He led the girl
over to a chair, and they both knelt down to pray.
o He said, “There is a greater One than me that saw and heard you. Are you
born again, filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues?”
o “Oh, yes,” she answered.
o “Then, the Holy Ghost is in you. He knows what you said and how you acted.
However, if you will repent, the Lord will forgive you.”
o She repented, received her cleansing, and began to speak with other tongues.
The guest minister said, “Here is a secret that will help you curb your temper. o “If you will
take time to pray in other tongues and wait on God; it will help
you to be conscious of His presence, of the Holy Ghost.
o “If you are conscious of His presence, you won’t lose your temper and get
upset.
o “If you are continually aware of God’s divine presence, it will affect the way
you live.”
Several years later, the minister returned to that church.
o The girl, now 17, called him aside and said, “Do you remember when you
were here before, and you told me about praying in tongues and waiting on
the Lord?”
o “Yes, I do.”
o “I have never forgotten what you said. From that day to this, I have taken
time every day to wait on the Lord and pray in tongues. I have been conscious every day of His
presence and have never lost my temper or spoke in anger to my mother since that time.”
III. To be aware of God on the inside is to be conscious of Love.
“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us” (Romans 5:5).
o Praying in tongues is by the Holy Spirit, and Love Himself is activated. o God is Love. To
activate Love is to activate God in our lives.
Praying in other tongues makes us conscious of God’s presence and directly affects
the way we respond to others.
“They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek
to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who
are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions—merely sensual [creatures, carnal,
worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. But
you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an
edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; guard and keep yourselves in the love of
God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—[which
will bring you] unto life eternal.”
(Jude 18-21, AMPC).
o “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of
our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20-21, KJV).
It takes faith to walk by love.
Praying in tongues keeps you in the love of God.
Pray over relationships with family and people, and receive revelation of how to
love these people whether it’s easy or not.