What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (1 Corinthians 14:15).
There are those who are still asking questions like ” must all Christians speak in tongues?”, it is like asking, must every Christian grow? Must everybody get born again? Must everybody go to heaven? Well, there is no “must” in any of these things, you don’t have to do any of these things; but if you choose to, you’d be blessed.
1 Corinthians 14:4 Amp version says, ” He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself…” wouldn’t you like to improve yourself? Wouldn’t you like to edify yourself? It says anyone who speaks in tongues “edifies” himself, that means, he builds himself up, he charges himself like you would charge a battery. Every Christian should want to be built up, and charge his spirit with the power of God’s Spirit.
Many Christians who don’t speak in tongues, go through their Christian lives struggling. They struggle to pray, they struggle to live a holy life, they struggle to do the word of God, the struggle to grow their faith; but waste their time criticising what they need most- speaking in tongues.
Speaking in tongues will help you grow your faith, ” 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” (Jude 20). When you hear the word faith comes to your spirit, you can build on that (most sancitified, holy, highest) faith by praying in tongues. Praise God! You can raise your faith like an edifice higher and higher!
Praying in tongues is relating with God from your spirit. You sing to Him in other tongues, the Bible says that worhip that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). When you pray in tongues, your spirit communes with God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
1 Corinthians 14:15 says,
“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also ” that means praying with the spirit must take the preeminence, for praying with the understanding is the “also” part.
Praying in tongues is more important than praying in the understanding. For it helps you to communicate at the God-level (a spirit to Spirit communication), it activates your spirit and makes you sensitive to the Spirit realm, and makes your spirit receptive to the things of the Spirit.
Every Christian should want to have this blessing.
Pastor Jack Siame
The Wonder's Revival Impact Team 