Series on Moving Forward - Prayer Is Key – PRAYING IN TONGUES (SPIRIT)

Acts 6:4; " We shall be persevering to THE prayer and the service of THE saying (Logos)." NT Greek Interlinear

The Early Christians understood that they could not neglect prayer. They were a praying church and how great and mighty things they achieved in prayer. Even when they became very busy in ministry, they did not allow business to get in the way of prayer. I want you to notice in the literal text it says, "We will persevere and give ourselves to the prayer..." Pay attention to the words 'the prayer' not just a prayer. It was a definite article meaning a determiner that introduces a noun phrase and implies that the thing mentioned has already been mentioned and was common knowledge. The Early church comprehended that 'praying in tongues' was the prayer. Praying in tongues was known as the prayer. There are many kinds of prayers in the Scripture but Tongues is the ultimate prayer in the New Testament. The Early Church gave much time and attention to it. This was common knowledge to the early disciples and it should be so in the modern church.

Prayer, especially praying in tongues, is a vital aspect to our spiritual growth, walking in the supernatural and being sensitive in the spirit. There is no way around it! If you want to grow in the anointing, it is imperative that you become a person of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer as was the Apostle Paul and the early church was birthed and based on prayer. The Holy Writ shows that prayer and specially 'tongues' played a very prominent role in the life of the early church and it must play a prominent role in your life.

If you want to grow in the anointing, it is imperative that you become a person of prayer.

One of the greatest ministers who ever graced this earth was Reverend John G. Lake. Although he went through terrible hardships, he was a world shaker. What was the secret to John G. Lake’s deep revelations, extraordinary manifestations, and the success of his ministry? Here is an excerpt from his own mouth: “I want to talk with the utmost frankness and say to you, that tongues have been the making of my ministry. It is that peculiar communication with God when God reveals to my soul the truth I utter to you day by day in the ministry. Many times, I climb out of bed, take my pencil and pad, and jot down the beautiful things of God, the wonderful things of God that He talks out in my spirit and reveals to my heart.” Notice these words: “Tongues have been the making of my ministry.” Tongues will be the making of your life. Another great man who knew the power of praying in tongues was Smith Wigglesworth. Here was an uneducated plumber who, when he partook of the blessing of tongues, was transformed into the apostle of faith. The miracles, boldness, and manifestation of the supernatural became evident in his life and ministry. The church and the world are waiting for end time apostles who will be carriers of power and deliverance. You can be so as you develop the habit of praying in tongues! Apart from the obvious and common knowledge ones, let me list two benefits that you will enjoy as you partake of this marvelous blessing:-

1. Praying in tongues is strengthening your inner self with might.

Ephesians 3:16 tells us, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”

The Weymouth New Testament words it like this, “To grant you—in accordance with the wealth of His glorious perfections—to be strengthened by His Spirit with power penetrating to your inmost being.” To strengthen means “to make stronger.” It also means “to increase in strength and force.” According to the apostle Paul, when you pray in tongues, you are strengthening or fortifying your spirit man with might. Obviously, he would know more about the might of tongues, as he declared to the Corinthian saints that he prayed in tongues more than them all (see 1 Cor. 14:18). The word ‘might’ is the Greek word ‘dunamis’, and it means “miracle power and explosive power.” The more you pray in the spirit, the more you are increasing in spiritual force on the inside of you. The more you pray in tongues, the more explosive power and miraculous power are growing inside of you. How can you be depressed when the strength of God is within you? Just like barbells will build up your arms, praying in tongues will build up your spirit. When your spirit is strong, it will help to keep that flesh body of yours in line. The more you pray in the spirit, the more you are increasing in spiritual force within.

2. Praying in tongues is part of the offensive of the armor of God. It is the lance that will shoot down the enemy.

Just like barbells will build up your arms, praying in tongues will build up your spirit.

Ephesians 6:13-18;”Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

“The whole armor of God”: Pay attention to the words ‘whole armor’ referring to the Greek word panoplia, meaning “whole, complete set.” It was a word used to depict the full armor of a hoplite or heavily-armed Roman soldier. Whenever the Roman soldier would put on his full armor, there were seven things that he would put on. The apostle Paul listed all the other Roman weaponries by name except for the lance. No Roman panoply would be complete without the lance. Since six is “the number of man” and seven is “the number of God,” seven stands for completion. That is why in the Old Testament we see and read of the seven feasts of Israel, seven sacrifices, seven furniture’s of the tabernacle, seven lamps of the candlestick, seven pillars of wisdom, and seven cities of refuge to name a few. The New Testament, specifically the Book of Revelation talks of the seven churches, Seven Spirits of God, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps of fire, seven seals, seven horns and seven trumpets to name a few.

God does things in sevens, and the seventh weaponry of the armor of God is the lance of prayer in the

spirit. The Roman lance was called a pilum. It was the typical legionary weapon together with the short

sword gladius. It was designed to penetrate the shield as well as the soldier holding it, and to bend

upon impact to make it unusable for another opponent. The pilum was used for long distances by

throwing it, and for shorter distances they would use it to charge. It was a very offensive weapon.

Praying in tongues is an aggressive and offensive weapon to put holes in the cover of the devil. The

lance of tongues is designed to paralyze the movements of the devil against your life. No wonder the

devil fights tongues so much, as it causes great harm in his kingdom. 

When Peter’s life was threatened by Herod, the church tapped into ‘the unceasing prayer of tongues’

and reversed the death sentence and demonic assignment. Tongues will make your progress

unstoppable! Pray in tongues! Jude 1:20 (Amplified Bible) 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;