I was both encouraged and challenged by thee testimonies from Students at Tabor College that are being distributed today. They come from the Ministry of the Holy Spirit class at Ryde. The class assignment was that each student should spend ten minutes a day for five days either speaking in tongues or praising and worshipping God aloud. The results were very encouraging, and in some cases, life changing.

I was reminded of the experience of Jackie Pullinger, a young, single English girl whom God led to go alone into the crime-ridden Walled City of Hong Kong. Her initial efforts to reach the very needy people in that place were a complete failure. However, she felt God leading her to pray in tongues for l5 minutes a day. It was not long before there was a dramatic breakthrough that began a wonderful ministry that has continued for over 20 years. (You can read her story in the book "Chasing the Dragon".)

Speaking or praying in tongues is first found in the Bible in the second chapter of Acts, when the Holy Spirit came on the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Subsequently it is mentioned on several occasions when new believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit. While there are not a lot of references to speaking or praying in tongues in the Bible, there is some evidence that it was widespread and ‘normal’ in the experience of first Century Christians.

"Tongues" has become an issue of controversy and even division in the church over the past century. Speaking in tongues is widespread in Pentecostal churches, and even mandatory in some. But most other churches have no experience of it, and many dismiss the modern expression of tongues as being different from what the Bible refers to, and, in fact, of being demonic.

Nevertheless, while there are many fine Christians who have never spoken in tongues, there are other fine Christians who do. And they find that it deepens their love for God and enhances their service for Him. The testimonies of the Tabor students give evidence of this.

The passage in the Bible that has most to say about tongues is Paul’s discussion in chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians. Paul includes "speaking in different kinds of tongues" amongst his list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor.12:4-11. Certainly, he makes the point very strongly in the next chapter that these gifts, without love, are empty and hollow. (l Cor. 13:1, 2). Nevertheless, he does not, as some have claimed, disparage the practice of speaking in tongues. In fact, in writing to a church that seems to have overvalued the gift of tongues, he can still say "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." (l Cor 14:18)

Paul sees a very important role for speaking in tongues; it ‘edifies’ or builds up the person who does it. (l Cor 14:4) Thus he can say "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues." (l Cor 14:5)

Paul's main point that he makes in writing to the Corinthians is that when the Church gathers, everything that is done should be beneficial for the whole congregation. Thus, unless there is an interpretation of the message given in tongues, so that others can benefit from it, then prophecy, which is clearly understood, is much to be preferred. Paul’s concluding remark is: "do not forbid speaking in tongues." (l Cor 14:39) Yet, many churches today seem to ignore this.

In my experience, the practice of speaking in tongues lifts me out of the constrictions of my rational mind. It enables me to express my praise of God and my emotions towards God when I have difficulty putting these into words. Praying or singing in tongues seems to put my spirit in touch with God’s Spirit more rapidly than any other way. I take this to be what Paul is referring to he says that speaking in tongues ‘edifies’ the person who does it. Of course, the same result may be achieved by spending the time praising God in English, but I find that the gift of tongues makes it so much easier.

The use of tongues is also invaluable as a medium for prayer when my rational thought processes reach their limits in framing my requests. There are many times when I do not know what I ought to pray for, but the Spirit of God translates the groanings of my heart, as I express these in tongues, into prayers of intercession. (Rom 8:26)

I believe that personally and as a church, we have much to benefit from using the gift of tongues. Contrary to some misconceptions, this is not just a matter of waiting for something to happen. Like every other gift of the Spirit, we are in control of how and when it is used. Who knows what might happen if we were to take up Dr Chant's challenge of speaking in tongues for just 10 minutes per day! (If you do not know that you have this gift, but would like to have it, please speak to me).