Outpouring: The language of prophecy

On the Day of Pentecost, when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church began, a phenomenon called speaking in tongues also commenced. Although it was an unusual sign from God, and it was prophesied, the exact details were not identified until Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, explained what was happening.

One hundred and twenty of Jesus’ followers were gathered together in one accord in the Upper Room at Jerusalem waiting on the Lord, and praying, when the outpouring started. The people in the room suddenly experienced a sound like a rushing, mighty wind, and tongues of fire appeared upon them (Acts 2:1-4).

Then they all began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was such an unusually miraculous event. They all began to speak, but did not understand the languages they were speaking, although others, outside the room, in the street, heard them speak in the languages of the Jewish diaspora, who were in Jerusalem for the annual gathering at the Feast of Pentecost.

Filled with the Spirit

Some of the passers-by, hearing the loud voices in different languages in the Upper Room, thought the disciples of Jesus were drunk with wine, but the Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up and explained what was happening.

Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:14-18

So Peter, led by the Spirit, identified the phenomenon of speaking in tongues as a form of prophecy, or we could say prophetic utterances. Although it doesn’t have the same outworking or function as prophecy given in a known language, the spiritual significance remains the same, and the dynamic is identical. It is of the Holy Ghost. He was speaking through them and to them.

Prophecy speaks to the church, whereas tongues speaks to the individual as he or she prays, sings or talks to God. We are admonished to pray or sing in the spirit, meaning in other tongues, and to pray or sing with the understanding, meaning in our known language. Tongues, then, is as much a part of our prayer and worship language as our known language (1 Cor.14:15).

They were all filled with the Spirit, and this was clearly evidence, as shown when the Gentiles also received the baptism with the Spirit with the same sign of speaking with other tongues (Acts 11:15-17).

If we can relate speaking with other tongues with prophetic utterance, we will begin to see the importance of the gift and its grace. Prophecy is speaking events into being by the utterance of the Holy Spirit. When we speak or pray, or sing in other tongues we are speaking or singing or psalming into our present and future.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:2

Here, Paul is giving the distinction between prophecy in a known language and tongues, which is a prophetic utterance in an unknown language to the speaker. The important thing here, though, is that he tells us that we are speaking to God when we speak in tongues, and, in the spirit, we are speaking mysteries.

Mysteries

It would be wrong to downplay the significance and importance of prophetic languages to the believer and to the church community. They are an integral part of our communication with and through the Spirit of God.

Our regenerated spirit is of God, therefore the languages, thought unfamiliar to our own ears, can be interpreted by and through the Spirit to our own new born spirit (1 Cor.14:13). They are mysteries to our mind, but not to our spirit, nor to the Holy Spirit who resides with us.

They are mysteries to other hearers, but God is receiving the information being relayed through us by the utterance of the Spirit. It is a two-way conversation. This way we are able to pray without ceasing.

We are being spiritually built up, whether we speak in tongues or by prophecy (1 Cor.14:4). Speaking in tongues edifies the speaker. Prophecy edifies the whole listening body.

Some critics equate being built up with being puffed up, but this ought not be so. It is knowledge that puffs up (1 Cor.8:1), not speaking to God in an unknown language. Love edifies. When we seek to speak to God out of a heart of love, be it with known languages or in an unknown tongue, we are demonstrating worship, not pride.

Praying, singing, speaking in tongues is part of our worship in the Spirit. It helps us focus on God. It reminds us of our deep connection with Him through the Holy Spirit. We emit words into the spiritual atmosphere that are always edifying. We send forth prayers that are as incense to God. Those prayers are by the utterance given by the Spirit, so they can only be accurate, sound and good.

We speak into our present and future as if through prophecy, albeit in language mostly only discernible by God and angels. We fill our environment with words of faith that magnify God.

Tongues are a good thing.

For more on this read part one: Outpouring: What are tongues all about?