1 Corinthians 14:2-4 “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. (3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul confirms once again that when we speak in tongues that our spirits speak directly to God and not to men, for he tells us that no man is able to understand the language spoken by the spirit. Paul also confirms in this passage the truth that our spirits understand the language spoken perfectly, for he tells us that the saint who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves. So what does Paul mean by that statement? In explaining the statement Paul tells us that prophecy, which is divinely inspired utterance in a known language, edifies the church. The reason that prophecy edifies the church is because those who hear the prophecy understand the language spoken. And so in the same manner the reason that tongues edifies the spirit of the saint is because the spirit understands the language spoken. So why did God decide to give the born-again spirit its own language? The apostle Paul answers that question for us in the above quoted passage of scripture, for in this passage Paul teaches us that when our spirits pray that they speak mysteries. So what does that statement mean? The word translated “mysteries” also carries the meaning of secret doctrine. In other words our spirits have far more insight into God’s word than our minds do, and they even have insight into doctrines that have not yet been revealed in God’s written word. And so because our spirits have been given such vast insight they are able to pray far more effectively than even the most spiritually minded saint could ever pray with their understanding. This particular truth gives us some insight into the degree of understanding that our spirits actually have, i.e. they have far more understanding than our minds could ever have in this life. There is another observation that we can make about praying in tongues, which is that the saint can be filled with the Spirit and speak in other tongues the moment after they are born-again. And so we see that the spirit of the saint can already begin to speak mysteries in the spirit long before their minds have even started to be renewed. This truth again just reaffirms the fact that our spirits have their own understanding, and that their understanding is not at all reliant on the understanding of the mind of the saint.
1 Corinthians 14:18-19 “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; (19) yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
The apostle Paul clearly understood the truth that his spirit had far more insight and understanding than his mind could ever have, which is why he made the statement in the above quoted passage of scripture that he thanked God that he spoke with tongues more than anyone else. In this passage Paul gives us an indication of just how much he spoke in tongues, for he states that in the church he would rather speak five words with his understanding than ten thousand words in a tongue. The reason Paul makes that statement is because he was emphasising the fact that in order to bless others, we can only speak to them in a known language that they can understand. However, in this passage Paul implies that when he was not speaking in the church, i.e. when he prayed and thus spoke to God that he would then practice the reverse, in that he would rather speak ten thousand words in a tongue than five words with his understanding. The reason for that is obvious, because Paul recognised that the prayers of his spirit were far more effective than the prayers of his understanding could ever be.
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
As an aside, although as we have established that in this life our spirits have far greater insight and understanding than our minds could ever have, our spirits still don’t’ know everything. And so there are areas that even our spirits do not know how to pray for effectively, and in those areas, as the above quoted passage of scripture states, God the Holy Spirit steps in and intercedes on our behalf with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Michael E.B. Maher
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