I realized one day while entertaining a thought of what I would tell someone if asked, “Why do you speak in tongues? Is that even scriptural?” that I didn’t have a readily available answer. In other words, I was not ready to “show myself approved” in this matter.

The image of falling flat on my face led me to be sure I had some things under my belt concerning this subject...in case I was ever given the opportunity to defend, share, lead, what have you. I wanted to share these with you, and have backed them with what God says about it (that’s what really counts). Jesus told us to wait for this gift of the Holy Spirit, at which time we would be endued with power from on high. Sounds great to me! After all, without the power, what good is the authority He gave us in Matthew 28:18?

1. 1. Tongues is the initial sign of being filled, or baptized, with the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:4)                 In the New Testament you’ll find that people who where “filled” with the Holy Spirit were given the ability to speak with new tongues. I’ve had people who were not filled with the Holy Spirit try to get me to admit that they were in fact filled, just not tongue talking yet. They are referring to the fact that when they were born again, the Holy Spirit enters and joins Himself to their spirit. This is not to be confused with what the Bible calls, being filled.
   

2. 2.Tongues edifies us.  (1 Corinthians 14:2-4)
   

3. 3.Tongues reminds us of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the physical evidence).  (Acts 10)
   

4. 4.When praying in tongues, you are praying God’s perfect will; it helps to change you when you can’t change yourself.  (Romans 8:26)                                                                                                                               
   

5. 5.It builds up your faith and helps you walk in the spirit, above the sense-ruled lifestyle.         (Jude 1:20)
   

6. 6.It keeps you from worldly contamination.  (1 Corinthians 14:28)
   

7. 7.It gives you the ability to pray for unknown reasons - a type of intercession.                                 (1 Corinthians 14:14)
   

8. 8.It gives me spiritual refreshing.  (Isaiah 28:11,12)
   

9. 9.You are able to give thanks perfectly and it is a means of magnifying God in any situation.          (1 Corinthians 14:15-17)
   

10. 10. It brings your tongue under submission.  (James 3:6 & 1 Corinthians 14)