Tongues facilitate our capacities to operate by the HOLY SPIRIT, in the Witness of JESUS CHRIST (Romans 8:2; 1 John 5:10, 7-8, NKJV; Rev 3:14b).
So, when we pray in tongues we function in Spirit, Water and Blood, potentially energizing the Mystery (the hidden realities) of CHRIST (Col 1:26-27), into our inward parts.
The unveiling of the Mystery of CHRIST into our inward parts, has the intent and design of enabling us to do all things thru’ CHRIST who strengthens us (Phil 4:13, NKJV).
Tongues are a useful and effective tool to enter into the infinitude of these realities in CHRIST that we have mentioned above.
Understand however, that this reality of unveiling CHRIST in our inward parts (Gal 4:19; 2 Cor 3:3; Phil 4:13), only exists by the HOLY SPIRIT functioning in and through our tongues in prayer and prophecy (John 16:14-15; 1 Cor 14:2-5).
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) reads: < 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. >
What does it mean to speak to GOD and be in the SPIRIT and speak mysteries?
1 Corinthians 2:6-7 speaks of a realm of ‘hidden’ Wisdom predestined for our glory (see also Phil 4:19): < However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory >.
This Wisdom predestined before the ages is entirely of the FATHER and is communicated through the SON: “in CHRIST JESUS, by the SPIRIT” (see Rom 8:2; see also Col 2:2-3, NKJV).
John 1:18 (NKJV) speaks of the only Begotten SON who declares (NASB: ‘explains’) the FATHER: < No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. >
What this tells us is that the Mystery of CHRIST is in the bosom of the FATHER and is the basis for the communication of all truth (see John 14:6). The Bosom of the FATHER represents the “depths of YHWH” (see 1 Cor 2:10, NASB+NKJV).
Colossians 1:26-27 (NKJV) speaks of the Mystery of CHRIST unveiled in our inward parts so that we will be perfect (in fulfillment of the Law) in CHRIST JESUS: < the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. >
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (NKJV) gives us more details on the unveiling of the Mystery of CHRIST: < But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God [NASB: “for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God”]. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. >
Tongues enable us to speak to GOD, by the HOLY SPIRIT, in order to actualize what we can never know by our own intellect.
Isaiah 55:8-9, explains the conundrum: < “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” >
Tongues are a spiritual tool that facilitates the bridging of the impossible (“unbridgeable”) gap between YHWH and us – by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS, through the revelation of the Mystery of CHRIST (see Eph 1:17-23; Gal 4:19; Col 1:28).
The medium of communication of the Mystery of CHRIST is the Spirit and Life of YESHUA (see John 6:63).
The fabric of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA formed in us facilitate the Mysteries of GOD into our being (see 1 Cor 4:1) according to the calling upon our lives (see Eph 1:18, 17-19).
It is the fabric of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA that enables our position as stewards of the Mysteries of GOD (see 1 Cor 4:1c; see also Rev 10:7).
Tongues are a useful tool that facilitates this humongous purpose in GOD that we are called to actualize and steward.
What actually happens when we pray in tongues?
Tongues energize spiritual realities (or, mysteries) hidden in YHWH, the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Eternal GOD.
When we pray in tongues, the HOLY SPIRIT facilitates the combining of “pneumatikos with pneumatikos” (that is the combining of the ‘spiritual’ with the ‘spiritual’) in our spirit; and our witness in Spirit, Water and Blood picks up (sometimes instantaneously; usually progressively over time, days, even months and years) the interpretation, the impression, the vision, the unction to do something (for example to prophecy, to preach, to teach, to pray, to war etc), to actualize the plan of GOD, with knowledge, understanding and wisdom, so that the work of GOD can be accomplished.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 reads: < Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. >
To him who has an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT is saying to the Church! Amen!