Speaking in tongues builds you up

                                      
In my work in the medical field I often prescribe physical exercise. I wish I could also prescribe spiritual exercise, like speaking in tongues, for my sick patients! Scripture states that spiritual exercise is of even greater value than physical exercise, with speaking in tongues building you up inside.

1 Timothy 4:7b+8 (Amplified bible) “Train yourself towards godliness – keeping yourself spiritually fit. For physical training is of some value; but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.”

When you speak in tongues you are building up your "spiritual muscles" these "muscles" are useful in this life when we get into situations where godliness is needed. They are also the "muscles" that we will be using in “the life which is to come.”

Speaking in tongues builds you up in three ways:-

When you speak in tongues you are building up the temple of God within

Paul refers to this in 1 Cor 14:4 “One who speaks in a tongue edifies (3618) himself.” The Greek word for ‘edifies’ is oikodomeo (3618) and literally means to build a house.
Examples of its use elsewhere in the New Testament are:

Mt 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build (3618) My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Mark 14:58 “We have heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build (3618) another made without hands.’”

Acts 7:49 “Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet; ‘What kind of house will you build (3618) for Me?’ says the Lord.”

1Cor 3: 16 “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in 

When you speak in tongues you are building up a heavenly deposit within

The Greek word for tongue is glossa (1100), meaning either tongue or language. Glossakomon (1101) is a word that is derived from ‘glossa’ (1100). It means 'money box' and is used in John 12:6 and 13:29 as such:

John 13:29 “For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.”

A money box is something that we use to save up for a future need. The hidden meaning here seems to suggest that speaking in tongues is equivalent to building a spiritual deposit in your heavenly bank account which you can later draw upon.

We are also building up spiritual faith/strength when we speak in tongues

When the people in Acts 2:11 were speaking in tongues, those around who heard and understood the language said “We hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” The disciples themselves may have not realised that they were speaking out what God had done so powerfully recently. But what could be more strengthening and faith building than “speaking of the mighty deeds of God” as a spiritual exercise?
Jude 20-21 “But you beloved, building (2026 from 1909 +3618) yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build (3618) you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build (3618) up one another just as you also are doing.

The apostle Paul is the writer in the New Testament who was given more scripture to write than any other. How did this happen? I believe part of it can be attributed to the private practice of speaking in tongues which built him up in God.

1 Cor 14:18 “I thank God; I speak in tongues more than you all.”

He also moved mightily in the power of God.
1 Cor 2:4+5 “My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
1 Cor 2:12-14 “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.”

Written by Daniella Smith