Speaking in tongues catalyzes spiritual growth. First Corinthians 14:4 says, "A person speaking in tongues helps himself grow spiritually." As we grow spiritually, our spiritual capacity increases. One of those capacities that increases is increased discernment. First Corinthians 2:9-10 tells us: "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it come into the heart of man what God has in store for those that love him. But God has revealed them to us through his spirit." Our natural senses and minds cannot conceive of what God has for us—but through the Spirit's revelation, we can discern the things of God.

Speaking in tongues increases our carrying capacity. Jesus told his disciples: "There is so much I want to teach you, but you cannot learn them because you cannot bear them. But when I send the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, he will come and he will guide you. He will increase your capacity to carry it."

I learned this lesson personally. Years ago, God laid it on my heart to start a first Monday of the month virtual prayer gathering. I was excited, made an Instagram announcement, and the first meeting was incredible. But by the fourth and fifth meetings, I was sleeping through them. I felt guilt and condemnation. Then one day God showed me the truth: I did not have the spiritual capacity to carry what God had given to me.

This is a crucial principle: when God gives you something new—a business, a ministry, a responsibility—don't let it cost you the important relationships and roles you already have. Don't become a bad spouse, parent, or friend because you gained something new. Instead, enlarge your capacity to hold what God is giving you.

Eight Powerful Benefits of Speaking in Tongues

Point One: Speaking in Tongues Enhances Private Worship

The gift of speaking in tongues is unique—it's the only manifestation gift of the Holy Spirit that has a devotional personal dimension for your private worship. Yes, it has a congregational dimension for public use, but it also has a powerful personal dimension.

Paul concludes his argument in 1 Corinthians 14:15 by saying: "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing also with the understanding."

For those who argue that speaking in tongues isn't praying in the spirit—Paul uses those terms interchangeably. They mean the same thing.

Paul goes on to explain that if you bless with the spirit publicly, unbelievers won't understand what you're saying, so they can't affirm your thanksgiving. But here's the profound truth in verses 16-17: "If you give thanks well with the spirit, you give thanks excellently, commendably, rightfully—in a way that pleases God perfectly."

It is possible to give perfect praise. It is possible to worship in a way that pleases God's heart—void of shame and void of condemnation.

I remember one morning during my personal devotion, I was simply praying in tongues with no agenda, just wanting to be with God. I asked Him, "What am I saying?" And I heard in my spirit, "You are praising me." I had never experienced that before. I had never read that in the Bible. But for the next hour, I praised Him, and I felt so good. Whatever I was saying was pleasing to Him. That's the power of private worship in tongues.

Point Two: Speaking in Tongues Helps Us Pray the Perfect Will of God

Romans 8:26-27 addresses our deepest weakness: "Likewise the spirit also helps our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray. But the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. He who searches the heart knows the mind of the spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

One of the weaknesses of our flesh is that we don't always know what to pray. But when we pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit helps us. The Greek word for "helps" means "to take hold alongside with." You're not passive—the Holy Spirit takes hold with you, gives you the right words, puts the right desires inside you. He helps you pray the perfect will of God.

This matters because God's power and God's favor only flow in the direction of His will. God does not sponsor anything outside of His will. He doesn't take His might and sponsor your own agenda. When you go to God in prayer, ask Him: "What do you want for me here? What is it you want me to understand?"

Point Three: The Spirit Increases Our Revelation in the Word of God

Isaiah 28:11 describes this: "For with stammering lips and with another language, he will speak to his people." Verse 13 continues: "But the word of the Lord was to them...precept upon precept, line upon line, a little here, a little there."

Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirits and they are life." If the Word of God is spirit, then it cannot be intellectually understood alone. It must be understood in the spirit.

Here's my challenge: don't just go to your Bible with crusty eyes, yawning and half-asleep. Before you read Scripture, awaken your spirit. Pray in the spirit first. Ginger up your spirit. Then open your Bible. As you read, God will speak to you. Take what He shows you back to Him in prayer. Pray about it in the spirit. Meditate on the Word, confess it, and suddenly it begins to charge you up. He opens your eyes to see wondrous things in His Word.

I experienced this recently. God told me, "Go and read the book of Micah." Who reads Micah? But when I went to chapter 4, exactly what I needed was there. It was so obvious—as if someone had texted me specifically about what I was dealing with. Then God said, "Finish the book." As I continued, I saw something. It was as if God was just speaking to me directly. All that happened was that my spirit became sensitive through praying in the spirit, and I picked up instruction from God.

Point Four: Speaking in Tongues Strengthens Our Faith

As we get revelation from God's Word, faith rises in us. Jude 20 says, "Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the spirit."

Romans 10:17 tells us, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God." As you pray in the spirit and open your eyes to see things in God's Word—maybe a promise He's making to you—and then pray about it, faith begins to rise. That faith rises until it's above every anxiety, every worry.

Things might not have changed externally, but something has changed on the inside of you. Something has shifted. Your marriage might still be the same, but something has shifted. Your office might still be the same, but something has shifted. And that gives you peace.

Point Five: Speaking in Tongues Triggers Rest and Refreshing

Isaiah 28:11-12 declares: "For with stammering lips and with another tongue God will speak to his people. To him he said, 'This is the rest that I will cause to you may cause the weary to rest. This is the refreshing.'"

When you get revelation from God and engage His Word, it gives you peace on the inside. Things might be the same externally, but you feel different. You know different. You're in a different space.

When God called us to launch The Well Church, one of our biggest challenges was raising the money. I didn't know any wealthy people. I didn't even know you yet! I asked God, "Where are we going to get the money?" And He said, "Go and study the favor of God."

For two to three months, I studied God's favor. Through my study, God showed me different dimensions: the favor of open eyes, open doors, open treasuries, open hearts. Before our very first service, God began to show me these things. What was a need for me became an opportunity for God to unleash something on us.

The lesson is this: sometimes the need isn't just about solving your problem. Go to God and ask, "What is it you want to show me through this need? What is it you want to teach me?" The need is just the attraction to bring you to Him.

Now my friends who want to start churches ask me, "Vic, how did you raise the money?" I tell them, "I don't have a strategy. I studied favor, and people started giving me money." People would meet me and say, "What's your name? Tell me your story," and then, "Can we write you a check?"

Why? Because I tapped into the revelation of what God wanted, and I had rest. I wasn't panicking or anxious.

Point Six: Speaking in Tongues Supports Spiritual Warfare

Many of you don't realize that speaking in tongues is part of your armor. Ephesians 6 lists the armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit. Then verse 18 says: "After picking up all that gear, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit."

The person wearing the armor of God is doing something: they are praying in the spirit. They are praying in tongues. Why is this necessary? Because it increases the sensitivity of your spirit to know where the devil is attacking you from.

What might seem ordinary or great—what other people do all the time—might be a trap for you. Something that doesn't touch your neighbor might not be good for you. Speaking in tongues increases your sensitivity. It's not just that you're fighting with the sword of the Spirit (God's Word). You're also fighting with the words of the spirits. The Holy Spirit gives you the right language for what to pray. He gives you insight on what to do practically.

What good is armor if you don't know where the attack is coming from? Increase your sensitivity. Put on your armor—and don't forget your words.

Point Seven: Speaking in Tongues Keeps Us Aware of God's Love

The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is a sign of God's love. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." Romans 5:5 declares: "The love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

God doesn't just want us to know that He loves us. He wants us to be rooted in His love for us. Ephesians 3:16 says, "According to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through the spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that being rooted and grounded in love."

One of the most under-appreciated benefits of praying in the spirit is that it keeps us conscious of the love of God. Jude 20-21 says, "Building up yourselves in your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourself in the love of God."

Romans 8:38-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we're children of God. In those seasons where you feel condemnation and guilt—maybe because you disobeyed God or aren't doing what He's asking—the Holy Spirit begins to remind you as you pray in the spirit. The consciousness of His love begins to overflow through your heart. His passion for you. His desire for you begins to flood your heart.

We stay conscious that He did everything to reconnect us with Himself. When God brings something to your attention while you're praying and you confess it, it goes away—that's God. But if condemnation stays, that's the devil trying to silence you. The devil will shoot things you've done wrong into your subconscious, trying to condemn you.

But here's the key: to God, you say, "Lord, have mercy. I might be missing something." To the devil, you say, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He died for me. Therefore I'm a new creation. All things are new." Don't tell God you're the righteousness of God in Christ—tell that to the devil.

Point Eight: Speaking in Tongues Activates the Other Gifts of the Spirit

First Corinthians 12 lists the manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are three classifications: motivational gifts, ministry gifts, and manifestation gifts. The manifestation gifts are what God does through us for other people.

Only one gift has benefit to the user—the gift of tongues. God gives you other gifts to bless others. But I believe that speaking in tongues is the gateway to the supernatural. It's the gateway to the spirit. When you charge up your spirit by praying in tongues, you gain access to things in the spirit realm.

Second Timothy 1:6 says, "Stir up the gift of God. Fan to flames these gifts that God has put on the inside of you."

Let me use an illustration: fractional distillation. This is a process that separates a liquid mixture into its individual components. You take a mixture with different components, put it in a fractionating column, and light it on fire. As you boil it, you turn the liquid into vapor. When it begins to cool, the vapor condenses into different separate substances based on their boiling points. Heavy substances settle at the bottom; volatile ones rise to the top. You've taken that mixture, applied heat to it, and separated it into different substances.

I believe the gifts of God in us are deposited in our spirit like this mixture. As we charge our spirit by praying in tongues, it begins to heat up and activate the inside of us so that these gifts begin to come out of us. The Holy Spirit decides which gift you use at every moment.

Let me share a personal example. One Saturday, I was praying to charge my spirit for service. The Holy Spirit showed me one of our worship team members and said, "Tell her she needs to start recording an album." I'm not thinking about her, but she comes to mind. I make a note and pray for her.

When I see her in the green room before service, I ask God for a sign. Then I check our planning center online, and I see her name scheduled to lead worship. I ask God to speak through me publicly, so I call her on stage. The Holy Spirit gives me a specific picture and tells me to call her husband to the stage, lay hands on her belly, and speak exact words.

After the prayer, I ask, "Did that impact you? Did that feel true?" She says, "Pastor Victor, Saturday morning the day before, my husband woke me up with a plan for how I was going to release my next album."

Now, I didn't know about that Saturday morning conversation. How could I? But God charged up my spirit enough to use me to bless her. The gifts are to bless other people. Every Saturday, I'm praying, charging my spirit for whatever God wants to use.

You can use this in your office too. Your company might be stuck at a certain level for years. Take it to God. Charge up your spirit. Ask, "What's the answer?" As your spirit charges up, God begins to release gifts and wisdom through you.

I remember hearing a teacher I deeply respect—Bishop T.D. Jakes. Then I heard another teacher, Bishop Tudor Bismark, who is very deep. He preached at a conference, and honestly, neither the other pastors nor I understood much of what he said. People were complaining.

Afterward, God asked me, "Do you want that grace or not?" I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "Do you want it or not?" I said, "You'll have to explain." And He said, "Pray in tongues for two hours."

It was 11:30 at night after a full day of conference. I was not happy about this. But I set a timer for exactly two hours—I wasn't praying one minute longer! I was sleepy, yawning, pinching myself, doing everything to stay awake. My spirit wasn't alive. I just obeyed.

Within two weeks, fifteen people came up to me with the exact same words: "I don't know what happened to you, P.V., but you've been something else—just back to back to back." They told me, "You've received a body deposit. What did you do? You made room for what was confusing to be deposited in your spirit."

You can increase the level of your effectiveness. Go and open up your spirit to Him. He will activate things.

Sometimes when I preach and share stories, people say, "Man, that story was exactly me on Wednesday." That's the word of knowledge. Other times I'll meet someone in the lobby and tell them how to start and run their business—and I never went to business school. It's a word of wisdom for them. Because I tell God, "Just use me to bless people."

But to do that, I have to be charged up enough for Him to be able to reach in and supply something through me to someone else.

So here's my question: Of what use would you be to your world, to your family, to your kids if you lived a life where your spirit was always charged? Always charged.

That's what we're inviting you to—to embrace the life that Jesus has for you. Jesus thought the Holy Spirit was better than His physical presence. Why don't we live a life where we embrace everything that He has to offer?

The Confession

As you stand, I want to lead you in a confession. These words are powerful. Believe every word you're saying:

I am better off than I think. Jesus says I'm better off with the Holy Spirit and I believe him. I have everything I need because I have the Holy Spirit. I worship well because I have the Holy Spirit. I pray God's will because I have the Holy Spirit. I have deep revelation because I have the Holy Spirit. My faith is strengthened because I have the Holy Spirit. I enjoy rest and refreshing because I have the Holy Spirit. I enjoy victory because I have the Holy Spirit. I am always aware of God's love because I have the Holy Spirit. God can use me more because I have the Holy Spirit. I am better off than I think because I have the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus' name, amen.