Everybody Doesn’t Understand
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? (1 Corinthians 14:14-16)
What do you think of when someone says, “Let’s praise the Lord”? Do you picture a worship band and singers leading a church full of people as they sing their selected set for that week’s service? Does praising the Lord indicate a solemn prayer or a reading from the book of Psalms? Any of those can qualify as praising (or blessing) the Lord, but there’s one way many Christians don’t know, recognize, or practice: speaking in tongues.
Many Christians don’t understand this gift of the Spirit, but speaking in tongues was not just for the 120 on the day of Pentecost, as described in the Second Chapter of Acts. In 1 Corinthians 14:16, Paul noted that speaking in tongues is a way to bless the Lord. The Greek word for bless here is eulogeo. It means to speak well of, give thanks, prosper, or praise. Speaking in tongues is a way to praise God, and although not everyone understands it, it occurs regularly in our congregation.
We sing songs from a set that our worship director usually plans, but often at the end, the congregation rings out with spontaneous worship in the Spirit. Some sing in tongues; others may sing in their known language. Sometimes one of our singers will have a spiritual song. We know that a newcomer in our midst may not understand it, so we explain it after the worship time ends. Suppose someone gives a tongue, and an interpretation is provided by someone assigned by the pastor in charge. In that case, we also clarify that so newcomers know those spiritual gifts are Scriptural and given for our edification, exhortation, and comfort.
Practical Application
You should pray with understanding, using God’s Word as well as praying in the Spirit by speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is an excellent way to express praise to the Lord.
