Exploring the Terminology of Speaking in Tongues

Taking Speaking-in-Tongues to the Next Level – Part 1

Two reminders before we get into this new series of information.

1. This content is called “Next Level Prayer.” Keep in mind that next-level means not average, not ordinary, not what you normally think, and not what you’re normally accustomed to. It is about taking you to a place that you normally would not go. In this case, where you normally would not go when it relates to prayer. Our goal is to help you to get from where you are to a new position, an elevated position, as it relates to this topic called prayer.
2. Prayer is this word that has a number of big concepts placed inside of it. Prayer is this word that in our society, today, has placed a number of big concepts inside of it. There are some things that we’ve added to prayer that have made it so large, that when we say the word we confuse those other concepts for “prayer” as if those concepts are prayer themselves. For example, worship is not prayer, even though when you go to a prayer meeting, there will more than likely be a time of worship. Thanksgiving is not prayer, even though you can be thankful in praying or in prayer.

If you recall in a previous section of “Next Level Prayer,” I mentioned that there is a difference between talking to God and praying. You can talk to God without praying, but you cannot pray without speaking to God. This difference is one we have to bring back to the forefront because if we are not careful we will start mixing other concepts together. This will result in confusing us on what it looks like to even speak to God. In fact, I want you to do more talking to God than you do praying to God, in the first place. 

This installment is intended to introduce us to “praying in tongues” or “speaking in tongues.” There are many words available to describe it. So the first thing we have to do is get through some of the terminology. Trust me when I say this. I am in no way an expert on this. Again, thinking about the name of our theme, Next Level Prayer, my goal is to help you get to the next level. Now, I might not be able to provide the complete picture on the subject (I’ve not known many who could), but I can get you from where you are today to the next level and that’s the goal.

What do we know about speaking in tongues?
What we are going to do first is lay out what is heard when we hear this phrase: “speaking in tongues?” To be clear, we are going to make a list of what comes to mind when we think of “speaking in tongues.”

1. Unknown Language
   That phrase is often used when it comes to this subject of “speaking in tongues.”
2. Other Tongues
   The word “tongues” is prevalent. 
3. Tongues
   In fact, many times you simply hear, “tongues.” As soon as you hear that in church, you already know it’s that subject.
4. Spiritual Language
5. Heavenly Language
6. Language of Angels
   That’s a good one. I could go there. I’m not going to, but you’ve heard such terminology before.
7. Another Language or Other Languages
8. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
9. Holy Ghost Filled and Fire Baptized.
   “Holy Ghost filled and fire baptized!” I just wanted to say that because that makes you feel really churched or really spiritual. I’ve heard this many times. Holy Ghost filled which could be Holy Spirit filled; those words are somewhat interchangeable.
10. Outpouring/Infilling of the Holy Spirit

These are the terms we so often hear used. These are the terminologies that we often relate to speaking in tongues. However, there are a few more words that are mentioned when it relates to “speaking in tongues” that must go here as well. These are not names, but phrases that get associated.

• Day of Pentecost.
  People try to throw this in the mix even though it’s not the same. We often hear “the day of Pentecost” when anyone talks about speaking in tongues.
• Poured Out His Spirit
• The Evidence of Speaking with Other Tongues
• Not forced
  You know when people are leading you in a prayer effort, which I’m not even going to go there yet. For you to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they say it is “not forced.” It shouldn’t be forced. What comes out of your mouth shouldn’t be forced. It should just come right out. They said that to me when I was in the basement of my hometown church. They were trying to get me filled with the evidence of speaking with other tongues.
• Praying In Tongues
  Now that phrase is unique because it implies something a little bit differently, which we’ll get into later.
• Not from the brain
  They will tell you that this is not from your brain. If you are coming out of your brain, you are back to square-one.
• Intimacy with God
  People sometimes phrase it like this. Speaking in tongues is how you are to be intimate with God. 
• Groanings
  You have probably heard this a time or two as well. “…with groanings which cannot be uttered.” ^[1]

These are the common thoughts, the natural descriptions that we are accustomed to hearing. The purpose of this installment is to do no more than introduce you to the terminology. If you are familiar with this terminology, you’re in the right place. If these phrases stand out to you, all that means is that you have been introduced to the common terminology of what it means when we talk about this subject of “speaking in tongues.” My goal is that if you know these terms, any of them, or just one of them, you are ready to go to the next-level if you continue to stay with us throughout this series.

Question: What terminology comes to your mind when you hear this topic of “speaking in tongues?

[1] Romans 8:26-27 NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, Bible.com, accessed August 3, 2023, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A26-27&version=NKJV

All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.