Reflection on the book “Why Tongues?”
Reason #10— Speaking in Tongues Brings the Tongue Under Subjection
Discussion Day 10 by Opeyemi Babajide
James 3:8 (AMPC) 8 but the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.
“Yielding the tongue to the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongue is a giant step toward fully yielding all our members to God. For if we can yield this most unruly member, we can yield any member” –Papa Hagin, Why Tongues.
Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC) 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
Deuteronomy 30 (AMPC) 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live20 And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Romans 6 13 Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and [a]faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and [b]faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.14 For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and mercy].
Romans 12:1 (AMPC) 1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
The Scripture advises in Romans 6 and Romans 12 to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God. I believe strongly this is the utmost “work” of a believer. It is our worship, it is our reasonable sacrifice…. It is the response to the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary and the appropriation of that sacrifice to ensure the utmost salvation of our human body.
So, according to the opening profound statement by Papa Hagin, if the process of yielding my members is largely controlled by yielding the most “unruly” member, then I do well to pay attention to how this can be done effectively. It’s a desire, it’s a walk.
The tongue is also the channel of our communicating our spiritual interactions into our physical world. It is with the tongue that we choose life and not death. Whatever our hearts believe, our tongue must say it out, as a way of ensuring its application in the physical realm. For instance, it’s with the tongue that we say “The Lord is my refuge” and so on.
That been established, I will like us to see the importance of speaking in tongues to tame the tongue. I love to always quote Jude 1 vs 20, as a way of keeping myself in the love of God and waiting on the mercy of my savior.
Jude1 vs 18-20. 18 They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions.19 It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions—merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [[d]make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;21 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—[which will bring you] unto life eternal.
Hallelujah, please kindly read these scriptures out loud and meditate on them. We have not cunningly followed devised fables. This is the Word of God. It is complete and self-explanatory. It means, no matter the deterioration we find in the world or around us, or even in a situation around us, one of the way to ensure you are being kept in the will of God, is to ensure praying in the Holy Ghost, in other tongues. What happens when we pray in tongues with regards to our tongues? It means we build ourselves on our most holy faith, which is the realm where our strength is, the realm where our spirit is in charge, mortifying the deeds of the flesh – meaning I can hear the Holy Ghost better and follow his directions and only speak whatever he says. Next is, it ensures I am guarded i.e. I am not caught unawares saying things I should not say, I am only strengthened to declare what the word of God says about me or others or situations around me – I am kept in the Love of God and I am patiently waiting on the mercy of Lord Jesus Christ – this could be an answer to a request, or deliverance or healing and so on.
This is our life. This is the higher life. This is our call and as Papa Hagin advised, we can speak in tongues to ourselves under our breath at work, in the public, in the bus, airplane, train etc….building ourselves like an edifice, higher and higher and higher! Glory to God.