In today’s world of distractions and debates, one of the most overlooked and misunderstood spiritual practices in the body of Christ is praying in the Spirit—often referred to as praying in tongues or in a heavenly language. For many believers, this gift is wrapped in confusion, relegated to denominational lines or confined to charismatic circles.
As Sergio Nazir Chavez points out in a recent video, we should be asking a different kind of question: what if this spiritual gift was never meant to be controversial, but rather a divine key to personal breakthrough, spiritual power and deeper intimacy with God?
Beyond Controversy: A Call to Clarity
“This is not a denominational thing—it is a spiritual thing,” says Chavez.
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These words cut through the confusion and invite us to see tongues not as a divisive doctrine but as a unifying force empowered by the Holy Spirit. The gift of tongues, according to Scripture, transcends theological boundaries and invites believers into a supernatural experience that brings refreshment, power, and revelation.
The foundation of praying in tongues stretches back to the Old Testament. Isaiah 28:11–12 speaks of “stammering lips and another tongue,” a prophecy later echoed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:21 to emphasize the significance of spiritual language. Far from a novelty of the early church, tongues are a fulfillment of divine prophecy—one that connects the old and new covenants in profound unity.
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Tongues: A Divine Weapon of Unity and Power
From the tower of Babel to the upper room at Pentecost, the Bible traces the movement of language as both a divider and a unifier. In the Old Testament, God confounded human language to halt prideful ambition. But in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended, language became the tool of unity once again.
“Now what was divided in the Old Testament we see now the Holy Spirit is unifying… He came to unify us in the Spirit, unify us in one language, one blood, one Resurrection, one God,” Chavez says.
Praying in tongues is more than a mystical expression—it is a divine weapon. It tears down walls of division, builds up the inner man and aligns the believer with heaven’s agenda. The Day of Pentecost was not a one-time event; it was a model for divine outpouring that continues today.
From the Outer Gate to the Holy of Holies
To understand the depth of this gift, Chavez draws a powerful comparison to the Tabernacle of Moses. The believer’s journey in Christ mirrors the movement from the outer court to the holy place, and ultimately to the Holy of Holies. Praying in tongues is not the destination—it’s a doorway. It helps the believer move from justification to sanctification and into deeper glorification with Christ.
“You can have people that just pray in tongues but not have the full understanding of what they’re doing,” he warns. Tongues are not a badge of spirituality, but a means to press into greater depths of God’s presence and power.
The True Evidence of the Spirit
While tongues are often pointed to as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Chavez makes an important clarification: the true sign of a Spirit-filled life is not merely speaking in tongues, but bearing the fruit of the Spirit. “You can have tongues, but if you have no love, then it is in vain. The Bible does talk about you can have the gifts but if you don’t have love then it is not in void, it is empty, it is just as clashing symbols.”
Love, joy, peace, patience—these are the hallmarks of transformation, and tongues are meant to strengthen the believer toward this end.
Praying in the Spirit: Your Spiritual Gym
When a believer prays in tongues, it is spiritual exercise. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,” the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:4. The word “edify” means to build up—like constructing a building on the foundation of Christ. Just as the body grows stronger through resistance and repetition, the spirit grows stronger through praying in the heavenly language. It is nourishment for the inner man, power for the journey, and alignment with heaven.
A Present Truth for a Prophetic People
This gift is not just for the early church or past revivals. “It’s supposed to go beyond the former moves,” Chavez declares. God is pouring out His Spirit in these last days in unprecedented ways. The gift of tongues is not a relic of Pentecost, but a present reality for every believer willing to embrace it.
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As the church hungers for revival and the world cries out for truth, praying in the Spirit may be one of the most untapped weapons in the believer’s arsenal. It is time to rediscover this beautiful gift—not as a token of spiritual superiority, but as a tool for edification, unity, and supernatural breakthrough.
Are you ready to go deeper? Then don’t stop at the outer gate. Step into the holy place. Pray in the Spirit. Be built up, strengthened and empowered for such a time as this.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
