Session 9 | Prophetic Training | Walk on Water Ministry

Session 9

Speaking in Tongues

The gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10) is a powerful spiritual tool that edifies the believer, builds up the church, and enhances prophetic ministry. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit, available to any believer who desires it, often received through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).

What is it?

Speaking in tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a language — heavenly or earthly — unknown to the speaker, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul writes that tongues edify the speaker personally and, with interpretation, the church (1 Corinthians 14:2–5).

Different Uses

Personal edification — a private prayer language to build up the believer’s spirit. “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:20)
Intercession — Spirit-led prayer when words fail us. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
Public ministry with interpretation — tongues spoken in a gathering, followed by interpretation, to edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:5, 13).
Evangelistic tongues — speaking in a known human language for outreach, as in Acts 2. Rare, but powerful when it happens.

How it Serves the Prophetic

Tongues can heighten spiritual sensitivity — preparing us to receive prophetic revelation or to discern God’s direction in a meeting. Praying in tongues before a service may open your spirit to receive a word.

Practical Use

In personal prayer, use tongues daily in private devotion to deepen your connection with God. Journal anything that surfaces — it may lead to prophetic words or clarity.

In a church setting, speak publicly in tongues only if prompted by the Spirit and if interpretation is expected (1 Corinthians 14:27–28). If no interpreter is present, pray silently to avoid confusion.

Cautions

Tongues are not a sign of spiritual superiority. Paul valued intelligibility in the church over personal use of tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18–19).
Respect the church culture. In some settings public tongues will be unfamiliar. Submit to leadership. Prioritise edification over expression.
Always seek interpretation in public. Public tongues without interpretation cause confusion (1 Corinthians 14:23).

A Closing Word

This material was written so that the prophetic could be restored to function as it should — a prophetic people whose strength is in their humility, whose protection is in their submission, and whose weapon is love.

If you take only one thing from these sessions, take this: the gift is the handle of the sword, and love is the blade. The handle directs and wields, but it is His love that does the work. Pursue love. Then desire the gifts.

May the Bride be ready and waiting in anticipation for Christ’s return.

Credits & Copyright. Published under Copyleft — free to use, distribute and improve. Scripture quotations marked NLT: Holy Bible, New Living Translation © 1996, 2004, 2007 Tyndale House Foundation. ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001 Crossway Bibles. With thanks to Kris Vallotton and Bethel. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer.” — Proverbs 11:24

Five-Day Reading Plan

This plan follows Session 9 — the prayer language that fuels intimacy and intercession, and how it serves the prophetic. Each day pairs scriptures cited in the teaching with passages that deepen the same theme.

From the session referenced in the teaching · Suggested added to deepen the theme

Day 1 A Gift of the Spirit

Tongues, available to any believer who desires it.

Acts 2:1–13 — the Spirit poured out; the believers speak in tongues From the session
1 Corinthians 12:7–11 — tongues among the gifts the one Spirit gives From the session
Acts 19:1–7 — the Spirit comes and they speak and prophesy Suggested

Day 2 Personal Edification

A private prayer language that builds up the spirit.

Jude 1:17–21 — “praying in the Holy Spirit”, building yourselves up From the session
1 Corinthians 14:1–5 — the one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up From the session
Ephesians 6:18 — praying at all times in the Spirit Suggested

Day 3 Intercession Beyond Words

The Spirit prays through us when words fail.

Romans 8:26–27 — the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words From the session
1 Corinthians 14:13–15 — praying with the spirit and with the mind also From the session
Ephesians 3:14–21 — prayer reaching beyond what we can ask Suggested

Day 4 Order in the Church

Public tongues, interpretation, and edification.

1 Corinthians 14:18–28 — intelligibility in church; tongues with interpretation From the session
1 Corinthians 14:39–40 — do not forbid tongues; all things in order Suggested
1 Corinthians 12:27–31 — gifts serving the one body Suggested

Day 5 Tongues and the Prophetic

Praying in the Spirit opens us to revelation.

Acts 2:14–21 — tongues at Pentecost flow into prophecy From the session
Jude 1:20–21 — built up in faith, kept in the love of God Suggested
Galatians 5:16–25 — walking in step with the Spirit Suggested

A Daily Rhythm

Read the passage unhurried. Then sit quietly, let the noise of the world settle, and journal anything that comes — a word, a picture, an impression — and date it. Over weeks and months, patterns emerge that you would never see otherwise. Test everything you receive against Scripture.

Each scripture link opens in a new tab — so you can read the passage and return here without losing your place in the session.