BENEFITS OF PRAYING IN TONGUES

[SpiritPsalmist]

In 1 CO 14:2 & 4, Paul is discussing gifts and the gift of tongues, how does one split the the gift of tongues into a separate and distinct prayer language? I have no problem with the gift of tongues, foremost it is a gift given not requested and all the other rules and conditions which apply to the gift of tongues.

I would agree that the gift of tongues is a prayer language, but they are one and the same. There is no non-gift version of tongues.

Then why is an interpreter needed for something that is mysteries between you and God?

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

In 1 CO 14:2 & 4, Paul is discussing gifts and the gift of tongues, how does one split the the gift of tongues into a separate and distinct prayer language? I have no problem with the gift of tongues, foremost it is a gift given not requested and all the other rules and conditions which apply to the gift of tongues.

I would agree that the gift of tongues is a prayer language, but they are one and the same. There is no non-gift version of tongues.

Please Anthony, show me the place where Paul is limiting his teaching to one discription. Paul is talking about tongues. Period.

With one he is describing a conversation between God and the believer alone. V 2 (AMP) "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God" If I'm speaking to God. . .why does He need the interpretation? Why do I need to know what my spirit is saying to God? V4 "He who speak in a strange tongue edifies and improves himself" Again, if I'm improving myself by praying to God why is an interpretation needed? Is it anybody else's business what my spirit is praying to God?

You seem to think that all we do is stand in church and speak in tongues. . .you are very mistaken. We have tongues with interpretation, healing, teaching, preaching, and prophesying. People are saved, delivered, and healed.

 

[Andrew]

Hi Jono1, Welcome!

with a pentecostal church who believed that speaking in tongues is required to prove that you've been saved.

Actually, I dont think any of the charismatics here believe that at all (that you have to speak in tongues to prove you're saved). Also, are you sure Pentecostals believe that?

 

[look]

In church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Anthony, you just said, "I would agree that the gift of tongues is a prayer language...", now you seem to be saying "tongues with interpretations" is no good?

 

[Anthony]

Anthony, you just said, "I would agree that the gift of tongues is a prayer language...", now you seem to be saying "tongues with interpretations" is no good?

In church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Check your bible that statement was actually made by the Apostle Paul.

 

[Anthony]

The Gift of Tongues is not a problem for me, it is not an issue for me.

The question I have is the a separate stand alone prayer language. A language which operates outside of the gift of tongues.

 

[Andrew]

Anthony,

Do you in the first place, believe that there is such a thing as praying (not speaking) in tongues? ie instead of praying in English, one prays in tongues.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

In church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Check your bible that statement was actually made by the Apostle Paul.

Anthony,

I am not stupid. I am well aware of who made the statement in the Bible.

Paul also said that he spoke in tongues more than everyone. So, in order for you to compare yourself with him and qualify in making the same statement in the same circumstances you must be speaking in tongues more than us all.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Gift of Tongues is not a problem for me, it is not an issue for me.

The question I have is the a separate stand alone prayer language. A language which operates outside of the gift of tongues.

Again, Anthony, scripture does not spell it out in the format that you are requireing based on limited human understanding, however, it does demonstrate both sepearately.

Why would Paul clarify that a tongue spoken by one is between them and God? That the person is speaking mysteries that is between them and God?

Then in another part of the instructions say, in PUBLIC worship (1 Cor 14:19) that there needs to be understanding of the tongue so the whole body can be ministered to? Why would one part say one is to God and the other is to the congregation? There are obviously 2 differing occasions for the tongue with two differing purposes.

 

[Andrew]

Hi y'all! Have you been praying in tongues? Here are 2 fresh testimonies to encourage you:

Healing
Last nite at my care group meeting, when it came to prayer requests and praying time, we decided to pray in the spirit a little longer than usual.

My wife was suffering from one of her migraine attacks. She had it for about 2.5 days already, had popped in her pain killers but the migraine still lingered. I had even laid hands on her, and we had taken holy communion together.

So we all began to pray in the spirit, for about 20 minutes. Towards the end, she saw in her mind (sort of like a vision) dark clouds lifting and her migraine just disappeared! Praise God! It just lifted and went away. She was so much livlier after that enjoying the fellowship-and-eating session! She was also charged up the rest of the night, unable to sleep and so went to watch some TV while I hit the sack! Glory to God!

Sign for unbelievers
My care leader also told us about a girl from another care group. She had just been newly baptised in the Spirit. One day she was in her room speaking/praying in tongues. But she kept wondering: "What in the world am I doing? Is this for real or just a waste of time."

So she stopped. When she stopped, her maid rushed into her room and asked her: "Mam, you ok?!"

She looked bewlildered and asked: "I'm fine. what's wrong?"

The maid told her that while she was praying, she saw her whole face ablaze with fire. She wanted to enter the room a few times but was afraid. So when she stopped praying and the fire disappeared, she rushed in to check how she was!

This girl then explained to her maid what she was doing (praying in the Spirit) and guess what! -- she got her maid saved too!! Hallelujah!

 

[Anthony]

Anthony,

I am not stupid. I am well aware of who made the statement in the Bible.

Paul also said that he spoke in tongues more than everyone. So, in order for you to compare yourself with him and qualify in making the same statement in the same circumstances you must be speaking in tongues more than us all.

??? Compare myself with Apostle Paul ???

my response was to the poster name "Look"

 

[Anthony]

Anthony,

Do you in the first place, believe that there is such a thing as praying (not speaking) in tongues? ie instead of praying in English, one prays in tongues.

What is the difference between praying and speaking? i.e. what is the differences between praying in tongues and speaking in tongues.

Also praying in tongues? it's one and the same.

The point of my orginal question is the gift of tongues is it. If you speak, pray or what ever in tongues, it is the gift of tongues; there is no separate special prayer language which is separate and distinct from the gift of tongues.

 

[Andrew]

Anthony,

Praying and speaking in tongues is as different as preaching and praying in English.

The Bible clearly talks about speaking and praying in tongues -- 2 different modes of tongues.

If you want to question the validity of praying in tongues, please start another thread and leave my thread for the subject (benefits of tongues) for which it was created. Otherwise, we're going off topic. thanks

 

[Anthony]

Anthony,

Praying and speaking in tongues is as different as preaching and praying in English.

The Bible clearly talks about speaking and praying in tongues -- 2 different modes of tongues.

If you want to question the validity of praying in tongues, please start another thread and leave my thread for the subject (benefits of tongues) for which it was created. Otherwise, we're going off topic. thanks

question the validity of praying in tongues? say what?

praying in tongues is valid

The discussion was on the creation of something outside of tongues.

 

[Andrew]

there is no separate special prayer language which is separate and distinct from the gift of tongues.

Who here has ever said there was? Tongues is tongues. But there are at least to operations of it:
1. For praying
2. Message from God for the congregation which should accompany interpretation.

Charismatics usu refer to 1. as spiritual language or prayer language.

2. is usu referred to as the "gift" of tongues, stemming from Paul's statement that "do all speak in tongues" -- ie his reference to the operation of tongues in the sense of 2. (message from God with interpretation).

With that, can we please stick to topic of thread. tks

 

[Andrew]

Let me share another fresh testimony that happened on Wed night.

My wife was healed of a migraine attack the night before. But the next day, I started developing a headache after some stressful driving in the morning. It got worse as the day progressed. By night time after some sushi, I was flat on my back. It was so painful it was as though someone had wacked me behind my head with a baseball bat!

I lay in bed trying to sleep but couldnt. There was a battle going on in my head too -- should I just forget relying on God alone and pop in 2 panadols that wld bring me quick relief in about 45 mins? I had already prayed and claimed my healing by faith.

So, I could pop the tablets, lie there and do nothing and just bear with it, or a third option was to pray in tongues until I was healed (as what my wife did the nite before).

I hesitated for quite some time. my mouth was "jammed" cos I was fed up and angry with the pain.

Finally, by God's grace, i yielded my tongue to the Spirit and just began to pray slowly in tongues, almost breathless.

After about 30 mins (i think) I began to feel my whole body go limp and relax in a series of light waves. It was kinda strange but I knew then it was some kind of breakthrough.

I contd lying there for a bit more. then I told myself, a healed man doesnt continue lying in his sick bed. So I got up, walked around the room for a while, went to the kitchen, took communion, walk around a bit more. I felt that I was about 90% healed in terms of the symptoms. I was able to sleep without pain, my body was so much more relaxed and I woke up the next morning completely well! Praise God!

Tongues -- the rest and the refreshing!

 

[Anthony]

Who here has ever said there was? Tongues is tongues. But there are at least to operations of it:
1. For praying
2. Message from God for the congregation which should accompany interpretation.

Charismatics usu refer to 1. as spiritual language or prayer language.

2. is usu referred to as the "gift" of tongues, stemming from Paul's statement that "do all speak in tongues" -- ie his reference to the operation of tongues in the sense of 2. (message from God with interpretation).

With that, can we please stick to topic of thread. tks

Andrew, your statement; which I agree with

Praying in your known language like English is very limited. You could be praying selfish prayers, praying not according to the will or God, or praying with a lot of doubt. Also, you would not know all the facts, the spirits involved or the future. But the Holy Spirit knows! So, when the Holy Spirit prays through you, you cannot pray amiss!

The Holy Spirit is speaking, the Holy Spirit is praying on your behalf. You are not the one doing the praying, and it is not your language. It is not a language that we can master, it is simply the Holy Spirt who speaks n' prays.

but here is the problem post by Quaffer

The Spirit is always willing to make intercession for us, therefore, this prayer language can be used at any time in any place in any situation. . .at my will. If I choose not to use it, then I am denying myself the help that the Holy Spirit is very willing to give.

Quaffer comments make it out as though we can on our own use the language on our own. That we can pick up the Spirit's language and use it when he is not doing the praying?

 

[Andrew]

Quaffer comments make it out as though we can on our own use the language on our own. That we can pick up the Spirit's language and use it when he is not doing the praying?

That is certainly not what she means or what I mean. What we mean is that the Spirit is always willing to pray through us - withour cooperation of course, in the sense that he is not going to force your mouth to open and tongue to move as in a demonic possession.

Wldnt you agree that the Spirit wants to pray for us/thru us more than we want to? I mean, most of the time we are distracted by TV, golf games, work stress, etc.

Don't forget also that the Bible tells us to pray without ceasing, to pray always. And if that's the case, do you think there will ever be a time when we want to pray in tongues but the Spirit says, "Not now. Time out. Come back tomorrow"? He wld then be disagreeing with the Word.

So, praying in tongues is something we can "will" and pray anytime we want to simply becos the Spirit is always willing but it is our flesh that is weak and unwilling most of the time. (Note I am not refering to giving tongues messages from God in a public setting where interpretation is required)

I also posted elsewhere about the Menorah -- 9 branch candle stick. The middle candle is the only one that is removable -- and the Jews use it to light up the other 8 candles. This one movable-at-will candle is praying in the Spirit which lights/ignites the other 8 gifts of the Spirit. Most charismatics will tell you that the more they pray in the Spirit, the more they see the gifts operate in their ministries.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Yes, Andrew, it is not by my power but by His. It is my mouth, but His Spirit in me that is praying. . .anytime I need or desire.

Thank you for explaining that further to Anthony.

 

[raynman]

I am a newcomer here and was drawn to this thread right off the back. I have been speaking in tongues on ly for about 6 months now. But it will only happen when I am attending our Sun. night power praise,prayer and worship only. I have heard about listening to your prayer language and practicing it, but I cannot reproduce the language with the spirit. When I try I can tell its not spirit filled or it is me that is trying to speak just mumbo jumbo.