Question about tongues

[Jenndiggy]

I've discussed this with a couple of friends recently.

Once somene prays in tongues for the first time, can they pray in tongues whenever they wish or can they still onlyl pray in tongues when God allows them? Is there any Scripture to back up either position?

Thanks,
Jenn

 

[dpatrick]

I've discussed this with a couple of friends recently.

Once somene prays in tongues for the first time, can they pray in tongues whenever they wish or can they still onlyl pray in tongues when God allows them? Is there any Scripture to back up either position?

Thanks,
Jenn

The best passage to back up that praying in tongues or "in the Spirit" is voluntary would be the best passage to support praying in tongues, period: 1 Cor 14. Throughout the apostle Paul's discourse in this chapter, it is strongly suggested that praying in tongues is a voluntary act. (Otherwise, why provide instruction at all as to the propriety of when/where to pray in tongues?).

 

[Jenndiggy]

But what about the Scripture that says something to the effect "when the Spirit give utterance"?

I'm not sure what I believe about this. I have had to relook at almost everything I believe in the last several months and this is no different.

 

[Andrew]

Jenndiggy,

There are 2 schools of thot:

1. some people get baptised in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, and then after that experience, can't do it anymore, or believe they can't. One such person was Smith Wigglesworth, a mighty man of God.

2. Most people who get baptised in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues can do so even after that, whenever they want to.

I have never met anyone in Category 1. except maybe Lee who posts here. While praying for someone sometime back, he began praying in tongues, but couldnt do that after that event. But we encouraged him to stir up the gift and just step out in faith, and I believe in the last post he made he told us he can do it regulary and at will now.

Most of us are in Category 2.

Praying/speaking/singing in tongues for your edification, and intercession, and praise and worship (in spirit and in truth) can be done at will, whenever you want to.

Otherwise, how can the Bible exhort us to pray always, all prayers and supplications IN THE SPIRIT? Now it wldnt make sense for God to exhort us to do something we can't.

BUT speaking in tongues -- where it is done in church (public setting), where the tongues is a message from God for the church, which of cse wld then need to be interpreted by another who has been given the gift of interpretation at that moment -- cannot be done at will, but is as the Spirit wills. I don't operate in this gift and have never done it before, but Quaffer has and is used in her church in this area.

This is what Paul meant when he said "Do all speak in tongues?" ie it can't be that when you are in church, God is giving all sorts of messages to just about everybody who's speaking in tongues. it happens ony as the Spirit wills, as with the gifts of healings and working of miracles.

I hope this is of some help to you.

 

[Andrew]

But what about the Scripture that says something to the effect "when the Spirit give utterance"?

People who speak in tongues understnd it to mean this:

When one prays for the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, what usu happens is that after the prayer of faith, he may begin to 'hear' strange words like "barama, siteh" rising up from his belly/spirit or popping into his mind, esp when he is in a worship/prayerful mood, expecting to receive the manifestation of tongues as asked for.

This is the "utterances" -- the unknown words -- that the Spirit gives. It is then up to the person to cooperate with the Spirit and speak those words out, until there is a natural flow.

The Spirit is always willing to give the utterances, but more often than not, it is the Christian who is lazy or plain unwilling to speak it out. Sometimes, I hear these words in my mind or spirit, but am just too lazy to open my mouth. The Spirit is always willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

[Jenndiggy]

But isn't there times that a person just isn't able to accept it yet? Like I had a friend in college praying for this and he felt that he needed to give up smoking before God would allow him to pray in tongues?

What about new Christians? Do they need a time of growth before GOd gives them this?

 

[Andrew]

But isn't there times that a person just isn't able to accept it yet? Like I had a friend in college praying for this and he felt that he needed to give up smoking before God would allow him to pray in tongues?

What your friend is doing is simply trying to earn a gift. That is works mentality. And it frustrates the grace of God.

All of God's gifts are free -- received by grace thru faith -- as with salvation! Did your friend have to give up certain bad habits first b4 God saved him? Certainly not.

There's an old saying: "You don't clean yourself first b4 taking a shower. You go to the shower to get cleaned."

What your friend should have done was to just go ahead and get Spirit filled. When he is Spirit filled and empowered, then he is better equipped to overcome his smoking habit. But people are putting the cart b4 the horse, and trying to be 'holy' enough to receive. That is plain self-righteousness.

In the past, it was thought and taught that one had to "tarry" (Acts 2) -- beg, cry, plead, fast, get cleaned up first, etc for days to years -- b4 one could receive the baptism and speak in tongues. Thank God the church doesnt do that anymore, and has found out that the baptism and tongues is received just like any other grace gift of God -- by faith.

What about new Christians? Do they need a time of growth before GOd gives them this?

Did Cornelius and his household have to go thru a time of Christian growth/maturity (say 3 years) b4 they could receive the baptism and speak in tongues? We know they received immediately when they were born again.

Again, its always wiser and better to be Spirit filled right from the start, so that we can be empowered to live the victorious Christian life right from the start, and not wait until things are so messed up. If the Spirit is our helper and comforter, why delay his infilling?

 

[Jenndiggy]

But what if it doesn't happen right away?

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Jenn,

The ability to speak in tongues is available to every believer. . . what generally hold someone back is the idea that the Spirit is going to take hold of the persons tongue and force them to speak. . .which is not the way it happens. It is our tongue that is doing the talking and we cannot talk in two languages at once.

Generally, I believe that one will think or hear in their head words that sound silly to them. . .but really, it is the Spirit welling up inside them. Repeating what one hears no matter how silly it may sound is the key. That is the beginning of many wonderful conversations between them and God. It is not important that one understands what they are praying. . .God understands.

This type of praying is edifying to the believer. Our spirit prays for what is really needed not just what we, in our own thinking believe we need.

This type of praying crosses all bounderies. Where we don't know what to pray for, our spirit does.

The scriptures "as the Spirit gives utterance" is referring to the gift of tongues which also requires that there be an interpretation so that the whole body of believers may be edified by what the Spirit says.

The prayer language though is your spirit praying to God via the instigation of the Holy Spirit. And those are conversations between you and God. The Spirit is always willing and those conversations can take place at any time and place.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Sometimes while under a stronger anointing my tongue will seem to tap against the top of my mouth. I do not know if anyone else experiences this.

 

[Andrew]

But what if it doesn't happen right away?

Jenn,

Dun take this the wrong way but at some point it is just better for us to step out in faith and stop 'rationalising', 'reasoning' and 'questioning'.

Granted everyone has questions. but reasoning and rationalising doesn't get one speaking in tongues. It is stepping out in faith.

I find that new Christians 'born right into' a charismatic church receive easy. becos there's no denominational- theological-philosophical baggage to unload first.

You tell them this is it, that's how you receive and they just go for it -- and receive. *LOL

There is no pressure to receive. And whether you speak in tongues or not does not make you a 'better' or 'worse' Christian. That's irrelevant. But it does mean you are better equipped to handle life's obstacles and the wiles of the devil -- IF you use the gift faithfully and dont shelve it after it's lost its 'novelty'!

God want's every Christian to have this baptism, but its really up to each one to submit and cooperate with Him, and to use it