Receiving the Holy Spirit

[Blien]

I had some people pray over me tonight to receive the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. I don't know why but now I feel like maybe I did something wrong by allowing them to do this. What if I don't receive the gift? Does that mean I don't have enough faith?

Then something strange happened before that. While they were praying and speaking in tongues over other people I felt this strong sensation come over me. It was like a wave that went through me. I felt dizzy/lightheaded and began having muscle twitches. Then my heart started racing really fast. I have NEVER in my life experienced anything like this. First I thought it was neat but then it scared me! Was this God or the devil? I'm so confused!

You receive the Holy Spirit when you receive Christ. What they are trying to do is known as being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Remember that the gifts of the Spirit are given at His will (1 Corinthians 12:11), not at the will of man. Not everyone who is baptized in the Spirit will speak in tongues. Be weary of those who claim this. We can read in 1 Corinthians 12:30 and 14:5 that all do not speak in tongues. Paul wished that everyone spoke in tongues. Why woudl Paul state that if all did?

1 Corinthians 12:30

Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 14:5

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Now this is biblical.

From personal experience I wondered what faith meant in the beginning of my walk. I heard many speak of great joy in the Spirit, but I did not experience this in the beginning of faith. Today I do not consider that as a false work in me. I'm shown that in the beginning of faith a person still trust more in the carnal mind, but as a rule that does not last a long time. Being baptized by water was the beginning of uncertain things. Jesus used the words O' you of little faith. That was not an insult which was given (only) to His disciples. It was a way of teaching a man that the things he trusts most about himself fears to walk with Jesus in spiritual matters because it is very new and unknown up to that point of His teaching. These things are known among those who have been baptized by fire (by the Spirit). It is my understanding that there is the baptism by water and then the baptism by fire. Water according to the flesh and fire according to the Spirit. You are by faith one of His disciples. That is an awesome place to be even if in the beginning you do not understand O' you of little faith. Jesus said those words only to those who follow Him. By faith trust Him and you will grow like the seed of the mustard seed plant.

Fair enough.. but could you explain to me, where is the scripture for the part I made bold?

[Blien]

Can someone direct me to where in the Bible it says we are to publicly pray in "tongue" without an interpreter? Thanks!

Paul only mentioned using tongues to speak to God (which is what prayer is, correct?) He didn't say anything - well at least not in writing - about how to or not to pray in tongues.

Actually he did, here are Paul's instructions concerning tounges..

1 Corinthians 14

5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the Law it is written:

"Through men of strange tongues

and through the lips of foreigners

I will speak to this people,

but even then they will not listen to me,"[f] says the Lord.

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

Orderly Worship

[OneLight]

I have had people tell me that they can "teach" me how to speak tongue. Is that scriptural?

Nobody can teach you how to speak in tongues. If this could be taught, it would not be a gift. The only real speaking in tongues comes as the Spirit moves you, not by any lesson.

As for your other question about prayer, I pray in secret, unless others ask me to pray with them, right then and there. When I am asked to do this, I pray so they can understand. I have never been led to pray in the Spirit in public.

[Blien]

I have had people tell me that they can "teach" me how to speak tongue. Is that scriptural?

Nobody can teach you how to speak in tongues. If this could be taught, it would not be a gift. The only real speaking in tongues comes as the Spirit moves you, not by any lesson.

As for your other question about prayer, I pray in secret, unless others ask me to pray with them, right then and there. When I am asked to do this, I pray so they can understand. I have never been led to pray in the Spirit in public.

Now this is biblical.. I believe in tongues, but I don't believe that everyone has it as some people teach. Even though I desire it very much..

[nebula]

Can someone direct me to where in the Bible it says we are to publicly pray in "tongue" without an interpreter? Thanks!

Paul only mentioned using tongues to speak to God (which is what prayer is, correct?) He didn't say anything - well at least not in writing - about how to or not to pray in tongues.

Actually he did, here are Paul's instructions concerning tounges..

Blien, I believe you missed what I said.

The question was about PRAYING in tongues - not using tongues to SPEAK to the assembly.

Paul was addressing a problem within the church in Corinth concerning disorderly conduct in many areas. This was one of them. By saying interpretation and prophecy are more edifying to the body does not mean he was dissing the gift of tongues.

After all, he said, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."

Paul was not by any means dismissing the gift of tongues! Nor was he devaluing it. Nor was he putting it into a box.

Paul's comparison between tongues and prophecy had to do with making declarations to the assembly.

But no where does he put restrictions on tongues being used for prayer (speaking to God).

Again, this wasn't a Tongues 101 discourse. It was a post-instruction to bring order to the congregation.

[nebula]

I have had people tell me that they can "teach" me how to speak tongue. Is that scriptural?

Nobody can teach you how to speak in tongues. If this could be taught, it would not be a gift. The only real speaking in tongues comes as the Spirit moves you, not by any lesson.

As for your other question about prayer, I pray in secret, unless others ask me to pray with them, right then and there. When I am asked to do this, I pray so they can understand. I have never been led to pray in the Spirit in public.

Now this is biblical.. I believe in tongues, but I don't believe that everyone has it as some people teach. Even though I desire it very much..

The only time I have or heard anyone praying in tongues in front of people was amidst praying - praying in tongues as a means to get the mind connected to the spirit.

Not sure how else to explain that. It's one of those things you have to do before you can understand, I guess (or maybe someone more eloquent with words than me can figure out how to express it properly?).

[Blien]

I have had people tell me that they can "teach" me how to speak tongue. Is that scriptural?

Nobody can teach you how to speak in tongues. If this could be taught, it would not be a gift. The only real speaking in tongues comes as the Spirit moves you, not by any lesson.

As for your other question about prayer, I pray in secret, unless others ask me to pray with them, right then and there. When I am asked to do this, I pray so they can understand. I have never been led to pray in the Spirit in public.

Now this is biblical.. I believe in tongues, but I don't believe that everyone has it as some people teach. Even though I desire it very much..

The only time I have or heard anyone praying in tongues in front of people was amidst praying - praying in tongues as a means to get the mind connected to the spirit.

Not sure how else to explain that. It's one of those things you have to do before you can understand, I guess (or maybe someone more eloquent with words than me can figure out how to express it properly?).

So now are you suggesting it can't be done without tongues?

Praying tongues in public goes against 1 Corinthians 14 unless it's done in an orderly way. In fact, when I was a new believer it freaked me out when it was done publicly and not explained(interpreted). Thought I had read through Corinthians before I first saw it so I came to realize it was tongues. What if someone without that understanding came in? They would think, as Paul says, that you're out of your mind.

But going back to what you were saying about getting the mind connected to the spirit, I don't have tongues but I have the ability to see into the spiritual realm. The gift is not always strong on me but if I'm in worship and can't see with my eyes open, all I need to do is close my eyes and I can see with my eyes closed. That's one way of how I connect with my spirit.. Another way is I just again close my eyes, clear my thoughts, then ask God in my inner voice to speak to me what He would have to say, or I just start praying keeping in mine my intention is to communicate with Him. I've received prophecy this way without even expecting it, suddenly I would get an answer or word of knowledge.. etc.

Anyway, like I said before, not everyone has tongues and I believe there were two occasions in acts where people were filled with the Holy Spirit and did not receive tongues (I'm not 100% certain though).. I'll see if I can find them..

[nebula]

The only time I have or heard anyone praying in tongues in front of people was amidst praying - praying in tongues as a means to get the mind connected to the spirit.

Not sure how else to explain that. It's one of those things you have to do before you can understand, I guess (or maybe someone more eloquent with words than me can figure out how to express it properly?).

So now are you suggesting it can't be done without tongues?

Where in the world did you get that I was saying that?

I was only saying that people use if for this purpose. I never stated that was the only way it can be done.

Why did you think I was stating that?

Praying tongues in public goes against 1 Corinthians 14 unless it's done in an orderly way.

And the way I and others use it as I describe is done orderly. Why do you suppose it isn't?

In fact, when I was a new believer it freaked me out when it was done publicly and not explained(interpreted). Thought I had read through Corinthians before I first saw it so I came to realize it was tongues. What if someone without that understanding came in? They would think, as Paul says, that you're out of your mind.

Blien, should I be "seeker sensitive" with the gift the Lord has given me?

But really, didn't the people of Jerusalem believe the the disciples were bonkers when they came out of the upper room speaking in tongues and appearing drunk?

Just because Michal thought David a fool, did David cease to become undignified in public for the Lord? (That's the way I feel with this.)

But going back to what you were saying about getting the mind connected to the spirit, I don't have tongues but I have the ability to see into the spiritual realm. The gift is not always strong on me but if I'm in worship and can't see with my eyes open, all I need to do is close my eyes and I can see with my eyes closed. That's one way of how I connect with my spirit.. Another way is I just again close my eyes, clear my thoughts, then ask God in my inner voice to speak to me what He would have to say, or I just start praying keeping in mine my intention is to communicate with Him. I've received prophecy this way without even expecting it, suddenly I would get an answer or word of knowledge.. etc.

I do that, too.

Tongues is just another means of connecting. Or you could consider it letting the Spirit pray through my spirit first, where my mind can't get in the way, then praying with my mind (the understanding).

Anyway, like I said before, not everyone has tongues

And that's fine. I keep praying to have the gift of interpretation, but that hasn't happened, either.

It just bothers me when people who don't have the gift try to tell us how our gift is supposed to be operated as if you all understand the gift better than we do.

and I believe there were two occasions in acts where people were filled with the Holy Spirit and did not receive tongues (I'm not 100% certain though).. I'll see if I can find them..

OK

[~Shalhevet~]

How do you know that the gift is from God if you cannot understand what you are saying? Just curious.

[nebula]

All I know is -

"If you ask our father for a fish, will he give you a scorpion?"

Also, I can assess what it does for my spiritual life. Does it strengthen or cause problems with my relationship with the Lord?

I have found it has been wonderful for my relationship with the Lord.