speaking in tounges

[matthew4:4]

Actually the gift of tongues has a dual dynamic. Public use of the gift is meant to be a benefit to the body and should be accompanied by the gift of interpretation. For private use however the gift of tongues is meant to build up, edify one's self. That's why Paul said that "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all."

By the way, a friend of ours (18 years old) ministering on a short-term mission trip in Mexico emailed us that she was praying for a young man after the service. Her interpreter was distracted and did not interpret as she prayed in English, but when she finished, the young man thanked her for such a beautiful and meaningful prayer. She asked if he understood English, but he said "No, but you were speaking in Spanish." It was a wonderful night for them all. This reminds me of what happened on the day of Pentecost, when Peter spoke (probably in his tongue Aramaic) everyone heard simultaneously in their mother-tongues. Too Cool! God is still doing all He can through willing vessels to communicate His love for us!!!

Blessings,

Sherman

Exactly, I agree with that tongues. The gift which allows someone to speak a language they had not known but a private prayer language I just can not see in the scripture. Show me one example of it being used or where it even speaks of the private tongues. Paul says in 1 corinthians that there are many languages in the world yet none is withought meaning. We can understand all of them. This supposed private prayer language is something no one except supposedly God understands. So, we have no way of testing it. But the Bible says that if someone claims to have a gift they need to first be tested. Anyone can just claim to have this sort of tongues and start speaking it and then I guess we are just supposed to believe them. Another thing is Paul NEVER distguishes between two different types of tongues when he gives his whole list of rules for using them. Don't you think when he addresses the fact that it needs to be interrpreted he might have said something like, "unless it is the tongues between you and God because this can not be interrpreted." But he never speaks of it.

Also, why is it to be assumed that when Paul said "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you", that this is speaking of private tongues. Obviously he could have said prophecy or healing. We are extremly thankful of whichever gift the Lord gives us. Let's see some scriptural evidence to support the private prayer tongues. I'm sure that you are capable of providing some good evidence. Thanks, your brother in Christ, matthew

P.S.- Very cool story!

Edited July 15, 2007 by matthew4:4