Praying in tongues

[Jacqueline]

I've come to understand that there are a lot of different veiws regarding speaking in tongues. I want to thank all of you for veiw points. Has any of you ever spoken in tongues before?

God Bless You

Jacqueline

[Guest mcm42]

Has any of you ever spoken in tongues before?

yes, i've spoken in the english tongue, and dabbled in spanish for about 3 years in high school

Actually no, I haven't spoken in "tongues" as it is being discussed here.

[godrulz]

I have spoken in tongues for 25 years. I believe it can and should be a normative experience for believers. It is not the sign of an elite, superspiritual Christian. The charismata are not confined to charismatic/Pentecostals, but cross denominational walls.

Paul said that he spoke in tongues more than all of them; he who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; I would that you all speak in tongues, but fruit is as important as the gifts (not either/or, but both/and).

[Leonard]

Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Hey godrulz...are you sure??? Didn't that same Paul also write "Despise prophesying and forbid speaking in tongues"? Huh? Whats' that? Really?!!? It acually says "Despise NOT prophesying, and forbid NOT speaking in tongues"?

Well, EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSEEEEE ME!! My mistake....

With a blessing,

Leonard, a sinner.

[jmwhalen]

The Charismatic Movement has so influenced the church of our day that speaking in tongues has become an accepted phenomena. Touted as a proof and demonstration of the "Spirit filled life," tongues have become a standard part of the modern Christian culture and are commonly used as a measure of the validity of Christian experience.

The proponents of speaking in tongues seek to use Scripture to prove the authenticity of their practice. Yet when we examine the Scriptures to see if this practice is consistent with the Bible's own instructions we discover that there are at least six Scriptural facts the tongues movement never face. Tongue-talkers fail to submit themselves to the final authority of the Word of God in this matter and rather use the Scripture simply to "proof text" the validity of an experience they choose to have.

The Apostle Paul sets forth the procedure for the practice of tongues in I Corinthians 14. He founded the Corinthian assembly and then nourished it in the Word and dealt with many difficulties caused by their shortcomings and failures. One of the problems at Corinth was the abuse of the spiritual gifts in evidence in their midst. Paul write I Corinthians 12-14 to deal with that abuse.

In I Corinthians 14 he gives six very clear rules for the practice of tongues. If we want to ascertain if it is God speaking through a tongue-talker, here is an objective set of rules which clearly identify when it is the Holy Spirit who is working. These six tests present problems the modern tongues movement will never face because they would put it out of business. Paul introduces these instructions by saying:

"Brethren, BE NOT CHILDREN IN UNDERSTANDING: howbeit in malice be ye children, but IN UNDERSTANDING BE MEN" (I Corinthians 14:20).

Those who do not understand what Paul is going to set forth in the following verses demonstrate themselves to be children in understanding. This does not mean they are devils, just that they are babies when it comes to understanding how God works today.

Friend, isn't it time we grow up spiritually and "put away childish things?" The objective standard by which to evaluate the tongues movement is set forth in the following rules:

RULE 1

Tongues are for the benefit of the nation Israel:

"In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I SPEAK UNTO THIS PEOPLE; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord" (14:21).

Who is "this people" to whom God will speak with "other tongues?" Check Isaiah 28:11 and see. "This people" is clearly the nation Israel. Thus the next verse declares: "Wherefore TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN"

[waitingforhim]

The Lord has blessed me with the Holy Spirit baptism and I too, speak in tongues as the Spirit gives me utterance. I pray in tongues privatly mostly-like Paul. I have also been used in the "gift of tongues" which is a Spirit inspired utterance in other tongues in the body gathered-and must be interpreted. This is what Paul was speaking about when he made it plain that all are not used in the "gift of tongues" Not everyone who speaks in tongues privately will be used in the "gift of tongues"-which Paul said, was only one of nine gifts. Any one who is baptised in the Holy Spirit can pray in tongues "at will" however, the "gift of tongues" is for a specific moment, and cannot be done-just because you want to. Those who think this has ceased don't know what they are talking about.

[irishcowboy]

wow,

it is amazing how many people want to limit the workings of the Holy Spirit...

Tongues is only one of the nine gifts of the Spirit....

there is also interpretation of the tongues, and prophecy, three differant gifts, the same Spirit..... there is also the gifts of wisdom, knowledge and healing, again these also come from the same Holy Spirit..... the other three are Faith, discernment of the spirits, and also miricles...... all nine of these Gifts are from the Same Spirit...... THE HOLY SPIRIT.....

inspirational gifts are Tongues, Interpretation, and Prophecy, these are for uplifting of the members of the Church and for Exhalting and Exaltation of the Lord.....

illistration gifts are Faith, Miricles, Healings, and these are deeds that are done....

illumination gifts are Knowledge, Wisdom and Discernment of spirits, which are to open eyes........

never have the Gifts of the Spirit been taken away from us, no where does it say that one or two or all nine of these gifts have been taken away....

just because some one does not or has not ever spoke in tongues, or interpreted a message in tongues does not mean they are not saved..... believe it or not, just cause a person has never experienced one or more of the Gifts of the Spirit does not mean they are not filled with the Holy Spirit....

personally, I want to be full of the Spirit, I want to have more of the Power that the Spirit has to offer, but I also have to learn to control myself.... what???

yep, thats right, I have to learn to use the gifts for the right reason, not to rise up above any one else with them but to humble myself before the Lord and allow the Lord to use these Gifts to exalt Himself to edify Himself....

i had to learn this the hard way, i started getting pridefull when I was receiving some power from the Spirit, my heart was not right at that time, I wanted to boast about how the Spirit was working in me, not exhalting the Lord but me.... The Lord put me in my place after that....

we all say we believe that the Lord still HEALS..... but that is one of the Gifts of the Spirit.... if one is not for today, then the other 8 are not for today either?????

why limit the Works of the Lord God.... God is not too small to beable to not allow some one to have one or all the Gifts....

please, this is not the time to limit the ability of God...... if God wants us to have a gift, by all means I want to be able to accept it and use it for the Glory of the Lord...

remember, God is the same Yesterday, today, and tomorrow..... always forever...

mike

[godrulz]

jmwhalen: The Society for Pentecostal Studies might be helpful, since your exegesis of Scripture is weak to support a preconceived theology.

[jmwhalen]

Godrulz writes:

"jmwhalen: The Society for Pentecostal Studies might be helpful, since your exegesis of Scripture is weak to support a preconceived theology."

_____________________________________

It might be "helpful" if you would provide an argument, instead of an opinion. I read your previous post-no scriptural support. What you believe and the truth are independent. Scripture, please.

Here is a novel idea-why not consult the Book? I do not need the "The Society of Pentecostal Studies" "Holy Ghost laughter" crowd to be indoctrinated with false doctrine like you seem to have been. I would suggest you stop reading their false "Studies"and be a noble Berean of Acts 17:11.

You say "exegesis of scripture is weak to support a preconceived theology". Sounds like you saw that written somewhere and decided to throw it on the board and see if it sticks-sounds pretty impressive-standard cliche meaning "I do not have any scripture to back up my position, so I will use an impressive 'scholarly' statement and hope people will think I am an expert". I think I saw this cliche in the "Holy Ghost Bartending" manual.

When you want to have a serious discussion, I will respond. In the meantime, I suggest you read carefully Romans 16:25, Eph. 3:9, Colossians 1:26,27. What is the mystery? Has your "Society of Pentecostal Studies" ever "exegesised" the mystery? Did you know Pentecost was a Jewish feast day? Do you know what the "dispensation of the grace of God"(Eph. 3:2) is?

And finally, why is it that when Benny Hinn goes to a foreign country, and in front of thousands of people speaking a foreign language, he needs a translator to speak his message. Back to Pentecost? Where is the gift of tongues? And why is it that the TBN crowd does not go to hospitals? And why is it, given the supposed miraculous healings by the faith healers, most of them still wear glassses?

You need to learn to rightly divide the word of truth(2 Tim. 2:15). If you did, you would not be following these "...blind leaders of the blind"(Mt. 15:14).

In Christ,

John M. Whalen

[godrulz]

The extremes of Word-Faith are not normative Pentecostalism. You are putting up a 'straw man' argument showing your lack of understanding of biblical Pentecostalism. SPS is a highly respected, academic society that interacts with non-charismatic theologians, etc. These doctorate theologians have positive dialogue in academic circles.

I could do a verse by verse exegesis of I Cor. 12-14 and other passages from a Pentecostal perspective. If you are interested and open, there are many credible books. It is beyond my limited time and energy to do this with someone who disparages the modern work of the Holy Spirit.