Spiritual Gifts Helps
Posted in gift on 12/31/2008 01:06 pm by admin
The spiritual gift of tongues?
Ok, so I’m kind of lost on this subject.
I’m trying to do some studying so I can form my own opinion on it, but no one has backed up ANYTHING (for or against) with good scripture.
Please help.
This is really important to me, because I go to a church where they believe in it but a youth group at a different church (long story) where they don’t. The people at my youth group know that my church believes in it, aand when they ask me what I think I never know what to say. Why would it cease? Is it always talking in another language or can it be just you and God? Is there any verse that hints that you can do it ALONE with no interpreter* as a way to pray to God?
The Bible teaches us that there are two types of “tongues”. One, is for the Believers edification. It is commonly called their “prayer language”. It is when the Christian allows the Holy Spirit to pray through them. This is necessary at times because the Bible teaches us that somethings the Christian does not know how, or what to pray for . And, this also allows the Christian to worship God when their own natural language is insufficient. This “prayer language” is given to the Believer when he or she receives the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Second encounter with God. The first encounter with God is called as ‘conversion’ or salvation. Just as the indwelling Spirit reproduces the life of Jesus, the outpoured, or baptizing Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus.
To illustrate, if I had a glass of water and took a swallow, then the water would be inside me. If, on the other hand, I went down to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then I would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give and to equip him for a practical, efficient, spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service. Inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days.
Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6
Do not think that I am saying you have to speak in tongues to be saved. I am not. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the mercy of God bring salvation and the indwelling Spirit, and that does not involve speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues, from all indications in the New Testament, is the consequence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There was an initial utterance in tongues, bearing witness that the tongue had been sanctified and empowered by God for His use. But speaking in tongues was not necessary for the salvation of those people.
Praying in tongues builds your faith. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). Some think you have to be “spiritually up” and anointed to pray in tongues, but praying in the Spirit builds our faith. If you need victory, pray in tongues.
Praying in the prayer language brings you spiritual rest. “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing . . . .” (Isaiah 28:11,12). When we are tired or upset we can pray in tongues and receive supernatural rest from God.
Praying in the Holy Spirit can help us better understand the truth of God’s Word and His guidance. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13). “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13).
Praying in tongues, as the Spirit impresses us can “take care of things” before they happen. Have you ever been awakened at 3 a.m. to pray and not know what to pray or how?
Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
Have you ever been awakened at in the night to pray and not know what to pray or how? Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
Praying in the prayer language gives us a “direct line” to God. “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God” (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot. “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God” (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot.
Praying in the Spirit acclimates us to the realm of the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe it is a stepping stone to the other gifts. For these six reasons you can see that speaking in tongues is much more than just a sign of the Holy Spirits Baptism.
The second type of “tongues” taught in Scripture is called the “gift of tongues” This is when a Christian speaks a message in tongues that is designed by God to operate in tandem with another spiritual gift from God called the “gift of interpretation”. These two gifts allows work in tandem, and are always for the church body. Together these gifts deliver a message from the Lord to His church is a supernatural way. This message is allways to be judged by the word of God to see if it lines up with the Scriptures. If it does not, then the Bible teaches us it is to be rejected. Ussually this happens when a young Christian becmes zealous for the gifts to operate in them, and will give what they “feel” to be a message from God. If it does line up to the Bible, then it is to be recieved as such.
1 Cor. 12:7-11, 31, 1 Cor. 14
Hope this helps.
Elder Greg
(((SFCU)))
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