Tongues what happens?

[Fragrant Grace]

Greetings brothers and sisters

I have just temporarily closed the thread about activating tongues.

I would like to ask people here to write about your experience of speaking in tongues/or no experience

How it happens?

When it happens?

Where it happens?

Is there an interpreter?

This is not for a biblical debate....just for personal experience of tongues /or no experience.

 

[amadeus2]

No debate, only testimony. In 1976, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I also received the gift of speaking in tongues. For me as I have come to experience it and understand it, it is like the parables of Jesus. Not everyone had ears to hear what Jesus was saying even though they understood His carnal human language. Eventually the tongue talking will be gone, but that is according to God's time rather than our own. In the interim we can speak directly to God in a godly language which was established only for that purpose. God always hears and understands even if we are asking for things that we cannot and do not understand ourselves. My regular tongue talking is done at home when it is just me and God. But, when I am out and about among people walking and working and play etc. in their flesh at times my heart will activate my mouth and I will pray for a situation that I may or may understand clearly... except that it is what God wants. My mouth moves and forms the words as it happens when I am home alone with God. The primary difference is that at home I speak loud and clear so that if my wife or another comes into the room [a rare occurrence] they would definitely hear me, while when it happens elsewhere, I hold myself to a barely audible whisper that only someone standing quite close could hear and even they would not know what was happening unless they were also in touch with God at that moment.

When someone asks me to pray for them personally, while I may start out with prayer in English as I get into the Spirit, my language may change to an unknown one, but the person being prayed for definitely knows what is happening.

My prayer language did not begin where it is now. Rather it has grown over the years. What is the limit? The limit is me because with God there is certainly no limit.

Give God the glory!

 

[Hekuran]

I have a six miles cycle ride to and from work each day. This is the time I most often speak in tongues.

I am well aware of Paul saying that while speaking in tongues the mind is unfruitful. My experience is that my own thoughts are often a hinderances in prayer. Praying in tongues allows my spirit to be liberated from the shackles of my own limited thoughts for a while. (One of my weaknesses is a tendency to overtaking and try to rationalise everything)

The result for me is an increased awareness of God's presence and grace, and more joy and peace, love and hope as a consequence.

 

[Hekuran]

Hi @amadeus2

Interested in your last comment that your prayer language has developed over the years. I'm not at all sure that my own prayer language has changed much at all over time.

If you'd be willing to say a little more about this I'd love to know.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Hi @amadeus2

Interested in your last comment that your prayer language has developed over the years. I'm not at all sure that my own prayer language has changed much at all over time.

If you'd be willing to say a little more about this I'd love to know.

Greetings @Hekuran ,
The more personal time you spend with the Father in Prayer (Spiritual Tongues) the more your speaking and understanding will grow.

Look at a child in the natural.
As they learn to speak it is somewhat lacking but the more they speak the more developed their speaking and understanding become.

It's the same in the Spiritual Realm.
I am sure @amadeus2 will explain it better but I wanted to share my experience with you.

Praying your week will be Joyfully Blessed
Blessings
W4F

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Greetings,
When I finally got Baptized after becoming Born Again I came up out of the water Speaking in Tongues.

Lol I got scared or embarrassed or something and I tried to keep it away.
Did not work though, it came out anyway.

I have struggled with interpretation but I have come to peace knowing the Father knows and I have found it does tend to lead me in praying with understanding or with normal words.

Many times I don't know exactly what I should pray and after praying in the Spirit and then the natural words flow within a combination of praying both ways.

Blessings
W4F

 

[Waggles]

In 1996 I was challenged by a women's testimony of how she was healed by Jesus
from her drug addictions and lifestyle along with being instantly healed of Hepatitis C.
I was confronted by the preaching of the full gospel of salvation to me.
A man opened up his KJV Bible and read out many pertinent scriptures to being
born again through obedience to baptism of water and the Holy Spirit.
He showed me the scriptures that clearly declare that such would also speak in new tongues
by the Spirit.

I was a practicing Roman Catholic at the time and even though I was excited by all this I
was unsure about believing a new doctrine and leaving the "mother" church.

I prayed to Jesus about all of this and if it was true. If this Pentecostal gospel is true
then lead me and guide me to the truth that you approve of.
And Jesus did prove himself to be true and that his gospel is true for on the first
day of December 1996 I received the Spirit of truth - the Holy Spirit and I spoke in tongues.
Don't worry I was baptised by full immersion a month before.

Like everybody else in The Revival Fellowship I spoke forth in tongues - the sign promised
by Jesus himself in Mark 16

I pray in tongues daily often. I start the morning with a cup of coffee and then I pray
for at least a half-hour in tongues. Wonderful and uplifting.
And it is a joy not to pray just for myself but to pray for others as well and to see others
blessed through my prayers.
Thus a Pentecostal Christian praying in tongues I enjoy innumerable blessings, healings,
miracles and provision. Not just for myself but for others also.

Now as to the other gifts distributed to a Spirit-filled church.
At our worship meetings we also operate the three voice gifts of the Holy Spirit
diversity or diversities of tongues
interpretation (of the preceding gift)
prophecy
All done decently and in order in accordance with 1 Corinthians 14

I myself have never operated these voice gifts at a meeting, but I have made good use of
the gifts of faith,
healings,
working of miracles,
discerning of spirits.

 

[Waggles]

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:

 

[Brad Huber]

I never have to my knowledge spoken in tongues (the tongue of angels of course, thats what people brag about). I am not an angel. I am a human, and I am blessed to be able to speak to both God and man, and even angels in my pitiful human tongue. I was given many gifts of the Spirit, and after speaking to several christians who believed that you just arent fully christian until you speak in tongues, I was deceived into thinking I also should have that gift as well. I fasted and prayed that God would give me them, so that I would be "fully" christian. God spoke to me and told me that it was the least of the gifts, and that by no means is it a gift given to all, and that His Grace and gifts to me are SUFFICIENT for me. I apologized to God for the envy I had in my heart, and He told me that the man who had told me this and those like him want the inclusiveness of being more special, but that it was the least of all his gifts and that they were deceived as to their importance.

 

[Gabriel Kinson]

I received my prayer language in 2012. There are occasions where I have spoke in tongues around others, but most of my tongues are done in private. I don't plan or prepare. If the Spirit moves in me, I speak.

 

[B-A-C]

I have done both.

I grew up Pentecostal and currently attend a Pentecostal church.

I was "saved" when I was 12 at a church altar call. Went up and did the "sinners prayer".
Confessed my sins, asked Jesus into my heart, and told Him I wanted to follow Him.

Two weeks later I was water baptized.

The church had been doing a lot of preaching on the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual gifts at that time.
I couldn't tell you exactly what the sermon was that Sunday. But two weeks later during what I would
call "the normal alter call for salvation" I went up again and spoke in tongues. I don't know what language I was speaking.

That was over 45 years ago. Since then I have done it many times. I have also heard many others do it many times.

My church believes in two types of talking in tongues. The first type is a quiet "to yourself" type of prayer.
I believe you can pray in the Spirit without speaking in tongues... I have done this also, but many times it is
in tongues. Similar to how you might pray kneeling beside your bed at home or driving in your car.

I don't speak French or German... I speak just a very little Spanish... I don't speak Japanese either (even though
I loved in Japan for a while many years ago) however even though I don't speak any of those languages.
I can tell you which of those languages someone else is speaking. There is a particular rhythm, vowel sound,
for about every language.

It is the same with this speaking in tongues. I've heard it in churches all over the US, and it always the same
language that people speak. I said earlier there was a type of tongues that was quietly.. just between you and God.
But that doesn't mean you can't do it when other people are around.

For example... you might pray during worship time or prayer time in your church service. You might do it quietly.
Even though you are doing it quietly... it's possible people near you can hear it. Even though you aren't really
talking to them, or even necessarily praying for them. It's the same with tongues... it can be done in a soft quiet voice.
It's just between you and God.

But other times, (usually during the music worship service) it is done a second way. Someone will speak up loudly
(even with a microphone if necessary) to the entire church. Everyone in the sanctuary stops whatever they are doing,
and lets this person speak. Now this is always done orderly... it doesn't interrupt the song, or the sermon...
it waits until there is a quiet space between songs or prayers or whatever is going on.

Even this is done two different ways... sometimes this is in a (heavenly/unknown/language of angels).
But sometimes it's done in an Earthly language that is not your native tongue. I have heard people speak
languages that I know they don't know how to speak (at least on their own). I've even heard people who
weren't believers, but knew that language interpret what was said. So isn't always what some people call "jibberish".

I've been in church services (even non-Pentecostal) where sometimes you can tangibly feel the presence of the
Spirit. The hair on your arms stands up, your hair starts tingling, and you can't help but start praising the Lord.
But in a Pentecostal service, whenever this second type of tongues happens, you feel it the same feeling.
I use the word "feeling".. but it really isn't a feeling. It's more just a sensing that someone is there. Kind
of like knowing someone walked into the room behind you, even though you didn't see them or hear them.

Now the difference between the "quiet" speaking in tongues and the "loud" speaking in tongues is that one is just
for you. The other is for the entire church. But if someone speaks in the loud tongues... and everyone gets quiet.
Then someone else must either give a word of knowledge, give a word of wisdom, or give a prophecy.

On rare occasions it has been the same person that does both, but normally it is a different person than the
one who spoke in tongues. Whatever is said can never disagree with the Bible. There is a whole set of rules
about this in 1 Cor chapter 14. It can only be done two or at the most three times in a service.
If someone does interrupt the person giving the prophecy (I've only seen that happen once) then the first person
is to be quiet and let the second person speak.

The Bible seems to say that not everyone has the gift of tongues... I would agree with that. But it does say that
everyone who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit does have at least one of the nine gifts in 1 Cor 12.
Maybe your gift isn't speaking in tongues... but it might be a word of knowledge, or a word of wisdom, or prophecy.

Again... the rest of the church is silent while the person giving the interpretation or prophecy speaks.
Generally after this happens.. the church service just resumes as "normal". The whole thing usually just takes
2 or 3 minutes at most. Sometimes an elder in the church or the pastor himself will say something about it
right after it happens. But usually they leave it to the congregation to receive it.

I live in a small farming town. (I have seen this in large cities also) but I have a 20-25 minute drive to work
every morning. Often I read the Bible before I go.. but I usually pray while driving. (I pray again at home in the evening)
.. of course sometimes I pray all through the day. But it usually my quiet time... when I am driving.. with soft Christian
music in the back-ground turned down low. That is usually when I speak in tongues.

I have also done intercessory prayer in tongues (I know there is some disagreement even about what intercessory prayer is)
but in this case... someone I know wants prayer for some specific thing that day. So I will go over to them and start
praying. Usually I start off just praying like non-Pentecostals would pray (not in tongues).. but sometimes in the
middle of the prayer... I just switch over to tongues without thinking about it. Again this would "quiet mode".
I'm not speaking or praying to the entire congregation. It's just between that person, me and God (maybe a small group
of four or five people). In those times when I am driving in my truck and praying... I don't interpret.
It's only me and God there... so there is no need to interpret to anyone else.

If my wife or a close friend who has been raised in the church the same way I have is there, or they are the one being prayed
for... again usually an interpretation or prophecy isn't needed.

When Paul is talking the rules in 1 Cor 14. It is clear that he is talking about "during the church service".
The type of tongues that he is talking about here that need to be interpreted or prophesied or given
a word of wisdom or knowledge here... is the "loud" tongues where someone is giving a message to the church.
When I say "someone is giving a message".. what I really mean is God is speaking through them to the church.

Can this be faked? I'm sure it could be... but why would anyone want to? But just because something can be
faked.. does that mean we shouldn't do it? I wonder how many "Christians" are faking their Christianity.

Once a week we have a Bible Study/Prayer meeting at my house. There ave been times that everyone there is speaking
in tongues. But not in a disorderly fashion. Not loudly or interrupting one another. Everyone is just having a private
conversation to God. I also go to a men's prayer group/Bible study breakfast once a week. This was originally
for the men in my church. But it has grown and now we have a few men from other churches there. (non-Pentecostal)

So far no one from my church (including myself) has spoken in tongues during this time. I don't really think anyone
is afraid to (I know I'm not).. but rather why cause friction between believers if there doesn't need to be?
Maybe it will happen someday.. I don't know. But if I feel led to do it by the Spirit... I will.

Since I've been an adult I have attended many church services at many kind of churches.
But some of the churches that don't practice the gifts of the Spirit seem to be more inclined
not show the fruit of the Spirit as well. It seems they go hand in hand. Some churches I have attended simply seem like something is missing. The intimacy and closeness to God isn't the same in every church. In fact I have been in some church services where I didn't even feel God show up.

 

[Lanolin]

My experience..

I was baptised in the holy spirit at 4am one night in my bed,and it was a real dramatic experience. I had been to a prayer meeting that evening wanting to know God...well He shook me and unknown tongue came out if my mouth but I kinda knew it was praising Him, cos I could understand the word hallelujah!

Everyone else in my home was asleep but was afraid they could hear cos it was real noisy. The next few days I asked the host of the home prayer meeting what that was and she directed me to acts chapter two.

Later when spoke in tongues at this prayer meeting there was interpretation that I was praising fhe Lord, it was malay or indonesian which I had never spoken or learned before. Often the chrisitans in this prayer group would speak in other tongues but many were indian so just thought they were speaking in their native tongue!

i dont speak in tongues at church cos thats a time for listening to the preacher but often pray in tongues, softly wherever, especially when dont know what to pray. The more i do it, I just have this peace that I am a vessel for his glory and that even if I dont know what I am saying the spirit knows and thats a direct connection with God.

When the preacher invites people to speak in tongues I may but havent done it yet. i would only do it if invited, but I do know that whem others speak in tongues even if I may not know what they saying God does and its for His glory.

When praying with others esp english speakers I usually pray in english as we all understand each other an edified by it. English is actually my native tongue i would say but chinese is my mother tongue. Im a bit surprised that God didnt give me chinese because I would have used it to speak with mum about Him as my chinese is terrible. im not fluent.But then I actually know some of it, so, He gave me a tongue that was totally different.

I do have an indonesian fellow sister in christ but have not actually prayed with her in tongues..yet. She learned english. One time a church member asked to pray with me and said she would pray in tongues but it sounded japanese and I had no idea what she was saying. So...its a funny thing tongues. It would be good if we could have some proper direction on how to use them but the people who werent given this gift often complain..however we do need to know how to operate them like people learn how to give healing but not everyone will have that gift either, but there does need to be some guidlines, training or encouragemnt on how best to use our gifts' whatever they are.

Acfually check that i dont know if my tongue is actually indonesian, it sounds asian i remember for the longest time trying to figure out what I had said the first time it happened and what language it was. Its just one of the interpreters was indian or indonesian at the prayer meeting. It could be the tongue of angels, well I dont know the name of it. I can recognise some words like hallelujah and shekinah, but thats hebrew?! I dont really know what hebrew sounds like spoken fluently as never met any hebrew speakers.

 

[Waggles]

God spoke to me and told me that it was the least of the gifts, and that by no means is it a gift given to all, and that His Grace and gifts to me are SUFFICIENT for me. I apologized to God for the envy I had in my heart, and He told me that the man who had told me this and those like him want the inclusiveness of being more special, but that it was the least of all his gifts and that they were deceived as to their importance.

God would never ever speak against the truth of his word.
Did God speak to you, or someone else?

 

[Brad Huber]

God would never ever speak against the truth of his word.
Did God speak to you, or someone else?

God spoke to me, and He did not speak against the truth of His word.

 

[Br. Bear]

@B-A-C

Greetings,

I'm not sure i want to hear any more about your love life!!

(even though
I loved in Japan for a while many years ago)

Bless you ....><>

 

[amadeus2]

Hi @amadeus2

Interested in your last comment that your prayer language has developed over the years. I'm not at all sure that my own prayer language has changed much at all over time.

If you'd be willing to say a little more about this I'd love to know.

In the beginning, it was a babble as I was baby who did not know how to talk yet. The carnal baby drinks milk at the first but in time will begin to eat soft food and finally hard food including meat for the teeth make it possible to chew and prepare the hard food (e.g. meat) so as to digest it.

Similarly from baby babble the infant grows to the point where simple words such as mama or dada will be formed and the baby will begin to understand some simple words spoken to him.

So it should be when a spiritual baby begins to speak in an unknown tongue. God always understands, but we have to be taught by the Holy Spirit and as we yield and listen we will grow. Along with this is eating of the raw food of the Bible [the dead flesh of Jesus]. Without the Holy Spirit no one can understand fully God's message written in the Bible and without the Holy Spirit no one can speak the full language of that unknown tongue. Growth is required in the Way of God and simultaneously reduction in the ways of man is needed:

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
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: yet they would not hear.
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken." Isaiah 28:10-13

"Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." Matt 13:13-16

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16


Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
Ephesians 5:19


Thank you for your replies brothers and sisters

With regard to tongues from the responses here......some do, some dont!

Is salvation dependant on tongues......no!

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16


Let us thank the Lord that we are able to praise and worship Him and that He knows the desires of our heart. And seek Him to lead us in our prayer lives according to His will for us.

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

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18