Why do you pray in tongues?

[Sue D.]

I've never spoken in tongues or prayed that way. But in a church setting their Does need to be an interpreter 'now' so others know what's being said.

And it's Also true that a pastor Can stir up the emotions of a congregation and have people start babbling. I was in a Pentecostal church for several different services. And that's what I saw / heard.

@Dave M -- there was a missionary in a service who understood the language of the person speaking in tongues. She said they were swearing - using foul language. That would be a 'bad' spirit. When a pastor is Trying to stir up people's emotions That can be problematic. On the Other hand. When I was growing up , we had a wonderful pastor / teacher. At times his preaching was so -- well -- the Holy Spirit was especially speaking Through him and the atmosphere was different. People came forward for salvation. The essence of the Holy Spirit could be felt. One of the aspects of the church service was the Pastoral Prayer time. We all stood -- it was a Big church. But those prayers were so from the depth of his heart. And then we'd sit down and he would preach. He got into the original Greek / Hebrew wording and such. Over the years there have been many such dynamic preachers.

 

[Brother Paul]

There are different manifestations of Tongues

a) In Acts 2 we see the Lord speaking THROUGH the person in his own language and each one there HEARS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

b) When speaking in church if one speaks in a different human language let there be an interpreter and hopefully a couple of witnesses

c) when humans in prayer to God speak as Paul says in the language that NO MAN UNDERSTANDS

a) God to man
c) man to God

 

[Downunder]

Hi, I'm new to praying in tongues and I'm wondering the reason why some Christians pray in tongues and what happens when you do.
If you want to put down your insight, feel free and if anybody has had an experiences with speaking in tongues, I encourage you to put down your story if you feel comfortable with doing so

Praying in tongues is the NT.
I do hope that you are in a sensible no frills Pentecostal church wherein you can learn about your new life in the Holy Spirit and to pray daily in tongues.
Water baptised? This goes together with Holy Spirit baptism - death to your old person, burial in the waters, resurrection to a new life and the Holy Spirit is the power to keep you walking on.

Praying in tongues - praying in the Spirit - is the Bible evidence of receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus promised this and it is confirmed in Acts.
The gift of different or diverse tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit that operates in the Church for the benefit and exhortation of the church. So for example in my church on a Sunday after communion we operate the three voice gifts
of the Holy Spirit: diversity of tongues followed by interpretation (up to three times max); then up to three gifts of prophecy. All done decently and in order.
1Cor 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Although I along with many others have a full on fervent prayer life praying in tongues daily and often, I and others have never operated one of the voice gifts in a meeting.

I see that you are British so I am sharing the website link for the Revival Fellowship in the U.K. where you can learn more about being a Pentecostal Christian The Revival Fellowship | There's a place in God's Kingdom for you.

Blessings to you from a brother way way over in Oz.

 

[PearlB]

you folk that speak tongues praise the Lord for your gift, I do have a question for you, as Ray says you can tell if it is the real deal... can you also tell if the tongues are from a bad spirit, I have herd tongues before, and sometimes its just encouraging most of the time,,, yet I remember one time it was not encouraging but more of a interuption and just did not seem right i could not help buy wonder about that time

If you are praying to God or thinking about Jesus while you pray in tongues then how will it be possible to be from a bad spirit. I few years ago my friend Betty and I used to go shopping together and she like to go into this particular cafe that sold crystals and stuff and also advertised that they held seances. Now some of my Christian friends wouldn't but inside the door but I went to to please my non-Christian friend but I would go into the loo and pray that it would close down and I would also pray in tongues. Guess what - it closed down.

 

[Downunder]

I wonder what language(s) spirit beings speak or think to each other in the heavens ??
Latin, Hebrew, Chinese Mandarin, Greek, Farsi ???
praying in tongues is beyond human comprehension - my spirit prays the scriptures teach us
And in our church meetings the gift of tongues is followed by the gift of interpretation as a sign to unbelievers that tongues are God given.

Jude 1:17 But YE beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 that they said to you, In the last time mockers shall be, walking after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These are they who make separations, having only soul, not having Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 

[Downunder]

Hi, I'm new to praying in tongues and I'm wondering the reason why some Christians pray in tongues and what happens when you do.

Because I can
miracles, blessings, healings, cleansing from sin, being uplifted, empowered to endure, insight into scriptures ...

 

[Sue D.]

If you are praying to God or thinking about Jesus while you pray in tongues then how will it be possible to be from a bad spirit. I few years ago my friend Betty and I used to go shopping together and she like to go into this particular cafe that sold crystals and stuff and also advertised that they held seances. Now some of my Christian friends wouldn't but inside the door but I went to to please my non-Christian friend but I would go into the loo and pray that it would close down and I would also pray in tongues. Guess what - it closed down.

That cafe would be one to stay away from. Especially since they advertised that they held seances. Going in to please non-Christian friends is Not a good plan. But you apparently feel that it was okay because , as a result of your praying in tongues for it to close down , it did close down. Did you share That with your non-Christian friends? What was their reaction?

Your Christian friends were showing wisdom by Not going inside. A dangerous atmosphere when there are seances being held. God's Word tells us to Not mess around with that stuff.

It's the spirit world being messed with. The thought is that only the Holy Spirit is being connected with. While it's true that a born again believer has the Holy Spirit indwelling them and as a result demons cannot reside their at the same time.
But there Is such a thing as demonic Oppression.

1 Corinthians 14:19 "Yet, in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding , that I may teach others, also, than ten thousand words in a tongue."

 

[PearlB]

1 John 4:4 the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

because I knew that to be the truth going into the cafe didn't bother me, I wasn't afraid. I had the victory. As Christians we are protected so I used the opportunity to pray on the premises against its evil practices. And my prayers were answered. Praise God.

 

[Sue D.]

@PearlB -- and you Could have chosen to stay outside and pray -- and God would have answered the same prayer the same way.

 

[ChildofChrist]

I always feel joyful, happy and feel Gods presence when i pray in tongues as I feel close to God when I pray and it’s usually as a result of being happy with God I pray in the spirit.

 

[Mayflower]

I was watching David Hogan in a video last night, and he would break out in his prayer language. I really choked up, because his prayer language sounded like mine. In fact, some of the exact phrases I pray almost. I have only heard of him this year at my new church. My spirit just leaped inside, because I have heard different people pray in tongues, but none like mine. It was just encouraging/a confirmation to me, because he is a powerful man of God. This man has raised people from the dead and has a powerful ministry. He has brought many to Christ and set up many churches in indigenous villages in Mexico. I really wish I knew what my prayer language meant. Like what "Shaka" means. However you spell it.

But yeh, it was amazing to me. Because sometimes when I pray and I am not thinking English words for the moment, I am not sure how long to pray in tongues, since my mind is "unfruitful" that way:

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14:14 NASB1995

 

[Downunder]

I am not sure how long to pray in tongues, since my mind is "unfruitful" that way:

There are no fixed rules - but pray for a while 10 minutes or 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Whatever you are comfortable with. Over time you will build up your faith and experience.
Fasting and prayer for really important victories or needs is also good.
I often pray in tongues when I am driving the car. Sometimes I miss my turnoff because I am not paying attention to where I am.

 

[PearlB]

@PearlB -- and you Could have chosen to stay outside and pray -- and God would have answered the same prayer the same way.

Hi Sue, I could have done that but I felt led to go in so I did. I know some people would have been scared of going in like you seem to be, but to me it felt right. And it had a good result.

A few years ago a big-name medium was holding a meeting in our Town Hall, which is massive, so the Christians formed a circle around the outside and prayed against the evil spirits. Wonderfully after a while somebody came out of the meeting and asked them to stop praying and move away because the spirits weren't getting through. You see we need to fight these things knowing we have the armour and authority of God.

 

[Downunder]

people at work

 

[PearlB]

I was watching David Hogan in a video last night, and he would break out in his prayer language. I really choked up, because his prayer language sounded like mine. In fact, some of the exact phrases I pray almost. I have only heard of him this year at my new church. My spirit just leaped inside, because I have heard different people pray in tongues, but none like mine. It was just encouraging/a confirmation to me, because he is a powerful man of God. This man has raised people from the dead and has a powerful ministry. He has brought many to Christ and set up many churches in indigenous villages in Mexico. I really wish I knew what my prayer language meant. Like what "Shaka" means. However you spell it.

But yeh, it was amazing to me. Because sometimes when I pray and I am not thinking English words for the moment, I am not sure how long to pray in tongues, since my mind is "unfruitful" that way:

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14:14 NASB1995

I remember walking round our town one day and hearing somebody speaking and thinking that sounds like my spirit tongue.

 

[PearlB]

I believe there to be four basic manifestations of the gift of tongues.

Tongues for personal edification. (1 Corinthians 14:4) This is the supernatural language the Holy Spirit prays through us that we can use to pray hour after hour if we desire. It often accompanies the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Tongues which require an interpretation. (1 Corinthians 14:5) This manifestation of tongues is normally presented in a public assembly accompanied by an interpretation by the same or another person. (Romans 8:26)

Tongues of deep intercessional groaning. (Romans 8:26) This diversification of tongues empowers the believers to stand in the gap for their own lives, their families, their church, their city, their nation etc. God may also call on them to intercede for someone or for some situation that is totally unknown.

Tongues as a sign to unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:22) This is the phenomenon that took place on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4-11) It occurs when the Holy Spirit transcends the intellect and all language barriers by empowering a believer to preach, teach or testify about Christ in some language of man of which the believer himself has no knowledge.

I have also found that singing in tongues to praise and worship is another lovely way we can use the gift .

And praying in tongues silently either in support of another person who is ‘ministering’ or in a public place is another way of using this gift.

I have come under fire on some Christian sites for expressing these views but I firmly believe them.

 

[PearlB]

I believe there to be four basic manifestations of the gift of tongues.
Tongues for personal edification. (1 Corinthians 14:4) This is the supernatural language the Holy Spirit prays through us that we can use to pray hour after hour if we desire. It often accompanies the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Tongues which require an interpretation. (1 Corinthians 14:5) This manifestation of tongues is normally presented in a public assembly accompanied by an interpretation by the same or another person. (Romans 8:26)
Tongues of deep intercessional groaning. (Romans 8:26) This diversification of tongues empowers the believers to stand in the gap for their own lives, their families, their church, their city, their nation etc. God may also call on them to intercede for someone or for some situation that is totally unknown.
Tongues as a sign to unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:22) This is the phenomenon that took place on the day of Pentecost. (Acts2:4-11) It occurs when the Holy Spirit transcends the intellect and all language barriers by empowering a believer to preach, teach or testify about Christ in some language of man of which the believer himself has no knowledge.
I have also found that singing in tongues to praise and worship is another lovely way we can use the gift .
And praying in tongues silently either in support of another person who is ‘ministering’ or in a public place is another way of using this gift.
I have come under fire on some Christian sites for expressing these views but I firmly believe them.

 

[Downunder]

I have come under fire on some Christian sites for expressing these views but I firmly believe them.

It is a good disciple that publicly upholds the full gospel once delivered to the saints.
Yes you will be run out of town, but rather it is better to serve our Lord.

 

[ChildofChrist]

Remember Satan is not scared of converts but rather of the power of the Holy Spirit, he wants to shut it down because it renders him powerless!