Rules Governing The Gift Of Tongues
- Thread starter WebersHome
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I disagree and here is why. It does take practice to learn how to do the things of God. We spend our whole lives learning how to be more like Jesus. How to trust Him with our lives and not trust ourselves. This will take time but He will lead us as we go. It's always "as we go"
We unfortunately don't become proficient in our prayers the first time we pray.., nor is the Bible downloaded as a one-time deal. For some reason God worked it out that we are to "walk it out" Practice it each day. As we gain confidence in His presence we are able to grow in understanding and by faith we continue. We should all memorize Scripture because we need to be ready in season and out of season. It doesn't come to us like a down load from a computer. We have to work out what Jesus has worked in us when He saved us. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
As you described your teaching abilities... Were you always proficient at it? Or did it take time to develop this in your life? To become familiar with how to teach and recognize the best way to present information? I've discovered that in order to be well versed and familiar with something I need to use it more than once a week. Reading the Bible and learning the truths in it as well as speaking in tongues. If I allow the gift to go dormant that is my loss. It doesn't mean the Lord didn't gift it to me. How much I use it is up to me.
When I first began speaking in tongues it was first a willingness to believe it was real just as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was real. I accepted this by faith. I slowly began forming the words and going with it. I thanked God for His presence and that I trusted Him to do with my efforts what He promised. The more I let the words form the more familiar and flowing they became.
I did this like I've been learning how to do any of the things Jesus died to give me., taking it by grace through faith. And as I'm learning how the Holy Spirit works., He witnesses with my spirit so there is a confidence to step further. Those familiar rivers of living waters I've been knowing came flowing in. This is a confidence we have in Him that He will do what He promised when we step out in faith believing. Now a year later it's totally natural to me just as praying in English is only much better.
We will be more familiar with the truth the more we step out in faith. If we don't step out in faith we won't have it. That includes everything Jesus has died to give us not only our prayer language. The Lord is my Shepherd..., I shall not want. I found that unless I believe this., I shall want. But by grace through faith I believe and His Word is active in my life. He only requires faith and He even somehow gives us that as a gift to ...by grace.
I too in my daily devotional private praying with my spirit to the Lord at first only said a few sentences but I increased my time in praying by an act of my will ( practicing it if you want to use that term ) until now it is as fluent as can be and without even realizing it - I am often speaking with my spirit to the Lord.
I will say also that at the beginning I was severely attacked in my mind by a barrage of negative thoughts which I'm sure were a combination of the enemy "throwing his fiery darts" and my own un-renewed mind.
Now that my mind is renewed to it - there is never any more attacks. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
I believe this is the very same principle for all the kingdom of God truths that are in Christ concerning us.
I will say also that at the beginning I was severely attacked in my mind by a barrage of negative thoughts which I'm sure were a combination of the enemy "throwing his fiery darts" and my own un-renewed mind.
Now that my mind is renewed to it - there is never any more attacks. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
I believe this is the very same principle for all the kingdom of God truths that are in Christ concerning us.
Last edited:
I've come to learn that there are two kinds of speaking in tongues. One is where the church as a group is speaking for God and there needs to be an interpreter. That is when it must be done in an orderly fashion so as not to be a mass of confusion. Like in the early church when people would all be going on in tongues at once. Some showing off that God was speaking through them. That gift of tongues is when (God uses an individual to speak His Word) for the edification of the body of believers together.
That requires someone else to have the gift of interpretation and tells what the Holy Spirit said., and everyone is encouraged in the Word. Not everyone has those gifts.
The other gift that we all can have as believers is the heavenly language (where we speak to God through the Holy Spirit) who makes our requests and needs known to God better than we can. When we don't know how to pray He uses groans that cannot be uttered by us but somehow clears it all up making it perfect before God. Also, when we pray in the Spirit more, we learn to pray for things we don't even know we are going to be needing or for times that will be coming up. For our children and loved ones. For people at work and for our ability to make right choices. All these things and more can be prayed about in tongues because we don't know what we should pray and the Spirit makes intersession for us. We don't need someone else to interpret this.
I have not yet been in a church where there needs to be an interpreter but I'm confident that when that time comes., He will have already made the way clear. I've prayed about this for a long time and believe He has it all worked out.
That requires someone else to have the gift of interpretation and tells what the Holy Spirit said., and everyone is encouraged in the Word. Not everyone has those gifts.
The other gift that we all can have as believers is the heavenly language (where we speak to God through the Holy Spirit) who makes our requests and needs known to God better than we can. When we don't know how to pray He uses groans that cannot be uttered by us but somehow clears it all up making it perfect before God. Also, when we pray in the Spirit more, we learn to pray for things we don't even know we are going to be needing or for times that will be coming up. For our children and loved ones. For people at work and for our ability to make right choices. All these things and more can be prayed about in tongues because we don't know what we should pray and the Spirit makes intersession for us. We don't need someone else to interpret this.
I have not yet been in a church where there needs to be an interpreter but I'm confident that when that time comes., He will have already made the way clear. I've prayed about this for a long time and believe He has it all worked out.
I think it is indeed vital to practice the gifts of the spirit as they are like muscles that need to be worked on to thicken and become strong however not on our own accord but rather only when he leads us to.
If we try to practice them on our will and whim it has no power in it because it wasn't his spirit that is in it rather it was our own.
We have to learn how to hear listen and recognize the holy spirits voice and when we do then every time we really are to use the gifts it will be as if by instinct it will flow like a river that has no rocks for blockage it will seem as if it's natural and you don't even have to think or try.
If we try to practice them on our will and whim it has no power in it because it wasn't his spirit that is in it rather it was our own.
We have to learn how to hear listen and recognize the holy spirits voice and when we do then every time we really are to use the gifts it will be as if by instinct it will flow like a river that has no rocks for blockage it will seem as if it's natural and you don't even have to think or try.
The stirring up is simply to use the gift and use it often. To practice and use it A LOT. Don't let it go dormant for lack of using because it is a valuable gift given to help us believers. Just as other gifts we have have been given for us to learn to use and use all the time. We don't stir up the Spirit but we do need to stir up the gifts ourselves and we do that by the usage of them.
And where does Paul state this? Thanks.
I think we have to get used to the prompting of the Spirit when it comes to speaking in tongues. Just like learning to listen to that still small voice as we learn to walk with God. We sometimes don't listen and then find ourselves not where God wants us to be. And then we go back in our mind to see where we got off track and recall that prompting and say to ourselves/God "Oh yeah, I remember now --- God, You did tell me, and I didn't listen." We learn to listen in baby steps. Then as we become more familiar with how God communicates with us, it becomes easier to follow Him. Same with tongues. Just a matter of learning to "hear" what the Spirit is telling us.
Well, a person might have the gift but if he/she has to brag about it, it's not being utilized properly. And that's just a matter of proper instruction and/or maturing on the part of the bragger.
I think we have to get used to the prompting of the Spirit when it comes to speaking in tongues. Just like learning to listen to that still small voice as we learn to walk with God. We sometimes don't listen and then find ourselves not where God wants us to be. And then we go back in our mind to see where we got off track and recall that prompting and say to ourselves/God "Oh yeah, I remember now --- God, You did tell me, and I didn't listen." We learn to listen in baby steps. Then as we become more familiar with how God communicates with us, it becomes easier to follow Him. Same with tongues. Just a matter of learning to "hear" what the Spirit is telling us.
Well, a person might have the gift but if he/she has to brag about it, it's not being utilized properly. And that's just a matter of proper instruction and/or maturing on the part of the bragger.
AMEN!! Same here., some major doubts and fears. Fear is a spirit that is countered by another Spirit. There came a time in my life that I had to press on and follow what the Bible said despite my old way of thinking about it. Not just about the subject of tongues but also about trusting Him to take care of me from now on and just how many areas in life that actually covers. From finances to health to relationships. God wants access to all those areas.
Faith in a life doesn't make sense at first. But later once we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good., faith in our lives is the only way to make sense of any of these gifts and promises of God in Christ.
His requirement for us is we believe Him and do things by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. And I'm finding without grace through faith none of these things would have occurred. God's way is via the grace through faith way.
Thank you for your reply... I was not claiming to have the gift of teaching... I was simply speaking in generalities..I believe I have other gifts.. perhaps an inclination toward teaching, but I don't think I'm miraculously gifted there.
Perhaps I've misunderstood the idea of "gifts"... to me they were always miraculous abilities.... the ability to do something that you don't come by "normally".... otherwise, the gift is not all that miraculous.
Perhaps the Spirit recognizes some of our natural abilities, and adds to them ? I don't know, and I would certainly never presume to second guess the Spirit of God.
Since the discussion was about "tongues", I assumed the gift is considered a miraculous gift, since it is not normal for someone to suddenly start speaking in a language they have not ever studied.
To me, for a gift to be truly a miraculous gift, it should be an instantaneous ability to do something you have never been able to do. The disciples at Pentecost never studied all those languages... they simply started speaking them.
It seems that most of you are saying that your speaking in tongues is a learned thing... which I have no problem with, if you are convinced it is a spiritual help for you. I'm happy for you all, and am definitely open to having the Spirit bless me with whatever gifts God deems appropriate..
Perhaps I've misunderstood the idea of "gifts"... to me they were always miraculous abilities.... the ability to do something that you don't come by "normally".... otherwise, the gift is not all that miraculous.
Perhaps the Spirit recognizes some of our natural abilities, and adds to them ? I don't know, and I would certainly never presume to second guess the Spirit of God.
Since the discussion was about "tongues", I assumed the gift is considered a miraculous gift, since it is not normal for someone to suddenly start speaking in a language they have not ever studied.
To me, for a gift to be truly a miraculous gift, it should be an instantaneous ability to do something you have never been able to do. The disciples at Pentecost never studied all those languages... they simply started speaking them.
It seems that most of you are saying that your speaking in tongues is a learned thing... which I have no problem with, if you are convinced it is a spiritual help for you. I'm happy for you all, and am definitely open to having the Spirit bless me with whatever gifts God deems appropriate..
S
with reference to what Paul said, and how some perceive it as Paul downplaying tongues, I have heard people repeat that if they do not speak in tongues or if they are against speaking in tongues. I honestly have never heard anyone say that if they do speak in tongues. Paul said he spoke in tongues more than anyone and he also said he wished everyone would speak in tongues.
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all I Corinthians 14:18
I firmly believe that praying in tongues is often a way that God can have you pray for someone you know or even do not know and you will have a desire to pray that you know you didn't 'work up' and you know that the Spirit of God is praying through you for someone or possibly even for yourself in some way for something you don't know about.
I cannot say how many times this has happened over the years in my life and there was a solid reason for it. I can give example after example of how God urged me to pray or I felt I need to pray and later I learned why. I know of other people having the same thing and have read in testimonies of people praying for others.
Here is one example but it's not from my life but I know it's true because I knew both people.
One woman woke up at some odd hour of the morning, one or two amen and felt she had to pray for someone she knew. So she did but because she did not know what the need was, she prayed in the spirit and she became convinced something was really wrong. After awhile she felt things were ok, went back to bed to sleep and called the other woman the next morning.
Turned out the other woman had a severe gall bladder attack and cried out to God for someone to pray for her because she could not pray for herself it was so bad. As she did so, she could feel that someone was praying and the pain subsided.
So yeah, nobody tell me tongues are not real or don't pray too much or don't this or that.
Tongues are real. It is a powerful gift and the devil hates it.
I have never heard anyone who spoke in tongues brag about it. I have heard the accusations and I know there is abuse at times, but what gift is not abused?
I am interested in your (and other's, of course) description of how you came to speak in tongues.
It seems to me that every reference we have in scripture about "receiving the Spirit" in believers was pretty much instantaneous. I never see any reference to "learning" how to speak in tongues.
Please don't take this as an argument, or a denigration of what you have... it is simply an observation...
It seems to me that every reference we have in scripture about "receiving the Spirit" in believers was pretty much instantaneous. I never see any reference to "learning" how to speak in tongues.
Please don't take this as an argument, or a denigration of what you have... it is simply an observation...
And also let me add ... some of the erroneous uses of the gift of tongues has actually turned believers away.
That as well as the teaching about tongues being the least of the gifts.
We all want the greatest. And, of course, God gives us what He deems is best for the body of Christ. So we have to be careful how we view this "least" of the gifts. Since it comes from God, it must be needful and profitable to the body of Christ. We can't think in terms of "well I want this gift or that gift. God don't give me what You want. Give me what I want."
That as well as the teaching about tongues being the least of the gifts.
We all want the greatest. And, of course, God gives us what He deems is best for the body of Christ. So we have to be careful how we view this "least" of the gifts. Since it comes from God, it must be needful and profitable to the body of Christ. We can't think in terms of "well I want this gift or that gift. God don't give me what You want. Give me what I want."
Hornetguy
Some do receive an instant flowing language, then others maybe just a word or phrase.
No set rule to this.
Have you ever had a word that came as an answer to someones question about God, that you didn't know, but it just came out your mouth?
That was how the prophetic came to me. And I know some preachers preach in this same inspiration but wouldn't call it the prophetic.
When I say prophetic...I mean prophecy.
Forgot my point in asking. Some will prophesy first.
Some do receive an instant flowing language, then others maybe just a word or phrase.
No set rule to this.
Have you ever had a word that came as an answer to someones question about God, that you didn't know, but it just came out your mouth?
That was how the prophetic came to me. And I know some preachers preach in this same inspiration but wouldn't call it the prophetic.
When I say prophetic...I mean prophecy.
Forgot my point in asking. Some will prophesy first.