I
was a bit of a skeptic on this issue until recently.I have been studying and praying about the topic, and like many have seen some folks that look like they are playing a part rather than speaking in tongues.
I came across the 4 types of tongues in the bible and it all seems to be logical. Here's a quoted post from another member:
Of the four that the New Testament talks about, two are public, and two are private.
the two public ones:
- tongues as a sign to the unbeliever1 conrinthians 13:22 'therefore tongues is a sign, not to those who believe but to the unbelievers'
this occurs in Acts 2.
Tongues as a sign to the unbeliever occurs when the holy spirit transcends our intellect empowering us to speak, preach, or teach in any language of this earth, of which we have not had any previous experience.
this only happens when the holy spirit wills.
- tongues for interpretation.
1 conrithians 14:5 "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,c]" class="footnote">[
c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,d]" class="footnote">[
d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. "
This is one of the nine gifts of the spirit. That is where we are in a public assembly, and the spirit of God comes upon a person and they begin to speak in a heavenly language, and paul says THAT must be interpreted. <--- that is the tongues to which paul refers to in the end of corinthians 12.
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the two private
-tongues for intercession.Romans 8:26-28.
'and the holy spirit helps us in our distress, for we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. but the holy spirit prays for us in groanings which cannot be expressed in words and the father who knows all hearts knows what the spirit is saying for the spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will
John bevere goes on to explain that this type of tongues actually goes beyond tongues and into actual groaning.
he says that this type of tongue has been lost in the church. I quote him "i was out praying this morning and it hit me this morning, i was praying ; God had me interceding over a situation and i was praying over it, and it got to the point beyond tongues and i just had this urge.. and i had to begin to groand.. and listen, the power that is released when you begin to enter into that kind of intercession is just mind-boggling."
- Tongues for personal prayer, which result in personal edification.1 corinthians 14:4 'he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself/herself.'
for that reason, paul says (verse 14)
'For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. '
Jude 20 But you, beloved build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
"when praying in tongue, we build ourselves up, we edify ourselves"
the word edify means 'edifus', which means to build a structure.
the word edify is derived from edifus' which means to build a massive magnificant building, so when you pray in tongues, your actually errecting a superstructure, a devine operation inside of you to begin to house the presence and power of God.
I witnessed this happen in a prayer meeting and it really did blow me away. As a believer I watched someone speak in tongues for the first time and it brought FAITH and THE HOLY SPIRIT directly to the forefront of my world and surely everyone's world who witnessed it. I haven't received the gift but I hope to. I won't let it hinder my quest for Christ regardless if I do or do not receive it....
The Machine
