Tongues the Power Gift

Religion

Religion article written by Dr. Bob Allen:

1 Cor 14:18 Paul said, ”I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” I thank God for this gift also. Paul is putting a big endorsement here on tongues, and so does Jesus. Mark 16:17 Jesus said,”And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” Any person that rejects this gift would be challenging the Master himself.

The gift of tongues that operates in the church brings forth a message from the Spirit of God. It becomes prophecy when it’s interpreted; It is a very pure or a sure word of prophecy. Now, this gift is part of the nine gifts given to the church. This gift is to be used to speak to the body tongues and interpretations equal prophecies. I think this is the purest form of prophecy I have been operating in this gift for many, many years. What makes it so pure, First of all when bringing forth the message in tongues by the Holy Spirit is spontaneous flow. The interpretation is also a spontaneous flow. You don’t have time to think. You just speak what you see before you. With me it is like a ticker-tape you cannot inject one thought of your own into it; you don’t get a chance because it comes so fast you just follow the words. The interpretation may come from someone else in the church, or the one that is speaking the tongues may bring it. When you are to bring the message or the interpretation, you may feel a little pressure build up inside by the Holy Spirit; this is the signal that the Holy Spirit wants to speak through you.

I have, on several occasions, been in desperate situations. While praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit would come upon me, and kick my pray tongues into another new Holy Spirit language and the Lord would speak back to me. He would speak very clearly through my own interpretation; which then becomes a prophecy. Every time it was at a real point of need in my life, and always brought a great blessing from the Lord. Let me make this clear, I cannot do this at will, but I can always pray in tongues at will…

Interpretation: explaining in the natural, what you heard in the spirit. Interpretation of tongues is used to speak for God and to bring an understanding of something spoken by the spirit. It comes by spontaneous flow, equal to prophesy.

Can everyone speak in tongues? Probably not. I would say 90 % of the Church body that prays in tongues cannot minister this speaking gift. It would be about the same percentage that can minister the gift of healing, or prophecy or any of the other nine gifts. The speaking gift is for the church and should operate in every church.

1Cor14:26 “how is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, and Hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification

This gift of speaking and praying in tongues comes with the baptism or the immersion of the Holy Spirit when He comes upon you, and only Jesus can baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Luke3:16”John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” Jesus is our Holy Spirit baptizer.

Can all pray in tongues? Jesus said that it would be a sign that follows the believer, Paul seems to think, so that is why Paul said to pray in the Spirit and pray in the understanding also. Even though you can’t speak forth with the ministry gift, Paul said different gifts of tongues, so we can all pray after receiving.

Paul said in 1 Cor. 14:14-15, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful; what is it then? I will do both; I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” Please notice this is two different things. You can even learn to sing to the Lord in your spirit. Question: Should it be for everybody? Yes, we are to pray and sing with our spirit and with our understanding. God is not a respecter of persons. God is a Spirit, and it is your spirit coming directly together with His Spirit when you pray in tongues; Paul said you are speaking mysteries unto God. 1 Cor., Paul said praying in tongues edifies you, this builds your spirit up and fills it up; who doesn’t need that!

Jude, verse: 20.”But you beloved build up yourself in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” Praying in the Holy Ghost means your spirit touches his. If all could not do this, we would not be told to do so. Can you interpret your own prayer tongue? If you do not operate in the gift of interpretation like giving a message, No you cannot, That is why Paul said to pray in the Spirit and pray for the understanding also. The tongues spoken by your own spirit does not get interpreted because you are speaking mysteries unto God, mysteries are mysteries. Tongues spoken while moved upon by the Holy Spirit should always be interpreted. The person that prays in tongues will, however, have a higher realm of understanding and revelation, and he will hear from God more clearly when he follows up by praying with the prayer of understanding. I have had this happen while playing in my own prayer language the Holy Spirt would kick my tongue into a whole new language one of authority when this happens the Lord will bring forth the interpretation. Tongues is the road that takes you to the place to get your most Holy faith. No wonder Paul said, “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all.”

1Cor.14:2,” For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit, he speaks mysteries.” When you are speaking to God in your prayer tongue, it is just a mystery between you and the Lord. Nothing else can be said. It gives you a hot line directly to your heavenly Father.

When you pray in tongues, it takes you into a whole new revelation and understanding of God. You could be a Bible Scholar and study the word until you know every color in Joseph’s coat, but when you begin to pray in tongues, you access a whole new realm of understanding. You completely bypass the mind realm. There is no way to doubt. Your prayers are pure and holy and not always about you, or your needs. The Holy Spirit uses your spirit and not your mind to pray.

Real power ministry operates out of the spirit, and not out of the mind. Good information that you can learn comes out of the mind. Tongues take you above the natural man when your spirit touches God’s Spirit.

I think the reason we put so much emphasis on tongues, is that everyone that we see operating in the other gifts spends a lot of time praying in tongues. I don’t think I have ever seen the other gifts used by anyone without a prayer language. I am sad to say this, but it is also the least sought after, and neglected of the gifts, as well as the least understood of all nine gifts.

My friend, praying in tongues every day is like putting money in the bank; when you need to share or minister to someone or have a cry in your heart from the Lord, you will have spiritual power and strength to draw from.

Seek the Lord for his gifts; He loves to give good gifts to them that ask Him. Read 1st Corinthians chapters 12-14, and stay there until you have a clear understanding. Now, remember, when you first start praying in tongues, you might get just a few words that sound like silly symbols, but just keep working on it, and the Holy Spirit will help you develop a beautiful prayer language. You have to do this for yourself. God does not pray for you. You may want to find someone filled with the Holy Ghost to lay hands on you and pray with you for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Your purpose for wanting these gifts should be to draw closer to the Lord and to be a more successful witness. I notice almost everyone receives in a different way.

Dr. Bob Allen

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