Tongues - Personal edification...?

kelly · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 9:08 am Post subject:

If speaking in tongues, praying in tongues, is a gift of the Spirit for personal edification, why is it done while you are praying with/for/over somebody else? I understand the purpose of praying in tongues for personal edification, it's your own language just between you and God, requests for yourself from the Holy Spirit, not understood easily by yourself so you can't compromise your own prayers... What does this have to do with praying for others? Is it to empower yourself to be led by the Spirit to pray for what the other person needs? This was revealed to me recently, but I am seeking your thoughts...

Davep · Veteran Joined: 02 Apr 2002 Posts: 463

kelly · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 9:37 am Post subject:

Dave, I hadn't seen it (guess I missed that one!). It seems like we are all in agreement that tongues is your language for God. When praying/speaking in tongues the Holy Spirit is speaking for you to petition to God on your behalf. This is to avoid satanisaliar understanding and interfering with your prayers, and to avoid even you, sometimes, from understanding so that even you can't compromise what the Spirit knows you need. This is obviously for you and benefits only you. I am still curious, however, why people pray in tongues as they wrap up, or start, praying over you. Again I post, is this to help youreself be led by the Spirit to pray in God's will for that person? The tongues itself isn't for that person, but could it be for you to be led to pray correctly for what that person needs?? Thanks Dave for always responding so quickly...we should start a chat room!! Wink

:p

Davep · Veteran Joined: 02 Apr 2002 Posts: 463

kelly · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 6:21 pm Post subject:

When I said that praying in tongues isn't for that person, I was implying the person being prayed for. While praying over somebody, many Christains will pray in tongues over that person. Why? If praying in tongues is your language just between you and God, then why pray in tongues over somebody else? My guess is that by praying/speaking in tongues while praying over somebody, you are getting into the Spirit, opening yourself up to being led by the Spirit to pray for that person in God's will, not in what you think that person needs. Make any sense??

GIC · Full Member Joined: 02 Mar 2001 Posts: 102 Location: IL.

Hi guys, I think Kelly's question is a valid one. I believe that it says that speaking in tongues is for the unbeliever. Maybe the people that speak in tongues over someone feel the Holy Spirit so strongly that they have to do this. For the other persons unbelief. God knows the hearts of all of us. Maybe the other person needs some confirmation.
Romans 8:26-27 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 with groanings that cannot be exrpessed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts, knows what the Spirit is saying for the Spirit pleads for us in harmony with God's own will.
I feel that tongues is a private matter. It is a very emotional experience. When people speak in tongues, they connect with God on a very, very intimate level! If they are being led to pray in tongues in front of someone, God is surely guiding that. A tough topic. Kelly, did someone pray over you in tongues? What was the situation? GIC

kelly · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 6:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for responding GIC Smile

The reason I ask is b/c Jason and I have been getting into some pretty heavy prayer with an older couple recently. They are helping to disciple us, yet after alot of disappointment from our pastor and church, we have learned to question everything we come across. Most things we just know and understand in our spirit, others we compare to the Word of God and that speaks for itself. Some questions, like this, we've noticed either has very vague answers, or very torn answers.

When these people pray with us, they speak in tongues. They also use English, but tongues is stuck in here and there. I have noticed this pattern often and being I have never before prayed heavily over another, I myself have never used tongues except in private. Jason and I have been being drawn out, though, and are starting to be used more than ever, so I wanted to explore this farther before I took this type of praying over other people myself. Of course we are also praying on it with God, and once put into the situation we may be led to pray in tongues, or not to, but before we are in that situation, I wanted to safely explore it :inlove:

Davep · Veteran Joined: 02 Apr 2002 Posts: 463

Thanks GIC for the bible reference RO 8:26-27 very helpful.

1 Cor 14:2
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.

When you speak in a tongue, you are not doing so for the benefit of others. You are speaking to God, not to men. Speaking in tongues is one-to-one communication. Spirit-to-God. It is not group prayer. Also it is prayer, not any special, better, higher, or more pleasing. It is not more powerful prayer, it doesn't carry more weight with God. It is simply a different form of communication.

Kelly

What is praying over you? What is the purpose of their praying? Is there suppose to be something special that they are asking God for? How often does this occur?

What is "Jason and I have been being drawn out". Drawn out by who and for what purpose?

Did you change churchs yet? :alien:

kelly · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 7:17 pm Post subject:

Wow Dave! Ok, I'll try to tackle all your questions, if I miss one, get back to me!

Praying over us meant that they placed hands on us and/or joined hands to pray for wisdom and guidance regarding where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing. As far as others I've seen prayed for with tongues...they were receiving prayer for healing and such, anything really. We have been witness to many prayers being prayed, for us, and for others, alot of which prayers had some speaking of tongues involved by both the one praying, and the one receiving.

As far as being "drawn out"...we have been taking huge strides in our walk. We have left our church, but haven't settled in another yet. Many false teachings have been made clear to us (such as "curses"-thank you). We have been praying heavily for wisdom and guidance for months now and for a while nothing happened. Suddenly alot is happening! We are gaining knowledge like never before, we have been praying and being moved in the Spirit like never before, and shifts are taking place in our household like never before. Jason is taking on such a strong "priestly" position in the house, a responsibility he has always taken lightly before, I was usually the one leading prayer and such...the other night I actually fell asleep while he was still in prayer! We are feeling strongly that we are being prepared, brought up to closer to where God wants us, closer to our calling. Does that make sense? There are too many specifics to get into, but prayers are being answered, the Spirit is moving, and shifts are taking place.

GIC · Full Member Joined: 02 Mar 2001 Posts: 102 Location: IL.

I believe that using this gift is supposed to be done in private. I have prayed with many people, none have used this gift at this time. Although, when I went to a Charismatic church, there was much of it going on. I don't see that it builds the body. Just the individual. In
1 Cor.14:28 it says , If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
My opinion of this is that it only edifies the believer. Sometimes I can see when you are really praising God or Thanking God, Tongues may slip out, but I don't know about praying over someone, with that a common event. Why don't you ask them why they do this? For what purpose, then report to us so we know. lol GIC Very Happy

webacus · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 8:45 pm Post subject:

kelly · Posted: Mon May 06, 2002 9:10 am Post subject:

GIC, I will ask them what thier reasoning is. I wanted to get others ideas first, though, b/c I didn't want thier biased opinion to be the first I heard. I want to approach them with logical questions, armed, in case thier answer just doesn't seem biblical to me. I will post with the answers I get. :inlove:

Davep · Veteran Joined: 02 Apr 2002 Posts: 463

Kelly

It sounds that you're mind and heart are traveling to solid rock.

We can always trust God motives, what we need to watch is the motives of men and women.

Christianity for some can become a hobby or occupation. People become puffed up with accumulated knowledge, and start imposing their Christian beliefs and angles on their fellow christians. What happens is some Christians start parenting other Christians, even when they're not asked to do so. Which leads to having Popular Christians in your church who feel a need to be active.

Knowledge and experience are meaningless, your faith must show on your face.. Don't tell me want you know, show me want God is doing in your life.

Watch out for all the bells and whistles, the overly spiritual practices, the grandiose and long winded prayers, and people who seem to know what you need, but don't even know you on a personal level.

GIC · Full Member Joined: 02 Mar 2001 Posts: 102 Location: IL.

Dave that is so true! Show me. Sometimes people (including myself) can get so spiritual I lose sight of who's in control. Giving God the drivers seat of my life is a minute by minute thing. I can't just do a quiet time in the morning and see ya, I'm on my way, not another thought of what God wants for my life. Abiding in Christ is a little thing to say, but such a tough thing to do.
Col.3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Sorry, got off on my favorite tangent! Abiding!
Kelly, can't wait to hear their reason for the tongues. GIC

danielle · Full Member Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 232

I remember debating about this subject with an ex-boyfriend. To expound on what 1 Cor 14 tells us, (amplified version):

"For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things. (vs 2). But the one who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation. He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies edifies and improves the church and promotes growth. (vs 3-4). And that we should pray for the interpretation of that tongue being said.

It goes on to say that we should pray with our spirit and with our mind, because the person next to you cannot say amen to your thanksgiving since he doesn't understand what you are saying.

So it looks like it can build up the church IF the tongue is interpreted. I used to attend a church, and during the praise service someone might start speaking in tongues very loud to the entire congregation. A moment of silence would occur, and then that person would also give the interpretation. (sometimes a different person may). This is when the body gets edification from it, but otherwise only that individual gets edified.

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