The Power of Speaking in Tongues

One of the core secrets in my spiritual life is the power of praying in tongues. Nothing has opened up my life to the Word of God and to intimacy with the Holy Spirit like praying in the Spirit. I believe from having experienced it myself, that the power of speaking in tongues is a key to unlock the treasure chest of heaven in your life, in your family, and the sphere around you.

In 1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul tells us that he thanks God he speaks in tongues more than anyone else- a shocking verse that gives insight into the secret life of one of the most influential characters in all of Christianity. Through this verse we discover a fundamental principle behind Paul’s profound revelation of God, his character, sacrifice, holiness and authority. If the man who did more for Christianity than almost anyone else says that he prays in tongues more than anybody else, it should cause us to pause and say ‘what does he know that I don’t?’

I believe that God wants to restore the gift of tongues to the Church- even to the part of the Body that are most familiar with this gift. I believe that through praying in tongues, we will begin to move in a new dimension of maturity, unity, power, glory and holiness to be a suitable bride for the Lamb of God.

I invite you to knock the dust off your prayer language and cultivate it afresh with me as we walk through this 3 week online course.

[MollyF]

But what if I don't feel anything when speaking in tongues?

[kavikv.d.hexenholtz]

There is absolutely nothing mysterious about Biblical "tongues" – and there is only one type – when referring to something spoken, they are nothing more than real, rational language(s); usually, but not always, unknown to those listening to them, but always known by the speaker(s) – it’s their native language (in some cases, it is a language the speaker has learned).

In contrast, the “tongues” Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians are producing today is an entirely self-created phenomenon. It is non-cognitive non-language utterance; random free vocalization based upon a subset of the existing underlying sounds (called phonemes) of the speaker’s native language, and any other language(s) the speaker may be familiar with or have had contact with.

It is, in part, typically characterized by repetitive syllables, plays on sound patterns, alliteration, assonance, and over-simplification of syllable structure. It is also interesting to note that any and all phonological rules (rules governing how sounds are put together in a given language - what is allowed and what is disallowed) governing a speaker's native language, will _also_ govern their tongues-speech.
Further, this subset of phonemes mentioned above typically contains only those sounds which are easiest to produce physiologically.

Occasionally some speakers will use two or more subsets of phonemes to generate glossolalia, producing what, to them, sounds like two (or more) distinct “tongues languages”, thus claiming to be able to speak in “divers tongues”.

There is absolutely _nothing_ that “tongues-speakers” are producing that cannot be explained in relatively simple linguistic terms.

Conversely, when it comes to something spoken, there are absolutely _no_ Biblical references to “tongues” that do not refer to, and cannot be explained in light of, real rational language(s), though it may not be the explanation you want to hear, and it may be one which is radically different from what you believe, or were taught. _Nowhere in the Bible is modern tongues-speech advocated or evidenced._

“Praying in the Spirit” does _not_ refer to the words one is saying. Rather, it refers to how one is praying. In the three places it is used (Corinthians, Ephesians, and Jude), there is absolutely zero reference to 'languages' in connection with this phrase. “Praying in the Spirit” should be understood as praying in the power of the Spirit, by the leading of the Spirit, and according to His will.

I'm not doubting or questioning the 'tongues experience'; glossolalia as the spiritual tool that it is, can be very powerful and, for many people, the experience is profound. As one commenter put it, “Speaking in tongues distracts the ego/analytical/conscious mind while leaving the subconscious (the heart) wide open to import the divine." Both the spiritual and physical benefits of using this tool are also well documented. Again though, it is important to note that this same statement can be made for virtually _any_ other culture that practices glossolalia. Religious and cultural differences aside, the glossolalia an Evenki Shaman in Siberia, a vodoun priestess in Togo and a Christian tongues-speaker in Alabama are producing are in no way different from each other. They’re all producing their glossolalia in the exact same way; they just have different explanations and beliefs as to why they’re doing it, and where it comes from. It is only in certain Christian denominations where is it construed as something it never was.

‘Tongues’ (read, *‘languages’* ) – the divine gift, is the God given ability to effortlessly learn to speak and be understood through real-language barriers. It is not xenoglossy, nor is it modern tongues-speech.

[fulldeck]

There are 0 verses that say tongues is a mystical prayer language to fight the devil.

"Unknown Tongue" in the KJV means foreign language. 1 cor 14 teaches NOT to pray in foreign tongues, making the counterfeit gibberish nonsense even more purposeless.

"That's praying in the spirit" - that refers to praying according to will of God in the spirit as opposed to praying in the flesh

"But it says he prays to God not men" - it says his understanding of the foreign language is fruitless to a congregation to whom that foreign tongues is unknown.

"groanings that can't be uttered" - yet you claim to utter.

"Paul said he prays in angel tongues" - no, he didn't. He said THOUGH I speak in the tongues of angels AND MEN, making a hyperbolic statement, which could be paraphrased this way: "if I spoke every tongue in heaven and earth, and I had not love, I would just be a tinkling cymbal"

The gift of tongues was "a sign for unbelievers" because it was for preaching the gospel supernaturally in foreign tongues. There are 0 examples of Jesus or the Apostles going "shabababababa". They always spoke in real foreign tongues.