PRAYING IN TONGUES FOR EVERY BELIEVER
As I have had the privilege of fellowshipping and relating to brothers of various Theological positions over the years, I thank God for the cross pollenation of thought regarding various truths. What I am going to share today is an area that I have become more and convinced of Biblically and Theologically. This blog is going to create strong reactions both positively and negatively but it is overdue that I personally nail my colours to the mast.
I am very aware that there are many Schools of Thought and interpretation when it comes to Theology, I am also conscious that we do not build doctrine on experience and/or history or statistics. I am sure many Theologians (including myself) will be surprised in eternity that what they believed was not 100% correct. This is what I want to share today and what I believe with all my heart.
THAT EVERY BELIEVER CAN AND SHOULD REGULARLY PRAY IN TONGUES
The Pentecostal Movement came out of various revivals, and also the Second Blessing Holiness Movements just over 100 years ago. Like most movements in its early days there were extremes and over-emphasis and often unbalanced teaching. Today the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement represents at least 25% (some say closer to 50% of the world’s Christian population) and the majority of these Believers have had a tongues experience (Many of them were taught that they had received the initial physical evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, whilst others were taught they had received one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
General accepted Holy Spirit Theology (Pneumatology) teaches that when a person is born again and comes to faith, the Holy Spirit comes into their life. The Charismatic movement which began in the 1960’s emphasised this, and would go on and say:
YOU CANNOT HAVE MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT HE CAN HAVE MORE OF YOU
It would seem to me, that there is that awesome moment when a Believer consciously surrenders himself totally to God and the Holy Spirit that is in Him, is free to FILL THE HOUSE (our body) and the Holy Spirit also want to take your tongue and you begin to speak in tongues for the first time. I think this is another reason why Biblical Discipleship is so important to encourage the new Believer as soon as possible to surrender himself 100% to the Lord. Plus be then encouraged to daily and regularly use his prayer language.
EVERY BELIEVER NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
Many Reformed (Calvinist) believers have been taught that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and interestingly they especially spell out, TONGUES PROPHECY AND HEALINGS all ceased on the death of the last Apostle I really don’t know the basis of why this is taught. So consequently early Pentecostals were told they were “of the devil” because if God had ceased to give the gift then it must be from the evil one or that they had received a psychosomatic experience, I have personally been told to my face I was “of the devil”. Today there are many “New Calvinists” who are what is called Continualists and agree the gifts are still available in the 21st century.
It will help if we recognise there are different expressions or functions relative to speaking tongues. Again, many who want to concede that speaking in tongues is still available today, hold it is just one of the 9 gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and “some” may receive it, (tongues) and others will receive another gift. In my early days as a Pentecostal Pastor there was I think an overemphasis on the “public” use of tongues and churches were encouraged to have 2 or 3 “messages” in Tongues in a service. My experience was that say in a congregation of 100 people one or 2 people may have the “public” gift of tongues which require the sister gift of Interpretation of tongues, but everyone one of the hundred happened to speak in tongues privately.
LET US NOT FORGET ALL THE 120 SPOKE IN TONGUES ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST
I hold that there is the “public” expression of tongues which is limited to few people , but the “private” use can be for every Believer. Why do I say this?
GOD HAS NO FAVOURITES
- Praying in tongues is an awesome form of “edifying” oneself. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself 1 Cor. 14:4 NKJV Why should just “some” believers be able to edify themselves in this way, this is inconsistent with I believe the tenor of God’s heart and His Word.
- Praying in tongues helps us to pray (and intercede) accurately For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings (with unspeakable yearnings and groanings to deep for utterance (in intelligent speech) Rom. 8:26 NKJV & AMP again it would be inconsistent if this was available only to “some” Believers.
- Praying in tongues is a weapon of warfare Paul tells us we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12 but against principalities, against powers against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in heavenly places so we must pray with ALL prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT ((Eph.. 6: 18)
- Praying in tongues rests and refreshes the soul Please read Isaiah 28:11-12, a prophetic word for this day. Read and meditate, I thank God for the Therapy of the Spirit.
- Praying in tongues helps to open the floodgates for “Rivers of Living Water” John 7: 37-39 read and meditate.
- Praying in tongues is one effective way that we worship the Lord 1 Cor. 14: 15-19 Please read and meditate.
These are some of the reasons why I believe with all my heart that EVERY BELIEVER CAN AND SHOULD PRAY IN TONGUES DAILY.
I personally believer there is a third expression of speaking in tongues, and that is CORPORATE TONGUES when a congregation of Believers gather together and worship and sing and pray in the Spirit. This is an “heavenly” experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
There is a church in Asia that I have been closely associated with, that was very strong on corporate praying and singing in the Spirit, The church is at least 15000 strong (and at least 75% of the church has come to Christ in the church), which is a remarkable testimony. This has NOT been a turn off to unbelievers, and interestingly Paul tells us, Therefore tongues are a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers but prophesying is NOT for unbelievers but for those who believe. 1 Cor. 14:22 NKJV
From my personal experience and the experience of so many others I personally know and the millions I do not know testify that some of fruit of speaking in tongues causes them and me to : Love the Lord more
Love His Word more
Love His people more
Live in the light of Christ’s soon return
I have said there are numerous Schools of Thought regarding doctrine and this truth in particular, I am not here to argue with you, I am convinced that what I have written is Biblically correct, and I trust the above will bless and encourage you, please let me know if this is the case. Do I need to remind you that we should pray much in our own language as well.
