At the age of 18, after being saved at the age of 10, I received the infilling of the
Holy Spirit and prayed in tongues for about an hour. Further Bible studies proved to me
that this “prayer language” is Biblical. Praying in tongues has been one of my greatest
discoveries and has brought me through many crises in life. Like Job (Job 1:5), I arise
early each day to offer sacrificial prayers for my family; Also, for my extended family, the
Church and the lost. Praying in tongues is an integral part of these prayer times.
As I grow older, the daily study of Scripture and praying in tongues are most vital
in maintaining Spiritual peace and living in the Presence of God. Trusting in God’s
Word brings great assurance and comfort.
The reason I am writing this article is that often people, including Pentecostals, do not understand the tremendous value of speaking in tongues. This practice is more than just “unexplainable & necessary baggage” which we tolerate because we are Pentecostal and Charismatic. Praying in tongues can bring us many blessings and help us through the most difficult times.
I have a vivid memory of one of our church members, in St. Frances Hospital, praying in tongues as he was dying, which must have brought him much comfort.
OUR BELIEFS MUST BE BASED ON SCRIPTURE (Ultimate source of truth):
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
(Eph. 6:18 NIV) “…if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays…” (I Cor. 14:14 NIV)
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in
the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20 NIV)
When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is interceding for us: “…the Spirit
helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the
Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He
Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s Will.” (Rom. 8:26-27 NIV)
PRAYING IN TONGUES IS SCRIPTURAL:
Praying in tongues is a “prayer language” because you are speaking to God
and not man. (Acts 2:11) “…anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to
men but to God.” (I Cor. 14:2 NIV)
Praying in tongues bypasses the mind and lets your spirit communicate with
God. “…the mind is unfruitful (does not understand)” when you are praying in
tongues. (I Cor. 14:2 & 14)
Praying in tongues brings personal edification (builds up your spirit, encourages
and enriches your life) – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” (I Cor.
14:4)
Praying in tongues means that the Holy Spirit is making intercession for us.
(Rom. 8:26-27)
When praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit is verbalizing to God even our
subconscious needs and we are edified and built up without conscious
understanding of what we are saying. (I Cor. 14:2 & 4)
Paul prayed in tongues very much in private. He stated that he spoke in
tongues more than the Corinthians who spoke in tongues so much that he had
to regulate the practice in I Cor. 14. He taught the Corinthians that they should
not speak openly in tongues in church unless there was a person with the gift of
interpretation present so that the church would be edified. Otherwise, he stated
that they should speak in tongues to themselves and to God. (I Cor. 14:28)
In verse 5, he expresses a desire for all believers to pray in tongues; in
verse 15, he states, “…I will (purpose and determine to) pray with the spirit.”
Our conclusion is that Paul must have spoken in tongues mostly in private, as a
prayer language.
ALL BELIEVERS CAN BE FILLED WITH OR BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
At the close of Peter’s message, on the Day of Pentecost, the people asked
what they must do to be saved. He instructed them to repent and be baptized
into the Name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and they would receive the “gift”
of the Holy Spirit. Then he stated, “For the promise is unto you, and your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call.” (Acts 2:39)
We are “saved by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
We are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:16 NIV)
We are “filled with” or “baptized in” the Holy Spirit by Jesus, which is just a greater
dimension of the same Holy Spirit by whom we are saved & sanctified. (Matt.
3:11, Lu. 3:16, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4 & 39, Acts 8:15-16, Acts 10 & 19)
A good example of this greater dimension is in Acts 8:15-17 (NIV) –
“When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply
been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed
their hands on them, and they received (were baptized or filled with) the Holy
Spirit.”
Note – In verse 12, the people of Samaria “believed” and were “baptized”
which means they had already received Salvation. Peter and John then prayed
for them to receive this greater dimension of the Holy Spirit which is called the
“infilling” or “baptism” in the Holy Spirit which happened after their Salvation.
Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit is “with you” and shall be “in you.” (John 14:17)
He also stated that this dimension of the Holy Spirit would be given after His
“glorification.” (John 7:39 and Heb. 1:3, 8:1, and 10:12)
PRAYING IN TONGUES HELPS IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES.
When your mind is troubled.
When you feel inadequate.
When the situation seems impossible
When you feel weak.
When you feel sick.
When faced with difficult problems.
When there are various urgent needs.
When you are facing death.
Even when everything seems to be going well & you just enjoy the presence and
joy of the Holy Spirit.
[Editor's comment: I believe what Dan Beller has written. When I was baptized with or in the Holy Spirit with the intitial evidence of speaking in tongues, I prayed in tongues for three days off and on. I can truthfully declare to you that this Pentecostal blessing is real and it is for you regardless of church affiliation.
Holy Spirit and prayed in tongues for about an hour. Further Bible studies proved to me
that this “prayer language” is Biblical. Praying in tongues has been one of my greatest
discoveries and has brought me through many crises in life. Like Job (Job 1:5), I arise
early each day to offer sacrificial prayers for my family; Also, for my extended family, the
Church and the lost. Praying in tongues is an integral part of these prayer times.
As I grow older, the daily study of Scripture and praying in tongues are most vital
in maintaining Spiritual peace and living in the Presence of God. Trusting in God’s
Word brings great assurance and comfort.
The reason I am writing this article is that often people, including Pentecostals, do not understand the tremendous value of speaking in tongues. This practice is more than just “unexplainable & necessary baggage” which we tolerate because we are Pentecostal and Charismatic. Praying in tongues can bring us many blessings and help us through the most difficult times.
I have a vivid memory of one of our church members, in St. Frances Hospital, praying in tongues as he was dying, which must have brought him much comfort.
OUR BELIEFS MUST BE BASED ON SCRIPTURE (Ultimate source of truth):
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
(Eph. 6:18 NIV) “…if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays…” (I Cor. 14:14 NIV)
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in
the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20 NIV)
When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is interceding for us: “…the Spirit
helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the
Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He
Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s Will.” (Rom. 8:26-27 NIV)
PRAYING IN TONGUES IS SCRIPTURAL:
Praying in tongues is a “prayer language” because you are speaking to God
and not man. (Acts 2:11) “…anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to
men but to God.” (I Cor. 14:2 NIV)
Praying in tongues bypasses the mind and lets your spirit communicate with
God. “…the mind is unfruitful (does not understand)” when you are praying in
tongues. (I Cor. 14:2 & 14)
Praying in tongues brings personal edification (builds up your spirit, encourages
and enriches your life) – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” (I Cor.
14:4)
Praying in tongues means that the Holy Spirit is making intercession for us.
(Rom. 8:26-27)
When praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit is verbalizing to God even our
subconscious needs and we are edified and built up without conscious
understanding of what we are saying. (I Cor. 14:2 & 4)
Paul prayed in tongues very much in private. He stated that he spoke in
tongues more than the Corinthians who spoke in tongues so much that he had
to regulate the practice in I Cor. 14. He taught the Corinthians that they should
not speak openly in tongues in church unless there was a person with the gift of
interpretation present so that the church would be edified. Otherwise, he stated
that they should speak in tongues to themselves and to God. (I Cor. 14:28)
In verse 5, he expresses a desire for all believers to pray in tongues; in
verse 15, he states, “…I will (purpose and determine to) pray with the spirit.”
Our conclusion is that Paul must have spoken in tongues mostly in private, as a
prayer language.
ALL BELIEVERS CAN BE FILLED WITH OR BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
At the close of Peter’s message, on the Day of Pentecost, the people asked
what they must do to be saved. He instructed them to repent and be baptized
into the Name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and they would receive the “gift”
of the Holy Spirit. Then he stated, “For the promise is unto you, and your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call.” (Acts 2:39)
We are “saved by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
We are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:16 NIV)
We are “filled with” or “baptized in” the Holy Spirit by Jesus, which is just a greater
dimension of the same Holy Spirit by whom we are saved & sanctified. (Matt.
3:11, Lu. 3:16, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4 & 39, Acts 8:15-16, Acts 10 & 19)
A good example of this greater dimension is in Acts 8:15-17 (NIV) –
“When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply
been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed
their hands on them, and they received (were baptized or filled with) the Holy
Spirit.”
Note – In verse 12, the people of Samaria “believed” and were “baptized”
which means they had already received Salvation. Peter and John then prayed
for them to receive this greater dimension of the Holy Spirit which is called the
“infilling” or “baptism” in the Holy Spirit which happened after their Salvation.
Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit is “with you” and shall be “in you.” (John 14:17)
He also stated that this dimension of the Holy Spirit would be given after His
“glorification.” (John 7:39 and Heb. 1:3, 8:1, and 10:12)
PRAYING IN TONGUES HELPS IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES.
When your mind is troubled.
When you feel inadequate.
When the situation seems impossible
When you feel weak.
When you feel sick.
When faced with difficult problems.
When there are various urgent needs.
When you are facing death.
Even when everything seems to be going well & you just enjoy the presence and
joy of the Holy Spirit.
[Editor's comment: I believe what Dan Beller has written. When I was baptized with or in the Holy Spirit with the intitial evidence of speaking in tongues, I prayed in tongues for three days off and on. I can truthfully declare to you that this Pentecostal blessing is real and it is for you regardless of church affiliation.