and just what is tongues? for it sure isnt some jibberish that goes on in the modern benny hinn movement. So please explain to me just what it is you are pushing here?
1. Personal Ministry in Tongues for Oneself.
The importance of personal ministry oneself through prayer in the spirit cannot be overemphasized, inasmuch as God has, by this means, provided us with the supernatural ability to minister to ourselves spiritually as often as we desire. Through praying in tongues the believer is able to minister divine strength and rest to his own spirit, increase his faith, and intercede in spirit on his own behalf.
actually, there are three specific areas in which prayer in the spirit enables the charismatic believer to minister to himself.
(1) Self-edification.
"He_that_ speaks in a tongue jusifies himself" (1 Cor. 14:4).
Self-edification is an essential ministry which God has provided for the Spirit-filled Christian through his ability to pray in the spirit. Certainly the Christian can also be edified through reading God's Word and by prayer with the understanding, but the personal ministry in tongues has been ordained by God to accomplish a work in us spiritually which is impossible by any other means. Some Christians without the charismatic experience, and because of erroneous teaching on the subject, will occasionally raise the objection that Paul seems to emphasize the value of prophecy over speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. On the contrary, with regard to personal ministry to oneself, the Scriptures show that speaking in tongues is more essential to the believer's edification than prophecy (I Cor.14:2, 4, 14-15, 18; Jude 20). It is only with reference to our ministry to the church that the Apostle stresses the obvious advantage of prophesying over speaking with uninterpreted tongues, in order that the Body of Christ may understand what is being said by the Spirit (note 14:4-5, 19, 28, "in the church"). However, the Apostle carefully points out that if the tongues which are spoken are also interpreted, then tongues are equivalent to prophecy and serve the same function (14:5, 13, 27). Thus, what the Scriptures clearly show, as any unprejudiced reader can see, is that through prophecy the believer edifies the church, and through tongues he edifies himself. With regard to personal ministry to oneself, praying in the spirit is the divinely ordained means by which the believer edifies himself.
Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 14-15 that when
he prayed in tongues that it was in his spirit not in his
intellect, which prayed to God. The Lord know that just as
your body needs food to be strengthened, and your mind
needs to be encouraged by the Word and prayer so to your
spirit needs to be edified or strengthened by praying in the
spirit each day. This is precisely what Spirit filled Christians are
admonished to do in Jude 20. You are admonished to pray in the spirit regularly, for in so doing God states
that you are "building up yourself on your in on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost."
Self-edification through praying in tongues is a necessary
and important ministry which God has provided for the
believer that praying with the understanding and the intellect
cannot give. It is the most direct and effective means by the inner man is strengthened spiritually, and the believer's faith is built up to enable him to endure trial and resist Satan, overcome temptation, and faithfully fulfill his in place in the Body of Christ. The Scriptures show show that though "faith cometh by hearing the word" (Rom 10:17 it is strengthened and increased by "praying in "the Holy Ghost" (Jude 20; 1 Cor. 14:4). Regular and consistent prayer in the spirit is the primary means by which the deep, inward work of the Holy Spirit is effected in the believer. Without question many of the trials which have overwhelmed you, and the temptations which you have failed to resist successfully, as well as the fear, worry, anxiety which have oppressed you, are directly related to your neglect of regular, daily prayer in the spirit. If,therefore,you desire to be strong in the faith and walk in victory over every trial and adverse circumstance, then avail yourself of the supernatural means by which God has made this possible, for "he that speaketh in a tongue edifies himself
The term unknown does not occur in the original but was added
by the translators. These are true languages (although unknown to the
speaker) which the Spirit-filled believer speaks supernaturally, and is recognizable as such by those who speak any of these particular languages or tongues, as Acts 2:6, 11; and 10:46 clearly indicate.
(2) Spiritual Rest.
"With stammering lips and another tongue will he speak... This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing" (Isa. 28:11-12).
God has provided a spiritual rest for the believer which cannot be obtained by any means other than praying in the spirit. The Apostle Paul shows in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 that the "rest" of which God speaks in Isaiah 28:11-12 is with reference to speaking in tongues. When the Spirit-filled believer faces trial and adversity — when he is tempted to doubt and worry — when he is tempted tb panic during some crisis or emergency — when problems seem as if they are about to overwhelm him — when, in his warfare with the forces of darkness, he finds himself weary or discouraged — he can minister to himself through the spirit and enter into a place of spiritual rest and victory which is unknown to those without the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Through the baptism in the Spirit God has provided a supernatural rest for the believer. The contemporary Church's neglect of the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and its unwarranted opposition to speaking in tongues, will help to explain why the offices of so many pastors and psychiatrists are filled with Christians who are desperately crying out for help with serious problems, or for deliverance from fears, worries, and anxieties, as well as from habits, addictions, and obsessions of every kind. Innumerable Christians today find themselves spiritually unfruitful, confused, and frustrated. Why is this? It is the result of the sin of the neglect of the Holy Spirit. The Church today has made the Blessed Comforter a "doctrine" in its creed, instead of a personal experience, which Christ insisted the believer must receive if he is to be spiritually strong and fruitful, and victorious over the powers of darkness (Jn. 14:12-26; Acts 1: 4-8; 2:1-4; Mk. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 12; 14).
Devotional ministry to God
"for he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but unto God." : for no man understands Him but in the spirit He speaks mysteries." 1Cor 14:2
Did you know that God desires for you to minister to Him? In what manner? By adoration, thanksgiving, and praise. He knows the limitations of our finite minds to praise and worship Him effectively with the intellect; thus, He has provided us with supernatural utterance in the spirit. There is no true Christian who has not felt his inadequacy and helplessness many times to express the praise, thanksgiving, and adoration which well up within his heart. How many times have you struggled, trying to express with your mlellect what you feel in your heart toward the Lord, usually giving up the effort after a while. Sometimes you lament, "Lord, you see what is in my heart, but there just aren't adequate words to express my love and gratitude." This will help explain why He has given us, through the baptism in (he Holy Spirit, the supernatural ability to worship Him in the spirit by praying in tongues. No matter how much we may try to communicate our love, gratitude, and praise to God with the intellect, we find that it is impossible for us to express the soul's deepest feelings and emotions in this manner. This is the significance of Wesley's plea in his immortal hymn, "0 for a Thousand Tongues to Sing My Great Redeemer's Praise." Wesley had experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit (as did Luther, Moody, Finney, R. A. Torrey all the other great spiritual leaders in history), and he refers in his hymn, not to a thousand voices in a church choir singing praises to God, but he is expressing his own desire for such an anointing by the Spirit that he can sing praises in a thousand new tongues.
3. Ministry on Behalf of Others.
Why speak in tongues? Because, in the third place this means we are able to fulfill our responsibility of ministry to others through prayer in the spirit. Pray in tongues is not, as those without the baptism sometime, suppose, merely some dubious exercise for personal edification, but it is indispensable if the believer is to be effective in his ministry on behalf of the Body of Christ, as well as to the unsaved. This ministry includes intercession, edification and occasionally supernatural witness.
(1) Spiritual Intercession.
"Praying always with all prayer in
the spirit, and watching thereunto with all poerserverance
and supplication for all the saints. Eph, 6:18
