Mike, when we read your quote from 1 Corth 14:
"? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."
Are you saying that "praying with the Spirit is the say meaning as praying in a tongue?
You see, the direction Paul gives in 1 Corth. 14:2 is for a reason. An unknown language in church must be translated. It is not a though or an idea, but instead is an absolute directive from Paul himself as he spoke several languages himself. He understood the need to be understood.
WHY is that important????????
1 Corinthians 14:22-23
"Wherefore tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not, but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe.
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad".
Do we not see this???
Major, I have no idea what your trying to tell me Brother. I did not say Praying in Tongues is praying in the spirit. Paul said that.
Praying in the Holy Ghost could be tongues, it's praying in the spirit, but more important "With" the spirit, that is what tongues is. It is a spiritual gift and Paul called it praying.
Rome 8 literally says the Holy Spirit takes up with us, together, Against. According to the perfect will of God for the saints. Anything to hinder, hurt, the Holy Spirit prays with/ and gives with to help. Paul said I will pray with the spirit. Spirit may mean with my new born again human spirit with the help of the Holy Spirit, it may mean with the Holy Spirit, but both are involved.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then?
I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
(1Co 14:13-15)
WHY is that the case. The Jews made up the early church and came together with many languages among themselves, It was important to be understood so that the church COULD BR EDIFIED.
Tongues have nothing to do with man made language, though tongues can be in someones understood language. Tongues by the Holy Spirit is not a man made language but Paul called it the language of Angles, and speaking mysteries to God. Tongues can be in a known language.
You just can't interpret tongues without the Holy Spirit.
Tongues is a powerful Prayer language to God while sitting at home, you can pray in tongues all day at home. Interpretation is different because the operation is different. When praying in tongues your moving things that are not just words, things change according to the will of God. You will get that unction when months later to know you prayed in tongues about something as it happens. You just know.
Tongues in church does not edify, and why Paul gave instruction concerning saying I wish you all spoke in tongues, but there is something better. Prophecy.
Prophecy is inspired utterance that is in a known language. Though Paul said I rather you give prophecy, that is not as we want to also. Tongues is us speaking with the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is God speaking to us and we giving the message.
I have been praying in tongues for over 16 years, it's a spiritual thing and all I can do is show scripture. It is not natural at all, it's a real spiritual gift for every believer. I would not mislead you, but it best if you see this and get this from God for yourself. If you could not have it, then I would not say so. I have yet seen one person who honestly went to receive this not get this because it's prayer for us and a tool from God to his body to help.
I gathered that "speaking in tongues" is personal "proof of God/Holy Spirit" to some people. You have to believe that you can get this gift to get it. It is not necessary to faith or salvation. But, I guess? it can bolster faith.
Blessing Silk......................... What is proof you have the Holy Spirit filled with Power? I already wrote you about that in a P.M.
It's the same proof everyone gets when they go to the Alter and give their life to Jesus. You don't get trumpets or a greeting card from heaven or some reward to post on your wall. I use to say that you would speak in tongues, but the Lord corrected me on that and that is not the answer.
Faith is the Substance of things Hoped for................... It is evidence................ Evidence of something you can't see. Substance and Evidence before you physically sense a thing. That means it's just as yours and real as if you held it in your hand.
Jesus said believe you have it, then you get it...................... If I waited to speak in tongues for proof of anything then I am going against what Jesus said. (Mark 11:24) If I waited on proof of making Jesus Lord of my life, I would never believe I got born again.
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The condition is that God be your Father, and you just ask............. How much more will you not be given the Holy Spirit with Power.
How would you know you are filled with the Holy Spirit? Jesus said it was because you asked. How do you know you were born again, Scripture says because you believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth.
How do you know God gave you the Holy Spirit when you asked? Because you believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth I am now filled with the Holy Spirit because Jesus said if I asked, then My Father would give him to me.
How do you know if you speak in tongues? Jesus said if you believe on me, these signs will follow. It's already there if you met those conditions and so easy to receive.
Its the Person that will just believe what God said, that is the one God moves mountains and makes it good in their life for the Lord went about confirming HIS word with signs following.
So I can say I speak in tongues, I can pray now in a more dynamic and effective way because Jesus said if I believe on Him, it's mine and a sign that will follow me. I can say that even though I never spoke in tongues because the Word is more true than what I have yet experienced.
My story about how I received this is along these lines. I had to get out of waiting for proof and believing what God said. I am Glad did it this way because it taught me about faith a bit.