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- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 06:33:32 EST
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- From: "SHELBY A. CROSS" <LIBSAC@EMUVM1.BITNET>
- Subject: RE:PRAYING IN TONGUES, ETC.
- Lines: 75
-
- Dear Christia,
-
- I usually do not enter in on the discussion end because I get so busy, but I
- would like to share in this one because I happen to speak in tongues after a
- year of frustration, I received this gift effortlessly one Sunday. I did not
- want to make up any thing, so I closed my eyes. I said Lord, if this is of
- You, and I would like to receive this gift if You would like me to have it (at
- the time I didn't know that this was for everybody in the body of Christ).
- I received the gift and I am forever grateful. Why?:
-
- 1 Cor. 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men,
- but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh
- mysteries. (I'm speaking to God!)
-
- 1 Cor. 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that
- prophesieth edifieth the church. (I edify myself - to edify means to build
- up or increase the faith, morality, etc.; instruct or benefit; uplift - Many
- times the Lord will give me knowledge through this time with the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit is to not only comfort us but to teach, lead, and guide us.
- This is a very good reason why, especially when you need direction, or the
- Lord wants you to say or do a particular thing for His service.)
-
- 1 Cor. 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophe-
- sied: for greater is he that prophsieth than he that speaketh with tongues,
- except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. (Although at the
- beginning I did not understand what I was saying in tongues, the Lord began
- to give me the interpretation after I had prayed for the interpretation because
- I wanted to know what the Holy Spirit was saying through me. This is backed up
- by 1 Cor. 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that
- he may interpret. 14) For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth,
- but my understanding is unfruitful. 15) 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. (If we are in public
- we must have an interpretation so that others will know what the Lord is saying
- and when I am by myself I also want to know what the Lord is saying and what
- the Holy Spirit is saying through me.)
-
- This was perfectly illustrated by the testimonies that Marissa and Mark gave.
- Sometimes I am in church and the Lord uses me to interpret. Like anything
- else the Lord allows us to do - Jesus said in John the 15th chapter that with-
- out Him we can do nothing. If you analyze this you know that Jesus does every-
- thing. Don't you begin to think that you are so special, but just let God
- use you like a microphone. You're the microphone but He is the speaker.
-
- My final reason for speaking in tongues. This is one of the most awesome rea-
- sons that I love to speak in tongues. I told my daughters this, who all speak
- in tongues. (Which by the way at first most of them did not want the gift until
- I gave them this illustration).First of all there are so many times I wanted to
- tell God what was in my heart, but I felt my native language which is English
- just was not adequate to talk to the Creator, at that time my heart would be
- so full. What better way to express yourself then having the Holy Spirit
- speak for me and through me. Next the Holy Spirit prays, Jesus is interceding
- on our behalf to the Father, and yes folks this is a perfect prayer, because
- the Holy Spirit will only pray whats best for you always lining up with the
- perfect will of God - for it is God praying for you.
-
- Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
- and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for the saints.
- (The Bible says pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. This is
- my last reason). We are to seek all the gifts. Read all of 1 Cor. 14. Let
- the Lord open up your understanding. Run reference scriptures and get a good
- understanding and then enjoy all the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives as He
- will.
-
- I love you all and hope you all continue to grow in God's grace. Note a
- Catholic brother started this question. I work with a beautiful Catholic
- sister from the Phillippines who has the gift of tongues and we get along
- great. We have even been given permission to use one of the study rooms
- in order that we can pray together, and we have both spoken in tongues and
- the Lord has allowed either one of us to interpret. Although I am not
- Catholic my co-worker and I get along great together.
-
- Your sister in Christ,
-
- Shelby--
-