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Theology

Counterfeit or Genuine Tongues?

M
MichaelLiao Oct 31, 2011

Hey SI,

Can anybody tell me the difference between counterfeit tongues and genuine tongues? The thing is, I have been praying in tongues, but sometimes doubt comes in and just gets me to wonder "Is this real? Is this genuine? " I have seen the Holy Spirit work in my life and even others around me and that when I pray in tongues my spirit becomes stronger. It really helps me to get focused in prayer. The reason I ask this is because I don't want to grieve or even blaspheme the Holy Spirit, yet at the same time, I'm not sure about these things (whether it's real or not). It was only very recent that tongues just shot out of my mouth and at first I thought it was kinda weird, but then I continued praying with this gift. But many times I'm still in doubt, and my tongues became weaker, which kind of got me to think, did the Holy Spirit take it away from me because of my doubts?

If anyone can help me here please? I know this subject can spark a lot of controversy on this forum, but I just need some feedback on this. Please brethren, don't argue over this post, I just need some answers. Thank you all! And please keep me in your prayers over this subject, I need some spiritual discernment.

In Christ,

- Michael Liao

sermonindex Oct 31, 2011

Beloved Michael,
you wrote

I know this subject can spark a lot of controversy on this forum, but I just need some feedback on this.

i say this in love, truly, if you KNOW its gonna cause controversy, why even post this?...and i dont mean that harsh or as a rebuke...NO! not at all, its just that this one of those things that turns into a 100 plus post cyber scrum, that brings no Glory to God.....your reasoning is this:

Please brethren, don't argue over this post, I just need some answers.

you're asking other men and women for answers, that only God the Holy Ghost can answer, so it would seem right to go into that closet, shut the door, and seek what must be sought from Him, along with diligent search of the Bible.

forgive me if that all seems harsh, but i seen this kind of inquiry devolve quickly, and God knows this forum doesnt need anymore buffeting and diviseness. so go into that prayer closet, and listen, Jesus never fails, neil

T
twayneb Oct 31, 2011

Michael: From what you have said I would say the following:

1) What is happening fulfills a scriptural purpose of praying in tongues. When a man prays in tongues he edifies himself. You said you feel your spirit growing stronger through praying in tongues. Biblically that is what should be happening.

2) You focus in prayer is stronger. According to Paul's statements in 1 Cor. 2 the communion we have with the Holy Spirit should bring us to a place where we are more in tune to the Spirit of God. In fact, Paul is so strong as to say we have the very mind of Christ through communion with God through His Holy Spirit.

Praying in tongues is something that happens as most things in our walk with God, by faith. It is counter to human intuition to pray in tongues. We surrender ourselves in faith to the Holy Spirit dwelling in order for us to pray in tongues. So if I lack faith or have doubts, obviously there will be a weakness in me that causes me not to be able to receive the things of God as readily as I might.

So if I were you and had experienced what you described, and I have in the past, I would not worry about it. It sounds to me like you have received a genuine experience and the enemy is trying to make you doubt it and give up on it.

sermonindex Oct 31, 2011

amen to what Twayne testified, amen.

A
AbideinHim Oct 31, 2011

Brother,

How did you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? You recieved Him by faith. How did you receive the gift of tongues? The true gift of tongues is received by faith also.

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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?" (Luke 11:11-13).

If you asked God for the gift of tongues then you do not have to fear that you have received a counterfeit. You said that as you pray in tongues that your spirit becomes stronger. This is the true gift of tongues because praying in the Spirit will strengthen and edify you.

"For one who speaks [prays] in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. . . He who speaks (prays) in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak (pray) in tongues, but even more to prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:2–5)

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit." (Jude verse 20)

When you pray in tongues it is the Spirit that is giving you the utterance, and you are praying out of your spirit.

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." (1 Corinthians 14:14).

Most of the false tongues that I have seen have been the result of man trying to force the issue. Like the brother who was coaching a seeker by having him repeat or mimic certain sounds.

Mike

N
njhoover Oct 31, 2011

I'm glad this thread is here because it's something I've been struggling with lately as well.

L
Lysa Oct 31, 2011

MichaelLiao wrote:
The reason I ask this is because I don't want to grieve or even blaspheme the Holy Spirit, yet at the same time, I'm not sure about these things (whether it's real or not). It was only very recent that tongues just shot out of my mouth and at first I thought it was kinda weird, but then I continued praying with this gift. But many times I'm still in doubt, and my tongues became weaker, which kind of got me to think, did the Holy Spirit take it away from me because of my doubts?

Brother, doubt not! The Holy Spirit doesn’t force us to speak in tongues or any of His gifts. Paul says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. I WILL PRAY with the spirit, and I WILL PRAY with the understanding also...” (1 Cor 14.14-15) It’s not the Holy Spirit who opens our mouth to pray, it’s us, we have to be cooperative with Him.

So brother, be confident and pray away!!!

God bless you!
Lisa

sermonindex Oct 31, 2011

Michael Liao... while there are probably some things we might disagree with on this topic, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your heart!

I wish more people (including myself many times) were as sensitive to the Lord as you are.

Krispy

C
Christinyou Oct 31, 2011

Counterfeit; me speaking in tontues. Genuine; The Holy Spirit speaking through me as He wills, which has not occured as of yet, but the top of the list of gifts for me is the revelation of the Son of God in me. As Paul teaches always, "Christ in you the hope of glory". Col 1:27 Gal 2:20

In Christ: Phillip

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, the bible says that they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance so you do the speaking.a llot of the theology here sounds good but does not line up. who cares anyway...you answer for what you do and i the same...we are to flow together in love.jimp

B
brothagary Nov 1, 2011

thats how i feel too brother

i dont pray in toungs much ,it doesnt just come on

but i make my self then nomlay with in afew minutes

i start to feel edafied and like im flowing in prayer

most of the time i now what im praying for

maby becasue iv asked to interpreat my prayers

but i still doubt weather this is the gift of toungs

because iv herd of other descriptions of what toungs are


if it wasnt for the edafication i get when i pray like this , i would say with out doubt it is not real

i dont pray much maby 1 every 2,3 months

but i notice some thing going on in my spirit

and something in me refuses to reject my experance of edafictaion

S
savannah Nov 1, 2011


Michael Liao,

You ask,

"If anyone can help me here please?"

Maybe I can, maybe I can't.

I'll try.

Can you please tell me what tongue(s)/language(s) you've spoken in when,as you put it,"tongues just shot out of my mouth"?

I ask this in the Light of His Word in Acts 2:4-11,

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed, and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how do we hear every man in our own language, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God."

In the verses above note the word language(s)is used 4 times.

Adam Clarke comments on verse 4 thus,

"To speak with other tongues - At the building of Babel the language of the people was confounded; and, in consequence of this, they became scattered over the face of the earth: at this foundation of the Christian Church, the gift of various languages was given to the apostles, that the scattered nations might be gathered; and united under one shepherd and superintendent (επισκοπος) of all souls."

And A.T. Robertson comments on verse 4 thus,

"With other tongues (heterais glōssais). Other than their native tongues. Each one began to speak in a language that he had not acquired and yet it was a real language and understood by those from various lands familiar with them. It was not jargon, but intelligible language. Jesus had said that the gospel was to go to all the nations and here the various tongues of earth were spoken. One might conclude that this was the way in which the message was to be carried to the nations, but future developments disprove it. This is a third miracle (the sound, the tongues like fire, the untaught languages). There is no blinking the fact that Luke so pictures them. One need not be surprised if this occasion marks the fulfilment of the Promise of the Father. But one is not to confound these miraculous signs with the Holy Spirit. They are merely proof that he has come to carry on the work of his dispensation. The gift of tongues came also on the house of Cornelius at Caesarea (Acts 10:44-47; Acts 11:15-17), the disciples of John at Ephesus (Acts 19:6), the disciples at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:1-33). It is possible that the gift appeared also at Samaria (Act 8:18). But it was not a general or a permanent gift. Paul explains in 1 Cor. 14:22 that “tongues” were a sign to unbelievers and were not to be exercised unless one was present who understood them and could translate them. This restriction disposes at once of the modern so-called tongues which are nothing but jargon and hysteria. It so happened that here on this occasion at Pentecost there were Jews from all parts of the world, so that some one would understand one tongue and some another without an interpreter such as was needed at Corinth. The experience is identical in all four instances and they are not for edification or instruction, but for adoration and wonder and worship.

So,again I ask,

In the Light of His Word in Acts 2:4-11 can you please tell me what tongue(s)/language(s) you've spoken in when,as you put it,"tongues just shot out of my mouth"?

Not to "spark a lot of controversy" but rather for "some spiritual discernment."

Thanks Michael.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, the problem here is that few if anyone who have not moved in this manner understand that there are two different things we talk about that are understood as one. there is a prayer language and then a gift of tongues;not the same... a dear friend who wrote a masters paper at a prominant baptist seminary on "tonges are not for today" which was accepted was called to pray for his mother who was dying not but a few months afer graduating from sem....he prayed and nothing changed and he went into another room and wept sore over his moms condition and asked God why we did not have the same power that the apostles had to lay hands on folks for healing and as he wept he began to speak in either the tongues of men or angels and went back into his moms room and prayed for her and god raised her up.this is a very misused item that brings confusion on the body as a whole.when you operate in the gift of tongues there must be an inturprtation or it is out of order. when you pray in tongues it is to be done privately so as not to confuse and always as everthing must be done in love,preferring one another.jimp

sermonindex Nov 1, 2011

"When you operate in the gift of tongues there must be an interpretation or it is out of order."


I find it funny how Baptist talk about speaking in tongues and how things should be done in order but won't allow anyone to give even a peep in their services to those that might have something to say from God for them through this gift.

The tongues of men is not something that a person has learnt. When they speak in the tongues of men, they think they are speaking in tongues because they don't know what they are saying unless it's interpreted. The same goes with the tongues of the divine unless it be interpreted.

Your friend spoke in the tongues of angels because speaking in the tongues of men would have no benefit to his Mother because they both spoke the same language, unless there was some non speaking English fellow/woman standing about to hear it.

Healing the sick is more easier than speaking in tongues.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, it is NOT about tongues bro. approved it is about the Holy Spirit...Jesus told them to tarry in jerusalem until they were filled w/ the Holy Ghost after He breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.the two words for power in the greek enter into this also;they were to tarry till they receive dynamic power rather then the authoritive power they had already. one word describes a police officer the other is the officer with a gun.jimp nowhere does it say you shall receive tongues after that the Holy Spiritcomes upon you...power...dunymos.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, it is NOT about tongues bro. approved it is about the Holy Spirit...Jesus told them to tarry in jerusalem until they were filled w/ the Holy Ghost after He breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.the two words for power in the greek enter into this also;they were to tarry till they receive dynamic power rather then the authoritive power they had already. one word describes a police officer the other is the officer with a gun.jimp nowhere does it say you shall receive tongues after that the Holy Spiritcomes upon you...power...dunymos.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, it is NOT about tongues bro. approved it is about the Holy Spirit...Jesus told them to tarry in jerusalem until they were filled w/ the Holy Ghost after He breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.the two words for power in the greek enter into this also;they were to tarry till they receive dynamic power rather then the authoritive power they had already. one word describes a police officer the other is the officer with a gun.jimp nowhere does it say you shall receive tongues after that the Holy Spiritcomes upon you...power...dunymos.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, it is NOT about tongues bro. approved it is about the Holy Spirit...Jesus told them to tarry in jerusalem until they were filled w/ the Holy Ghost after He breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.the two words for power in the greek enter into this also;they were to tarry till they receive dynamic power rather then the authoritive power they had already. one word describes a police officer the other is the officer with a gun.jimp nowhere does it say you shall receive tongues after that the Holy Spiritcomes upon you...power...dunymos.

J
jimp Nov 1, 2011

hi, it is NOT about tongues bro. approved it is about the Holy Spirit...Jesus told them to tarry in jerusalem until they were filled w/ the Holy Ghost after He breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.the two words for power in the greek enter into this also;they were to tarry till they receive dynamic power rather then the authoritive power they had already. one word describes a police officer the other is the officer with a gun.jimp nowhere does it say you shall receive tongues after that the Holy Spiritcomes upon you...power...dunymos.

sermonindex Nov 1, 2011

there is a prayer language

I wish just once someone would show me a scripture reference to this "prayer language". Praying tongues, obviously yes, but "prayer language"?

Can someone please enlighten me as to where this is in the Bible because in 17 years of being a believer I've not found it.

Help me out.

Krispy

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