Covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:

Have you yourself wondered why some people really go really nuts, bonkers when you mention the word Holy Spirit.. I have! It is related to their false  fear of admitting and confessing their sins, of their own repentance.

Acts 2:38   Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”;

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

We do not emphasize the baptism in the Spirit and speaking in tongues to a greater extent than all of the other essential New testament doctrines such as the New Birth from Above (salvation), dying to self, the Lordship of Jesus Christ,  and water baptism. All the teachings of the New Testament even about  tongues have  the same priority as it is in Scripture.

There are now many, many Christians who give testimony to a new, dynamic and personal, life-changing experiences as a result of their  relationship with the Holy Spirit while other Professing Christians  they still do not have any real encounter and experience of the Holy Spirit, and why is that? 

When any biblical truths, even such as praying in tongues,  fall into obscurity and neglect, too many people offer false explanations, false excuses for it instead of reviving the truths in their life.

The disciples who follow Jesus were born again. They had come to a vibrant and zealous faith in Christ, to the point that they were willing to give their lives for him. They had witnessed Christ’s authority, practiced some of his authority in expelling demons and healing people. They witnessed his resurrection and ascension. Yet it was to these disciples, clearly born again, that Jesus said

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So  certainly   being baptized by the Holy Spirit is different from spiritual rebirth, and different from baptism by water, and it is  distinct from being baptized into the body of Christ.

While God’s  gifts to men now are supernatural both in source and operation, they still do require the personal willingness  and having an  obedient hearts through which they the gifts might find expression. The believer must (1) have a clear understanding of the biblical base for promised gifts; (2) be touched in his heart with a desire for the gifts to flow; (3) be willing to submit to the inner sense that the Spirit is seeking expression; and (4) offer to the Holy Spirit his heart, emotions, will, and voice by which those gifts may operate. The key is obedient availability coupled with a sincere desire to please God.

 Jesus now had commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had been “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). It was not until they had placed themselves at the Spirit’s disposal that they were “filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).Now on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon the assembled believers as per the Bible and and “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues” (Acts 2:4). Later, as Peter was preaching at the house of Cornelius, “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message” and they were “speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:44, 46). Again, as the apostle Paul was ministering to the Ephesian disciples, “the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). It is evident also that Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) and spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). These Scriptures clearly show that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  When the early believers were filled, they spoke in other tongues, and the same holds true today. Millions of believers worldwide share the exact testimony: when they initially were baptized in the Holy Spirit they spoke in unknown tongues. This is the truth which Pentecostals consistently affirm. The prophecy of Joel 2:28, 29, cited by Peter in Acts 2:16, 17, links today’s Spirit-filled believers with those who were filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The Spirit’s fullness, evidenced initially by the phenomenon of speaking in other tongues, is the common experience all celebrate with joy. 

Not just these teachings of Jesus and the Apostles now but  why also is the baptism of the holy spirit so neglected, opposed?The devil discourages this firstly, uses people to do it as well. All who are hungry for the “filling” should be encouraged to trust the Lord for the overflowing evidence of that “filling”; namely, speaking in other tongues. For they do not know what they are really missing here. The speaking in tongues  is a precious promise written in God’s Word and an be now  fulfilled in all of our lives. To ignore it is to miss a great blessing and come short of God’s will for your life as set forth in the  the New Testament pattern.   Speaking in tongues is but the initial evidence and is to be followed by all the evidences of Christlikeness that mark a consistent Spirit-filled life.

1 Corinthians 14: 1    Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 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. 3    But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4    He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church  5    I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6    Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?7    And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?8    For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?9    So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.10    There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.  11    Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.12    Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.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.16    Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

 Speaking in tongues is both a  personal even, praying in tongues but also a public event.. The purpose of tongues with interpretation in public is twofold. One purpose is to provide a sign for unbelievers that they might believe. The other purpose is to edify the church body. Tongues with interpretation declares the mighty works of God, exalts His name, and prompts the believers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. It also explains and calls for commitment to the church’s present  mission, and neither of these gifts have even ceased in operation these last days now too..

Also what is the advantage of “praying in tongues” in one’s private prayer life?

There are at least four uses or purposes of unknown tongues, according to the New Testament: (1) as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6); (2) as a gift to edify the church when the tongues are interpreted (1 Corinthians 12:10); (3) as a sign for unbelievers that they might believe (1 Corinthians 14:22); and (4) as a God-given provision for effective prayer and praise (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14). In all these cases, tongues is the same in essence, but different in purpose.

Praying in tongues during private devotions is an additional ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many believers today testify that praying in tongues greatly enriches their spiritual lives. The limitations of intellect are overcome as the Holy Spirit quickens the human spirit in glorious expressions of worship and adoration. The quandary of limited vocabulary and the inability to express feelings and concerns of the soul disappear as a Spirit-imparted language flows out from the heart. It is as if heaven and earth, time and eternity, God and man all compress together in a glorious act of worship.

Also since the  Holy Spirit has authentically inspired next the interpretation of the tongues now , the revelations given will never contradict the teachings of the Bible. If the interpretation is contrary to Scripture, it is out of order and must be ruled so. The Bible is the measure by which all speaking in tongues  utterances as well must be judged. While   spiritual gifts are divine in their origin, but they are entrusted to people, and they must operate in a way that is consistent with biblical teaching  1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

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Many even religious persons, people are falsely trying to reach Heaven, serve God in their own efforts neglect God’s provisions for them, God’s spiritual gifts. if you oppose tongues you are not even a Christian led by the holy Spirit. and that is your main problem still.. not being filled with the Holy Spirit.. You do need to learn what sins are holding you back from this… http://postedat.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/so-why-is-it-you-do-not-pray-in-tongues/

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”Many of you are deceived by your own religious leaders because you will not seek after JESUS for yourselves, like JESUS commanded you to do so!

Many of you are deceived because you do not seek after JESUS with your whole heart, mind, and soul, that you might know GOD for yourself through the revelation knowledge of JESUS CHRIST for yourself!   http://postedat.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/many-of-you-are-deceived-because/

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Now we all do really have freedom of religion, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, the right to be heard now as well.. I clearly do believe in the right of everyone to speak, to speak out as well, and to be equally heard by all, so we can all judge what has been said if it is appropriate and we can next corresponding act upon it, even in the church, in the government, on the internet now too. http://anyonecare.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/what-part-about-free-speech-do-you-not-understand/

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  Jesus still got new instructions from his relationship. direct communication with God.. God spoke audibly to him many times that even others heard it.. ” This is my son ” I have heard God’s audible voice to me.. Imagine now instead that you too even can actually hear God’s voice and his specific instructions to you instead of hearing your own voice and the lusts of the flesh or the Devil’s voicehttps://anyonecare.wordpress.com/…/god-speaks-hearing…/

 

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