Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 9/18/2008

Question
I have experienced the baptism of the holy ghost about 4 or 5 times now and will be a believer for a year in december and everytime i have gotten the baptism of the holy ghost i have not heard myself speak in tonges and everyone telling me i did.All i hear is me praising God in my mind in english.why is this?

Answer
Shana,

Thank you for the opportunity to help.

It is truth that most Spirit-filled Believers who pray in the Spirit (tongues) do not know or understand what they are saying. This is my experience most of the time when I am praying in the Spirit. However, there are some times that I know that I am praying in tongues, but I can understand in my mind what I am saying (like your experience). This is not abnormal, just unusual. I suggest that you continue to operate in your payer language with understanding, or without. The important thing to understand is that you are being inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Here a few reasons why all Believes should be filled with the Spirit and pray in tongues...

Praying in tongues builds your faith. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 20). Some think you have to be "spiritually up" and anointed to pray in tongues, but praying in the Spirit builds our faith. If you need victory, pray in tongues.

Praying in the prayer language brings you spiritual rest. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing . . . ." (Isaiah 28:11,12). When we are tired or upset we can pray in tongues and receive supernatural rest from God.

Praying in the Holy Spirit can help us better understand the truth of God’s Word and His guidance. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13). "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).

Praying in tongues, as the Spirit impresses us can "take care of things" before they happen. Have you ever been awakened at 3 a.m. to pray and not know what to pray or how? Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, "For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."

Praying in the prayer language gives us a "direct line" to God. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot.

Praying in the Spirit acclimates us to the realm of the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe it is a stepping stone to the other gifts. For these six reasons you can see that speaking in tongues is much more than just a sign of the Holy Spirits Baptism.

Please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden