Gifts of the Holy Spirit
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1. When one speaks in tongues, to whom does he speak? |
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When one speaks in tongues – as the Spirit gives him utterance – he
speaks to God, for Paul says: “He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men
but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks
mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2 – NKJV). The words he speaks can be a prayer,
or a psalm (a song), or a thanksgiving. Here are the words of Paul which
confirm this: “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. 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? For thou
verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified” (1 Corinthians |
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Obviously, the direction of speaking in tongues does not change
depending on the circumstances, so it is not true that he who speaks in
tongues in private (for instance while he is alone in his bedroom) speaks to
God, whereas when he is gathered together with other believers he speaks to
men. |