Is Praying in the Spirit a Gift for Everyone?

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

1Corinthains 12:1

First, what is tongues?  Whether referred to as tongues, divine prayer language, praying in the Spirit… tongues is the Gift promised by the Father to those who would believe in Jesus. (Mark 16:17, Luke 11:13)

Some people believe that tongues are real but not for everyone because of 1 Corinthians 12:30.  Unfortunately, context is very important!  If a sentence is isolated from its framework, the message of the paragraph is lost or twisted.  Read the full chapter 1 Corinthians 12…

You have to understand the context here.  Paul is addressing tongues in the setting of a church service.  Everyone has a part to play – not just the person preaching on the stage.  It is like a symphony. And in the setting of a symphony, not all the musicians will be playing the violins in that piece, just as all present will not be playing the piano.  An orchestra is not made up of a single type of instrument but many!  Likewise, in the context of 2 Corinthians 12, each member has a different part so that the service is played in its fullness according to the purpose of the Orchestrator.  Do you see? 

Tongues is available to all Christians just as a piano is available to all musicians.  But Paul is addressing the context of parts in a church service (even as instruments in a symphony or as members in a body)

That does not mean that the violinist cannot play piano or the flute player can’t sing! Of course not. =)  It only means that there is a purpose (filled with parts) that the composer wants accomplished in THIS setting.

NOT EXCLUDED… An Advantageous Gift

If you have never received your prayer language of tongues, you are not being excluded from the gifts of God. (Luke 11:13) This one is a very, very effective Gift.  One of its uses being able to cover situations and details your head doesn’t know about:

Thus tongues is very advantageous in a marriage, friendship, family, workplace, or Church Service setting. Why?  Because when you pray in tongues, you are speaking out the perfect will of God over situations (including in the deepest places of your self ) (Romans 8:26-27, I John 5:14-15, Jude 1:20)

Let me show you the inner workings of this:

When you pray in tongues, you are speaking words that are coming straight out of the heart of God... same as in Genesis chapter 1.  How did Light appear in Genesis chapter 1 where there was darkness and void before?

It always takes 1). A Word from God  2). His Holy Spirit to create that word.

Genesis 1:1-2  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. 

And the (Holy) Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Notice that the Holy Spirit was hovering but nothing happened until the Word of God was released.

Genesis 1:3  Then God said (released the word) "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Do you see?!  Immediately the Holy Spirit moved in on that word to create what was not there before.  

This is the same process that happens when you pray in tongues...

The same Holy Spirit is hovering over the deep places in you, in a situation… waiting for the word.  As you pray in tongues you are speaking words coming straight from the heart of God. (Romans 8:26, 1 John 5:14-15)

And the same Holy Spirit from Genesis chapter 1 moves in on those words to create what was not there before. 

So tongues has purpose in a Symphony setting and private setting (both settings the composer (God) is able to accomplish his will on the earth.

Luke 11:13  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

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