Scriptural Reference

And as well as this, the spirit too, comes to help us in our weakness, for when we do not know how to pray properly, then the spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that can not be put in words;  and he who can see into all hearts knows what the spirit means because the prayers that the spirit makes for God holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God. Romans 8:26-27.

  The manifestation of the  holy spirit as described above, is not the same as praying in tongues as some people wrongly claim. When praying in tongues, the person praying actually speaks out words to the hearing of the people, just that the things he prays for this way, are not understood by them unless he (the speaker) interprets them (1 Cor 14:13-17). But in the case of the spirit assistance to us in our weakness to pray properly according to the will of God, he makes his groans in the secret of the heart to the knowledge of God alone. The groans made by the spirit are not spoken out. Unlike in praying in tongues, where the person praying says  out words which could be interpreted. The groans of the spirit in this manifestation are kept secret to even the person in whose heart is manifested.

  This manifestation takes place in the heart of all God's holy people (all baptised people in state of grace) as against speaking in tongue which is only a gift to some individual members of the Church.

   From the above explanation, it would be a misconception then , to say that the spirit's assistance to us in our weakness to pray according to the will of God, is the same speaking in tongues.

Scriptural Reference

"And those whom God has appointed in the church are firstly, apostles. Secondly, prophets, thirdly teachers, after them, miraculous powers; the gifts of healing; helpful acts, " guidance" various kinds of tongues. Are all of them apostles? Or all are prophets or teachers? Or all miracle workers, do all have the gift of healing? Do all of  them speak in tongues and all interpret them? 1Cor. 12:28-30.

   From the above scriptural reference, it is wrong to think or to teach that every born again person (every baptised person) must be able to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues as a gift of the holy spirit to the church is only given to some members of the church at will BH God. Other members have other gifts which those who have the gift of speaking in tongues may not have.

   Praying in tongues however from the scriptural evidence before us (1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28-30) , is not a distinct gift on its own. What the bible says as we would see in the scriptural reference that follows immediately after this explanation, is that anybody who speaks in tongue should pray that he may be given the interpretation, for when he prays in tongues, it is only his spirit that would be involved while his mind would not derive any fruit from the exercise. From the above scriptural fact, it is  inferred that it is people who have the gift of speaking in tongues that have the tendency to pray in tongues.

Scriptural Reference

" That is why anybody who speaks in  tongue should pray that he may be given the interpretation. For if I pray in tongue, my spirit may be praying but my mind derives no fruit from it. What then? I shall pray with the spirit but I shall pray with the mind as well. I shall sing praises with the spirit and shall sing praises with the mind as well. 1 Cor. 14:13-15

   Prayer said in tongues in the church should be understood by both the person saying it and also by the other member  of the church through the interpretation of the person saying it. The church is a gathering of the community of Gods people where everything done must be beneficial to the generality of the people. It is therefore a misconception and an abuse to think that the one who prays in tongues speaks in the language of angels and should not be understood by men.

Scriptural Reference

Otherwise, if you say your blessing only with the spirit, how is the the ordinary person going to answer "Amen" to your Thanksgiving without understanding what you are saying. You may be making your Thanksgiving well but the other person is not built up at all. 1 Cor. 14:16-17

Scriptural Reference

  " To One is given from the spirit the gift of utterance expressing wisdom, to another the gift of expressing knowledge in accordance with the spirit, to another, faith, from the same spirit and to another, gift of healing, through the same spirit, another, the working of miracles, to another , prophecy, to another, the power of distinguishing spirits, to one, the gift of different Tongues, and to another, the interpretation of tongues. But a Work in all these, is one and the same spirit, distributing them at will to each individual " 1 Cor. 12:8-11

Scriptural Reference

   While I Should like you all to speak in tongues, I would much rather you could prophesy, since those who prophesy are of greater importance than those who speak in tongues, unless they can interpret what they say so that the church is built up by it. 1 Cor. 14:5.

   What is spoken in the Church can only be of benefit to the church, if it is meaningful and brings either a Revelation, knowledge, a prophesy, or a form of instructive words or encouragement, or anything that can edify the church.

Scriptural Reference

  "Now suppose, brothers, I come to you and speak in tongues, why good shall I do you if my speaking provides no revelation or knowledge or prophesy or instruction? 1 Cor. 14:16

It is an Abuse of the gift of tongues, therefore if the speakers in tongues speak in the church gathering without any one interpreting what they are saying. The ideal thing, scripturally for such speakers to do, is to be quiet, since what they are saying are not interpreted to the Congregation and therefore would not be of any Hood to them. The purpose for which each of the gifts of the holy spirit (charisma) is given to the church, is for them to be used for the general good of the Church (1 Cor. 12:7).

    From the above scriptural reference, it is equally an abuse of speaking in tongues for more than one person to speak in tongues at the same time. They should speak one after the other with somebody interpreting what each person says.

Two ways of Understanding What Speaking In Tongue is

    Scripturally speaking, the expression speaking in tongues could be understood in two ways. The first one is when somebody speaks in different languages under the influence of the holy spirit and the things he or she says are understood perfectly well by his or her listeners in their own native languages, without anyone having to interpret them. A manifestation of this was on the day of Pentecost when the apostles who were all Galileans , Spoke in different languages under the power of the holy spirit and their listeners who were from different foreign nations, Understood the Apostles, in their own Various Native languages without any interpreter.

 Scriptural Reference

When the Pentecost day came Around, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a Sound as of a Violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting, and there appeared on them tongues as of fire, these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them.

    They were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak different languages, as the spirit gave them power to express themselves.

     Now, there are devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation and at this sound, they all assembled and each one was bewildered to hear these men speaking in his own language. They were amazed and Astonished. " Surely, they said, " All these men speaking are Galileans? How doesbit happen that each of us hears them in his own native language?"

   The second way is when the things the speaker is saying under the power of the holy spirit are not understood first hand by his listeners. Under this situation, the holy spirit present in the speaker, speaks mysteries which are only understood by God, but are mere babbles to men. This is one of the gifts of the holy spirit ,(charisma) to the church (1 For. 12:10). This second way of Understanding "speaking in tongues" which has bible reference below to back it up is what we are discussing in this book.

Scriptural Reference

"Those who speak in tongue, speak to God, but not to other people because nobody understands them, they are speaking in the spirit and the meaning is hidden" 1 For. 14:2

Significance

    This seckn manifestation of the holy spirit is a sign to unbelievers (non member of the church) and not to beleers (baptised people who have already accepted our lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel message).

Scriptural Reference

Brothers, do not remain children in your thinking. Infants in wickedness agreed, but in your thinking Grown-ups.

    It says in the written law, in strange tongues and foreign languages, I will talk to this nation, Even so, they will refuse to listen says the lord.

So the strange language are significant not for believers, but for unbeliever's.... " 1 For. 14:20-22