The Perfect Understanding of Tongues – A Word by Dr. Bob Allen

I had been saved for about a year, and then one day, while driving my car, I asked the Lord if tongues are real and if they are for today. At that second, as the words were coming out of my mouth, the power of God fell on me in the car and I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and I began to speak in tongues! I had the true “Book of Acts” experience! I had to get my car off the road and just lay in the seat while the Spirit was upon me. I spoke what seemed to be many, many languages for maybe over an hour–I could not stop; I was scared because I was a new Christian in a Southern Baptist Church, and I had no experience in the working of the Holy Spirit. I was watching my tongue and my mouth in the car mirror. My tongue looked to be doing about a thousand miles an hour, and my mind was not even involved, it was just bypassed. I put one hand on top of my head, and the other hand under my chin, then I pushed down on the top of my head and pushed up with my hand under my chin with all my strength, and tried to stop my mouth. The Lord threw me like a feather, my hands went flying through the air. The spiritual power in my mouth was a thousand times stronger than the strength of my hands. Talk about the fear of God! I had experienced it. He let me know that He would tell me when He was finished. And after a while, the Holy Spirit just stopped. At that time, I received both the gift for giving messages and interpretation of tongues for the Church and also received my prayer language. My mouth was filled with spiritual power. I want to explain to you the differences between praying in tongues, speaking a message in tongues, and giving an interpretation.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4, the Apostle Paul said that there are “different kinds of tongues.” The Lord taught me about tongues and I have been praying in tongues as well as using the speaking gift along with interpretation of tongues for about 48 years. Now, I want to help you to understand the value of tongues.

In 1Corinthians chapters 12 through 14, Apostle Paul covered the subject of tongues. The average Christian, as well as most churches, know very little about this wonderful God-given language which I received with one question.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:18, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.”

Paul is putting a big endorsement here on tongues, and so does the Lord Jesus.

In Mark 16:17 Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” Any person that rejects this gift would be challenging the Master Himself, and His words have a very long shelf life. Real power ministry operates out of the Spirit, and not the mind. Good information that you can learn comes out of the mind. Tongues take you above the natural man where your spirit touches God’s Spirit.

The Gift

Speaking and praying in tongues comes with the baptism or the Holy Spirit when He comes upon you, and only Jesus can baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

In Luke 3:16, John answered, “Saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Jesus is our Holy Spirit Baptizer.

Praying in tongues and speaking in tongues are about as different as the east is to the west.

Can all pray in tongues? Jesus said that it would be a sign that follows the believer. Paul seems to think so, that is why Paul said to pray in the Spirit and pray in the understanding also.

Praying is not one of the nine ministry gifts of the Holy, but everything we have is a gift from God.

In Acts 10:44-46, when Peter led the first Gentiles to the Lord, the sign of the Holy Spirit followed. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. In addition, those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

Praying

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful; what is it then? I will do both; 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.” Please notice there are two different things. You can even learn to sing to the Lord in your spirit. Question: Should the prayer tongue be for everybody?

Yes, we are to pray and sing both with our spirit and with our understanding. God is not a respecter of persons. God is a Spirit, and it is your spirit coming directly together with His. When you pray in tongues Paul said you are speaking mysteries unto God.

In 1Corinthians 14:4, Paul said that praying in tongues edifies you; this builds your spirit up and fills it up. Who doesn’t need that!

Jude, verse 20: “But you beloved build up yourself in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Praying in the Holy Spirit means your spirit touches His Spirit. If all could not do this, we would not be told to do so.

Can you interpret your prayer tongue? Most say, “Yes,” I say, “No, you cannot.” Your prayer tongue never gets interpreted. You don’t interpret the mystery that your spirit speaks that is just between you and God. The tongues spoken by and being prayed by your own spirit are not interpreted because you are speaking mysteries and praying unto God. Mysteries are mysteries.

That is why Paul said to pray in the Spirit and pray for the understanding also. The person that prays in tongues will, however, have a higher realm of understanding and revelation, and he will hear from God more clearly.

My friend, praying in tongues every day is like putting money in the bank; when you need to share or minister to someone or have a cry in your heart from the Lord, you will have spiritual power and strength to draw from.

No wonder Paul said “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all.” If you want your prayer language, cry out to God, but remember, it is to edify you and build your spirit up so that you can more easily touch the heart of God. Here is the taste test: Are you seeking Him now? Are you crying out for more? And are you hungry for more of Him?

Remember, God does not pray for you. Start trying to pray in tongues in the shower. Just keep trying and soon the Holy Spirit will help you break into a beautiful flowing language. Now remember, if you are not following hard after God, you may not get a language for your spirit. After all, what would be the point if you do not seek Him.

Speaking

Can everyone use the speaking gift of tongues?

No, the speaking gift is for the church, God’s people. This Gift should operate in every church and meeting.

1Corinthians 14:26 says, ^“How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, have a tongue.” How is this working in your church?

When the Holy Spirit gives the word in tongues that gets interpreted.

Interpretation:

Can everyone be an interpreter? There again, do you have the gift?  Tongues being spoken occurs when moved upon by the Holy Spirit and always gets interpreted.

The gift of tongues that operates in the church brings forth a message from the Spirit of God. It becomes a prophecy when it’s interpreted; it is a very pure or a sure word of prophecy. This gift is part of the nine gifts given to the church. It is to be used to speak to the body. What makes it so pure?

First, when bringing forth the message in tongues by the Holy Spirit it will be a spontaneous flow. The interpretation is also a spontaneous flow. You do not have time to think. You just speak what you see before you. For me it is like a ticker-tape message that I’m reading aloud. You cannot inject one thought of your own into it. You don’t get a chance because it comes so fast you just follow the words. The interpretation may come from someone else in the church, or the one that is speaking the tongues may also bring it out. When you are to bring the message or the interpretation, you may feel a little pressure built up inside by the Holy Spirit; this is the signal that the Holy Spirit wants to speak through you.

I have, on several occasions, been in desperate situations. While praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit would come upon me, and kick my prayer tongue into another new Holy Spirit language and the Lord would speak back to me–He would speak very clearly the interpretation which then became a prophecy. Every time there was a real point of need in my life, it always brought a great blessing from the Lord. Let me make this clear, I cannot bring about an interpretation at will, but I can always pray in tongues at will. You do not need to own this gift for Him to speak to you or use you to speak. He can speak through a donkey, but if you have the gift, He will use you regularly if the Church permits. Tongues will take you to a higher level of faith.

When you give a message in tongues, it is perfect, and you are disengaged. First, the gift kicks in that belongs to the Holy Spirit. He is just using your tongue, and you don’t understand one word. Then, the Holy Spirit speaks forth the interpretation and you just follow the words that He puts before you. It is so fast; you cannot have a thought of your own. You must step out in faith here, and speak the first word. Then the Holy Spirit speaks in first person using your tongue to speak for God and to bring an understanding of something He wants to say to the Church.

In most Spirit-filled churches today, this gift is on lockdown, although most every Spirit-filled Church has someone with the gifts that the Holy Spirit would like to use to speak to His people. I have, for the most part, always been kept on lockdown by the Church.

You may want to find someone filled with the Holy Spirit to lay hands on you and pray with you for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Your purpose for wanting these gifts should be to draw closer to the Lord and to be a more successful witness. I notice almost everyone receives differently.