© 09 Colin Melbourne
Understanding messages in tongues
Q: Do people who speak in tongues know what they are saying? We have a church member who speaks in tongues, and then interprets, as if God Himself is speaking, using first person pronouns. How do I know if this is real prophecy?
A: First the Holy Spirit gives the message in tongues, then He gives the interpretation to whoever He chooses. It may be the person who spoke in tongues, (who is to pray for the interpretation himself, 1 Co. 14:13) or it may be somebody else. God decides. 1 Co. 12:10-11.
The meaning of the tongues message becomes clear as the interpretation is given.
Since it is the Spirit of God speaking through the person, He uses the pronouns “I”, “Me”, and “My” etc.
Test Everything
Believers are to weigh the prophecy to determine if it is genuine or not. This is done by spiritual discernment, checking what is said; against the Spirit of God in their hearts, and the written word of God in the Holy Bible. If it is God speaking, the message will agree with both the Spirit and the Word. 1 Co. 14:27-29, 1 Thes. 5:19-21, 1 Co. 2:13-16.
Tongues: All You Need to Know: The very best of Ken Hagin’s teaching on tongues. Scriptural answers to questions on this topic.
Repetitive and baby tongues
Q: When I pray in tongues in my prayer time alone with God. I keep saying the same thing over and over. Is it something different to God each time? Or am I praying the same prayer over and over? I’ve been doing this for years. I hear other people pray in tongues, and it’s different, or they have more words. Can you help please? Jason
Q: I have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, but I did not speak in tongues, my lips did move like a little baby, I was given utterance, and I heard my voice in another language, I have been told that it is called smattering tongues, does this mean I can still speak in tongues? Isabel
A: Tongues come from the Holy Spirit in a born again believer. They are the first sign a believer is filled with God’s Spirit; other gifts follow if the believer remains hungry for God, and they all operate through faith.
If you have limited tongues vocabulary remember the Holy Spirit has limitless resources, you may have become stationary, and stuck in a rut, but He isn’t.
So extend your faith, listen to Him, and exercise the Gifts He gives you in faith. Ask the Lord for more, and He will give you more. Mtt. 7:8, Jn. 7:37-39, 1 Co. 14:1,5, Jas. 1:5.
Encrypted by God
Q: Does Satan understand believers when they pray in tongues? Freda
A: See: Understanding Tongues: Heaven’s secret language.
Counterfeit tongues
Q: Do you have to be a Christian to speak in tongues? Jennifer
A: Genuine tongues are only given to genuine Christians.
For a real Christian seeking the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and tongues, there’s no danger whatsoever of receiving a false tongue. Lk. 11:11-13.
However, the opposite is true for the unsaved, and counterfeit-Christians, because Satan often mimics the gift in cults that manifest demonic counterfeit tongues, such as Charismatic Catholics, and many other pseudo-Christian groups.
So, unless you are saved beforehand, it is dangerous to seek the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
© 09 Colin Melbourne