I need a strong Christian who can help me understand the gift of tongues, its purpose, rewards and who can?

@To anyone that think tongues exist. Check out a Hindu meeting in India. There is absolutely no difference between a Charismatic tongue speaking assembly and Hindus speaking in tongues. Including "holy" laughter, shaking, being "slain" in the spirit. Different skin color, that is the only difference. Oh yes! There is a spirit at work, but that is not the Holy Spirit. Take the time to listen to Justin Peters here: http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/TM13-10/the-d...

It does not exist anymore. No one of the so called miraculous gifts are any more.

The Gift of Tongues was a divinely bestowed supernatural ability to speak in a human language that had not been learned by the one speaking. According to the Apostle Paul, when believers exercised the gift of tongues in church, they were to speak one at a time, and only two or three were to speak in a given service (1 Cor. 14:27). Furthermore, when tongues were spoken in the church, they were to be interpreted by someone with the gift of interpretation so that the others might be edified by the God-given message (1 Cor. 14:5, 13, 27). In this way, tongues did not serve as a private prayer language, but rather—like all spiritual gifts—as a means by which one might serve and edify the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10).

Tongues “Will Cease”

In 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul made an interesting, almost startling, statement: “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.” In the expression “love never fails,” the Greek word translated “fails” means “to decay” or “to be abolished.” Paul was not saying that love is invincible or that it cannot be rejected. He was saying that love is eternal—that it will be applicable forever and will never be passé. Tongues, however, “will cease.” The Greek verb used in 1 Corinthians 13:8 means “to cease permanently,” and implies that when tongues ceased, they would never start up again.

Here is the question that this passage poses for the contemporary charismatic movement: if tongues were supposed to cease, has that already happened, or is it yet future? Charismatic believers insist that none of the gifts have ceased yet, so the cessation of tongues is yet future. Most non-charismatics insist that tongues have already ceased, passing away with the apostolic age. Who is right?

It should be noted that 1 Corinthians 13:8 itself does not say when tongues were to cease. Although 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 teaches that prophecy and knowledge will cease when the “perfect” (i.e., the eternal state) comes, the language of the passage—particularly the middle voice of the Greek verb translated “will cease”—puts tongues in a category apart from these gifts. Paul writes that while prophecy and knowledge will be “done away” (passive voice) by “the perfect,” the gift of tongues “will cease” in and of itself (middle voice) prior to the time that “the perfect” arrives. When did this cessation of tongues take place? The evidence of Scripture and history indicate that tongues ceased in the apostolic age.

MIMI

To those that say that tongues has ceased the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13; 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

So has that which is perfect come? No it has not, so then tongues have not ceased and have not been removed by God only by ignorant man.

It says in Romans 8; 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

When we speak in Tongues it is the Spirit that speaks and not us, He prays through us the perfect will of God for what ever situation we are going through of for another person, if you have received the gift from the Holy Spirit. Any one that has believed on Jesus can ask for the Holy Spirit and this is one of the signs is tongues, I was persistent for about a year and then I received the gift of tongues. So is you want this powerful weapon of the Spirit then search for it and don't give up. God Bless You

The gift is a minor gift of the Spirit. What it does do is to make prayer more powerful. It is not generated from the speech areas of the brain. Some can translate it and that is a gift too. When I speak in tongues the Spirit of God is in me and my hands get very hot and waves of joy happen in brain

The gift of tongues is basically a language whereby a Christian who is filled with the Spirit can glorify God. It is sort of like a prayer language. Often times or I should say many times the Christian does NOT understand what the meaning behind what he or she says. Its also a way for the Spirit to work through you but this is mainly a private thing between a Christian and God. It does say in the bible how Christians unless led by the Holy Spirit should NOT just speak in tongues in church unless there is someone to intrepret, such as an intrepreter. This doesnt mean that you cant speak in tongues in church, one shouldnt be doing it in such a way so everyone cannot hear you and it should not be a mandatory thing like some churches want. Some churches will only accept people who speak in tongues. This isn't right and the bible does say that one should only speak in tongues in church unless there is an interpreter. But like I said, some Christians when they pray in the spirit, they cannot help sometimes but speak in tongues. I understand that. But it shouldnt be a normal thing where a Christian before going to church says to themselves "I am going to speak in tongues today in church so alot of people can hear me. Its a private thing between you and God. However, like I said, if there is an interpreter present and the holy spirit leads someone to speak in tongues in front of people, it is encouraged, but only if an interpreter is present.

There are two application of the gift of tongues ( one gift of tongues 2 applications) ...the 1st application (speaking in tongues) is for public edification of the church.....the 2nd (praying in tongues) application of tongues is for private edification of the church..thru personal prayer. The 1st application of tongues is only to be used if there is a valid interpreter present ..to interprete to the church publicly...and it must fall into the lines of the teaching of scripture. The 2nd application is for private prayer between you and God thru the holy spirit...anything else you would like to know...we must glorify the gift giver not the gifts....in love. The gift has not ceased....it's still here..God uses it in a different capacity that's all.

It be easier if you message boarded with some Christians on this subject. A good book called The Laymen's Guide to the Holy Spirit by Daniel Blackwell(not sure on last name at the moment, I lost my book, someone borrowed it and did not return. Anyway this is a good book. And another place is my website has a Bible Study with 14 lessons on the Holy Spirit.

http://www.turtle30cshell.com/ There other source that will help you but make sure you look for one that uses scripture to back their claim.

It would be interesting to have a recording of someone at a religious event, speaking in tongues, AND a recording of someone simply pretending to speak in tongues, and a patient in a mental hospital exhibiting glossolalia, and a computer generated string of synthetic sounds, play them to people who claim to have spoken in tongues, and see if they can pick which of the four is the "real ".

Anybody know if this experiment has already been done?

it was a gift that God gave the early church for its edification and growth

the church is now worldwide and we have God's complete word translated into most every known language so we no longer need the gift of tongues

so as scripture attests, God took it away from us long ago

1Cr 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

look up "elliott hulse bioenergetic catharsis"

what he does in the video is wierd as fuu, but LISTEN to what he is saying

what he means to teach you through tongues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHFYEQRnQew

You don't need that gift, and it ceased.

What you see today is a fake.