I was praying this morning, and suddenly, these words of an unknown language came pouring out of me. Is this what they mean by "speaking in tongues"? Do other people understand what you are saying? Or is it just between you and God?

Blessings, Jai

asked 02 Mar '10, 15:20

Jaianniah's gravatar image

Jaianniah
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Hey Jaianniah,

1) Yes you were speaking in tongues 2) if no one else was around to hear you, good chance it could not be interpreted. 3) Happening this way (i.e. you being alone), your spirit was talking to God.

Speaking in tongues is actually speaking a different language. In Acts 2:4 Peter and the other disciples began speaking in other tongues. In verse 6 every man heard it in his own language. This gift was basically given to proclaim the gospel and the many wonderful works of God to other people of different languages.

I have reproduced the passage so you could read it for yourself.

Acts 2:4-12

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Peter answers this by preaching to these people the gospel as delivered by Jesus Christ.

Also note that when one speaks in tongues and there are other people around, there is an order in which to do it and there has to be an interpreter of what was said.

The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

As for LeeAnn, her speaking in tongues was done with no one around. You do not need an interpreter. There is another verse that talks about 'the tongue of angels'. Maybe this is what she spoke to God since LeeAnn was in prayer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this as long as you're alone.

flowingwater was right in saying that LeeAnn's spirit was praying. In 1 Corinthians 14:14 Paul said,"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful."

Hope this helps

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answered 04 Mar '10, 18:49

Frank%201's gravatar image

Frank 1
1.6k1816

Thank you, Frank! Great answer! Very insightful and encouraging! Blessings, Jai

(04 Mar '10, 19:49) Jaianniah

We just did a bible study on this and these are verses stated, there is speaking in tongues and there is being overcome with the holy spirit that just sounds like babbling, i found out both are valid it is just the overcome part is not language like the tongues part is.

(04 Mar '10, 20:11) Wade Casaldi

Hi Wade, when you stated, "there is being overcome with the holy spirit that just sounds like babbling" where did you find that in the bible? I'm not familiar with that concept or passage.

(04 Mar '10, 21:00) Frank 1

That is something that just happens to someone that the full language doesn't come it seems more like a nervous energy it comes out like, "blub blub blub, or ba ba ba ba" you can tell it is not like sentences like when real tongues happens. I know for me when I speak it is sounds like languages and the dialects even change like the language switches, sometimes it seems to be like multiple people speaking simultaneously like cords are to music.

(28 May '10, 21:47) Wade Casaldi
showing 2 of 4 show 2 more comments

Jai, I don't know much about this, but once when I was a young woman and only beginning to explore spiritual subjects and develop a relationship with the Creator, I was sunbathing in the backyard with my children playing all around me. During a silent prayer, with my eyes closed, I began involuntarily, a lot of senseless babbling. It went on about a minute. When my eyes opened, I was worried that I had scared my kids, but they hadn't noticed for some reason. I chalked it up to too much sun at the time, but looking back now, I think I was speaking to God in tongues. I felt really good afterward and it lasted the whole day. But I have no clue as to why this would happen to us sometimes, or what it means.

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answered 02 Mar '10, 16:23

LeeAnn%201's gravatar image

LeeAnn 1
17.0k1519

That was so good LeeAnn I believe that is exactly what it was your spirit talking to God and it was between you and God. So powerful and you bath in that good feeling of being commune with the Lord all day that was good as well as sun bath. Have a nice day LeeAnn.

(02 Mar '10, 21:02) flowingwater

You too Flowingwater and thank you.

(02 Mar '10, 22:11) LeeAnn 1

Yes i speak in tongues too. it is a communication between u and God. sometimes u can interpret what u are saying or another is given the interpretation if it is a prophecy for the edification of another or a group of people, and then at others times u don't even know what you are saying, but God understands and your the holyspirit is praying through you.

I guess the blabbing that Wade is talking about is when you can't utter a single word in tongues or your understanding but your are groaning in the spirit. it is found in Romans 8:26, you can also read down to 28 and you see the effect of the holyspirit praying through us.

Enjoy your day.

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answered 27 May '10, 08:06

Sunshine's gravatar image

Sunshine
19318

I have witnessed this firsthand in a Catholic Church (of all places) at a healing mass. I believe it to be genuine, try kidding yourself that you can speak in tongues - it is almost impossible to get coherent sounds out.

I am reminded that there is a "Language of the the Birds" and a "Green Language". I am also reminded that our brains (hardware) can run programs apart from out own.. (possession). If the devil can do it why not the angels and other enlightened or unenlighted beings do it.

And, most sadly, our own governments can and do - do it. Not a conspiracy theory here... see what you can find out about when the Russians were using it.

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answered 03 Mar '10, 00:31

Inactive%20User's gravatar image

Inactive User ♦♦
470130203

You could kid yourself in speaking in tongues. I have witnessed it already. The assembly of people doing this turns out looking like a 3 ring circus (sad to say).

(04 Mar '10, 18:43) Frank 1

One day when I was driving to church for vacation bible school, I was praying outloud for the driver of a vehicle that pulled out right in front of me, when suddenly, the words I spoke were not me and were not understandable by me, nor my 4 year old son in the back seat. He said, "What, Mom?" I said, "I don't know." I didn't get the chance to ask at church that day. It was several months later that I found out I was speaking in tongues. It was actually right in front of the UPC church where I would later learn about speaking in tongues. So I believe that it is real and also, I have heard people obviously doing it themselves. I also learned that the fruit of the spirit is a better indicator than speaking in tongues whether one is filled with the Holy Spirit.

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answered 24 Apr '11, 13:20

Fairy%20Princess's gravatar image

Fairy Princess
(suspended)

when i was a kid i always remembering the church doing it so i started doing my own lil language, and they all thought that i was soo connected to the holy spirit. All i was doing is talking gibberish ON PURPOSE. to appease my parents. so me,no, but I do believe others do. It is a symbolic connection to emotions and feelings that are not compatible with words.

love n light,

rob

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answered 24 Apr '11, 14:25

TReb%20Bor%20yit-NE's gravatar image

TReb Bor yit-NE
14.0k21678

edited 17 Mar '13, 17:50

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