MARK 16:17 NLT 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.
Jesus has made available for every believer a supernatural way to pray. It is normally referred to as "speaking in tongues" because tongues is the old English word that was used for languages. It is simply a Christian believer speaking normally, in full control, but speaking in a fluent language unknown to them. You might wonder how that could be possible.
Without God, it would not be possible! It works this way. The Holy Spirit dwelling in you will give words to your spirit (which is the real you, the inner person), and your spirit will speak those words, bypassing your mind entirely.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:14 NLT 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying. Your mind will not formulate the words, or decide what to speak. Yet you will always remain in full control, just as when speaking in your native language. You can start and stop at will. You will never be forced by the Holy Spirit to speak.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:15a NLT 15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. Note that praying in the spirit (which, from the context, obviously means praying in tongues), is subject to your will in the same way as praying with your understanding in your native language. The Holy Spirit does not speak in tongues for you. You will have to speak the words given to your spirit by the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is your spirit speaking in a language you never learned, as the Holy Spirit inside you gives you the words to speak. The words do not come through your mind, but directly from your spirit out of your mouth. Because your mind is not directing this kind of prayer, there is no question whether it will be answered, for it will be a perfect prayer, free from all doubt, unbelief, and fear.
This wonderful gift allows us to pray for things we would not otherwise know about or know how to pray for. Our knowledge and understanding have limits, but the Holy Spirit knows everything, even the future, and will guide us in prayer accordingly. This way every one of us can pray perfectly. This gift is freely available for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. It is not something you have to earn or achieve. But like every gift of God it must be actively received by faith. For God never forces His gifts on anyone! If you have questions about this, but want to know the truth, ask the Lord. Don't ask someone to explain it who does not practice it, and therefore does not really understand it. Don't let anyone use human reasoning to talk you out of this marvelous, miraculous gift from your loving Father God. You can understand why the devil would not want any believer to pray in tongues because it is a way to pray perfectly. Every perfect prayer is always answered and that answer always sets back the devil's program. So we need to emulate Paul who spoke in tongues more than all the believers in Corinth.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:18 NLT 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. Just as you cannot pray "too much" in your native language, you also cannot pray too much in your spiritual language. For that is what it is, a language selected by the Spirit. When you first start praying in tongues it may seem difficult and you may not be very fluent. Don't worry! You didn't start out speaking your native language fluently, either. As you continue it will get easier and you will grow more comfortable doing it. Just boldly continue speaking in faith and you will become more fluent. Like doing anything new, it can seem awkward at first, but once you start it, it is so easy and natural. Experts tell us there are more than 5,000 different languages used on earth. No one knows them all. So don't hold back and hesitate if your supernatural praying does not always sound like a great language to you. After all, you are probably not an expert on languages. And remember that you are not speaking to yourself, but to God, so it doesn't really matter how it sounds to you. Just speak out boldly in faith whatever sounds the spirit gives you and as you continue to do that, it will become very clear to you that this is not something you could do on your own. It is supernatural! It is real! It is a gift that has already been given to you. All you have to do is receive it. And you can do that right now, wherever you are.
SAY THIS: I am a believer so I can pray supernaturally in languages I have never learned. Jesus said I could -- so I will!
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