Religious column written by Dr. Bob Allen:

Can every one speak in tongues?  Probably not, I would say 90 % of the body that prays in tongues cannot minister this speaking gift. It would be about the same percentage that can minister the gift of healing, or prophecy or any of the other nine gifts. The speaking gift is for the church, and should operate in every church.

Any person that rejects this gift would be challenging the Master himself.

^{Mark 16:15-17 “}And Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

^16” He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

^17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”

This gift of speaking and praying in tongues comes with the baptism or the immersion of the Holy Spirit when He comes upon you, and only Jesus can baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Luke3:16^”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 Ghost and with fire”. Jesus is our Holy Spirit baptizer.

Can all pray in tongues? Yes; even though you can’t speak forth with the ministry gift. Paul said different gifts of tongues, so we can all pray after receiving the gift.

Can you interpret your own prayer tongue? If you do not operate in the gift, like giving a message, you cannot. That is why Paul said to pray in the spirit and pray in the understanding also. The tongues spoken by your spirit does not get interpreted, Tongues spoken while moved upon by the Holy Spirit must be interpreted. The person that prays in tongues will, however, have a higher realm of revelation, and he will hear from God more clearly when he follows up by praying with the prayer of understanding. Remember now, different tongues comes with this gift. If you operate in the speaking gift, you can interpret at the will of God, and only when it comes from the Holy Spirit, and not just your own spirit language.  Once again, praying in tongues out of your spirit, your prayer language, does not get interpreted, but tongues moved upon you by the Holy Ghost should always be interpreted.  You can always ask the Lord for the interpretation. Remember the gift of interpretation is to help the whole body hear from God.

In 1 Cor., Paul said praying in tongues edifies you. This builds your spirit up and fills it up.  Who doesn’t need that!

Paul said in 1 Cor. 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 this is two different things.  You can even learn to sing to the Lord in your spirit. Question: Should it be for everybody? Yes, we are to pray and sing in our spirit and with understanding, both ways. God is not a respecter of persons. God is a Spirit and it is your spirit coming directly together with His Spirit when you pray in tongues; Paul said you are speaking mysteries unto God.

Jude, verse: 20.”But you beloved [that’s everyone] build up yourself in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in tongues. If all could not do this, we would not be told to do so.  Paul said when I pray in tongues my spirit prays. What about yours?

Tongues are the road that takes you to the place to get your most Holy faith. No wonder Paul said, “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more then you all.” I say to you then, put it to the test.

1Cor.14:2,” For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” When you are speaking to God in your prayer tongue it is just a mystery between you and the Lord. Nothing else can be said. It gives you a hot line directly to your heavenly Father. “How sweet it is.”

Let me remind you that God is a spirit. You’re born again spirit just talks directly with him in tongues. When you pray in the spirit through our precious Savior, Jesus, it’s quite natural. Spirit talks to Spirit.

When you pray in tongues, it takes you into a whole new revelation and understanding of God. You could be a Bible Scholar and study the word until you know every color in Joseph’s coat, but when you begin to pray in tongues you access a whole new realm of understanding.  You completely bypass the mind realm. There is no way to doubt. Your prayers are pure and holy and not always about you, or your needs. The Holy Spirit uses your spirit and not your mind to pray.

Real power ministry operates out of the spirit, and not out of the mind. Good information that you can learn comes out of the mind. Tongues take you above the natural man; your spirit touches God’s Spirit.

Tongues are the greatest gift of all, because it powers you up for all of the other eight gifts.

I think the reason we put so much emphasis on tongues is because we never see a person operating in the other gifts unless he spends a lot of time praying in tongues. I don’t think I can prove that statement, but I have never seen it happen.  I have never seen the other eight gifts used by anyone without a prayer language. I am sad to say this, but it is also the least sought after, and neglected of the gifts, as well as the least understood of all nine gifts.

Jesus said, “My word is spirit and it is life.” Now, Dr. Theologian can take the word of God and the spirit that is in that word, and do a wonderful job; while serving the Lord in a mighty way. He can, and will, serve the people well. He can do this through his love for God and his people. He is powered mostly by his theology of the word, but if he does not honor all of God’s word and builds up his spirit man by praying in tongues, his limits will be in his theology and the life that comes from the word. You can only operate in what you have. The gifts cannot flow in his church because he has no power in his spirit for them.

The Holy Spirit works out of what is in you. How do you like the Apostle Paul’s work? Keep in mind that he is the one that said,” I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all.” The more time you spend speaking in tongues to God, the more you build up your spirit. The greater the measure of the Spirit can flow back through your life. Listen now, His authority and power has to flow back through your spirit, and He ministers through you with what is in your spirit. We all know that the Holy Spirit can do anything to draw or help a person at anytime. After we are born again, and settled in Him, this is how He works.

If I really needed to hear from God, or needed someone to help me touch God, to pray for me, or if I were hurting I would not seek out the theologian; I would go to my Spirit filled friends: Larry, the insurance guy, or my friend, George that works in the paint department at a hardware store, because I know that is where God’s power is stored up, and who it will flow through. Now if I want good information, I would go to the theologian.

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 before the Lord you will have spiritual power and strength to draw from.

Acts2:4 ^“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts19:6-7”And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied, and all the men were about twelve”.

10:44-47” While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Again, this is everybody.

 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

1Cor14:26 ^“how is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, and

Hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” Please note: Every One of You. This is New Testament. This is for today and for everyone!

Seek the Lord for his gifts; He loves to give good gifts to them that ask Him. Read 1^st Corinthians chapters 12-14, and stay there until you have clear understanding. Now remember, when you first start praying in tongues, you might get just a few words that sound like silly symbols, but just keep working on it and the Holy Spirit will help you develop a beautiful prayer language. You have to do this for yourself. God does not pray for you. You may want to find someone filled with the Holy Ghost 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 in a different way.  Some learn to sing in tongues in the shower.  When they begin to try and cry out with all their heart, Father God will begin to flow His spirit through them. If, my friend, you are to operate in the ministry gift to the church, then the Holy Spirit will come upon you and impart the gift to you.