Dr. Kluane Spake

A while ago, I sat in a restaurant in Chennai, India proofreading this article.

An attentive waiter at the hotel had been trying to learn what I like to eat and bring me surprises! But we were unable to talk to each other... He remembered - no milk in my tea, no ice in my drinking water. We had come to a few meaningful understandings through pointing and mutual strange noises. But mostly, I endured what was brought to the table, except for the soggy eggs that weren't even warm.

One afternoon, an Indian pastor came to visit me. He entered the restaurant and freely conversed with me in English. I told him about the issue with my soggy eggs - and then he told the waiter that I liked my eggs well done. "Oh, oh!" The waiter smacked his forehead and nodded. From then on my eggs came back well done, like I wanted

And after that the waiter always had a proud smile knowing that he was pleasing me.

While sitting there, I realized that this experience helps to explain gift of tongues more clearly. Often times, there are issues in life that I need to pray about ... but there aren't words to tell God about it. Maybe I just don't know the reason for the mishap, or why this problem is in my life. My prayers in English may be sincere but incomplete in expressing the puzzle.

Sometimes I don't know what to do or how to pray. Do I bind or lose? Do I go forward or stand and see? What is the problem anyway? Me?

Few Christian topics are as misunderstood as the gift of speaking in unknown tongues. There is much controversy on the subject.

When I choose to pray in tongues, then the Holy Spirit can come in (like the pastor friend I just told you about) and help me say the right words. He comes along side. Tongues free me from my own thoughts and allow the Holy Spirit to search the mind of God - the one who has the answer.

As part of the Godhead, His communication is perfect and thorough. His prayer through me and for me is specific and even though my mind has not understood all of that transaction, the answer finally appears. Even though I don't always understand the answer - yet.

What I do know is that relief comes. The problem clears and I feel encouraged and strengthened. Now, this article cannot answer every question concerning tongues. Hopefully, it will inspire you to long the Lord and ask Him to (Who is the Baptiser of the Spirit) to infill you and enlarge you with this amazing experience.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a foundational doctrine (Heb. 6:1) -- that means it is an essential basic truth for every believer. In this article, we're talking about the use of the gift of tongues for private devotion and self-edification.

This unique Godward gift is available to every believer. it was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (acts 2) that brought unmeasured POWER to the believer. Those who spoke in tongues, turned their world upside down, healed the sick, and changed the history of the world.

Jesus said that signs would follow those that believe (Mk. 16:17). He didn't say that only a "special few" would speak in tongues, or just the clergy, but "them that believe." He promises us that we can carry on this work. The Holy Spirit comes to enable the believer for ...

POWER to serve Him (Jn. 14:12-15, 21).

Many people say, "If God wants me to speak in tongues, then He'll give it to me." But, we would never have that attitude about salvation! Listen, God never forces anything on us... and He won't force tongues either. But, if you want to be fully equipped, then you need to become empowered.

The battlefield for every Christian is the same -- in the mind. Several other books that I've written address this same problem of our minds causing confusion. Like a Jack-in-the-box, our disappointments come back and surprise misunderstandings develop. Chaos comes. And once again, the Bible-believer becomes ineffective.

The enemy of our mind opposes us through our emotions. Believe me, we all have times like this. It's here in the emotional realm that most Christians behave like a failure going somewhere to happen.

Believer's are redeemed by the new birth (2 Cor. 5:21). We receive LIFE into our spirit ---- and our soul. But sometimes our soul lives in the memory of the fallen state. It doesn't remember that it is redeemed. Old patterns and lifestyles are allowed to dominate.

Yes, our spirit man is born again. But what about our mind? It still says and desires bad things. We still have the capacity to fluctuate in and out of incorrect emotions. We think bad thoughts, we use wrong motives. Our soul-realm desperately needs to be transformed. God leaves that to us. He says to "put on" the new man.

I don't know about you, but my shirts don't jump out of the closet on onto my body. I have to put them on. In this understanding, we CHOOSE to be filled to greater measure with the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is ask.

My friend it is an awsome journey. It is not the ultimate experience - but the beginning of a GREAT unveiling of the Kingdom. It is the doorway to the Gifts. It is the path to understanding mysteries.

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If you are interested in learning more about speaking in tongues there is an eBook on my website that expalins the whole process and gives you the Scriptures that you need to support it. Also the "Connecting" Book has lots of information about the value of tonues. There are lots of other books and free articles on my website at kluane.org -- and much more! just click on the RSS to the right!

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Let's learn together and build the Third Day Church!

Thanx. Your online pastor, Dr. Kluane Spake