Power of Prayer - Languages Never Learned

"But you, Beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." (Jude 20-21)

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) -- [which will bring you] unto life eternal." (Amplified)

"It is for you. beloved, to make your most holy faith the foundation of your lives, and to go on praying in the power of the Holy Spirit; to maintain yourself in the love of God, and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, with eternal life for your goal." (Knox)

"But, as for you, divinely loved ones, building yourselves up constantly in the sphere of and by the means of your most holy Faith, and as constantly praying in the sphere of and by means of the Holy Spirit, with watchful care keep yourselves within the sphere of God's love, expectantly looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ resulting in life eternal." (Wuest).

"But you, dearly beloved, must continue to build yourselves up on the ground-work of your most holy faith and to pray in the Holy Spirit; you must keep yourselves in the love of God and continue to wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bring you to eternal life" (Williams).

"But do you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which issues in eternal life" (Weymouth).

"But you, dear friends of mine, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith and by praying through the Holy Spirit keep yourselves within the love of God. Wait patiently for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring you to the life eternal" (Phillips).

"But you, Beloved"

The translation "dear friends", falls short of the import of meaning conveyed, as we are not just "friends", but we are the "divinely loved ones", those on whom and to whom, the love of God is directed, as part of His family and we are most precious to Him, as being in an intimate relationship with our Father. We are, individually, valued above all else, as His prized possession, unique and irreplaceable, one of a kind in every aspect of personality, potential, and promise, totally and completely, precious to Him.

"Praying in the Holy Spirit"

This specifically refers to praying in other tongues, or languages, as the Spirit of God gives utterance.

Part I

"...when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4)

"Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet He was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-17). [These were Believers; already baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, who had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in unlearned languages, as the Spirit gives utterance].

"...and when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit'. But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this utterance (speaking)..' " (Acts 8:18-21)[Simon saw that when the apostles laid hands on the Believers, they began to speak in other languages].

"While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them who heard the word and they of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit for they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46)

"...Paul, having passed through the upper borders, came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples, he said to them, 'Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?'. They said to him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there is any Holy Spirit'. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-2; 5-6)

"...these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mk.16:17-18) [All Believers are expected to speak with other tongues, and it is only the lack of teaching of the truth that prevents Believers from receiving this precious "gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 10:45)].

Part II

We know that the scripture is specifically referring to praying in tongues with the phrase "praying in the Holy Spirit", because Paul, by the Spirit of God says:

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

 "...if I pray in an unknown language, my spirit prays. ...what is it, then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also..." (1 Cor.14:14-15)

"For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays...then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me]..." (Amplified).

"...for if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit [the human spirit as moved by the Holy Spirit] is praying..." (Wuest)

This is the same language that is used in Ephesians 6:18 when the scripture speaks of "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.."

Ephesians 6:18

"Use every kind of prayer and entreaty, and at every opportunity pray in the Spirit" (Gspd)

"Give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; pray on every occasion in the power of the Spirit" (NEB)

"Continue to pray at every season with all earnestness of supplication in the Spirit" (Con)

"Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty at all times in the Spirit" (Wey)

"Keep on praying in the Spirit, with every kind of prayer and entreaty, at every opportunity..." (Wms)

"Pray at all times in the Spirit, using every kind of prayer. Be alert and keep at it continually..." (Beck)

"Praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty ---- be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly..." (Moff)

Praying in the Spirit, or praying in the Holy Spirit, is praying in tongues.

THE BENEFIT of PRAYING in TONGUES (other languages):

"Building up Yourselves on your Most Holy Faith"

1) Creating Comfort

By actively engaging in praying in other tongues, this verse speaks of important benefits resulting from that activity.

In Greek, the first part of this scriptural phrase speaks of building an edifice or structure; an ever-increasing and rising construction for habitation. We have as a solid foundation, the immovable reality of our Faith in God, which is our heightened spiritual awareness of that realm, and confidence in every word and intimation, from the Father, that directs every aspect of our physical life, to the extent, that we build a spiritual home, that rises higher and higher, for the Spirit of God to live in and find expression in and through us, understanding, that the Spirit of God already lives within us, but this aspect of His indwelling has more to do with "customizing" the living space in us, in which He resides so that He is "at home" living in us.

Ephesians 3:16-17 speaks of "...being strengthened with might, by His Spirit in our inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts, by faith..." The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, was writing to Believers, in whom, the Spirit of God had already chosen to reside, however, this scripture speaks more of Christ, not just being in us, but "being at home" in us. Wuest translates, "...that the Christ might finally settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts through your faith".

Guest or Owner

We have all been guests in someone else's house, and although they may be a good friend, there are still restrictions that we abide by, or certain understood and unspoken etiquette, that shapes our behavior while we visit with our friend. There are things that may be permissible and other actions that we would not even consider taking, while we are visiting, because the dwelling does not belong to us, no matter how close our friendship may be with our host, it is still not our home. The scripture in Jude is painting a picture, and speaking of us building a home or dwelling, by the action of praying in the Holy Spirit, [praying in tongues], which causes us to build an edifice, in the spirit, "customizing" the living space for the habitation of the Holy Spirit, so that everything about the dwelling is where the Holy Spirit of God will be completely at home, and totally comfortable, finding full and unrestricted movement living in and through us, because He owns the home; we belong to Him in every aspect and consideration, and He has unfettered ability to totally cast off all inhibitions and embrace His full ownership.

2) Faith Filled

Think about how miraculous this is, that you can actually speak in a language or languages, that you have never learned; you don't necessarily understand them; and yet you derive this enormous benefit of creating a dwelling for the Holy Spirit, where YOU are strengthened in Faith, to the point of becoming unstoppable in your positive actions, initiated by your unwavering confidence, not only in the reality of God as your Father, but your unhesitating obedience to whatever He tells you, because you have unrestricted access in hearing His voice and His every communication to you, and you are acutely aware of this reality.

The goal is to be so aware and living in, the spiritual realm, that the voices of our flesh and the world become almost non-existent, and the only dominant reality, is the spiritual realm, and our strong relationship with the Father, through the Holy Spirit.

Jude 20 "But you divinely loved ones, considered as most valuable and precious, above all else of the Father's creation, as if you were His only possession, construct and customize a dwelling, in your spirit, where the abiding Holy Spirit in you, will be comfortable and feel totally at home in you, strengthening yourself in faith and the strong intimate relationship with Him, praying; speaking continually in tongues" (paraphrase)

WHEN WE PRAY IN TONGUES

1) Our Spirit, through the Holy Spirit, is Praying (1 Cor.14:14)

"...if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays..." (Amp)

"...if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit [the human spirit as moved by the Holy Spirit] is praying..." (Wuest)

2) You Never have to Worry about Praying the Will of God, because 100% of the Time the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS going to Pray His Will (Rm.8:26-27)

"...the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know what is right and proper for us to pray for, but the Spirit prays for us with that earnestness which cannot be described [in our learned language (*inference of the text)] and He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit for the Spirit prays for the saints according to the will of God" (Lamsa)

"...the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we know not how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words [in our learned language (*inference of the text)] and the Searcher of hearts knows what the Spirit's meaning is because His intercessions for the saint are in harmony with God's will" (Wey)

"....the Spirit helps us in our weakness because we don't know how we should pray, but the Spirit Himself pleads for us with yearnings that can't find any words [in our learned language (*inference of the text)]..." (Beck)

3) The Tongues you Speak could be Angelic or a Known Nationality (1 Cor.13:1)

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels..." (KJV)

"Even though I speak in every human and angelic language..." (Ber)

"...every man heard them speak in his own language...we hear every man in our own language, wherein we were born...we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:6,8,11)

4) You are Speaking Secrets Directly to God (1 Cor.14:2)

"For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]" (Amp)

"For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands what he says; however through the Spirit he speaks mysteries" (Lamsa)

"The man who talks in a strange tongue is talking to God, not to men; nobody understands him, he is holding mysterious converse with his own spirit" (Knox)

"For the one who is uttering words in a tongue [a language not understood except through an interpreter] is not speaking to men but to God, for no one hears him so as to understand what he is saying and he utters with his human spirit [as energized by the Holy Spirit] divine revelations not explained" (Wuest)

"For whoever speaks in ecstasy is speaking not to men but to God, for no one understands him, and yet by the Spirit he is speaking secret truths" (Wms)

"The man who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses not men (for no one understands a word he says) but God: and only in his spirit is he speaking spiritual secrets" (Phillips)

"For he who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him; but in the Spirit, he speaks divine secrets" (Wey)

"When a man talks in another language, he doesn't talk to people but to God, because nobody understands him; his spirit is talking mysteries" (Beck)

"For he who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses God not men; no one understands him; he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit" (Moffatt)

"For he that speaks with a tongue, not unto men doth speak but unto God, for no one understands, although in the spirit he is speaking sacred secrets" (Rotherham)

5) Speaking in Tongues Builds you up Spiritually (1 Cor.14:4)

"He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself..." (Amp)

"By talking in a strange tongue, a man may strengthen his own faith" (Knox)

"When you talk in another language, you encourage yourself" (Wms)

6) Speaking in Tongues is Pronouncing "Blessing" or "Speaking Good" with your Spirit and "Giving Thanks" (1 Cor.14:16,17)

"...if you bless and render thanks with [your] spirit [thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit]..." (Amp)

"if you say a blessing with the spirit..." (Lamsa)

"If thou dost pronounce a blessing in this spiritual fashion..." (Knox)

"For if you give thanks with your spirit only..." (Wms)

"Else if thou be blessing in the spirit he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving?" (Rotherham)

"...if thou mayest bless with the spirit, he who is filling the place of the unlearned, how shall he say the Amen at thy giving thanks, since what thou dost say he hath not known?" (Young)

Commentary:

These two words "bless" and "thanksgiving", or "giving thanks", are used as parallels, implying that they have the same or similar meanings, and both refer back to the previous verse, speaking of prayer or "praying" in the spirit (1 Cor.14:15).

Bless - this is the compound word (eulogeo) [2127, Strongs] meaning "to speak good"

Thanksgiving - this is the compound word (eucharistia) [2169, Strongs] meaning, literally, "to give good"

Prayer - this is the word (proseuchomai) [4336, Strongs], which means "to make bold or confident assertions about oneself; to brag or boast".

These words are intricately related and all express the aspect of speaking in tongues, or other languages, given by the Holy Spirit, and spoken as the Holy Spirit gives utterance.

(Eucharistia) is where we get the English word "eucharist", which is the celebration of giving thanks to God for the unmeasurable gift of His Son. The basic meaning is that there was some act of good that was done toward and for us, to the point that it caused this vocal expression of "thanksgiving", even praise, out of a heart of joy and appreciation, for this "giving good" [literal meaning].

What is interesting is that each of these words expresses the same or similar action, with emphasis on a different aspect of that action, while speaking in tongues:

First, when we are speaking in tongues, we are speaking good, in the spiritual realm.

Second, we are thanking God for something that has not yet materialized, or become a reality, in the natural realm.

Third, we are boldly and confidently, declaring the will of God, for whatever the given situation or circumstance is, and what the will of God is, for ourselves or other persons.

Though it is not brought out in every text, Paul goes on to say, "Thanking God, I speak with tongues more than all of you" (1 Cor.14:18). Quite literally, Paul was saying that he was constantly and continually thanking God, through speaking in tongues, more than the whole body of Believers at Corinth.

7) Speaking in Tongues is Providing Instruction or Direction to you, Individually (1 Cor.14:19)

"...in the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also..." (Webster; Lamsa)

"...in the assembly, I want to speak five words through my intellect that also others I should instruct..." (apostolic bible)

"...in the church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also..." (Douay Rheims; Weymouth)

"...in the public congregation, I would rather speak five words with my mind in action, in order to instruct others too..." (Williams)

"...in the assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind that others also I may instruct..." (Rotherham)

"...but in an assembly, I wish to speak five words through my understanding, that others also I may instruct..." (Young)

The point of all these repetitive scriptures is the use of the word "also" or "too", meaning "in addition to", and confirming the fact, that although the mind does not understand word for word, what is being spoken in tongues, your spirit does often get the meaning or content of what is being spoken, and one of the results of speaking in other tongues or unlearned languages, is that the Holy Spirit, through your spirit, is giving you instruction, or direction, even teaching you, with ideas, of what and when you should do something or giving direction to your future.

 Speaking in Tongues is Prophecy - Especially for You.

"He that speaks in an unknown language edifies himself, but he that prophesies edifies the church" (1 Cor. 14:4)

"This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 'and it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy...I will, in those days pour out of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy..." (Acts 2:16-18)

"...and when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:6)

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours

•