SPEAKING IN TONGUES in this Dispensation

1 Corinthians 14:15

“What is it then? 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.”

King James Version (KJV)

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Preface:  As my subscribers know, The Lord brought me out of the NAR and Charismatic movement back in 2007. The real wake up came after I attended the Azusa Revival in Los Angeles in 2006 and after spending tens of thousands of dollars in the satanic seed faith garbage I purposely called Kenneth Copeland ministries and told them the bank was kicking me out of my home and I was unable to speak directly with Kenneth Copeland but the nice lady told me not to worry because Jesus would be taking care of me. 

Through personal prayer in depth with the Lord in my King James Bible I learned and understand from knowing down deep in my heart that the Lord seeks SINCERE DELIBERATE PRAYER without Babbling or asking amiss mindlessly as do the demonic practices of Eastern cults.

Deliberate Prayer Without Babbling or Asking Amiss To pray deliberately, as you’ve described, we should: Be sincere and concise, avoiding "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7) or rash words (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Align with God’s will, ensuring we don’t ask amiss (James 4:3, 1 John 5:14). Be humble and direct, like the publican (Luke 18:13), not performative or silly like the Pharisee. Avoid pagan-like muttering or strange speech (Isaiah 8:19), keeping prayer clear and godly, in the spirit of Matthew 5:37’s "Yea, yea; Nay, nay."

I received the following comment on my Blog exposing a Charismatic Charlatan and his wife at Glad Tidings Church:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post 

"Exposing David Bryan and his Wife at Glad Tidings Church - transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.":


"The Gift of Prophecy will continue until the Rapture. All other gifts such as tongues and miracles have ceased.

Can you please explain this ? Do you mean to say you dont believe the gift of tongues? If not why ? Please reach out to me. I need answers."

My Response:

Here are my studies on WHY the Apostolic Age has Ceased. All the gifts have ceased except the GIFT of Prophecy which ends at the Rapture of the Church. Of course there are miracles today and people are healed. However, people are NOT raised from the dead, there are no ongoing healings and tongues have ceased. The Snake Handlers are the perfect example of the mockery the Charismatics cause the body of Christ.
Here are my studies.


https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2022/01/the-gift-of-prophecy-in-age-of-grace.html


https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2025/03/a-famine-for-hearing-gods-word-is-here.html



An Exhortation of Prophecy for my Subscribers; Alert! #prophecy #endtimes


https://youtu.be/jQCTtVK5oWg


Operating in the Gift of Prophecy the Most MISUnderstood and abused Gift in the Bible


https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2024/11/a-deep-looking-inside-apostate-nar.html

https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2024/08/the-spirit-soul-and-their-functions.html

https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2025/01/let-us-examine-ourselves-gospel-kjv.html


Their response:


Would you say that if I speak the tongues that Im not really praying to God ? Im trying to find the truth and I dont care where its found or where either leads me. I just dont want to be mislead. What do I do if I have been speaking in tounges for over 10 years ? How do I go about talking to my family about it ?

My response:

Thank you for your heartfelt questions and your sincere desire to seek the truth. I deeply respect your openness to examine your practice of speaking in tongues and your concern about not being misled. Based on my years of studying the King James Bible plus over 5 years in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and years of attendance at Pentecostal services, I really want you to understand that I do NOT speak without knowledge regarding your ‘seemingly’ sincere, heartfelt question. 

I honestly prayed and asked the Lord to give me the perfect scripture to give you and sum up your question in a very short but comprehensive answer: MAJOR QUESTION… 

Are You Really Praying to God When Speaking in Tongues? Be honest with yourself. Ask the Lord to guide you. From my perspective, informed by the blogs I shared (e.g., on the cessation of Apostolic gifts and the NAR’s errors), the modern practice of speaking in tongues—often a form of babbling and made up mambo jumbo made up garbage - does NOT not align with the biblical gift of tongues described in Acts 2:4–11 and 1 Corinthians 12–14. 

In the New Testament, tongues were known languages,... REPEAT… KNOWN LANGUAGES… spoken for the purpose of spreading the gospel or edifying the church, always with interpretation when used publicly (1 Corinthians 14:27–28). The babbling I’ve observed in Pentecostal services lacks this order and interpretability, which Paul emphasizes as essential (1 Corinthians 14:40). 

You asked whether speaking in tongues means you’re not really praying to God. I believe that prayer should engage both the mind and spirit, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:15: “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.” WORDS MATTER WITH GOD. Do YOU KNOW that I speak 2 languages fluently. I have an understanding of 2 other languages and trust me, words do matter and we must have an understanding of the words we utter. 

DO YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU MUTTER, UTTER a word like: השטן which phonetically sounds like Ah sadan… You’re actually saying ‘Satan’ in the Hebrew language. Depending on any inflections or other babble with this word you could actually be saying “Hail Satan” in Hebrew or some other ancient language. Here’s a good clip for you to seriously consider: Look at Paula White and Kenneth Copeland:


https://youtube.com/shorts/0KgME1jo5VQ?si=yg4m7ltzDNEQu470


https://youtube.com/shorts/e5uB7HgMGzA?si=RPsNR8Jn2DCKKuk8


To give you an example. One day while living in Vietnam I pronounced a woman’s name and the people gasped and I was told NO DO NOT SAY THAT. 

You just called her a %$#^ (a very bad profane word for a woman’s genitalia). In an utterance that you “think” is praying in heavenly tongues you very well likely could be uttering a DEMONIC CURSE in another tongue that is foreign to you?????

 DO you reALIZE THIS? If you’re speaking without knowing what you’re saying, it’s difficult to affirm that your prayer is directed to God in a meaningful, conscious way. 

While your heart may be sincere, the act of speaking unintelligible words risks being a human-driven practice rather than one truly anointed by the Holy Spirit. As I’ve noted, this resembles non-Christian religious practices (detailed below), where repetitive chanting or ecstatic utterances are used to achieve spiritual states but lack clear communication with God.

 How Does This Compare to Other Religious Practices? You asked about the validity of tongues, and I believe it’s important to recognize that many non-Christian religions use practices that mimic modern glossolalia. 

Glossolalia is the phenomenon of speaking in an incomprehensible language, often during religious or spiritual practices. It’s commonly associated with "speaking in tongues" in certain Christian traditions, particularly Pentecostalism, where it’s seen as a divine gift or expression of spiritual ecstasy. The speech typically consists of unintelligible sounds, words, or phrases that don’t correspond to any known language. Linguistically, it’s often described as a form of vocalization that lacks semantic meaning but may follow phonetic patterns of the speaker’s native language.

These practices involve repetitive, unintelligible, or ecstatic vocalizations, often to induce spiritual experiences, but they don’t align with the biblical model of tongues as purposeful, interpretable languages.

 Here’s a list of examples: Hinduism – Mantra Chanting and Japa: Practitioners repeat sacred syllables (e.g., “Om”) or mantras, often rapidly or in a trance-like state, to connect with divine energies or achieve spiritual focus. This can resemble glossolalia’s repetitive, non-linguistic sounds, as it prioritizes rhythm over meaning. Example: Chanting “Hare Krishna” repeatedly in Bhakti yoga mimics the ecstatic, continuous vocalization of some charismatic tongues. Buddhism – Chanting and Vocal Meditation: Certain Buddhist sects, like Nichiren Buddhism, use rapid chanting of phrases (e.g., “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”) to invoke spiritual power or enlightenment. The focus is on the sound’s vibration, not always its meaning, similar to uninterpreted tongues. 

Example: Tibetan Buddhist monks’ throat singing or mantra recitation can produce trance-like, unintelligible sounds, akin to glossolalia’s emotional intensity. Islam – Sufi Dhikr: In Sufism, practitioners engage in dhikr, the repetitive invocation of Allah’s names or phrases (e.g., “La ilaha illallah”), often in rhythmic, ecstatic chants that can become unintelligible. This mirrors the emotional fervor of Pentecostal tongues-speaking.

 Example: Whirling dervishes combine chanting with movement, creating a trance state comparable to charismatic worship settings. Rabbinic Judaism – Niggunim and Mystical Chanting: In Hasidic Judaism, niggunim (wordless melodies or vocalizations) are sung to elevate the soul toward God. These can sound like repetitive, non-linguistic utterances, resembling glossolalia’s lack of clear meaning. Example: Kabbalistic practices sometimes involve chanting Hebrew letters or sounds in meditative states, paralleling the ecstatic nature of tongues.

 Shamanism and Indigenous Practices: Many shamanic traditions use rhythmic chanting, glossolalia-like vocalizations, or ecstatic speech during rituals to communicate with spirits or enter altered states. These practices prioritize emotional experience over linguistic clarity, much like modern tongues. Example: Siberian shamans’ vocalizations during trance rituals closely resemble the unstructured sounds of charismatic glossolalia. These practices, like modern tongues, often involve sincere spiritual intent but rely on human-initiated repetition or ecstasy rather than the Holy Spirit’s direct anointing. The biblical gift of tongues, by contrast, was a miraculous ability to speak actual languages for God’s glory (Acts 2:8–11), not a mystical or emotional exercise.

 What Should You Do After Speaking in Tongues for 10 Years? Learning that a long-held practice may not align with Scripture can be unsettling, but your pursuit of truth is a testament to your faith. Here are steps to consider as you navigate this: Pray for Discernment: Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) to understand His will regarding tongues and to guide your spiritual journey. Trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you into truth (John 16:13), even if it means letting go of a familiar practice. Study Scripture Deeply: Examine passages like 1 Corinthians 14, Acts 2, and Joel 2:28–29 (referenced in my blogs) to compare the biblical gift of tongues with your experience. Focus on Paul’s emphasis on understanding and edification (1 Corinthians 14:4–19). 

My blog on the cessation of gifts

 (https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2022/01/the-gift-of-prophecy-in-age-of-grace.html)

 explains why tongues ceased with the Apostolic Age.

 Reflect on Your Experience: Consider whether speaking in tongues has produced verifiable spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22–23) or if it’s been more about emotional release. 

If it hasn’t edified others or aligned with biblical order, it may be a sign to reconsider the practice. 

Seek Godly Counsel: Connect with a trusted pastor or teacher who shares a cessationist perspective or is open to discussing tongues biblically. 

Avoid confrontational settings, but seek someone who can guide you through Scripture, not personal opinion. Redirect Your Prayer Life: If you conclude that tongues aren’t biblical, focus on praying with understanding, as Paul advises (1 Corinthians 14:15). 

Express your heart to God in your native language, engaging your mind and spirit. 

This can be just as intimate and powerful as any ecstatic experience. 

How to Talk to Your Family About This Discussing a shift in your beliefs with family, especially if they’re involved in Pentecostal practices, requires wisdom and grace. Here’s how to approach it: Pray for Guidance and Unity: Before talking, pray for God to prepare their hearts and preserve your family’s unity (Psalm 133:1). 

Ask for words that are “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) to avoid division. Start with Your Journey: Share your personal study and convictions humbly, emphasizing your desire to align with Scripture. For example: “I’ve been studying 1 Corinthians 14 and Acts 2, and I’m questioning whether modern tongues match the biblical gift. I want to pray in a way that honors God with understanding.” Focus on Scripture, Not Criticism: Avoid directly attacking their practices or church. Instead, point to biblical principles, like the need for interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:27–28) or praying with the mind (1 Corinthians 14:15). 

Offer to study these passages together, framing it as a shared pursuit of truth. Be Patient and Loving: Your family may feel defensive or hurt, especially if tongues are central to their worship. Acknowledge their sincerity and affirm your love for them. Change takes time, so don’t pressure them to agree immediately. 

 If they’re open, share one of my blogs (e.g., https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2024/11/a-deep-looking-inside-apostate-nar.html) or a relevant Scripture to spark discussion. But prioritize conversation over sending materials, as personal dialogue builds trust. Isaiah 8:19 (KJV) (from your earlier query): "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God?" Wizards’ "muttering" suggests strange, occult speech, which contrasts with the clear, godly communication of Matthew 5:37. In prayer, we avoid such unclear or pagan-like practices, focusing on direct petitions to God. 1 Corinthians 14:9-11 (KJV) – Clarity in Speech "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air… If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." In prayer, this implies avoiding "garbling" or unintelligible words, aligning with Matthew 5:37’s call for clear communication. 

Summary: Deliberate Prayer Without Babbling or Asking Amiss To pray deliberately, as you’ve described, we should: Be sincere and concise, avoiding "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7) or rash words (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Align with God’s will, ensuring we don’t ask amiss (James 4:3, 1 John 5:14). Be humble and direct, like the publican (Luke 18:13), not performative or silly like the Pharisee. Avoid pagan-like muttering or strange speech (Isaiah 8:19), keeping prayer clear and godly, in the spirit of Matthew 5:37’s "Yea, yea; Nay, nay."