Reason Number 9
The ninth reason we are to pray in tongues is to give thanks to God;.
1 Corinthians 14:15-17
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.
16 Else when thou shalt BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy GIVING OF THANKS, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou VERILY GIVEST THANKS WELL, but the other is not edified.
When Paul said, “...he that occupieth the room of the unlearned ...,” he was referring to those who are unlearned in spiritual things.
Let me illustrate these verses of Scripture. For example, if you invited me to diner and said, “Brother Hagin, please say the ‘thanks’ for the meal,” if I prayed in tongues, you wouldn’t know what I said. You wouldn’t be edified.
Therefore, Paul said in a situation such as this,l it would be better to pray with the understanding. If I did pray in tongues, I should interpret it so you would know what was said. Then you could be edified too, for Paul said, “...thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified” (
1 Cor 14:17).
In other words, praying in tongues is the best way to give thanks. But in the presence of people who are unlearned, pray also with your understanding s they can be edified. Offering your thanks in your understanding allows people to be edified because then they will understand what you are saying.
Pay special attention to what Paul said in
First Corinthians 14:17. He said praying in tongues provides the most perfect way to pray and to give thanks to God Paul said when you offer thanks in other tongues, “...thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified” (
1 Cor 14:17).