But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
(1 Cor. 12:7-11)

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.
(1 Cor. 12:1)

There is much confusion about praying in the spirit and the gift of different kinds of tongues and much of the reason is because of avoidance, fear, and ignorance on the subject. Paul said that he did not want us to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts.

The word ignore is the root word for ignorance and ignorant. When you ignore something, you become ignorant and walk in ignorance. Because of past abuses and because of incorrect teaching, many ministries, pastors, and teachers have chosen to ignore anything in the Word concerning speaking in tongues.

This avoidance has left the church void of one of the greatest spiritual tools provided to the church today. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:3 that the gospel was not complicated, but was actually quite simple. Anything avoided or feared will seem complicated, but understanding and truth bring clarity. For this reason, we must search the Word, study and understand what the Holy Spirit teaches us about tongues.

Generally speaking, there is a parallel flow of the nine spiritual gifts. One flow operates through the will of the spirit-filled believer and the other is manifested by the will, desire, and timing of the Holy Spirit. For example, wisdom is obtained by asking God (James 1). The word of wisdom is a gift of the Spirit. Knowledge is obtained by study of the word. The word of knowledge is a gift of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8). Faith is obtained by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). The gift of faith is a gift of the Spirit. Praying in the spirit is a result of your desire to pray God’s will in tongues. The gift of different kinds of tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit that is distributed as He wills.

For this lesson we will only focus on the parallel flow of “tongues.”

Praying in tongues is available to all spirit-filled believers. This can be done anytime. Praying in tongues is subject to the timing of the one praying in tongues. The Bible calls this praying with the spirit (1 Cor. 14:15). You can do this whenever you want to.

Romans 8:26-27 tells us that when we do not know how to pray that the Spirit enables us to pray in such a way that He is actually interceding for us. And when we pray in the spirit, according to verse 27, we are praying the will of God.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(Rom. 8:26-27)

The great thing about praying the will of God is this. When we pray His will we are assured that He hears us and also that when He hears us that we receive our request.

So when you pray in the spirit, you can be assured that you are praying His will and that He is committed to fulfilling that prayer.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
(1 John 5:14-15)

Now, operating in the gift of “different kinds of tongues” may sound or even seem the same as praying in tongues, but is actually quite different. While you can pray in the spirit (in tongues) anytime you want and there does not need to be an interpretation, the gift of “different kinds of tongues” is given by the Holy Spirit as He desires. The gift of tongues requires interpretation of tongues (another gift) in order to benefit all.

Some denominations and ministries teach against the gifts of the Spirit and seem to focus on what they call the “error of tongues.” Sadly, because they don’t understand the parallel flow of the spirit they lump praying in the spirit and speaking in tongues together as the same thing. Until this basic difference is understood the scriptures on the gifts will seem confusing.

Remember, praying in the spirit is something you decide to do. Operating in the gift of tongues is something the Holy Spirit decides you are going to do and you yield to His will and His gift.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays.
(1 Cor. 14:14a)
To another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
(1 Cor.12:10-11)