Healing Rivers

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 NKJV

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who

speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however,in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, who used SPECT brain imaging to study people during religious practices, including speaking in tongues.

• Reduced activity in the frontal lobes
• The frontal lobes are involved in conscious control, planning, and self-monitoring.
• Reduced activity in language-related areas
• The scans showed changes in areas associated with language and speech.
• This was significant because participants were vocalizing, yet they did not experience the speech as something they were consciously formulating.
• They did the same study with Buddhist monks. Brain was very active. Increased sense of surrender or loss of conscious control (mind got quiet)

1 Corinthians 14:14, AMP
For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].

1. MENTAL HEALTH

Isaiah 28:11–12, NKJV
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12 To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing’; yet they would not hear.

1 Corinthians 14:21–22, NKJV …“With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people…

2. PHYSICAL HEALTH

Scientists found that Stress dropped dramatically.

• Cortisol levels reduced
• Heart rate slows
• Blood pressure stabilizes.
• Praying and tongues triggers a parasympathetic response the bodies deep rest system.

This is the rest. This is the refreshing.

Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint

3. SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Jude 20 AMP
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;

Acts 4:13, NLT
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.