SPEAKING WITH TONGUES

USE OF TONGUES IN THE BIBLE

1. Speaking in tongues is the initial sign, or , that a person has received the Holy Spirit. See Isaiah 28:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-18;10:44-48; 19:1-6.

2. The gift of tongues, or more precisely “divers kinds of tongues” (I Corinthians 12:10), is used among those who have already been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The gift of tongues is for the edification of the church as a whole when it is interpreted. It is a message from God to the people gathered.See I Corinthians 12-14.

3. There is also tongues that is for the personal edification of the believer as he or she speaks in tongues and magnifies God. See I Corinthians 12-14.

By comparing Acts 2:4 with Acts 2:6, 8, 11, we find that the Bible defines “tongues” as . This definition applies to both categories described above.

—refers to languages that the speaker has never learned, spoken as the Spirit gives the utterance. They can be languages spoken by other nationalities as their native tongue. Although in each occurrence it is “another tongue” to the speaker, if someone is present who speaks the particular language, he can understand the speaker. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-18).

—The King James Version also uses the phrase “unknown tongue.” Although the word unknown does not appear in the Greek, the context clearly conveys the meaning. The tongue is not understood by anyone present, but the speaker is speaking to God (I Corinthians 14:2).

In each case, speaking in tongues is supernatural since the speaker speaks as the Spirit gives the ability (Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 14:2).

1. INITIAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

What is the evidence that we have received this glorious gift? The only Bible evidence of the initial infilling of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. There is no other evidence given in the Scripture. A precedent has been set in the Word of God; New Testament believers spoke with tongues when they received the Holy Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are not the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but are the ongoing evidence that a person is walking in the Spirit.

An often used and incorrect explanation of speaking in tongues is that on the Day of Pentecost God gave the apostles the ability to preach to all the nationalities present in Jerusalem in their native languages. Acts 2:11 refutes this view, for the listeners declared, “We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Others try to say the miracle was the and not the . Acts 2:4 clearly refutes this as does Acts 2:11.

Again, speaking in tongues is the one and only sign that God has given to New Testament believers as evidence they have received the Holy Spirit. Christ died at Calvary for us to have this glorious experience. It is the most wonderful thing that could happen in a person’s life. The seeker should not ask God for tongues but ask Him for the Holy Spirit; other tongues will accompany this gift.

2. OF THE CHURCH ASSEMBLY

The following discussion of speaking in tongues in the church, according to I Corinthians 12-14, is strictly for those who have received the Holy Spirit, as outlined earlier. These remarks are not applicable to the sinner.

This use of tongues is not the initial evidence of being baptized in the Spirit, but it is one of several signs that occur in a body of believers who are full of the Holy Spirit. It is good to speak with tongues for personal and church edification. But to require believers to speak with tongues on a scheduled basis as a sign that one still has the Holy Spirit is unscriptural.

Many factors are indicative of our walking in the Spirit. Among them are (1) being obedient to the teaching of the Scriptures, (2) bearing the fruit of the Spirit, (3) being faithful to God’s cause in every way, (4) abiding in Christ, and (5) adding to our experience the necessary ingredients for spiritual stabilization. See John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22-23; II Peter 1:5-11, along with other passages, for clarification of this point.

Tongues, in this instance, is one of the gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8-10). For an utterance to edify the assembled believers, another one of the nine spiritual gifts must accompany it, namely, the of tongues. The interpretation may be given by the person speaking with tongues or by another person.

In I Corinthians, Paul was unquestionably giving instructions for a local church service when he gave rules to govern speaking in tongues. He said, “When ye come together. . . in the church” (I Corinthians 14:26, 28). While a church service is in progress, regulations are placed on both the public exercise of speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. (See I Corinthians 14:26-28.)

Speaking in tongues and interpretation for edification should come by “course,” from the Greek word meros, which means a division, share, piece, portion, section, allotment, or by turn. Three such public utterances are the maximum allowed in any one church service. This does not mean that two or three people must speak with tongues before there can be an interpretation. Paul dealt with courses here, not persons.

After a maximum of three occurrences of speaking in tongues, whether or not there is an interpretation, speaking in tongues for congregational edification should cease. If others in the congregation still feel prompted to speak in tongues, they should speak to themselves and to God quietly, so the church service can progress. (See I Corinthians 14:27-28.) The same regulations apply to the gift of prophecy, which is a Spirit-inspired utterance spoken audibly in the native tongue of the local assembly.

Speaking in tongues plus interpretation of tongues is equal to and accomplishes the same as prophecy. God chose tongues and interpretation as a sign to (I Corinthians 14:22). Both a tongue that is interpreted and prophecy are for one or more of the following three purposes: , , and (I Corinthians 14:3).

Paul listed peace, decency, and order (I Corinthians 14:33, 40) as the guiding principles for any church service. Anything that violates one of these three principles is wrong— whether it be supposed gifts of the Spirit, preaching, singing, testifying, playing instruments, hand clapping, receiving offerings, entering and leaving the building, or any other factor involving order and decorum in God’s house. These guidelines do not in any way discourage or forbid the use of any genuine spiritual gift. (See I Corinthians 14:39.)

The following facts concerning speaking in tongues are aids to witnessing and for giving others a reason of the hope that is in us:

• When believers speak in tongues, they are speaking to .

• No one them.

• In the spirit, they are speaking .

• They edify .

• They should pray that they may be able to .

• Speaking in tongues is to prophecy unless someone gives the interpretation.

• Speaking in tongues is a sign to .

3. OF THE BELIEVER

1. —Praying in tongues is a blessing and a privilege of the saint of God. Although the understanding is unfruitful, the spirit is edified (I Corinthians 14:14-15). We are to pray with the understanding, i.e., in our native language, but if God’s Spirit prompts us, we are to pray in tongues. On such occasions, we are speaking directly to God, and our communication with Him is perfect.

2. —The same things just said about praying in tongues also apply to singing in tongues. We may not understand the words, but our inward person is renewed and blessed (I Corinthians 14:15). Singing with the understanding, i.e., in our native tongue, brings a blessing also.

3. —In this example, a believer may be blessing something or someone and begin speaking with tongues. This is a form of praising God and offering thanksgiving in unknown tongues both publicly and privately (I Corinthians 14:16-18). The same principle of points 1 and 2 apply here also.

CONCLUSION

No contradiction exists between Paul’s admonition to “quench not the Spirit” (I Thessalonians 5:19) and his statement that “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (I Corinthians 14:32). Quenching the Spirit means to refuse to allow God’s Spirit to use or to bless us when it is proper and in order. Subjection of our spirits has to do with control. It is essential that we control ourselves in the house of God in order to promote peace, decency, and order.

We should never study spiritual gifts without including I Corinthians 13:1-13. The Bible’s teaching on charity (love) here is without parallel. Charity, which is the love of God expressed through us, supersedes faith and hope.

Speaking with tongues is God’s method of controlling and using, for His glory, the most unruly member of the body—the tongue (James 3:1-18). May our voices be lifted to Him in praise and adoration, whether in our native tongue or in an unknown tongue!