Speaking in Tongues

1. Jesus said that believers shall speak with new tongues.

MARK 16:17
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;
18 they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

2. Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers.

I Corinthians 14: 22
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, not to them that believe, but TO THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT...

3. The gift of the Holy Ghost is for all believers.

ACTS 2:38-39
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
39 For THE PROMISE is UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, EVEN AS MANY as the Lord our God shall call.

4. When believers were reported to have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, it is recorded that they spoke with other tongues.

ACSTS 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were ALL with one accord in one place [the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty - Acts 1:15].
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon EACH OF THEM.
4 And they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost [every one of them], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

ACTS 10:44-47
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the HOLY GHOST FELL on ALL them [not only on some of them, but on ALL them] which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
46 FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST as well as we?

ACTS 19:5-7
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and they SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.

5. Speaking in tongues is a means of speaking the wonderful works of God, and magnifying God

ACTS 2:11
11 ...we do hear them SPEAK IN OUR TONGUES THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD

ACTS 10:45,46
45 ...on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, AND MAGNIFY GOD.

6. Speaking in tongues is a means of speaking, or praying with the spirit to God

I CORINTHIANS 14:2
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue SPEAKETH not unto men, but UNTO GOD: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

I CORINTHIANS 14:14
14 For if I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will pray with the understanding also...

7. Singing in tongues is a means of singing with the spirit

I CORINTHIANS 14:15
15 ...I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

8. Speaking in tongues is a means of blessing with the spirit, and giving thanks.

I CORINTHIANS 14:16,17
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.

9. Believers can all speak in tongues together out-loud at the same time, during an outpouring of the Spirit or publicly in the church during times of corporate praying and singing - even when there is no interpreter, and no matter how many people are speaking at the same time.

In the upper room, 120 people spoke in tongues together (Acts 2:1-4); Corenelius' entire household spoke in tongues together, even interrupting Peter's sermon to do so! (10:44-47); and at Ephesus 12 people spoke in tongues and prophesied together (19:5-7.)

In such instances, no individual was holding the floor and addressing the whole church - and there was no interpreter. The whole congregation was speaking in tongues together at the same time. It's Scriptural for a congregation to do that. It's different only if an individual is led to address an entire congregation in tongues.

10. Speaking in tongues, to address an entire congregation, is a means of benefiting the church.

Divers kinds of tongues is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit which is given for the benefit of the whole church.

I Corinthians 12:10
7 But the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT is given to every man TO PROFIT WITHAL.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Diversities of tongues is one of the public ministries which God has set in the church.

I Corinthians 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES.

11. The gift of the interpretation of tongues is given so that the church can understand and benefit when an individual addresses the congregation in tongues.

I CORINTHIANS 14:5,13,27,28
5 I would that ye all SPAKE WITH TONGUES, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, EXCEPT HE INTERPRET, that the CHURCH MAY RECEIVE EDIFYING.

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may INTERPRET

27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and LET ONE INTERPRET.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

12. Speaking in tongues is a means of edifying oneself.

I CORINTHIANS 14:4,18,28
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH himself;

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD.

13. A believer may speak with tongues as often as he desires, as an act of his will, for the Spirit gives utterance.

I CORINTHIANS 14:15
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit [as an act of my own will], and I will pray with the understanding also [according to my choice]: I will sing with the spirit [by volition], and I will sing with the understanding also [by my choice].

ACTS 2:4
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE.