Speaking in Tongues
by John Edwards
1.
Jesus said that speaking with tongues is one of the signs that shall follow believers.
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. The gift of the
Holy Ghost is promised to 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.
3. When believers
received the gift of the Holy Ghost, 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
6 And when Paul had
laid his hands upon them, the HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and they SPAKE
WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.
4. Speaking in
tongues is a means of speaking the wonderful works of God, and magnifying God.
AC TS 2:11
11 ...we do hear them SPEAK IN OUR TONGUES THE WONDERFUL
WORKS OF GOD.
ACTS 10:45,46
46 For they heard them
SPEAK WITH TONGUES, AND MAGNIFY GOD.
5. Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers.
I CORINTHIANS 14:21,22
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...
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 14:14,15
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...
ROMANS 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is
the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according
to the will of God.
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. Addressing a congregation
in tongues can be a means of benefiting the church.
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.
Divers kinds of
tongues is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit which is given for
the public benefit of the church.
I CORINTHIANS 12:7-10
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;
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:
10. When individual
members address a congregation in tongues, the gift of the interpretation of tongues is given so that the church can
understand and benefit.
I Corinthians 12:10
10 ...to another [is
given] the INTEPRETATION OF 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.
11. The following is
a description of the kind of blessing that can be produced in a church, by the
gift of prophecy (and similarly, by the gift of the interpretation of tongues):
I CORINTHIANS 5:5
5 ...greater is he
that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, EXCEPT HE INTERPRET, that
the church may receive edifying.
I CORINTHIANS
14:23-25
23 If therefore the
whole church be come together into one place...
24 ...if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth
not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and
so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is
in you of a truth.
12. Believers can all
speak, pray or sing in tongues together out-loud at the same time - during times
of a special outpouring of the Spirit, and perhaps during times of corporate
praying and singing.
In the upper room, 120 people spoke in tongues together - it
wasn't restricted to two or three speakers (Acts 2:1-4); Corenelius' entire
household spoke in tongues, even interrupting Peter's sermon to do so - they
didn't speak in turn, and there is no mention of any interpreter (10:44-47);
and at Ephesus 12 people spoke in tongues and prophesied - again, no mention
that they spoke in turn, nor that the number of speakers was restricted to two
or three, nor that there was any interpretation (19:5-7).
[Note:- In such cases no-one is holding the floor and
addressing the congregation as such, and therefore there is no need for the
above-mentioned protocol that each speaker should take his turn to speak, and
that the number of speakers should be restricted to two or three, and that
there should be an interpretation. It's
a corporate outpouring of the Spirit.
It isn't causing confusion, it isn't indecent, it isn't disorderly, it
is peaceful.
Whereas if an individual is holding the floor, addressing a
congregation in tongues and expecting the entire congregation's undivided
attention - then, as a matter of practicality, the above-mentioned protocol
should be followed. That is the type of
scenario to which Paul was applying his advice.]
13. Speaking in
tongues is a means of edifying yourself.
I CORINTHIANS 14:4,18,28
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH [and improves - Amplified] 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.
14. Any believer who
desires to may speak with tongues.
I CORINTHIANS 5:5
5 I would that ye all
spake with tongues...
15. A believer may
privately speak with tongues as often as he desires.
I CORINTHIANS 14:18
18 I thank my God, I
speak with tongues more than ye all:
I CORINTHIANS 14:15
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.
The words "I
will" indicate volition, choice, an act of the will. We choose whether we will speak in tongues or whether we will speak with our understanding. And it is the Spirit who gives us utterance.
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.
16. The gift of the
Holy Spirit is received by faith.
GALATIANS 3:2,4
2 This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of FAITH?
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh
miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of FAITH?
ACTS 5:32
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is
also the HOLY GHOST, whom God hath given to them that OBEY him [i.e., the obedience of faith
in Jesus - Romans 1:5].
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