The gift of speaking in tounges - Part 1

 BY Argie Simonis

Speaking in tongues belongs to the category of gifts of utterance (expression) and is a ministry gift that operates in the assembly of the Church. 

As with the distinction between the gift of prophecy and the ministry of the prophet that we discussed in the previous message, so the gift of tongues is different from the speaking in tongues that can be done privately by every believer who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit . It is one of the first supernatural manifestations accompanying the baptism of the Holy Spirit: (Acts 2:4, 10:46 and 19:6).

The gift of tongues is not given to everyone:

"Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1Cor. 12:30

Some have used this verse as an argument to teach that speaking in tongues is not for every believer. However, this speaks of the gift of speaking in tongues operating in the assembly of the Church. Not all believers are moved by this gift, but all believers who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues in their own personal prayer time:

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" Mark 16:17

When the gift of tongues is operating publicly and there is interpretation, it equals prophecy:

"He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church." 1Cor. 14:4

"I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." 1Cor. 14:5

There are two different kinds of speaking in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 13:1 we read that we can speak with the tongues of men or angels. The tongues of men is reffering to known tongues, like what happened on the Day of Pentecost. This is the gift of supernaturally speaking a known language without having been taught it, and it comes for the purpose of bearing witness, as on the day of Pentecost:

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:4-6

There is also a gift of tongues which speaks in a heavenly language (what is called the tongues of angels in 1 Corinthians 13:1). This is a language unknown to the speaker but allows the believer to communicate directly with the Lord through the Spirit.

"For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." 1Cor. 14:2

"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful." 1Cor. 14:14

Speaking in tongues is not THE sign, but it is something that follows the baptism of the Holy Spirit and unless one has been negatively influenced or frightened by religion, I believe it would be normal for all who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit to speak in tounges. Speaking in tongues is neither from the devil nor becoming possessed of the devil:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13

If you seek God and want the power of the Holy Spirit that the Bible speaks of, then the Lord will not allow the devil to give you an evil gift!

God does not give His Spirit to those who beg or to those who deserve it, but to those who ask for it. You should by faith begin to speak and believe that God is the one who inspires you to do so:

"But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cor. 2:14

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ." 1Cor. 2:16

Some, particularly in Pentecostal circles, say they simply speak in tongues without being able to control it. This is not true:

"And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 1Cor. 14:32

Fear, unbelief and listening to ourselves trying to assess whether what we are speaking is from God or not, creates doubt and brings hindrance within us. The mind rebels and says no, the flesh resists  because it doesn't make logical sense. This is exactly what makes speaking in tounges so powerful:

"But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

The expression "Praying in the Holy Spirit" here is the speaking in tongues.

"He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church." 1Cor. 14:4

Our next message will be the second part of this series on the gift of speaking in tounges.

To be continued...