CLICK HERE FOR PASTOR ED’S BIBLE STUDY SERIES ON THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A MUST WATCH AND LISTEN!
What is the gift of tongues, sometimes referred to as the manifestation of tongues? Is it real? Is it valid? Are tongues for today? Am I still saved if I don’t speak in tongues? These and other questions are good ones to explore. The good news is that the Bible answers them clearly and plainly.
Yes, tongues is for today. Yes, tongues is real. Yes, tongues is valid.
No, tongues are not required for salvation. No tongues are not the ONLY evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
By the way, we are saved not by any works we produce but by the finished work of Jesus Christ!
Ephesians 2:8–10 (NKJV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
It’s true; there is a lot of controversy surrounding tongues! Unfortunately, people like to argue more than they want to worship. Although there is a lot of wrangling and confusion and debate, the Bible helps to clear it up.
When it comes to understanding the spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, the Church at large falls mainly into two categories, Cessationism and Hyper-Expressionism.
Cessationism is a view that believes certain gifts ceased to exist when the Bible was completed. They believe that the gift was necessary for the first-century believer but not for today.
Hyper-Expressionism is a belief that thinks you’re not a spiritual person, or in some cases, you are not even saved if you don’t possess and exercise the gift of tongues. Often they measure your spiritual maturity by all sorts of other uncontrollable phenomena.
Neither view is an accurate representation of what the Bible teaches.
We want to live our lives as close to the heart of God as possible. We want to be in the midst of God’s Spirit, following His lead. It’s vital that we don’t impose our culture, context, and pre-conceived ideas on top of the Bible. The Bible informs and teaches us, not the other way around. Personal experience never has authority over and above God’s final word to man!
1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (NKJV) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
What is the manifestation of different tongues?
Tongues is a vocal miracle. It’s a miracle of speech that was predicted to come to the Church by Jesus Himself. Jesus predicted a vocal miracle would occur among His disciples.
Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Tongues is a spiritual language used to express praise, worship, thanksgiving, and intercession to God. It is a God-given, Spirit-empowered, spiritual ability to speak a language you have not learned and do not understand. If exercised in public (which is very rare), the nearby listeners usually do not understand it. It needs to be translated by someone with the gift of the interpretation of tongues.
The word translated ‘tongues’ in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 is the Greek word, ‘GLOSSA.’ Literally, it means “tongue physically,” or “manner of speech,” or “an expression which in speech or manner is strange & obscure and needs an explanation.” Paul uses that 3rd definition as he writes to the Corinthian believers.
The manifestation of tongues bypasses your mind’s limited linguistic abilities to express yourself to Jesus personally, powerfully, and intimately! When exercising the gift of tongues, the person converses directly with God. When someone is speaking in tongues, their mind is fully functioning. They are not ‘out of control’ in the Spirit. They are not ‘wildly opening themselves to the demonic realm.’ They are not talking to one another in a conversation in tongues. The Spirit directs their speech toward God beyond their known limited abilities and languages.
Because the gift is exercised directly in conversation with God, we believe tongues is primarily a personal prayer language and not an opportunity for public assembly outbursts. Neither is tongues a language to communicate with another believer. Why?
Take note of what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:
1 Corinthians 14:4–5 (NKJV) “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the Church. 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.”
Let’s think about it this way, have you ever had times in worship when the Lord is so ministering to you, and the music is so penetrating your heart that you’re just about ready to burst open in emotion & love? Oh, just one more song. One more truth about His love. Oh, How He loves us. I surrender all. I can’t take it anymore! I believe we all have been there. It’s like a little taste of heaven on earth!
We run out of words to express the most profound emotions in our hearts in times like these. What more can we possibly say? All these words are lovely, but there is that inward praise that goes beyond the ability of human language. It’s often here that a believer exercises the gift of tongues in their time of prayer or even expressive worship of God.
Acts 2:1–4 (NKJV) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Some, but not all, believers experience the manifestation of different tongues, helping them go deeper in their expression of love and adoration to God. They are given from the Spirit a heavenly language to commune and communicate with God spiritually.
Let’s ask an important question directly.
Do all speak in tongues? No!
1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (NKJV) “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
Even though not all believers are given this gift, Paul desires more will!
1 Corinthians 14:5 (NKJV) “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.”
Let’s remember something about God; He doesn’t want to embarrass you, make you look dumb, or anything like that. I know at other churches, they may try to force you to speak in tongues and even have classes or try to help you out a bit. That’s not from the Lord. It’s just not there from Him. The Holy Spirit is God, possessing all the attributes of God. He loves you and wants what’s best for you! Maybe what you’ve seen on TV or at another church has turned you off to the supernatural. My prayer is that you remain open to growing in Him.
Examples of this gift being exercised can be found in Acts 2, 10, & 19.
CLICK HERE FOR PASTOR ED’S BIBLE STUDY SERIES ON THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A MUST WATCH AND LISTEN!
Isaiah 28:11–12 (NKJV) “For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 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.”
Mark 15:15–17 (NKJV) “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,”
Acts 2:1–4 (NKJV) “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 10:45–47 (NKJV) “And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?””
Acts 19:6 (NKJV) “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (NKJV) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV) “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”
1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV) “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
1 Corinthians 14:5–6 (NKJV) “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. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?”
1 Corinthians 14:22–25 (NKJV) “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”
1 Corinthians 14:38–40 (NKJV) “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”
