SPEAKING IN TONGUES
CHRISTIANITY OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS SPEAKING IN TONGUES STUDY. MOST HAVE HEARD OF THE PHRASE SPEAKING IN TONGUES ... BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU TOO MAY HAVE THE GIFT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND NOT KNOW IT? MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE ARE IMPORTANT MESSAGES ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES WE ARE GIVEN IN THE BIBLE. LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES TOGETHER, SHALL WE?

          Happy to have you back again to enjoy more Daily Bread together. The topic that Paul writes about next is quite interesting . . . And quite misunderstood by many. Let’s try and clear things up a little bit about speaking in tongues, shall we?

          To set your mind at ease even further, let’s go back to what Jesus said about speaking in tongues. In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus said,

And these signs shall follow them that believe;

In my name shall they cast out devils;

they shall speak with new tongues;

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.

          Jesus is saying that these are the signs of His people, NOT that every person will possess EVERY gift. Does that mean that if you don’t speak in tongues, you’re not a believer? Heaven’s no! It simply means that it isn’t the gift that the Holy Spirit gave to you to perform His will through your administration. There are churches where people claim to speak in tongues every week when they attend, and you may find it curious that all the people who attend any one of those given churches, speak the same language. What’s my point?

          First off, what is speaking in tongues? The whole purpose of speaking in tongues is for the Holy Spirit to speak to this other person, through you. Look at Acts 2:4-11, the first time that this mysterious spiritual gift of speaking in tongues ever happened. The disciples that spoke in tongues weren’t speaking gibberish they were speaking in a universal language where ALL could understand despite what language they spoke.

          Now, people who belong to these congregations where speaking in tongues (supposedly) is a regular practice, believe that if you have never spoken in tongues, you must not be saved yet. This simply isn’t TRUTH. Look at Jesus' words above again, and I ask you, how many of those people go to their church every week and cast out devils, play with snakes, drink poison, and heal the sick?

          Okay, hopefully your mind is at ease now if you’re not gifted with speaking in tongues, but you’re still wondering in the back of your mind, Gee, I don’t know anybody who has ever spoken in tongues. Why is that? Well, perhaps there has been no need. There are many people who speak more than one language who interpret things for others. It’s probably a good guess that the Bible is written in every language known to man in our day and age, whereas back in biblical times, the availability of the written Word in different languages was quite scarce, if it was even available at all. Another good question to ask ourselves is this: Are we testing the Holy Spirit by asking this?

         Keeping in mind now, that speaking in tongues was a more common occurrence in Paul’s time than it is nowadays, you can probably assume that people back then wanted this amazing gift of speaking in tongues to be one of their spiritual gifts. Paul sheds some light on the subject:

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,

but even more that you may prophesy.

For he that speaks in an unknown tongue

doesn’t speak to men (as prophets do), but to God:

because no man understands him;

although in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

But he that prophesies speaks to men to enlighten,

and for instruction, and comfort.

He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies (builds up) himself;

but he that prophesies improves the church.

I wish that you all spoke with tongues

but even more that you prophesied:

because he that prophesies is greater than he that speaks with tongues,

unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

In other words, Paul is saying it is better to prophesy to and for people
from God so they can hear HIS message than to walk around speaking in a language that nobody understands. It only makes the one speaking appear as though he or she were something instead of God getting the credit and praise.

Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you?

Unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge,

or by prophesying, or by teaching, what good does it do?

And even things without life giving sound,

whether pipe or harp,

unless they give a distinction in the sounds,

how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound,

who will prepare himself for war?

So, in the same way,

unless you speak words easy to be understood,

How will anyone know what you’re saying?

You will be speaking for no reason.

There are so many languages in the world,

and none of them is without meaning.

Therefore if I don’t know the language,

I shall be a foreigner to him that speaks,

and he that speaks shall be a foreigner to me.

So, since you are enthusiastic about spiritual gifts,

seek excellence in edifying the church.

Therefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue

pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue,

my spirit prays,

but my understanding is unfruitful.

Did you catch that? If you speak in tongues, you don’t understand what you’re saying, because it is your immortal part that is praying. It says if you are going to speak in tongues ... Interpret it for those who hear so they can understand what you are saying.
 

What is it then (how does it work 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.

Else when you shall bless with the spirit,

how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned

say Amen at your giving of thanks,

seeing he doesn’t understand what you say?

For you truly give thanks sincerely,

but the other person is not edified.

that by my voice I might teach others also,

than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Now that is cool and very clear ...

Brethren, don’t be as a child in understanding:

although in evil be as children,

but in understanding be men.

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.

Isaiah 28:11-12

Therefore tongues are for a sign,

not to them that believe,

but to them that don’t believe:

but prophesying doesn’t serve the unbeliever,

it is for them which believe.

If then, the whole church gathers together into one place,

and all speak with tongues,

and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers,

won’t they say that you’re crazy?

lol ... Can you imagine that? Everyone speaking in Tongues and nobody having any idea what the others are saying ... What gain is there in this other than the ones speaking ...
Thinking highly of themselves.

But if all prophesy,

he is convinced by all, he is judged by all:

And in this way the secrets of his heart are made manifest

(clear, known, revealed);

and so falling down on his face he will worship God,

and report that God is truly in you.

Prophesy brings forth salvation.

How is it then, brethren?

When you gather together,

every one of you has a psalm,

has a teaching, has a language,

has a revelation, has an interpretation.

Let all things be done for betterment.

If any man speaks in an unknown tongue,

let it be by two, or at the most by three,

and in an orderly fashion; and let one interpret.

But if there be no interpreter,

let him keep silence in the church;

and let him speak to himself, and to God.

for it is not permitted for them to speak;

but they are commanded to be under obedience,

as also says the law.

And if they wish to learn any thing,

let them ask their husbands at home:

because it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

          Now THIS is a topic many ignore or pretend away. It is said that if you’re a woman and you want to serve the Lord within your church, there are plenty of things you can do that don’t involve speaking to the assembly. You can cook, or baby sit, or start a women’s club where you do things like make quilts for the needy. You can teach the children in a Sunday school class, start a women’s Bible study group or countless other things that don’t involve speaking or usurping authority over men. 1 Timothy 2:11-12

What? Did the Word of God originally come from you?

let him acknowledge (agree) that the things that I write to you

are the commandments of the Lord.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Therefore, brethren, desire to prophesy,

and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done properly and in order.