Tongues: Gift Vs. Evidence
On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, a phenomenon happened that the world had not seen since the tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Men and women came out of the upper room speaking in other tongues. The question that arose that day from the crowd that gathered was, “What does this mean?” The question came over the issue that was new to these people: What do these tongues mean? After an explanation from Peter, the crowd then asked how they might receive this same experience. This is where Peter responded with God’s plan of salvation, Acts 2:38. That day, 3,000 people received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The purpose of this lesson is to help you answer the question. Contrary to popular belief about Apostolic doctrine, we do not believe that tongues save us. It is, however, the evidence that the thing that saves us has come, His Spirit.
It is necessary to be born of the Spirit.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Words of Jesus)
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Sealed – Stamped or marked, not like sealing an envelope)
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (AMPC) Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.
Theological term: Glossolalia– “speaking in tongues” is the practice of producing language-like sounds that are unintelligible to the speaker and listeners, often occurring during religious experiences and believed by some to be a divine spiritual gift.
- It can be the known languages of the world or unknown languages.
- Paul spoke of speaking the language of angels (1 Cor. 13:1)
- Romans 8:26-27 speaks of the Spirit uttering groanings too deep for words
- Isaiah 28:11 says that it can be stammering lips
Why Tongues?
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
- It is the taming of something that only God can tame
Refer back to 1 Corinthians 12:3 – You can not call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Ghost
- He is not fully Lord of your life without taming the untamed member
Modern arguments against speaking in tongues:
Tongues shall cease ⁃ A person will not speak in tongues 24/7, but they must have charity constantly. When Jesus comes and the church age is over, we will not need prophecy, words of knowledge, or speaking in tongues. They will end when completeness arrives. But charity will always be!
Cessationism ⁃ The belief that speaking in tongues was done away with when the last apostle died. The belief that this was only a part of the foundational move of the Spirit for the birthing of the church.
- Man has said that this was done away with when the last Apostle died, but there was still a church at Corinth (146 AD) operating in the gifts after Paul died (64-67 AD).
Some say that you must have an interpreter – 1 Corinthians 14:2 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.
- There is no need for an interpreter if you are not talking to men!
1 Corinthians 14:39 (KJV) Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40 (AMPC) So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues. But all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion.
Diverse tongues:
Diverse tongues (Gift) – various tongues or unknown languages (1 Cor 12:10)
⁃ The gifts of the Spirit are given to every man (1 Corinthians 12:7)
⁃ In Acts 2, they spoke with tongues initially as the Spirit gave them utterance. They were heard speaking the languages of those who were present on the Day of Pentecost
- We do not see another example of this in scripture
- Tongues drew the multitude, but it did not substitute for the preaching to the lost that Peter had to do.
Initial Evidence:
Two things the scripture teaches us are:
- You must speak in tongues to have the Holy Ghost
- You must have the Holy Ghost to be saved
Examples of the initial evidence:
- Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell 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.
- Peter said the evidence that they had received the Holy Ghost was tongues… Acts 11:15 – Peter said it fell on Cornelius’ house as it did on them in Acts 2
- In Acts 10, they were an example of a people receiving the Holy Ghost before baptism. Peter was not willing to baptize the Gentiles before the speaking in tongues gave evidence that God had accepted the Gentiles.
- John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
- “Sound” is the Greek word “phone,” pronounced “foe-nay,” where we get the English word “phone.” This Greek word is defined as “voice or language.”
- Jesus said you would hear the voice or language thereof
- Some believe that the purpose of tongues was to preach the Gospel in the foreign languages of the world to spread the Gospel initially. This is partly true.
- Cornelius’ house did not need to speak another language.
- They spoke with tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. They did not need to speak a foreign language among themselves.
- In Acts 19, these disciples spoke with tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. They also did not need to speak a foreign language among themselves.As stated before, Acts 2 was the only example we see in scripture where believers prophesied in the languages of the world.
Speaking in tongues is for everyone:
- Nowhere in scripture does it say someone received the Holy Ghost any other way.
- Nowhere in scripture does it limit speaking in tongues to only a few
- Acts 2:4 states, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
- Mark 16:16-18: Jesus gives the signs of every believer
- Mark 16:17 says it is to those who believe.
- Who are they that believe?
- Verse 16 tells us: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Conclusion:
The Bible does not teach that tongues save us. It is a work of the Holy Ghost in the life of a believer that saves us. You must be born of the water and the Spirit. Jesus was very clear about this. When the Spirit comes, the scriptures show us that those who were filled with His Spirit spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance. We do not seek tongues; we seek to be filled with His Spirit. The gift of the Holy Ghost will be accompanied by this utterance. It is a free gift to anyone who asks and obeys.
- Keep seeking!
- Obey God’s Word!
- His promise is for you!
- Don’t be afraid!
- This is His free gift to you!
Pastor Smith
