Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
What is Speaking in Tongues?
The Greek word is Glosselaleo; the direct translation literally meaning, “language-speaking”. Tongue is just another word for language. It’s like saying I went to another country and learned to speak in a foreign tongue. So speaking in tongues simply means speaking in a foreign language.
When used in context with the bible and the gift of holy spirit, it means speaking in a language that you don’t know what it means.
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Speaking in tongues is physical proof that a Christian is born again. Speaking in tongues is external, tangible evidence in the senses realm that the internal, intangible gift of holy spirit is inside you.
Turn your bible to Acts 2:4 - This is the day of Pentecost, the birth of our church and the beginning of the grace administration, “And they were all filled with the holy ghost (a more accurate translation of the word “ghost” is the Greek word pnuema, which means “spirit”) and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.”
So they got holy spirit and immediately they all spoke in tongues. Not just some of them. All of them.
Every born again Christian is given the whole gift of holy spirit. One of the manifestations of the spirt is Speaking in Tongues.
This manifestation is available to every born again Christian... including you!
Speaking in tongues is a brand new thing that God did for the Church. You can read the Old Testament from Genesis 1 to Malachi 4 and you will not find anyone speaking in tongues. You can read the Four Gospels and you will not find anyone speaking in tongues. The first time anyone spoke in tongues was on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two, at the birth of the Church, and tongues is something that God did for the Church.
Speaking in Tongues was something new, something very special.
To speak in tongues is to fluently speak a language of either men or angels, a language that does not come from your mind, but by way of God’s spirit within you. It is primarily designed for one’s internal use, but it is also to be utilized in a gathering of Christians by following it with its companion manifestation, interpretation of tongues, so that the Church is edified by one’s praise to God (1 Cor. 14:5).
One might ask, “You want me to fluently speak a language I’ve never learned?” Let me get this straight. You want me to open my mouth, start talking, and you’re telling me I’ll be speaking a real language that I’ve never heard of before? And doing it perfectly?”
Yup. And you know what? You’re going to nail it the first time. You can’t possibly do it wrong because it is the holy spirit inside you giving you utterance. Guiding you in what you say. Does that require any faith, any trust in God, Jesus Christ, and the Word? It sure does, and isn’t that what being a Christian is all about? It always comes down to whether or not we really believe what God says. That’s true believing in action.
The Apostle Paul says, “I would like for you [each Christian] to speak in tongues” (1 Cor. 14:5).
Why?
Because speaking in tongues is a beautiful way to get around the limited vocabulary of our native language and tell our Father that we love Him.
What Speaking in Tongues is for:
It is a way to perfectly worship (Philippians 3:3) to give thanks well (1 Cor. 14:17), to speak the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11), to magnify Him (Acts 10:46), to edify yourself (1 Cor. 14:4) and to build yourself up in faith (Jude 20).
Acts 10:46 "For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God..." Amen.
We read in 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 that speaking in tongues is again stated as praising God. That brings up the next point, which is that speaking in tongues is giving thanks well.
(16) If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
(17) You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
Sure, chances are you speak the language that the people in the congregation speak – like in my home fellowship I speak English and everybody who comes speaks English, and so when we speak in tongues, since we don’t understand it, nobody else does. Pretty simple! Verse seventeen – you may be giving thanks well enough.
- So speaking in tongues is praising God.
- Speaking in tongues is giving thanks well.
- Speaking in tongues is prayer in the spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:14) "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays..."
A lot of times people wrestle with prayer. What should I pray for? We can pray by speaking in tongues. It’s prayer in the spirit. And I’ll tell you something else, it edifies the one who is speaking.
1 Corinthians 14:4 "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." Now the word edify is ‘to build up.’ And there’s a lot of different ways that speaking in tongues can build you up.
- It can remind you of your salvation, and that your situation spiritually is secure.
- It can calm your mind, if your mind is racing.
- Speaking in tongues can give you peace at times when you just don’t seem to have any peace.
- And speaking in tongues builds you up in the spirit, not that we understand this perfectly, because we don’t.
I just know that Scripture says that it builds us up. Believing Scripture to be true, I believe that speaking in tongues builds people up. I know this because when I run into people who speak in tongues a lot, they are generally more spiritually in tune than those who don’t.
Jude 1:20 "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit."
What Speaking in Tongues Means: You are
Speaking the Wonderful Works of God
And so another thing here is that speaking in tongues is under your control. Because you can speak in tongues when you want to, stop when you want to – God’s going to tell you that there are certain things that are decorous, are proper, and are respectful when it comes to speaking in tongues.
I think we’ve all heard the horror stories about the stranger who goes into a Church where everyone is shouting in tongues, and they become scared and afraid, and Scripture tells us that. So, when we speak in tongues we do it in a way that’s a blessing, and we interpret so it blesses the people.
I think you get the point about speaking in tongues, and all that it does:
- It’s proof that we’re born again.
- God says He wants us to.
- It’s speaking a sacred secret with God, perfect prayer
- It speaks God’s wonderful works.
- It’s praise to God.
- We should be pushing ourselves to speak in tongues a lot.
All Christians can speak in tongues (via the gift of God’s holy spirit), whether or not you choose to do it is your choice. The Apostle Paul seems pretty convinced that you would benefit from it, so get started speaking in tongues today!
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Listen to the Full Length Bible Study Audio CD
Live 41 minute Bible Study Lesson pulls back the veil revealing the truth behind what the Bible says about Speaking in Tongues and how you can be doing it the right way today.
>> Learn More << |
|
About the Teacher:
Daniel Sweet is the founder and President of God's Word First Christian Ministry and is a leading expert on the Gift of Holy Spirit. As an ordained minister, biblical scholar, humble follower and faithful teacher, he and his wife Debbra Sweet have been instrumental in helping many people come to the knowledge and truth of God’s Word.
Affectionately known as the "Rock and Roll Pastor" due to his previous vocation as a pro musician, he is widely known for his lively sense of humor, his fun loving attitude and openly candid opinions. Daniel Sweet is also a published author on the subject of Leadership, an investor and an entrepreneur owning several small businesses. |
