The Issue of

 Speaking in Tongues

 

 

Tongues:  A language of which the Holy Ghost channels directly through that individual to God on behalf of that person or others  in which the individual doesn't know and the devil can't jam the frequency!

(Pastor Betty P. Peebles)

 

 

 

I.  Is Speaking In Tongues For Today?

 

    Simple answer: Yes.  God's requirement for His church has not and will not change.  He gave the church this wonderful gift in Acts the 2nd chapter and He's not the type of God to give and then take back.  I know that this is an area of great controversy and I can understand why but if you promise to hang in here with me, by the time we reach the end of this lesson you will have a much better understanding of speaking in tongues.

 

Let's first deal with some questions regarding tongues and then we will go through some hang-ups people have.

 

 

II.  Why Tongues?

 

They alert the sinner that God has established an avenue here on earth in which He communicates in a very special way with His people.

 

I Corinthians 14:22

22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

 

Sure I know that the word of God says that tongues will cease but now is not that time.

 

I Corinthians 13:8

8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 

At the end of the Church Age, there will not be a need for tongues.  We will be communicating with God face to face.  As for love, it will never cease.  Until that time, the same rules/gifts, authority, etc., delegated to the church when Jesus first gave for the functioning of the church are still just as functional today.

 

Mark 16:17,18

17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18. 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.

 

If you are a Believer, then these scriptures still apply to you.  Just because you are not operating in them, what gives you the right to say that God is not moving like this anymore?

 

 

III.  Why Are Tongues So Important?

 

Because as a Christian, you are engaged in spiritual warfare.  You have an enemy that you cannot see with your natural eyes.  Tongues enable you to war in the spiritual realm.

 

Ephesians 6:12-18

12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

 

IV. Why Is Praying In The Spirit So Necessary?

 

Praying with your understanding is fed by the finite (limited) mind of man.  At some point, you will have exhausted your intellect.  The finite mind cannot meet your total needs but thank God the Holy Spirit can.

 

Romans 8:26,27

26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

 

 

V.  What Else Does Tongues Do?

 

Tongues substantiates, here on earth, what we have received from heaven.  With heavenly happenings, God graciously gives us  earthly manifestations.

 

Case In Point...

 

When One Gets Saved This Is What Happens:

1.) In heaven, their name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

2.) On earth, you heard them confess the Lordship of Jesus.

 

Concerning The Blessed Hope Of Our Resurrection:

1.) In heaven, Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father because God raised Him from the dead

2.) On earth, we go down in the water and are covered by the water - - -We then come up out of the water.  By doing this, we do not become saved.  We are identifying with Jesus' death (going down into the water), burial (being covered completely by the water), and resurrection (becoming a new creation and we awaiting our physical resurrection at the coming of the rapture).

 

Now, Concerning The Initial Evidence Of Being Baptized And Filled With The Holy Ghost:

1.) The Spirit of God comes to make His abode (live) within us.

2.) On earth, we are given a new tongue.

 

Tongues - The Initial Evidence???  Here are some supporting scriptures for your digestion.

 

Acts 10:44-48

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.

 

How Did They Know The Gentiles Were Filled?


46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

Acts 19:1-6

1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

 

I Believe You Got It!

 

 

VI.  So, How Does One Receive?

 

Well, when I received, I tarried after a church service.  I called on Jesus until foam was coming out of my mouth.  I was told not to swallow it because I was being purged.  At the end of the ordeal, the older folks told me that I had received a double portion and yes I was speaking in tongues.  I guess the mentality for receiving was tied in with Acts 2:4 where Jesus told the Disciples to go and tarry (wait) in Jerusalem.  But that was before the outpouring.

 

So, what about now?

 

Let's read Luke 11:13

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

 

The only perquisites I can find in the scriptures are (1) getting Saved first (God doesn't put new wine in old bottles) and then (2) Simply Asking.  After that, like the above scriptures, you can receive after hearing the word, after laying of hands, riding in your car or even cooking in your kitchen.  Simply ask by faith refusing to doubt.

 

 

VII.  Other Points You Need To Know...

 

A.) YOU CAN'T TEACH TONGUES - Tongues are a gift from God and He will give you your own unique language.  Of course, the more you allow Him to use your tongue the more fluent you will become.

 

B.) Tongues is not the Holy Spirit - It's the Language of Him

 

C.) How can you be confident in knowing you have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost?

        1) You will speak in that beautiful heavenly language

        2) You receive "POWER!" to become an effective witness.  Holy Ghost Boldness!!!

 

Acts 1:8

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Even Peter, who denied Jesus three times, stood on his feet with great boldness after having received.

 

Acts 2:13-18

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

 

 

VIII.  Now, Let's Deal With Where The Controversy Comes In And Then We'll Be Finished.  Verses 1-29 Of I Corinthians Chapter 14.

 

1. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

 

Paul says, stay close to love - make it a partner for life.  And have a passion for God to use you in spiritual gifts but desire to be used in the gift of prophecy the most.

 

Note:  Prophecy is a word from the Lord spoken to a person or congregation in their known language which does three things.

        A. Edify = Build Up

        B. Exhort = Stir Up

        C. Comfort = Cheer Up


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.

 

He says, for the person that speaks in tongues speaks in a language that's  incomprehensible to the finite mind.  To set the record straight, he's not talking to man anyhow - he's speaking directly to God {mysteries in the spirit}.


3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

 

But when you prophesy, remember what I told you earlier?  Yes!  It benefits the hearer and builds, stirs or cheers them up!


4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

 

Now Paul says, when you speak in an unknown tongue, you simply edify (build up) yourself.  But when you are used in the gift of prophecy, you build up the entire congregation.

 

Note:  There are 2 references to tongues in this chapter.  One is your own individual prayer language that builds you up and the other is the gift of divers kinds of tongues found in 1 Corinthians 12.

 

So, Paul is saying here that when you speak in the unknown language that God has given you, you really build your own spirit man up. This is confirmed in Jude 1:20

 

        20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

 

        BUT when you are used in the gift of prophecy, everyone benefits.


5. I would that ye all spake with tongues; but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

 

To remain consistent with the flow of where Paul is headed in this text, he uses tongues in a couple of different ways.  First, he says, my desire is that you all speak in tongues, but I would be even happier if you were used in the gift of prophecy.  He then says that the person that prophesies is greater than the one that speaks in tongues.  Now, he didn't mean that one is better than the other.  What he simply meant was that the one that prophesies benefits everyone and not just himself.  Now Catch This... He says, EXCEPT he interpret that the church receives edifying.  Follow me closely here.  One, he spoke of your personal tongues,  but now he speaks of three gifts in operation.

 

The gift of divers kinds of tongues = unknown language that's oftentimes louder than all others and continues when others stop.

The gift of interpretation of tongues = when one utters forth the interpretation of what was spoken in the unknown tongue.  Notice I said interpretation and not translation.  This means that the length of time is not an issue.  Divers kinds of tongues may last 2 minutes and the interpretation could be 30 seconds.  The person that is used to utter the interpretation is uttering forth words from the mouth of God.  This is why oftentimes you will hear them start and finish by saying "Thus saith the LORD..."

 

Here's the formula:  The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues + The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues = The Gift of Prophecy


6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

 

So, my fellow Believers, if I came to you just speaking in tongues it wouldn't do you any good.  You will only profit if I say what I'm trying to say in a way that you could understand.


7. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

 

Then he compares it with instruments and how God made them different.  They all have different sounds.  If they didn't, you wouldn't know what's what when you hear them playing.  Sounds somewhat confusing, ha?  It would be.  Imagine your child taking lessons that you paid for and when you get to the concert all of the instruments sound exactly alike - Even the individual parts.


8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

 

He then makes a comparison with a certain sound all of the men of war know when it's time to go in to battle.  What a great catastrophe this could turnout to be.


9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

 

So, unless you (in the church) speak words that all can understand - how are they going to know what you have said?  You are literally wasting words.


10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

 

He speaks of the different languages in the world and states that all are important.


11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

 

Basically, if you're speaking Spanish and I don't understand it - then I'm pretty much lost - out of touch - and void of understanding.


12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

 

Now, even though you really want to be used by God in His spiritual gifts, desire at a greater degree to build up the church.


13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

 

So, if you want to be used in the gift of divers kinds of tongues in the congregation - please pray that an interpretation immediately follows it.


14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

 

In other words, my spirit is connected with the Father but there's no gain to my mind.


15. What is it 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.

 

So, let me tell you how I balance this thing out.  I pray in the unknown and I pray in the known.  I sing in the unknown and I sing in the spirit.

 

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;


16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

 

If you don't create a balance and all you do is speak in tongues the entire service - how can the unlearned or unsaved say, "amen - thank you,  Jesus - I needed that?"  They would probably think you belong to some kind of occult.


17. For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

 

The truth is - when you bless God in tongues it's an awesome thing.  The problem is no one else is built up by what you're doing.


18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

 

Here, it's almost as if Paul wanted to assure the Believers that even though he's done some scrutinizing on how they  miss used tongues - he doesn't want them to think for one minute that God wants them to stop.  He says, the fact of the matter is I speak in tongues more than all of you!


19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

 

He says, however, when I'm attending church I would rather speak five words that people can understand and benefit from them than thousand in tongues.


20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

 

My sisters and my brothers please comprehend the message I'm trying to convey to you.  Don't be like a child that hears and forget so quickly.  If the issue is malice, then I don't have a problem with you forgetting what someone has done to you and you desiring to pay them back.  Please be as a child in how you handle that. Forgive and forget quickly!


21. 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.

 

In other words, God will go to His mostest (I know that's not a word) to win the sinner's heart.  Here, as on the day  of  Pentecost when the 120 were endowed and spoke other people's tongues, the people accused them of being drunk - They didn't cry out, "The God they serve must be real."


22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them

that believe not, but for them which believe.

 

Therefore, tongues are for a sign to the unbeliever that you have established contact with heaven.  But when you prophecy, it benefits the congregation.


23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

 

I like this.  When I read it, it makes me chuckle but the reality is it must have been happening for Paul to address it.  How would you like to be a sinner and walk into the church and the usher greets you in tongues and then the choir sings in tongues and then the preacher gets up and preaches his sermon in tongues?  You would tell everyone you meet about that crazy church!


24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

 

But if you are prophesying (word from God in a known language) and a sinner or a babe in Christ comes in, he could receive and become convicted of his sin.

 

Another point I feel worth mentioning that has been brought up on a few occasions in this chapter by Paul are two types of people.

1) Unlearned - Babes in Christ

2) Unbelievers - Those who do not believe in the Lordship - death, burial or resurrection of Jesus Christ.


25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

 

God could reveal his innermost secrets causing him literally to fall on his face and give his life to God or if a babe in Christ - totally submit his life to God.  Then he or she could become a witness like the woman at the well saying, "Come See A Man.."


26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 

Let me ask you all a question? Why is there so much confusion up in here.  Every person got their own song that they want to sing; their own doctrinal beliefs; all these different tongues going off; people operating in different gifts - and essentially all at the same time. PLEASE! Let all things be done to building the body up and not tearing it down.


27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

 

If someone is operating in the gift of divers kinds of tongues, it shouldn't be more than two people and three at the most.  But immediately following, there should also be someone interpreting.


28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

 

But if there isn't anyone interpreting, you need to sit down.  You're probably just exploiting your own personal tongues.  Speak to yourself and build yourself up because you are definitely not operating in the gift.  Let everything be done decent and in order.


29. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

 

Finally. Paul says, any word that comes from God must have at least two to three witnesses.

 

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

 

If the word is not from God, it must not be received!

 

Wow!  I know that this was a long lesson but it was necessary.  Please go over it and over it and over it again until it gets in your inners.  If you still need help understanding some of the points, please e-mail me immediately.

 

For those of you who have been wanting the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, you are going to have to shut other people out who keep telling you that tongues are not for today or that tongues is not for everybody.    Will you let others keep you from what God wants you to have?  Please don't.  Furthermore, when he blesses you, don't worry about how you sound.  He will give you your own language and not someone else's.

 

Now,  Remember that you are to ask but ask in faith refusing to doubt.  Some of you will receive immediately after this prayer and others of you will receive while driving your car or sitting in bible study.  I don't know.  Whatever the case, don't you doubt God.  God is no respecter of persons.  Why would He give so many people such a wonderful gift and then tell you that you can't have it?  The devil is a liar!  Don't you allow him to put that trash in your mind.

 

Let's Pray

 

Dear Father, I come to You in Jesus'  name.  I bless you because You are a wonderful God; You are an awesome God; You are a fair and just God.  Thank You for saving me from the hands of my enemy.  Now, according to Your word, You said that I have not because I ask not.  Your word also declares that You would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask.  Today, I ask for the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  I thank You that You are no respecter of persons.  Therefore, I believe I receive right now while I am praying.  Thank You, In Jesus' name, Amen!

 

 

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.  (James 1:22)

 

Minister Rickey E. Macklin

Pastor Betty P. Peebles

 

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