The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
Part 3: Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
1 Corinthians 12:27 – 14:19
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating,
and various kinds of tongues…”
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
“…Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But
earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way…”
Jump to Chapter 14:1
14 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts,
especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in
a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one
understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to
people for their upbuilding and encouragement and
consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up
himself, but the one who prophesies builds up
the church.
5 Now
I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to
prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one
who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so
that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how
will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation
or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 If
even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp,
do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is
played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who
will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your
tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will
anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into
the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in
the world, and none is without meaning,
11 but
if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will
be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner
to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for
manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up
the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that
he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my
spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What
am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will
pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit,
but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give
thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of
an outsider[b] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he
does not know what you are saying?
17 For
you may be giving thanks well enough, but the
other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I
speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in
church I would rather speak five words with my mind in
order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a
tongue.
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
DEFINITION OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES = ‘The
supernatural ability, imparted by the Holy Spirit, to
speak a language one has never learned.’
Interesting Statements by Paul about Tongues
V2 – One who speaks in a tongue speaks NOT to men, BUT to God!
V4 – The one who speaks in a tongue builds up / edifies himself
V4 – Public prophesy is greater than speaking in tongues (APART FROM
WHEN TONGUES ARE INTERPRETED! So that people are edified)
V5 – I want you all to speak in tongues (but not in public unless it is
interpreted)
V14 – If I pray in a tongue, I am praying with my spirit because my
mind does not understand
V15 – It is also possible to sing with your spirit / sing in tongues
V18 – Paul speaks in tongues more than anyone, but not
in the church
The Value of speaking in tongues
1 Corinthians 14:14
“If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.”
The Value of speaking in tongues
1 Corinthians 14:4
“He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies / builds up
himself.”
The Value of speaking in tongues
Acts 2:11
“…We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own
tongues!”
Acts 10:46
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out
even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in
tongues and praising God.
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Acts 2:16
…These people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only
the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered
through the prophet Joel:
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Acts 6:3
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of
good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will
appoint to this duty.
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Acts 8:18
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the
laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I
lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Acts 10:45-46
…The believers from among the circumcised who had come
with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was
poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing
them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
Tongues – The Initial Evidence
Acts 19:6
“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit
came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and
prophesying.”
Summary
• In the accounts in Acts, all who were filled spoke in tongues
• Paul teaches us that when we speak in tongues, we pray with our spirit
(1 Corinthians 14:14)
• Tongues can help us to worship or pray when English words aren’t
enough
• Paul also tells us that when we speak in tongues, we edify ourselves
(1 Corinthians 14:4)
• God would not give a gift that could edify some believers and not others,
in light of the fact that He promised that the Spirit will be
poured out on all flesh!
1 Corinthians 14:26
“When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a
revelation, a tongue or an interpretation… Let all things be
done for building up.”
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
Part 3: Tongues – The Initial Evidence