The Power of Tongues

The Power of Tongues:

Praying in Tongues (Mark 16:15-17) A. Speaking with tongues has nothing to with the New Birth, being a good person, or going to heaven. B. It is the God’s will for every Christian to speak with other tongues. (Mark 16:17) C. God’s Will and Promises Are Not Automatic (Galatians 3:2, 5, 13-14) 1. The bible teaches that it is not God’s will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9); yet many die and are eternally lost. Unbelief, whether caused by ignorance, or unbelief caused by the inability to be persuaded, will hinder a Christian from receiving what God wills that he or she receives. 2. The promises of God are received by faith. Faith comes by the hearing of God’s Word. Faith involves action. If a person does not hear the Word of God concerning being filled with the Spirit or speaking with other tongues, then that person will not have the faith to be filled or to speak with other tongues. This is the reason most Christians in the body of Christ are not filled with the Spirit or do not speak with other tongues. Speaking with other tongues is a Bible truth, biblical doctrine and the will of God for every believer. Note: Jesus appeared to over 500 believers and commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high; however, only 120 believers showed up on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 5:29-32, the scriptures states that those who obey God receive the Spirit. The promises of God are received by faith. D. The ability to speak and pray with tongues is given when a Christian is baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) 1. Scriptural references for the biblical pattern of being baptized with the Spirit and speaking with tongues: a. Acts 8:14-18 Jews b. Acts 9:17-18 Samaritans c. Acts 10:44-47 Gentiles d. Acts 19:1-7 Disciples at Ephesus Note: Remember, “The tongue comes with the shoe”!! If the tongue comes with the shoe, then it is obvious that the manufacturer or designer has a purpose for the tongue. Could it be that God has a purpose for the tongue? And if He does have a purpose for the tongue and we are not praying in tongues, then we are missing out on His purpose. E. Questions Concerning Speaking with Other Tongues: 1. Doesn’t the bible say that tongues and miracles passed away with the early church? (I Corinthians 13:8-12) Answer: No. There is no scriptural reference in the bible that states that tongues passed away with the early church. The scripture does say that tongues will cease. The scriptures states that there will come a time when tongues and prophecy shall cease. That time is when “that which is perfect is come” (see verse 10). That which is perfect is Jesus. When Jesus returns for the Church, tongues will cease. When Jesus returns for the Church, we will no longer need fragments of knowledge, wisdom and insight. All wisdom will be standing right in front of us! We will no longer need tongues, it will cease at that time; but until Jesus returns we should pray and speak with other tongues. 2. Do all speak with tongues? (I Corinthians 12:28-30) Answer: If we stay consistent with the scriptures and we answer Paul’s questions, the consistent answer is no. There are two kinds of tongues mentioned in the scriptures: a. Tongues as a sign (Mark 16:17) – Also called the prayer language of the human spirit; praying in the Spirit. Tongues as a sign operates as the believer wills (I Corinthians 14:14-15). Tongues as a sign is for every Christian. b. Tongues as a gift (I Corinthians 12:1, 8-11) – Tongues as a gift is not for every Christian. Tongues as a gift operates as the Spirit wills. Tongues as a gift is a public, supernatural utterance in a language not understood by the hearers and must be accompanied by an interpretation. This is not something that we can turn on and off, this is as the Spirit wills. This is not for every Christian. In I Corinthians 12:28-30, Paul is not talking about tongues as a sign; but rather tongues as a gift, and if we examine the scriptures we see that Paul asks “do all interpret?” in conjunction with “do all speak with tongues?”; which indicates that these are companion gifts and must accompany one another. 3. Why tongues? What is God’s purpose for tongues? Why should I pray in tongues? (1 Corinthians 14:18) Answer: Every Christian church or denomination esteems the Apostle Paul and recognizes him as a great apostle and teacher; and gives him credit for authoring nearly two thirds of the New Testament. This great apostle acknowledges that he spoke in tongues more than the whole church put together! In 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14, he is not attempting to get tongues out of the church, but rather to bring order. (I Corinthians 14:39-40) He is not speaking against the tongues because he stated that he spent more time praying in tongues than all of them together. If it does not matter whether or not we pray in tongues, why did the great Apostle Paul spend his time praying in tongues? There are three (3) primary reasons Christians should pray in tongues: a. Intercessions (Romans 8:26-27) – The ability to pray for others as well as oneself, about things in which we do not have adequate information. b. Self-edification (I Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20) – When we pray in the Spirit we are building up our spirits. As it relates to selfedification, those who do pray in tongues seem to be more open to the whole counsel of God. As it relates to the gifts of the Spirit, deliverance, casting out demons, divine healings; those who have been filled with the Spirit and speak with tongues seem to be more open. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is the doorway into the supernatural (Acts 19:6). Those who do not speak with tongues do not prophesy or operate in the gifts of the Spirit. c. To Worship God (1 Corinthians 14:15) – It is impossible to worship God in Spirit without singing in tongues. Note: Remember that the New Testament was written by men who spoke in tongues! e.