What's So Special About the Gift of Tongues?

Man speaks to God in prayer through the Spirit, and God 

speaks to man in answer.

Jesus Teaches on His Sending of the Holy Spirit!

   (Artist Unknown)

Why tongues at all, we might ask? What is the true value of these varieties of tongues?

“Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding... (1 Cor 14:13-15 NKJV).

“I will sing with the spirit, and

I will also sing with the understanding”

The individual who speaks or sings in unknown tongues is spiritually placing his prayer before God. The Holy Spirit will interpret back to his mind His divine message as he prays within the believer. This is the true purpose of the gift of tongues.

And we must add that a spiritual interpretation is not a word-for-word translation. The individual prays spiritually by the leading of the Holy Spirit. But God returns his own message or direction through the prayer. The message is God’s guidance.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom 8:22-23 NKJV).

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:26-27 NKJV).

“Let there be light”; and there was light.

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Gen 1: 2-3 NKJV).

Look back on how the Spirit works in Genesis! The Spirit of God hovers over us and takes the chaos and void from the human spirit in the prayer of tongues and recreates it into praise, glorifying the Father. Out of the chaos and void, the Spirit glorifies the Father. 

 

“Lazarus, come forth!”

When Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead and buried for four days, “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled…. Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35 NKJV). Then Jesus spoke out the command: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43 NKJV).

Out of the chaos and void, Jesus groaned in his spirit and spoke the command which raised the dead man back to life. This is how God uses the gift of tongues.

Through the gift of tongues, the Spirit takes the imperfections, hurt, frailty, wounds, and weakness deep in the human soul and forms it to praise and glory to the Father. And God says, “Let there be Light!” Man speaks to God in prayer through the Spirit, and God speaks back to man in answer.

“Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:27 NKJV).

Man’s prayer and listening is imperfect. We are limited as to how or what to pray for, seeking to be in accord with the mind of God. But the Spirit of God knows exactly what to intercede for and exactly what to answer. That is what is so special about the gift of tongues. God speaks to the man or woman who listens.

--Bill Hunt

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Various Spiritual Tongues

Paul teaches on Tongues which he prayed more than others.

Paul Prays for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Ephesus.

  (Unknown Artist, ChristiansUnite.com)

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 NKJV). The initial manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a clear expression of the Spirit’s indwelling presence so promised by Jesus in the Gospels. Yet, seen in addition to tongues are prophecy, praise, bold proclamation of the Gospel, and healing.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 NKJV). Jesus said.

Speaking to God.

However, a major understanding of tongues must come through the realization that there are, as Paul said, “different kinds of tongues” (1 Cor 12:10). Tongues can be used privately in personal prayer. “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (1 Cor 14:2 NKJV). As such, tongues edifies the individual. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (14:4).

Tongues can be prayed jointly in common prayer in body worship by all assembled as we see at Pentecost in Caesarea and in Ephesus. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 NKJV).

Tongues can be spoken prophetically in public address to the church when there is a person present with the gift of interpretation. “For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification” (1Cor 14:5 NKJV). The implication here is the one interpreting may or may not be the same one speaking the tongues.

Revelation, Knowledge,

Prophecy, Teaching.

In fact, Paul indicates this public tongues may be used to bring a word of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or a word of teaching. “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?” (1 Cor 14:6 NKJV). Tongues is emphasized by Paul as an important function of the assembled church.

“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor 14:26 NKJV). Much of the misunderstanding or misdirection in tongues comes when people do not differentiate between the varieties or kinds of tongues.

“Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Cor 14:19 NKJV), said Paul.

Worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Tongues spoken jointly in common prayer or in common singing as body worship gives glory to God. Indeed, the assembled church body should follow the leading of the Spirit in their worship songs and adoration. Jesus said--

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24 NKJV).

In the light of this, what a shame it is when modern, well-meaning churches substitute blasting power by electronic loudspeakers and overcome the power of the Spirit in congregational worship and adoration. When the believer can’t hear his/her own voice, or the voice of the Spirit within, something is wrong! The joyful noise of the instrumentation should complement and harmonize the body worship in the singing of songs or tongues, not exchange it.

Tongues spoken or sung in private, personal prayer can be prayed by the individual to seek God’s guidance. As Paul says, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Cor 14:18 NKJV). Yet, even with these scriptural guidelines, Paul cautions, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:39-40 NKJV).

--Bill Hunt

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God Not Under Man's Control

The more you walk with God, the more you realize 

“you cannot put God in a box!”

"His Vision was Brighter Than the Morning Sun."

  (Photo by Bill Hunt c 2011.)

God is Sovereign and not under man’s control; although, man appears to have a difficult time believing this.

One man told how the Lord called him by name vocally from sleep early on three successive mornings. He rose, prayed prostrate, and repented before him. On the third morning, as he prayed in repentance, he suddenly experienced a spinning, cannon-like ball aflame with hundreds of tongues of fire shooting towards him. 

 

The white light surrounding the cannon ball was so intense, even his spiritual eyes blacked out from looking directly at the center of the vision. His vision was brighter than the morning sun.

Tongues of fire spun off as the cannon ball came through his body, mind, and spirit. This caused a Pentecost explosion of incredible joy through his whole being. He knew instantly he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Soon after, he began to pray in the heavenly language, the gift of tongues.

Everyone experiences this indwelling 

 

of the Spirit in a unique and personal way.

The initial gift of tongues at the baptism of the Holy Spirit is received from God in a very personal way. The more you walk with God in your life, the more you realize you cannot “put God in a box.” You can not insist he work in some dogmatic way man determines.

One pretty young wife simply sat up in bed to pray in the middle of the night, opened her mouth, and prayed in tongues for the first time in her life. Her amazed, unbelieving husband next to her also awoke from his sleep and listened.

The way to receive the Holy Spirit is to repent wholly before God and yield to Him. He is the one who gives the gift! The Spirit cannot be forced, simply invited.

God’s love is so personal.

Jesus meets each person’s need in an individual way. Every one of us is totally unique and special to the heart of God. No two people are treated in the same way. The love of the Father is too wonderful to fathom.

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you!” (1 Cor 14:18 NIV).

This is a KEY to the use of tongues, the comment the Apostle Paul made in his epistle. If Paul spoke in tongues more than anyone, does this not indicate it must have some significant value? Most theologians refer to it as the least of the spiritual gifts. But Paul indicates its importance. 

 

Tongues is seen at the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit first in Jerusalem at Pentecost, Acts 2:4, then in Caesarea, Acts 10:46, and then in Ephesus, Acts 19:6.

Other manifestations are seen as well at the Spirit’s second visitation in Jerusalem, Acts 4:31, the indwelling at Samaria, Acts 8:17, and Paul’s infilling in Damascus, Acts 9:17.

What is the true value of the gift of tongues? Why did Paul pray so much in tongues? There must be more to this amazing gift.

--Bill Hunt

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Power of Tongues to Peter and Paul

Q. What were the fruits of Paul’s baptism in the Holy Spirit? In

the people of Caesarea and Ephesus, what was the evidence 

of the indwelling Holy Spirit?

The Vision of Jesus Knocks Paul Off His Horse!

  (Art by Caravaggio, 1600)

Paul found himself blind for three days. This gripped him at his shocking conversion of the vision of Jesus on the road to DAMASCUS. This evidence marked the reality of his experience. Quickly, God sent a disciple named Ananias to the home of Judas on Straight Street to restore Paul’s sight.

v17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17 NIV).

God sent Ananias to baptize Paul in the Holy Spirit. At this filling of the Holy Spirit, something like scales fell off Paul’s blind eyes and he could see again. He got up healed, was immediately baptized with water as well, ate some food, and regained his physical strength.

As the fruit of his baptism in the Spirit, Paul began to preach Jesus is the Messiah in the synagogues of Damascus. The fruit of Paul’s indwelling of the Holy Spirit was his healing from blindness and his immediate response to the call of preaching. Saul amazed the Jews in Damascus as he eloquently preached Jesus is the Messiah.

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more

than all of you” (! Cor 14:18 NIV).

Paul later expressed his tremendous, personal prayer life in the Spirit, which supported his amazing public ministry.

In the seacoast town of Joppa, Peter the apostle experienced a powerful vision from God which led him to visit the home of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, in CAESAREA. The carrying of the gospel to the Samaritans, who were relatives to the Jews, was one thing, but this incident marked the carrying of the gospel to the pagan occupation forces, the Romans.

In the vision, God told Peter not to call any meat unclean. Peter was shocked! God so indicated that salvation was for others than believing Jews alone.

v34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35 NIV).

When he arrived at the home of Cornelius, Peter found a large gathering of people assembled to hear him, and he began to preach the gospel to the pagans assembled.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 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” (Acts 10:44-46 NIV).

Peter then baptized the new believers with water, whereas they initially received the indwelling Holy Spirit after hearing and believing the gospel. The Holy Spirit demonstrated profoundly he would come on believers when and where and indeed, on whom, he selected. Tongues with praise was an outward sign of the powerful indwelling of the divine Holy Spirit.

Peter was taught a personal lesson; he learned the equivalent of the modern adage that “One can’t put God in a box.” You can’t limit God or what he will do by your own religious beliefs, dogmas, and doctrines. No one has an exclusive corner on God.

Paul, on his missionary journeys to the Greeks and Jews, visited a small community of believers in the city of EPHESUS. There he searched for evidence of the Holy Spirit among the people.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when

you believed?” he asked them.

“No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit,” what the men replied, many religious Christians could well say today. They explained they were baptized only with the baptism of John the Baptist.

“On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all (Acts 19:2-7).”

Paul continued to preach in Ephesus for some two years. Through his diligent preaching and the accompanying miracles and healings, in spite of the persecutions, Ephesus became a strong Christian center for years to come.

The fruit of the indwelling Spirit powerfully manifested in Peter and Paul's lives, teachings, and ministries for Jesus.

--Bill Hunt

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True Tongues a Spiritual Gift

Is the gift of tongues of the mind or a gift of the Spirit? Is this gift cognitional or personally experiential? Tongues was first openly heard in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Was it also heard when Phillip, Peter, and John ministered in Samaria? 

 

“Variety of Tongues Like Rays of Light”

(Variety of Tongues from the same Spirit,

like Rays of Light from the same Sun.

Photo by Bill Hunt © 2011.)

When I don't know what or how to pray, the gift of tongues becomes a treasure working in my spirit (Rom 8:26). The Holy Spirit prays within me according to the mind of God.

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than

all of you” (1 Cor 14:18 NIV), said the Apostle Paul.

Telling someone about a gift of the Holy Spirit who has not experienced it is really like trying to tell someone about true love. Love is not first cognitional, of the mind, although it involves the intellect. Primarily, it is experiential, or we could say, of the heart. Love must first be experienced to be understood!

When your listener first hears of love, he will accept it on faith, reject it for lack of experience, or misinterpret it with his own limited knowledge. He could even build a defense of religious doctrine about himself to protect his unbelief. But man’s doctrine never rules God’s reality.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and

today and forever (Heb 13:8 NIV).”

That is one reason God’s supreme command of love must first be lived by the believing disciple who attempts to witness the gospel. Conviction, faith, and experience are the works of the Holy Spirit. The believing disciple has no place to condemn another for his ignorance, but for the grace of God he would be in the same condition.

The witness must exercise patience, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. So it is with attempting to witness the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit, for, as disciples, we are indeed called to witness truth.

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 
   

“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what
  

we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20 NIV).

 

In JERUSALEM, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit poured himself on the church in tongues of fire to each of the 120 disciples assembled in earnest prayer.

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in other tongues,

as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4 NKJV).”

The initial baptism of the Holy Spirit is often marked by a foreign languages not known to the speaker or by glossolalia (spiritual sounds). In my case, as a linguist I recognized Indonesian, although it was not otherwise spoken by me. One thing I know, the true gift of tongues is not taught by men, but a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit.

A similar outpouring happened again to the Jerusalem believers a few days later.

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 NKJV).

Missionaries told of a Japanese prayer group praying in tongues regularly followed by healings and miracles. Years ago, I prayed in a home prayer group with Tulsa Christian Fellowship, where starting in tongues was regularly followed by answered prayers.

As the church began to spread, Peter and John followed Phillip into SAMARIA to minister this baptism of the Holy Spirit to the new converts there.

“Then they laid hands on them, and they

received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17 NKJV).

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Gal 6:8 NKJV).

As scripture theologians report, the amazing thing was the original language of the Bible implies Simon heard some kind of utterance that caused him enthusiastically and mistakenly to want to buy this gift with money.

Peter rebuked Simon.

At the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Samaritans, Simon, himself, enthusiastically responded when he heard this utterance coming from his fellow new believers. In fact, he was so intrigued by it, he was mistakenly ready to buy it.

“You have neither part nor portion in this matter ((utterance)), for your heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:21 NKJV).

The word for “matter” is the Greek “logos” meaning “word” or “kind of speaking” or “kind of utterance.” So Simon’s hearing of this “speaking” at the baptism of the Holy Spirit caused an enthusiastic response in this now former “clever wizard,” highly regarded in the region. And Simon, as a result, repented of his mercenary response.

We fault Simon, but the truth appears, people today hear tongues or see healings or miracles or other manifestations of the Holy Spirit and are far more reluctant to believe or to obtain them!

“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:39-40 NKJV).

--Bill Hunt

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