40-Bible Teachings about Tongues - KJV

1. The Following Points Should Be Carefully Noted When Considering the Gift of Tongues.

the Gift of Tongues Was and Is a Spiritual Gift Addressing the Need for Communication in a Real Language in Order to Break the Language Barrier and Communicate the Gospel and Authentic Truth.

Acts 2:4-8 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. [6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

2. The Word "Glossalalia" Means Languages.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

3. Acts Chapters 2, 10, and 19, Contain the Only Three Mentions of Tongues. In Each Instance, People of Other Language Groups Are Present. In Other Words, the Gift of Tongues Was Present for the Sake of Those Who Would Benefit by Hearing the Gospel in Their Mother Tongue.

In Acts 2, Tongues Are.
Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

4. In Acts 10, Cornelius and His Household Upon Accepting Jesus Spoke in Tongues.
Peter was a Jew. Cornelius was a Greek. Cornelius spoke in a real language which Peter understood. This confirmed in Peter's mind the reality of Cornelius' conversion.

 5. Cornelius Received the Same Gift the Disciples Received.
Acts 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Every time the Bible mentions tongues in Acts there is more than one language group present.

 6. The Corinthian Church Was Paul's Problem Church. In Corinth, Paul Attempted to Control the Abuse of the Genuine Gift. He Set Forth the Following Guidelines.
1 Corinthians 14:27 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.

1 Corinthians 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

7. Paul Was Appealing for Intelligent Communication.
1 Corinthians 14:9 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.

1 Corinthians 14:19 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.

8. The Holy Spirit Interprets Our Prayers into the Language of Heaven, Interceding for Us at God's Throne.
Romans 8:26 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.

Since the Holy Spirit translates our prayers, it is unnecessary to speak a language we do not understand.

 9. The Highest Faculty That God Has Given to Each of Us Is Our Mind.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

It is dangerous to allow any power, to control our mind. The mind is the seat of intelligence. It is with the mind that we worship God. Any form of worship which bypasses the mind can become emotional manipulation.

 10. Tongues Is Only One of the Spiritual Gifts. It Is Not the Sign of the Infilling of the Holy Spirit. Witnessing Is a Sign of the Infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:6-8 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [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.

11. The Purpose of All the Gifts of the Spirit Is to Strengthen the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

12. Not Everyone Receives Every Gift.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? [30] Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

13. As God Sees Fit, He Gives Gifts to Each Person for the Purpose of Furthering His Work.
1 Corinthians 12:6-11 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. [7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: [11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Next Bible Study: 41-The Bible's Longest Prophecy

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