40-Bible Teachings about Tongues - NIV

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 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [5] Now there were staying in _Jerusalem_ God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came _together_ in _bewilderment_, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. [7] _Utterly_ amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking _Galileans_? [8] Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

2. The Word "Glossalalia" Means Languages.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to _proclaim_ to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, _language_ 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 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own _native_ _language_?

Acts 2:11 (both Jews and _converts_ to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them _declaring_ the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

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 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus _Christ_, who was I to think that I could _oppose_ 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 anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and _someone_ must _interpret_.

1 Corinthians 14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the _church_ and speak to _himself_ and God.

1 Corinthians 14:32 The spirits of prophets are _subject_ to the _control_ of prophets.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of _disorder_ but of peace. As in all the _congregations_ of the saints,

7. Paul Was Appealing for Intelligent Communication.
1 Corinthians 14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak _intelligible_ words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be _speaking_ into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:19 But in the church I would rather speak five _intelligible_ words to instruct others than ten _thousand_ words in a tongue.

8. The Holy Spirit Interprets Our Prayers into the Language of Heaven, Interceding for Us at God's Throne.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself _intercedes_ for us with groans that words cannot _express_.

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 Your _attitude_ should be the same as that of _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 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" [7] He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own _authority_. [8] But you will _receive_ power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my _witnesses_ in _Jerusalem_, and in all Judea and _Samaria_, and to the ends of the earth."

11. The Purpose of All the Gifts of the Spirit Is to Strengthen the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have _spiritual_ gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the _church_.

12. Not Everyone Receives Every Gift.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work _miracles_? [30] Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in 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 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. [7] Now to each one the _manifestation_ of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of _knowledge_ by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another _miraculous_ powers, to another prophecy, to another _distinguishing_ between spirits, to another _speaking_ in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the _interpretation_ of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he _determines_.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has _arranged_ the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he _wanted_ them to be.

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

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