40-Bible Teachings about Tongues - NKJ

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 Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them _utterance_. [5] And there were dwelling in _Jerusalem_ Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. [6] And when this sound occurred, the _multitude_ came together, and were confused, because _everyone_ heard them speak in his own language. [7] Then they were all amazed and _marveled_, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak _Galileans_? [8] And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

2. The Word "Glossalalia" Means Languages.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw _another_ angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the _everlasting_ gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, 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 is it that we hear, each in our own _language_ in _which_ we were born?

Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them _speaking_ in our own 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 If _therefore_ God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who 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 anyone speaks in a _tongue_, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one _interpret_.

1 Corinthians 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in _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 the _churches_ of the saints.

7. Paul Was Appealing for Intelligent Communication.
1 Corinthians 14:9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to _understand_, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be _speaking_ into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:19 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.

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 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.

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 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" [7] And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own _authority_. [8] But you shall _receive_ power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be _witnesses_ to Me in _Jerusalem_, and in all Judea and _Samaria_, and to the end of the earth."

11. The Purpose of All the Gifts of the Spirit Is to Strengthen the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for _spiritual_ gifts, let it be for the _edification_ of the church that you seek to excel.

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] Do all have gifts of _healings_? 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 activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. [7] But the _manifestation_ of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: [8] for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another _discerning_ of spirits, to another _different_ kinds of tongues, to another the _interpretation_ of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, _distributing_ to each one _individually_ as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the _members_, each one of them, in the body just as He _pleased_.

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

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