THE BENEFITS OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Over The course of the years speaking in tongues has become some what of a mystery to most Christians if not considered ridiculous. Some denominations believe it is not available to the Christian today, some believe there is no benefit to speaking in tongues while other denominations not only believe in speaking in tongues but go way beyond what would be considered sane behavior to the point that people are doing all manner of craziness while purportedly speaking in tongues. So, you see there is immeasurable confusion regarding the subject of speaking in tongues. With so much confusion perhaps it would be best to go back to the source on speaking in tongues and see what it really says. That source would be the Bible.
THE BENEFITS OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Over The course of the years speaking in tongues has become some what of a mystery to most Christians if not considered ridiculous. Some denominations believe it is not available to the Christian today, some believe there is no benefit to speaking in tongues while other denominations not only believe in speaking in tongues but go way beyond what would be considered sane behavior to the point that people are doing all manner of craziness while purportedly speaking in tongues. So, you see there is immeasurable confusion regarding the subject of speaking in tongues. With so much confusion perhaps it would be best to go back to the source on speaking in tongues and see what it really says. That source would be the Bible.
It seems funny to me, sitting here, thinking about the subject of speaking in tongues because there is so much opinion and so little understanding. It would be understandable if great writers from a certain era or age wrote regarding a subject and they had different view points. For example, the stock market crash of 1929 and the following depression was written about by many people with varying opinions as to what caused it, how it was handled by the Federal Government, what could have been done different to avoid the crisis etc.. But I have not seen that plethora of information regarding speaking in tongues. Nope! Only one book documents the first occurrences of speaking in tongues and explains it. All other works written by man are just opinions on what the original source says. Wouldn’t these men and women that are in leadership positions in the denominations of Christendom want to go to the fountain head of truth? Wouldn’t you as a member of these churches expect such? There is only one way to know what speaking in tongues truly is and that is by a diligent study of the Bible regarding speaking in tongues.
In Acts chapter two is the first record of speaking in tongues. It occurs on the Day of Pentecost. The twelve apostles were seated in the temple.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 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?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
That’s right! Speaking in tongues was something that God instituted and the men that heard it witnessed that they heard “the wonderful works of God.” In the next installment I will give you all the recorded accounts of speaking in tongues in the Bible. In this part I of speaking in tongues I want to focus on what the Bible (God’s Word) says are benefits of speaking in tongues.
I Corinthians 12: 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God (speaking in tongues) calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Of course! Since speaking in tongues is instituted by God then there would be no way speak in tongues would be speaking negative of His only begotten son. But, greater than that, when a person speaks in tongues they are testifying that Jesus is the Lord of their life.
Acts 10: 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Magnify means to enlarge or to make bigger in the eyes of the people.
Romans 8: 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17(a) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
Beareth witness with our spirit” means to testify jointly (Strong’s Concordance). There are nine evidences of the spirit, one of them is speaking in tongues. I Cor. 12:7-10. When we speak in tongues God bears witness that we are His children!
I Corinthians 14: 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
If you look at Acts chapter two you will notice that people understood the Apostles on the day of Pentecost but here in I Corinthians it says no man understands. How are these two verses reconciled? Easy! Did the Apostles know what they were saying? No they didn’t. They were unlearned men and spoke only one language. Other people could understand but the speaker, in this case the Apostles, never understand. If the person speaking did understand then he/she would be talking in a know language and that would then be forth telling prophesy.
“Mysteries” could, also, be interpreted “secrets” so, he who speaks in tongues speaks divine mysteries or divine secrets.
Acts:14: 4(a) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;
The word “edify” means to build up. Speaking in tongues builds up, spiritually, the one speaking.
I Corinthians 14: 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 28: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Put together these two verses show that speaking in tongues is a rest to the soul of a man or a woman.
I Corinthians 14: 22(a) 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers that there is power in the Church.
Speaking in tongues is never talked about derogatorily by God, never. Speaking in tongues is good for spiritually building up the person speaking. It is rest to the soul and it maginifies God. These are only a few of the benefits of speaking in tongues. We will examine more in the weeks to come. I do want to examine when speaking in tongues will no longer be available. To do that we have to look at I Corinthians chapter 13.
I Corinthians 13 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
When is the time when that “which is perfect” comes? It can only be when Jesus Christ returns for his Church and that has not happened, yet. So, speaking in tongues is still avaiable to those born again of God’s spirit. Rom. 10:9,10.
Speaking in tongues is still available AND since speaking in tongues is still available then ALL of the other manifestations of the holy spirit are available. Speaking in tongues truly is a sign that there is still power in the Church. That power that God instituted is designed to heal us and to make us more than conquerors in every situation.
