PART 7 TONGUES

Have you been able to formulate a more solid perspective on the subject of TONGUES than you had before you read this study?

PART 7 TONGUES

Tongue Tied

This was quite a study. I never really understood the intricacies of this topic until now. I can truly say that I understand why there is such disparity or disagreement from church to church on this particular topic. From believing that none of the gifts of the Spirit are operative, to believing that some of the gifts are operative, to believing that all of the gifts are operative are quite different perspectives. To hear from different churches that no one speaks in the gift of tongues, that some might speak in the gift of tongues, and that every believer should speak in a tongue called prayer tongues can be quite confusing. To have been taught what the meaning is of the Baptism of the Spirit, and then to hear there is a different meaning can be even more confusing. And then to be told by another believer that there is a tongue called a prayer tongue, which is used as evidence of the Baptism (filling) of the Spirit, thereby indicating who is saved can be too much to handle.

The only thing that has helped me to sort all this out in regard to my own spiritual walk is to have engaged in this study. Now that I did, I have a clearer understanding as to the Biblical views on Tongues, and have come to a much surer footing as to what to believe. I hope this has also taken place in your life. The only other thing to say is that it is very difficult for any of us to change our views on any Biblical topic. If we have been faithful to a particular church, then we probably have been indoctrinated to believe the views that church sets forth. When someone comes along, like me, and says let’s take a look at this topic from another perspective, I’m sure that this is viewed by some as being heretical, especially to those, who believe that their theology is God’s final version.

I wonder what you think of me now, after you have read this study?

My hope for you is that you have been fully informed on this particular topic and are able to formulate a more solid perspective on it than you had before you read this book. There have been and will be times when I have attended a church other than the one I am now attending and I have not and probably will not always agree with everything that is taught. However, I have learned not to be shocked or aggravated, because this is the norm which I have come to expect.

So, what am I looking for when I attend a different assembly?

Whether I agree with everything that is being taught? No, not at all.

I will put what I am looking for in the form of these questions.

Am I getting to know God in a more personal way?

Am I learning how to address my areas of human weakness or strength?

Am I learning how to put off the old man, the person who I used to be, and put on the new man whom I have now become in Christ?

Am I learning how to have my mind renewed?

Am I learning how to recognize the prompting of the Spirit?

Am I learning how to recognize the gift or gifts of the Spirit that has been given to me?

Am I learning how to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

In other words, does God show up, and am I focused on what the apostle Paul was focused on when he said, that he wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering.

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Before we close this study, I want to leave you with a summary for you to use as a reference in respect to the Baptism of the Spirit as to whether it refers to the indwelling Spirit and the subsequent speaking in the gift of tongues or whether the Baptism of the Spirit refers to the filling (power) and the subsequent speaking in prayer tongues, which serves as evidence of salvation.

Hopefully, after you have read this summary you will be better prepared to answer the following questions for yourself.

Does the Baptism of the Spirit refer to the indwelling or filling (power)?

Is there such a thing as prayer tongues?

Are the tongues expressed in prayer the gift of tongues or prayer tongues?

Should every believer speak in prayer tongues as evidence of their salvation?

The Baptism of the Spirit Means the Indwelling of the Spirit

�-�The disciples received the indwelling and the filling of the Spirit simultaneously at Pentecost.
�-�Acts 1:8 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.

�-�Sometimes in the early church even though an unbeliever repented and believed in Christ, they might not have received the indwelling Spirit. When this happened some of the apostles were sent to lay hands on them in order for them to receive the indwelling of the Spirit.
�-�Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

�-�The filling of the Spirit can be rendered inoperative because of the committing of sin (mental, verbal, or overt) by the believer.
�-�Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
�-�Recovery of the filling of the Spirit occurs when the believer confesses known sin to God the Father.
�-�1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

�-�The apostle Paul said that if he exercised the gift of tongues for himself only without an interpreter during group prayer, he would receive personal edification, as any believer would when they exercised any gift of the Spirit. However, in this case the understanding of what the Spirit wants to convey is not able to be grasped by the speaker and hearers without an interpreter. Therefore, the gift of tongues should only be exercised when an interpreter is present for the edification of the church.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:14-17 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

�-�The laying on of hands is not the pre-requisite for receiving the indwelling Spirit.
�-�Acts 10:44, 46 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

�-�The gift of tongues should be exercised in order to edify the church. When any gift is exercised there will be a sense of personal edification. However, before the gift of tongues is exercised make sure there is an interpreter so that both the speaker and hearers may be edified by the understanding of what the Spirit wants to communicate.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
�-�In the early church, sometimes the new believers received the gift of tongues and expressed it under the prompting of the Spirit not only to confirm (prove) the truth and divine origin of the words, which were spoken by the apostles, but also to authenticate that they were sent by Christ.
�-�Mark 16:17, 20 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall theycast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

�-�There are no such tongues as prayer tongues. However, there is a gift of the Spirit called the gift of tongues, which can be exercised during: corporate prayer, music, worship service, etc. as long as there is someone who has the accompanying gift of the Spirit, called the gift of the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:15

�-�When a believer is filled with the Spirit at salvation this doesn’t mean they will evidence the gift of tongues, because this gift is not given to every believer.
�-�1 Corinthians 12:8-10 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:

�-�Following salvation, the basis for a believer being filled with the Spirit is not in the speaking in the gift of tongues, but by having their mind renewed. To have one’s mind renewed means to memorize and meditate upon the new thoughts that relate to the new person, who we have become at salvation.
�-�Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
�-�Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

�-�It is the fruit (e.g. a divine love, a divine joy, a divine peace, etc.) of the Spirit that evidences the filling of the Spirit and not a prayer tongue.
�-�The receiving of any gift of the Spirit is one of the many spiritual benefits a believer receives at salvation. Some believers will receive the gift of tongues and others will not.
�-�Evidence of a person’s salvation to others is Godly fruit.
�-�John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
�-�Evidence of a person’s salvation to God is the indwelling Holy Spirit.
�-�1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

The Baptism of the Spirit Means the Filling (Power) of the Spirit

�-�The disciples received the indwelling Spirit before Pentecost.
�-�John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them (apostles), and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
�-�They were baptized (filled) with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
�-�Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

�-�If after a person has received the indwelling Spirit and there is no speaking forth in prayer tongues, then the believer has not been baptized (filled) with the Spirit. In this case, some of the apostles were sent to lay hands on them in order for them to receive the filling (power) of the Spirit and speak forth in prayer tongues.
�-�Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

�-�The speaking in prayer tongues recovers the Baptism (filling) of the Spirit.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;…

�-�When a believer exercises prayer tongues in their spirit during private prayer, they will speak mysteries (things not obvious to the understanding) to God.
�-�1 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.

�-�In some instances, both the indwelling and filling occurred simultaneously with the accompaniment of the believer speaking in prayer tongues. When this was not the case, then the laying on of hands will take place at a later time in order for the believer to receive and evidence the speaking in prayer tongues and thus confirm their salvation.
�-�Acts 10:44, 46 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

�-�Prayer tongues are used by a believer: for personal edification; in order to communicate with God; and for Spirit directed prayers. In most cases, what is expressed is unknown to the speaker, but known by God.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:2, 4a, 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.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

�-�There is a classification of tongues such as: prayer tongues, singing tongues, etc.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

�-�Every believer should eventually speak in prayer tongues, which is the evidence that they have been filled with the Spirit.
�-�Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

�-�When a believer speaks in prayer tongues this activates the filling (power) of the Spirit, and as such they will be: edified; able to communicate with God; and be able to pray Spirit-directed prayers even though they will have no knowledge of what is being conveyed.
�-�1 Corinthians 14:2, 4a, 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.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

�-�The speaking in prayer tongues evidences the power (filling) of the Spirit, which evidences the indwelling of the Spirit. In other words, the speaking in prayer tongues is the evidence that a person is saved.
�-�Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Thank you for reading about the Biblical topic of Tongues. I hope this has given you a fuller understanding of this topic and the confidence to talk about it with other believers. GOD BLESS!