I have had several questions lately on speaking in tongues, like is it biblical? Is it of the devil? Is it necessary for salvation? There has been a lot of speculation on this issue. I am going to give you my opinion based on my interpretation of scripture.
You should know that the view I hold is mainstream Pentecostal doctrine. No new revelation here, Folks. There are other views, but they aren't mainstream.
Let's cover the other views first. Is speaking in tongues of the devil? It is hard to dignify this question with a response because tongues is straight out of the Bible and we will get to the scriptures that prove it in a moment. No, speaking in tongues is not of the devil, though I am not opposed to the idea that there is a demonic counterfeit like there is for so many other things of God.
Less, how should I say it, 'offensive' to me is the question, "Didn't tongues cease with the death of the Apostles?" I don't think so, though many do. This school of thought is called 'Cessationism'. This is the position held by most protestant denominations today and they believe that all spiritual gifts like prophecy, healing, tongues, etc. ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age.
So first, why am I not a Cessationist? Because the book of Acts is our record of the early church and Acts is full of miraculous gifts, including tongues. I believe what the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God (including the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Let me just say here, if no one ever told me that they believe spiritual gifts ended with the Apostles, I would have no reason to think that there was anyone who believed that way. I can't find any indication in the Bible that miracles and spiritual gifts ceased. As a matter of fact, I see the contrary.
Joel 2:28-31 says:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Reading this passage, we can see that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which includes the miraculous gifts of visions and prophecy, is set squarely in the last days. I'm sure you caught that 'day of the LORD' reference.
Peter indicated that the last days started on the day of Pentecost when he said that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was what the prophet Joel spoke about:
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. Acts 2:14-16
Peter goes on to quote the passage from Joel that is included above.
We know that this prophecy was not completely fulfilled on the day of Pentecost because the sun wasn't darkened, no blood, no pillars of smoke. The Day of the Lord didn't happen right then.
This prophecy was like others that are layered, like the prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes. This prophecy from Daniel was fulfilled in the time of the Maccabees, but Jesus tells us to read Daniel if we want to know about the last days. This means that Antiochus was just a foreshadow of the Beast of Revelation 13. This is the same kind of thing. Peter tied this outpouring in Acts to the promise in Joel, which is actually set in our time.
Another reason I am not a cessationalist is the last statement made by Jesus in Mark 16:16, which says:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
This passage goes on to speak about healing as well. Please don't go into how the end of Mark was probably added on, etc. etc. etc. I trust God to preserve His word. Jesus said that believers would speak with other tongues so I believe it. Even if you don't, doesn't that statement warrant a little Bible study into the matter?
So, tongues...good ol' glossolalia...
There are those who believe that tongues are the evidence of salvation. I have dear friends that believe this way and they can hold their own in a debate on the matter.
I don't hold this view. I believe that a heartfelt belief and confession (Romans 10:9) is all it takes, though I believe that baptism in water is a command, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost (soon to be explained) is much encouraged. I don't think that if you dropped dead at the altar in the process of making your confession of faith, before water baptism or speaking in tongues, you miss heaven.
On the other end of the spectrum are those who believe you aren't filled with the Holy Spirit if you don't speak in tongues. I don't hold this belief either but I do lean more in this direction. Again I will give more details on this in a moment.
Now let's get into the three different types of tongues spoken about in the Bible. The first is what I call, "Classical Tongues." This is what happened on the day of Pentecost. The 120 that had gathered in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in the languages of the people that were gathered at Jerusalem for Pentecost. They glorified God and were understood by all those around in their native language.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his won language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein wee were born? Acts 2:4-7
I must say, even the most ardent cessationist might give you this one if you broke out in Swahili or something. What they don't realize is that this really does still happen, especially on the mission field. I have heard many stories where someone is speaking in a language they don't understand and they are prophesying in a language known by someone attending. This is usually the only kind of 'tongues' acknowledged by most Protestants, though they don't believe the gift remains.
It is also worth noting that this particular gift reverses the judgment at the Tower of Babel. God confounded the languages of the people involved in that project. They could no longer understand each other and the project was abandoned. The people were separated and spread abroad like God had told them to do in Genesis 1:28. Classical Tongues is a sign of restoration of the people to God and is for a sign for the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22)
The second type of tongues is covered in the book of 1 Corinthians and Paul had a lot to say about it. It is the Prophetic Tongues (my name for this gift) for the edification of the body.
There is a list of spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. They are:
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of Knowledge
- The Gift of Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Working Miracles
- Prophecy
- Discerning of Spirits
- Divers kinds of Tongues
- Interpretation of Tongues
The Bible says that each of these gifts is given by the Spirit and the Spirit gives the gifts as He will to whom He will. Just a side note here, Why would the Apostle Paul include this set of instructions, how to use these gifts in a proper way, if they were to die out with him? Just sayin'.
1 Corinthians 14: 26-29 tells us how an orderly church service incorporates the gifts of the Spirit into their service. It says:
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 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. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints.
Let's break this down a little. In the Corinthian Church, it was rather chaotic. Notice, everyone had something they wanted to say. They were talking over each other, prophesying here while another was giving a message in tongues over there, sometimes with no interpreter. Paul gave instructions for an orderly service. These instructions clearly gave a place for tongues and interpretation for the edification of the body if done in an orderly fashion.
Now to the most controversial type of tongues, the Prayer Language. I think the Bible actually says more about this type of tongues than the other two because it is mentioned in several epistles and even by different apostles.
I'm going to pull out a couple of verses and just tell you up front that they are the Baptist 'go to' verses as to why we shouldn't speak in tongues. Paul is talking about how the gift of prophecy is better for edifying the church. But, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. These verses validate tongues and will begin our study of the prayer language.
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. 1 Corinthians 14:2
This verse ties speaking 'in the spirit' to tongues and not just tongues, unknown tongues.
Paul goes on to say just a few verses past this to say, He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1 Corinthians 14:4). Edifying is building up. Here's the go to:
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. 1Corinthians 14:19
When I was a little girl attending a Baptist church, I asked my pastor why my best friend's church believed in tongues and we don't. My friend went to a Pentecostal Church of God, I think. The above verse is the one he gave me. That satisfied me for a while, but only a while.
Just a couple of verses more right here:
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all (1 Corinthians 14:18)
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39).
At the risk of redundancy, Paul spoke in tongues more than anyone in the Corinthian church (and we saw before that they spoke in tongues a lot) and he exhorts us not to forbid tongues.
Now let's zero in on the phrase 'in the spirit'. Paul said:
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. 1 Corinthians 14:15
Notice again that a distinction is made in praying with the understanding for what you are praying, and praying 'in the spirit' not knowing for what you are praying.
I think this pretty well covers Paul's teaching to the Corinthians, but can we find corroborating passages in other books? Why, yes we can. Now that we have established that the phrase 'in the spirit' is a colloquial term for tongues or prayer languages, let's look elsewhere.
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. Romans 8:26
I believe this verse refers to praying in the spirit. When we don't know how to pray...Pray in the spirit.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1
This verse indicates speech that is not known to men but to angels. The passage goes on to cover other gifts that mean nothing if not performed with love, or charity as is said in the King James translation.
I believe that praying in the spirit is part of our spiritual armor. Allow me to make my point. Most of us are familiar with the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:13-17, which says:
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
People tend to stop here and focus entirely on these verses when referring to the Armor of God. They don't seem to realize that the next verse is a continuation. It says:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
And the clincher, in case you doubt that praying in the spirit is edifying for you, look at Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Are you struggling with your faith? Pray in the spirit. Are you struggling with sin? Pray in the spirit. Do you want a stronger walk? Pray in the spirit.
I know this post is getting long but I feel it is necessary to explain the 'second work of grace' as we Pentecostals call it because this is how you get your prayer language.
In John 20:22, the Bible tells us about a scene between Jesus and the disciples.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto the, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
This verse occurs after the resurrection and, in my view, indicates that the disciples' salvation was now complete. The first act of grace was the infilling or indwelling of the Holy Spirit that happens at the moment of Salvation.
Later, in Acts 2:1-4 tells us that these saved people were gathered in the upper room when a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind came and filled the house. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This kind of thing happens over and over in Acts. People have hands laid upon them and they begin to speak with other tongues. I know that both salvational indwelling and the 'baptism' of the Holy Ghost often happens at the same time but isn't the same thing. But because this post is so long, I'm going to stop here.
I encourage you to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and when you receive it, I encourage you to pray often in the spirit building up your most holy faith. After all, the Bible tells us:
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. Acts 1:8
The Holy Ghost is power to be witnesses, power to be testimonies of God's greatness, and even power to be martyrs like the apostles and many in the early church.
If you have any questions or need prayer, please email areasoningtogether@gmail.com
Thank you for stopping by. God bless you and yours
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