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THE GIFT OF TONGUES

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES?

According to I Corinthians 12, two of the gifts the Holy Spirit distributes to individuals within the church is the gift of "tongues" and the interpretation of tongues. By the Greek definition as well as by common terminology, the gift of tongues is a language that is not acquired by "natural means" (i.e. by studying and memorizing).

Both tongues and interpretation are often called "Gifts of utterance." (I Corinthians 1:5 and II Corinthians 8:7) Along with prophecy, these three gifts have to do with our mouths being used for the glory of God as a means of verbalizing and communicating the ideas and emotions of God.

Tongues and interpretation of tongues are gifts we are told to seek. (I Corinthians 14:1) They are two of the gifts that will manifest themselves as each person grows in the Lord, into maturity and "Christ-likeness." (Talked about under "Gifts of the Holy Spirit.) They are also gifts that Jesus Himself said would follow believers. Mark 16:17)

Tongues (or any other gift for that matter) may not actually be acquired until we reach heaven, but that is not a reason not to seek them here on earth. After all, we do pray "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

People who do not have the gift of tongues cannot understand what it's true value is until they have experienced it themselves and used it according to the will of God. Even then, those who have the gift don't really understand how it works so powerfully. So it stands to reason that those who do not possess the gift wouldn't understand at all.

PURPOSE OF TONGUES

There are four purposes for the gift of tongues.

1. As evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

2. For private use (which I will call a prayer language)

3. For the public assembly

4. The "office"

AS EVIDENCE

On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples began to speak in tongues, they knew they were being "filled with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:4) They knew it was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32. (Acts 2:16-21)

When Peter preached the Gospel to the household of Cornelius, the gift of tongues was a sign to him and to all the circumcised believers who had come with him that God had broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. They were amazed "because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God." (Acts 10:45,46)

Paul knew that the believers in Ephesus not only understood the difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism, but that the Holy Spirit had come on them when they began to speak with tongues and prophesy. (Acts 19:1-6)

Tongues is not the exclusive sign given as evidence, nor is it always given. But it is an evidence nevertheless.

PRIVATE USE

According to I Corinthians 14:4, the gift of tongues provides edification for the speaker. Verse 14 explains why. "If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." Since our relationship with God is of a spiritual nature, it stands to reason then, that possessing and using one's prayer language would cultivate intimacy with the Lord because you are praying directly to God in the Spirit. As our spirit draws closer to God, body and soul are brought closer also with the end result being a unity with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that is not dependent on our physical circumstances or our understanding. See I Corinthians 2:7-16. This is because "the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16)

This is one of the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 13:11) (I Corinthians 14:2) Jesus commanded, "God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

This is the worship that puts no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)

It is an aid to being "strengthened with power through His (Jesus') Spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Praying in a prayer language works in conjunction with building ourselves up on the most holy faith and keeping ourselves in the love of God. (Jude 20,21)

I have experienced this aspect of tongues in my own life. Following is an example.

One day, when our three boys were still preschoolers, I was very upset about something. By evening I was fit to be tied - so upset as to be distressed and angry. (At this time, Gary was working nights and sleeping days so I was very much alone.) After bedding the children down for the night, I paced the floor. Finally, I sat myself down in a rocking chair and declared, "God, something has to happen here. I've tried quoting scripture, speaking positively, and other forms of mental gymnastics all day and nothing's happened. So, I'm going to just sit here in this chair and pray in the Spirit until You do something about my attitude. I'm going to stay here for as long as it takes so it's up to You how quickly You work. If my attitude isn't right by morning, You're just going to have to find someone else to take care of the kids because I'm not leaving this chair until my stinking attitude changes!"

So I sat there, rocking vigorously back and forth, back and forth, gripping the arms of the chair, praying in tongues "fast and furious." Two hours later, I realized my prayer language had become quiet and praiseful, my rocking was gentle, and my spirit was peaceful. I also had a godly attitude concerning whatever had upset me in the first place.

This is not only a good example of the power of praying in tongues but how this gift of the Holy Spirit is used in conjunction with and as an aid to the fruit of the Spirit. It is also an example of how the gift of tongues provides a way to give thanks to God "well." (I Corinthians 14:17a)

By "practicing" or getting in the habit of praying in a prayer language habitually until you get to the point of thinking in tongues without realizing you are, you truly "pray without ceasing." (I Thessalonians 5:17)

Though I hate the word "practice" used in this context, I don't know of a better one to use. The point you want to come to is to pray in your prayer language as routinely as breathing.

When a friend first gave me this goal, I asked the Lord how I was to achieve it. God told me He wanted me to begin by praying in tongues for two hours every day. Before I had a chance to gasp, He quickly added, "Not all at once. Just take advantage of little moments, when you're washing dishes, driving the car, walking to the mail box. Let these moments add up to two hours."

I was amazed how easily two hours of prayer a day were possible. A side affect I hadn't counted on was that I began to think in tongues. It was like the natural progression of learning a language. At first you stumble, having to remember what you are doing, until eventually even your thinking can be in that language. It wasn't too long 'till I was able to think in tongues and talk in English at the same time though I have always had to remind myself to do this.

Using the gift of tongues privately is a tremendous aid when we don't know either what to pray for or how to pray if we do know the situation. Since praying in the Spirit is a gift of God, not something "worked up" or put together by us, we can rest assured that our prayers are on target. (Romans 8:26) See also "How Tongues Can Be Checked."

FOR THE PUBLIC ASSEMBLY

Scripture is full of advice on how the gift of tongues is to be used when groups of people are together. A public assembly would be defined by Matthew 18:20 as two or three people gathered together in the name of Jesus. We must be careful to follow Colossians 4:6.

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."

The 14th chapter of I Corinthians is full of advice and commands on the use of spiritual gifts in a public assembly. In fact, it is the only place in scripture where we are given a pattern for public worship.

Paul stresses that any type of speech in any public assembly is to be for the edification of others. (I Corinthians 14:12) For this reason, praying in tongues is to be accompanied by the gift of interpretation of tongues. (vs. 13) The two gifts used together are then able to speak to the people by way of revelation, of knowledge, of prophecy, or of teaching. (vs.5-6) They are then to be judged by the prophets just as prophecy is to be judged. (vs.29-32)

The purpose of tongues in a public assembly is for a sign to unbelievers and to believers who are unversed in the use of spiritual gifts. (vs. 22-25) A road sign is a medium for attracting attention to something, whether it be an intersection or a particular restaurant.

In the same way, when the gift of tongues is given in a public assembly and accompanied (as commanded) with an interpretation, it becomes another form of prophesy which (by simple definition, is "speaking forth the words of God). It gets the attention of the people and conviction takes place as the secrets of hearts are disclosed. The end result is that people fall on their faces and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. (vs. 22-25)

The outcome then is that none of the gifts of the Spirit are to be barred from a public assembly of worship. It is good, even desirable for all to speak in tongues (vs. 5, 37), but only two or three people are to give a message in tongues during any one service (vs.27). When a message in tongues is given, there is to be an interpretation immediately following. (vs. 27) If there is no one in the assembly with the known gift of interpretation, the speaker is to either keep silent (vs. 28) or pray that he, himself, may interpret. (vs. 13)

There may be praying as well as singing in tongues. (vs. 15) All things are to be done for edification (vs. 26), properly and in an orderly manner (vs. 40) but these purposes are not to be used as an excuse to forbid speaking in tongues. (vs. 39)

THE OFFICE

According to I Corinthians 12:28-30, many of the gifts are also offices. As such, not everyone in the body of Christ will possess the gift of tongues or interpretation of tongues as an office.

An office may be defined here as the primary way all the gifts and fruit of the Spirit are used by a person for the benefit of the church.

Though my primary gift is prophecy, I do not currently hold the office of prophet in the church. (I have in the past.) Although I have always done a lot of one-on-one with individuals, the primary way the gifts of the Spirit have worked for the benefit of the body through me has been through my teaching. This is confirmed by not only the results in the lives of those who have sat in my classes, but by the opportunities God has given me to teach. This has changed over the course of my life, but during those times of intense teaching I’ve filled the office of teacher.

In the same way, offices of tongues and interpretation of tongues are held by individuals who are regularly used by God to exercise the gift in the public assembly. They are people we can turn to when the Holy Spirit wants to speak through a tongue or when we need an interpretation.

HOW TONGUES CAN BE CHECKED

An individual with the gift of tongues can and should check him/herself regularly as to the manner in which they use their God-given gift. "As servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God...it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." (I Corinthians 4:1,2) Answering the following questions can help a person evaluate the use of his/her gift:

1. Are you growing in your love for God and man? If the use of the gift of tongues does not cause love for God and others to grow in the heart, it is not being used properly. If the use of the gift (or any other gift) is not carried out according to the criteria of I Corinthians 13, repentance must take place.

2. Is your spirit being edified? The gift of tongues, properly used should draw one closer to God. (I Corinthians 14:4) As you pray in the Spirit, you will feel God's Spirit bearing witness to your spirit (Romans 8:16) resulting in personal edification. It will be like therapy to your soul, to your inner self.

3. Does it help you praise God more fully? The gift on tongues is to be used for prayer, singing, blessing, and the giving of thanks. (I Corinthians 14:14-17) In both Old and New Testaments, scripture is very clear that prayer and praise usher us into the presence of God where there is fullness of joy, resulting is true praise and worship.

4. Does it increase your understanding and knowledge of spiritual things? If I Corinthians 14:13 is followed regularly, even in private, understanding and knowledge of God's will and workings will increase.

5. When one prays in the Spirit, it is appropriate to ask God for an interpretation. He will either give you a verbatim interpretation or His response back. That response may be the edification you feel within yourself, the praise you feel toward God, or deeper understanding, knowledge or insight into a given situation or person. These various responses would obviously be according to how God used the gift of tongues in you at a given point in time.

For example: One time I just felt the leading of the Lord to sit down and pray in tongues. I did so until the "leading" lifted. I then asked God, "What was that all about?" His response was a very simple, "You were praying for __________. You've done what I wanted you to do, now go to bed." I giggled to myself all the way to bed because I had a sneaking suspicion that if God had told me exactly what I'd prayed about, I'd have been tempted to gossip about it.

RECEIVING THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION

When a person is saved, the next step is to ask for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. If both these steps have been fulfilled and you still have not received the gift of tongues, and are feeling a real need and desire for the gift, it is probably because the Spirit is wanting a release. There are several ways to receive the gift of tongues. (Similar to how to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit)

One way is to ask others to pray for you as a way to combine their faith with your own in encouragement. This method requires a certain amount of courage on your part and the ability to focus on the Lord without getting on a "performance" level with your friends.

Another way to receive a tongue is to get alone with God and ask Him to shine His spotlight of truth on your life. Take as long as necessary to get cleaned out and 'fessed up before God. Then ask God to give you the gift of tongues your spirit desires.

He has said that we don't receive what we ask for sometimes because we ask amiss. Turn that around and you also see that it's a promise. You won't receive if you ask amiss so you can ask with assurance that you won't get a tongue from Satan. He will not give you a stone in place of bread.

Then just open your mouth and start speaking. It may sound like gobbly-gook to you at first, but keep on until your spirit bears witness with God's Spirit, and you know that you now have a prayer language from God.

It's that simple.