Spiritual Gifts #6 ~ Speaking in Tongues

Spiritual Gifts #6
Speaking in Tongues

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: 1 Corinthians 14, Acts 2:1-21,32-39, John 20:19-22
Where did it all start? Jn.20:19-22

In ver.22, when Jesus breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit,” that was when the Holy Spirit came into believers as He does today at salvation.
Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection teaching before Acts 1:9 where He ascended to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father.
Then His followers had 10 days of prayer.

Acts 2:1-21
V.1 Pentecost = 50 days after the Resurrection.
V.4 As the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. – Not from man but from God.
V.6 When this sound occurred – What sound? Ver.2

This was an international celebration with at least 15 different possible languages mentioned in ver.9-11. With this many different languages being spoken, I don’t think they came together (ver.6) because of the sound of tongues.

But when they came together they were amazed, knowing these people were Galileans (v.7) who were speaking in tongues they didn’t know.

It was such a supernatural event, v.12 “What can this mean?”

Notice in ver.16, Joel’s prophecy doesn’t say anything about tongues, yet it was evident to Peter this was part of being “filled.”
Ver.32-33
V.38 - 3 steps: 1. Repent 2. Be baptized (in water) 3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

V.39 This promise is to: You, Your children, all afar off, who the Lord calls.
This is to the whole human race, not just Jews, to all lands. For future generations to come. This is for you and me today.

When we have “received the promise of the Father” or the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” or have been “filled with the Holy Spirit,” you are filled with Him - the Holy Spirit. As a result, He can operate through you in any of the 9 manifestations of the Holy Spirit Paul talks about in 1Cor.12:7-10.

Speaking in tongues is a natural by-product of being “filled with the Spirit.”
This is Gary Wayne’s observation from my experience of 50 years.
Not everyone who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit does operate in all 9.
In other words – I have seen people operate in one gift and not others.
No tongues, but give words of wisdom or prophesy, etc.

Speaking in tongues is a multifunction tool – they have different uses / functions.

It is a prayer language I use to pray to God. 1Cor.14:2 I pray to God. Ver.14 my spirit prays. Ver.28
Abe Madinger – perfect prayer, it doesn’t go through my filters like speaking in my language.

It can be used as a message from God to the body in a 2 step process. Tongues & interpretation of tongues. 1Cor.14:27-28, 13

It is used to build yourself up. 1Cor14:4 tongues edifies the person. Jude 1:20 “…building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

use it to help kind of “sink” my heart / mind to God’s.
Heb 5:14 “…those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Spiritual warfare. Eph 6:11-18 After listing the armor of God, Paul includes ver.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (NIV) A VERRY NEEDED aspect of spiritual warfare.

When I don’t know how to pray.
Ro 8:26-27 “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. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Pastor, nothing seems to happen – I don’t speak in tongues.
You don’t seek the gift, you seek the Holy Spirit.
Ask for the gift, but focus on who He is.
My opinion is that too many people – on either side of the issue – are overly focused on speaking in tongues. Every time you have a private moment just simply ask again and then spend your time worshiping. DON’T Worry!

Some are waiting for the Holy Spirit to take over. A supernatural seizure kind of thing, where you become kind of "possessed" with the Holy Spirit taking control of your body - 1Co14:32 “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” You have "self-control".

In order to speak tongues, you have to “speak.”
My experience has been that having asked, people hear a syllable or phrase in their head – begin by simply saying it out loud.

How can / should tongues operate in a public setting?
1Cor.14:12, 26 To edify the church.
Ver.27 A message should only be repeated three times at the most.
Ver.39 DO NOT forbid speaking in tongues. Ver.40 Decently and in order.