Unveiling the Truth About Speaking in Tongues: a Fresh Perspective for Today’s Christians

The Apostle Paul made an undeniable statement: he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than anybody and everybody. Do we believe that he was speaking concerning only his own time in history?

What about the Church today? How about in our own private prayer lives with the Heavenly Father? Why wouldn’t we want to speak in tongues like it was one of the most important aspects of our Christian lives? Shouldn’t we all speak in tongues? Well let’s take a fresh look, shall we?

   ” I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:” (I Corinthian 14:18)

 Speaking In Tongues to some Christians is perhaps the most misunderstood of the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit written about in 1 Corinthians 12;7-10. The reason so many Christians do not understand its importance within their lives, as well as within the Church today, is due mostly to wrong teaching—and sometimes—to incorrect application. We believe that the Bible teaches the revealed Word and will of God:  our source for right doctrine and truth. Let’s look together at this manifestation, or “evidence” of the spirit, speaking in tongues, with a fresh outlook and perspective, much like those in Berea did. For the Scriptures state that they at Berea received the Word of God with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.

   The questions for the Christian today are: Did this ability (as some teach) and manifestation of the “gift” of the holy spirit disappear when the apostles died? Was this ability only available during a previous brief time in history and now is lost to us? And if speaking in tongues is not available today, are all the other manifestations of the gift of the holy spirit also unavailable to us?

   I’m sure you would agree that the apostles all spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost. Further, that the Apostle Paul (according to I Corinthians 14:18) said, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.” So the question for the present day Christian believer is, not did they speak in tongues, but should we? Is it still valid? Beyond that, is there a benefit to do this today, and, have we been instructed by the Lord to do so? Positively, we all wish to do those things which are pleasing to Him.

   Over 700 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning speaking in tongues and its future use within the Church today.

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 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. (Isaiah 28:11-12)

If we look through the New Covenant, we see a number of verses that specifically reference speaking in tongues. They illuminate at least eleven benefits to the Christian man or woman.

• It edifies your spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 1:20)
• You are speaking “divine secrets” with God. (1 Corinthians 14:2) 
• You are speaking the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:11) 
• It magnifies God. (Acts 10:46) 
• It’s praying perfectly. (Romans 8:26-27) 
• It’s giving thanks well. (1 Corinthians 14:17) 
• It’s God’s Spirit bearing witness with our spirit. (Romans 8:16) 
• It’s knowing you are a joint heir with Christ. (Romans 8:17) 
• It strengthens you with might in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16) 
• It’s a sign to uninstructed believers. (1 Corinthians 14:22 & Mark 16:17) 
• It gives rest to your soul. (1 Corinthians 14:21; Isaiah 28:11-12) 

If speaking in tongues was truly instituted by God to be utilized in our private prayer life, and within the worship service of the Church today (speaking in tongues with interpretation), why do so many churches today throw a veil of disrespect over speaking in tongues, as though it was born of some evil influence?

   Or, is the ability to speak in tongues given by God in our time to every Christian believer when they are born again? Is it a refreshing rest to the believer? Does God provide for us to speak with Him directly (spirit to Spirit) by way of this manifestation? And if so, do we know how to properly utilize its power and benefit? I’m sure that as we look at the Scriptures, we will receive our answer.

Our Initial Perception

   Outside of the church, for some, a worldly view of speaking in tongues comes by way of a convoluted association of images: people with heads thrown back, muttering nonsense and finally tumbling or throwing themselves onto the floor as they are slain in the spirit. This picture is mostly derived from movies designed to discredit God and His Word. Furthermore, being slain in the spirit (losing control of yourself) is being possessed by devil spirits. God never takes control of your free will. Never, not once in the Scriptures does God control any man in such a way—only our enemy does that. Godly worship is to be done decently and in order. In other words, it is to be done with edification and comfort; no weirdness, oddities or quirky peculiarities—making you feel strange.  Within a worship service, speaking in tongues with interpretation, or prophecy is to edify (build up) the church, the body of Christ present.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God… (Acts 10:46)

   Finally, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ foretold of the ability to speak in tongues, which would be made available after the day of Pentecost had finally come.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name [Jesus Christ] shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

   Certainly, it is worth our time to look further into speaking in tongues, the first of the nine manifestations (or evidence) of the spirit.

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice (evil) be ye children, but in understanding be men. 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. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1Corinthians 14:20-22)

Clearly, as Paul instructs the believers at Corinth, he is quoting Isaiah in reference to speaking in tongues. The refreshing ‘rest to a believer’ is also a sign [sēmeion], a token of remarkable events soon to occur. Additionally, speaking in tongues is a sign [sēmeion] of the finished and completed work of Jesus Christ upon the cross at Cavalry. It points to our value and status as sons, recreated and reestablished in him.

   Let’s look at the first record of what happened when the disciples received the “gift” of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, in Acts 2:1.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they [the twelve apostles] were all with one accord in one place [the temple]. (Acts 2:1)

   With one accord (purpose) they were together at one place. And not to let this slip by: the day of Pentecost had been coming from the moment man fell and lost his spirit in the garden of Eden over 2,000 years before. Some believe that the disciples were in the upper room. However, that is not possible. You cannot fit a multitude in the upper room where the apostles stayed. They were in the Court of the Gentiles within the temple, during the Feast of Weeks, on the day of Pentecost. Many devout men from Israel were gathered from around the country during this feast.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4)

   Translated more accurately, [pnoē] is not the wind, but the breath. This agrees with what Jesus instructed the apostles to do before his ascension in John 20:22. You might ask, is it possible that they could have received the gift from the Holy Spirit at that time? No, it is not; Jesus was instructing them of the gift to come, the gift that would not be available until the day of Pentecost.

And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22)

This was instruction or foreshadowing as to how this would be made available. As we see in Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost comes 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 previous instruction occurred precisely before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. Pentecost was the first record of the Church receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, the power from on high. It marks a change in the administration of God’s grace to mankind allowing all to once again be spiritually connected to Him, this time as sons of God by the new birth. Clearly, the first act to take place was that God placed His holy spirit within them and they all spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.

   It is important to note that they (the disciples) were doing the speaking. It is a free will act of believing God, and, as we shall see as we continue, it was normally the first manifestation received by a new Christian. That’s not to say that some Christians (throughout their lives) never utilize this manifestation. Nevertheless, until the gathering together, we will see that it is a part of God’s gift to be utilized now! The idea that we no longer have the ability, to utilize the full gift of the Holy Spirit is an out-and-out lie, perpetrated by the god of this world to keep the believer weak and ineffective. It’s akin to walking onto the field of battle—without armor and weapons. You and I are not to be ignorant; in contrast, we are to be filled with all the power of God—not weak, but strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We must refuse to be talked out of what God has promised us in His Word, no matter what the source. The Word of God must be our standard, not the word of men.

   Speaking in tongues is a sign indicative of a completed work—the completed work which our Lord and Savior achieved on our behalf. And not to get ahead of ourselves. Further, it is positive proof to you, in the realm of the five senses, that you are filled with pneuma hagion, the gift of holy spirit from the Holy Spirit, God the giver.

God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

In the first century church, the normal response to being saved was to speak in tongues immediately. The disciples who received the gift on the day of Pentecost all received, and all were filled. They did the speaking, as the Spirit [the pneuma] gave them the words. But it’s important to note that Judeans by religion were the only ones who received the gift at that time, and the twelve apostles were all Galileans. Let’s look now at the first outpouring of the gift of holy spirit upon the Gentiles.

Please look at Acts Chapter 10.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band], [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. (Act 10:1-3)

   Here we have a Gentile (a Gentile was anyone who was not Judean by religion), an Italian soldier who loved God, prayed fervently, and gave of his finances to help God’s people. God thought so much of Cornelius that He sent an angel to help Cornelius become connected to Himself. As Cornelius’s men went to fetch Peter, Peter went to the rooftop at Simon the Tanner’s house and began to pray as well. Look how God so beautifully worked in this situation to teach Peter, at just the right moment, that He was going to give the gift of the holy spirit to anyone who desired it—Jews and Gentiles alike. 

   When Peter arrived at Cornelius’s house and perceived that God was no respecter of persons (meaning that now everyone was invited to join the family of God as children), the holy spirit fell upon them which heard the Word. The Judeans present heard the Gentiles speak with tongues, magnifying God. In record after record, we will see that the normal course of events in the first-century church was that as a man or a woman was born again and received the gift of the holy spirit within. That he or she spoke in tongues right then and there.

   Peter was a Judean and had no intention, nor thought, of bringing the Gentiles into the fellowship of Israel. Speaking in tongues was proof to all of them, in the physical world, that these Gentiles, too, had entered into fellowship with those of Israel. And still, it took some time before the fullness of the mystery of the one body of Christ jelled for the believers of their time. The gift of holy spirit, made available first on the day of Pentecost, made you and me complete in Christ – as he became the head of all principality and power.