TONGUES: Present Day Validity, Function, and Benefits

On Thu, 6 Apr 2000 17:15:06 "Clemens, Magdalen"<Clemens.Magdalen@mayo.edu>writes:

>Recently I had a friend ask me about speaking in tongues. She has an

>acquaintance that told her and showed her in the scriptures about how

>we should "not" speak in tongues.

>I believe that has to do with the gift of prophecy and giving a

>PROPHETIC message in tongues and that there is a need for interpretation for

>understanding the message.

Answer:

"... Forbid not to speak with tongues" [1 Cor 14:39]

MC continues:

>The scripture has to do with "it is better to speak

>with understanding than speak in the Spirit because NO ONE will understand".

Answer:

No man will understand without interpretation, however, the God Who gives the tongues understands, and the Lord edifies the speaker.

The question is, "When is it better not to speak in tongues?"

--It is when we are in the congregation, and one speaks in tongues when no one else is speaking, but yet that person has no interpretation. It would have been better for him not to speak out loud. Nothing was accomplished speaking aloud, other than edifying himself. The rest were not edified without an interpretation. He could have edified himself quietly without disturbing the flow of the service, and without trying to detract from the moving of the Spirit.

"Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret." [1 Cor 14:13]

We have to be gracious and merciful in all of this, because often the speaker in tongues is being dealt with mightily by the Spirit within him/herself and did not purpose to cause a distraction.

We also need to understand that it is NOT wrong to be OVERHEARD speaking in tongues without interpretation. It is MOTIVE that counts; That is:

1. Is the speaker purposing to be specifically heard by the congregation?

or on the other hand is he--

2. Just praising God in tongues unabashedly and unashamedly, which lends itself toward being overheard by others, without any reasonable expectation on the hearers' part of an interpretation to follow.

The first, without interpretation is wrong. The second is acceptable. There is a difference between purposing to be heard, and just being overheard. Satan would like us to be in continual fear of being simply overheard speaking in tongues. Don't get caught in his "religious"-appearing trap.

TONGUES versus PROPHECY

Generally, the interpretation of tongues should reflect conversation toward God from man, not conversation from God to man (prophecy). In the "public/congregational" tongue gift we do not necessarily "prophesy" in tongues: Tongues with interpretation equals NOT prophecy, but the BENEFITS of prophecy, i.e. edification, exhortation, and comfort, however:

When we are praying the will of the Father [which tongues surely entails as He gives this tongue], we are praying and blessing God prophetically, calling things which be not, as though they were. Therefore tongues can be prophecy, just as you see inspired prayers in the Bible which is Itself the Word of Prophecy.

So there need be no division amongst Pentecostals as to whether the interpretation reflects man talking to God, or whether it is God talking to man. However, the PRIVATE "prayer" tongue needs no interpretation. Whether it is ever interpretted in private to the prayer-warrior is a matter of conjecture, but all things are possible with God. God reveals secrets and mysteries to His prophetic people.

MC continues:

>But this individual told my friend that for anyone who speaks in tongues that the

>Word says not to speak in tongues which no one will understand.

>I would like to explain to her the difference with scriptural backing. Just

>to have her see the scriptures and pray and meditate and let the Holy Spirit

>reveal to her the Truth. Can you help me?

>MC

Answer:

There was no interpretation in Acts 19:6 or in Acts 10:46. Even in the famous verses in Acts 2:4-11 where the tongues were understood, yet the people who spoke in tongues did not know BEFORE THEY SPOKE in tongues that they would be understood. In Ac 19, Ac 10, and Ac 2 the people spoke in tongues freely and joyfully because they knew by the Spirit that the sudden new manifestation was from God, caused by God, and pleasing to Him for the furthering of His glory into all the earth. We can have the same blessed discernment regarding other "controversial" manifestations of the Spirit, when questions arise.

Ten Benefits when speaking in tongues:

1. The wonderful works of God are spoken [Ac 2:11]

2. It is a sign to unbelievers [Ac 2:7,8,12; 1 Cor 14:22]

3. The speaker edifies him/herself [1 Cor 14:4]

4. ... Edifies others when interpreted [1 Cor 14:5] "... EXCEPT he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."

5. It builds one up on the holy faith [Jude 20] "... Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." SEE #6 below for basic Bible definition of praying in the Spirit.

6. One prays when speaking in tongues. "... If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth" [1 Cor 14:14]

7. When speaking in tongues we "sing" i.e. praise God [1 Cor 14:15]

8. When speaking in tongues we "bless" [1 Cor 14:16]

9. When speaking in tongues we "give thanks well" [1 Cor 14:17]

10. When speaking in tongues we speak not unto men, but unto God [1 Cor 14:5; 28] We all need to talk more often to God, don't we?

Paul thanked God that he spoke in tongues. He said, "I would that ye all spake with tongues ..." [1 Cor 14:5] This is GOD speaking through Paul. This is God's desire,

not just Paul's whim, or the Spirit of the Lord would not have recorded those words in Scripture. In addition to tongues, the Lord wants us to prophesy. Tongues is the first step toward prophecy. If you can't be trusted with tongues, you cannot be trusted with prophecy, since prophecy is much easier to falsify. Tongues builds up your faith to receive other gifts.

Charismatic gifts are to remain until Jesus returns:

"So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.'' [1 Cor 1:7]

The critics' favorite verses:

"... Prophecies, they shall fail; ... tongues, they shall cease; ... knowledge, it shall vanish away." [1 Cor 13:8-10] "We know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

They say the PERFECT Bible "is come", so tongues have ceased.

Addressing the error of their logic:

No doubt the Bible is perfect, but which version, which edition, and which language? It is still in the process of "coming" each time it is newly published in another language. Thus, the Bible has not fully arrived yet in some quarters. Tongues are still needed as a sign to confirm the Word wherever the Word is being preached for the first time:

Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues"

Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following"

When the Bible says, "when that which is perfect is come," it is referring to the return or the DAY of the Lord Jesus Christ:

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the PERFECT DAY, [Proverbs 4:18] the ushering in of His perfect reign and rule.

Eph.4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith ... unto a perfect man"

Knowledge hasn't vanished, in fact the Bible says knowledge will increase until the end--

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE shall be increased." [Dan 12:4]

If knowledge hasn't yet vanished, but is instead on the increase, then tongues have not ceased either, and are likewise increasing as God increases the manifestation of His glory in the earth through the vehicle of tongues, word of knowledge, revelation knowledge, prophecy, etcetera.

And The testimony: "How and Why ALL Can Speak in Unknown Tongues!"

Also: "One Hundred Benefits / Reasons for Speaking in Unknown Tongues"

Other related articles of interest:

The spirit of Pharisees

Experiences in the Spirit

Manifestations of the Spirit

Pentacostal quotes by Wesley, etc.

How to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit

Need for Tongues<>The Least of Gifts?

More Holy Laughter<>Pharisee's Fiery Fate

TONGUES: Present Day Validity, Function, and Benefits

web site manager

HOME