Speaking Of Tongues

 

About tongues, The Scripture for tongues, the foundation, early mention, Jesus referring to them, the disciples experiencing them in multiple places, Paul distinguishing their use in the assembly.

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Isaiah prophesied of a spiritual "rest" and tongues:

Isa. 28:11 by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;

12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give you rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

-Joel prophesied of the coming of the Spirit in Joel 2:28 Peter referred to Joel when he explained to a crowd what the believers had just experienced.

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Jesus said it was a sign of "them that believe. Mark 16:18

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When the Spirit came in Acts 2, ALL the disciples and apostles spoke in tongues.

When a crowd saw and heard the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Peter said "THIS IS THAT spoken by the prophet Joel, in Acts 2:17

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In Acts 10:44-48, the Jewish disciples knew the gentiles were converted and Spirit-filled "for they heard them speak with tongues.

((note: the gentiles there were of a family and friends, Romans. There was no crowd, nobody came to see what was happening like Acts 2.

Yet in Acts 11, Peter told the church at Jerusalem the gentiles received the Holy Spirit in "like manner" as the Jews on Pentecost.

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In Acts 19 a group of Ephesian proselytes of John the Baptist, to whom was preached that "He that comes after me... shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.."

This group of converts met Paul and Paul laid hands on them and the 12 men received Spirit baptism speaking in tongues and prophesying.

PRAYING IN TONGUES

I would point out that it is possible to learn other languages apart from God. I am bi-lingual having learned Spanish in my work life..

But when I pray and speak in tongues, it is not in Spanish. My prayer tongues is not understood by me as Paul said "when I pray in tongues my understanding is unfruitful".

1cor 14:2 For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but unto God; for no man understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also

The GIFT of tongues in the assembly:

Talking to a born-again assembly, not evangelizing the lost:

NOTE 1Cor 11:18 ====> For first of all, WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER IN THE CHURCH,<===== I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it............

SEE THE CONTEXT???

now we understand better what he is saying to the established saints:

1cor 12: 1 Now CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS <in the church assembly!>,

I would not have you ignorant. "given THROUGH THE SPIRIT", is not a learned language.

For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit:

9 to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit;

10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.

There in 1Cor 12 is the GIFT OF HEALING< MIRACLES, TONGUES, INTERPRETATION, .... "WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER"

If a church is not manifesting the least of those they have fallen short of the common experience of believers in the Bible, and word "THAT YOU COME BEHIND IN **NO GIFT*** until the coming of the Lord".

Now we can understand the "administration" for those "good and perfect gifts coming down from the Father.." (perfect meaning mature in Christ).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS, as functioning together as a body.:

1Cor 12:27 Now ye are THE BODY of Christ, and severally members thereof.

28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [divers] kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all [workers of] miracles?

30 have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 ==> But desire earnestly the greater gifts. <====

AND DO NOT FORBID TO SPEAK IN TONGUES. (1Cor 14:28

They can be imitated and parroted, but when a person is Spirit-baptized or renewed, they will usually speak with other tongues.

*warning:

There are churches and pastors that deny them and speak against that which God has given. Others will relegate them to human languages only. This is quickly disproved and overcome by believing the words Paul wrote as we believe the apostles and not those that reject the Word.