Have you ever felt a deep longing to connect with something greater than yourself? Do you crave a spiritual experience that transcends the limits of language and logic? If so, then partnering with the Holy Spirit through the gift of tongues may hold the key to unlocking a realm of divine communication and understanding beyond imagination. We will explore how to partner with Holy Spirit and activate this unique gift, demystify its purpose, and discover how it can revolutionize your spiritual journey.
Kingdom Way Church – https://KingdomWay.ca is our church in Edmonton, Alberta. Watch us live at https://KWay.live Sundays at 10:00 AM Mountain time. Watch Video on Demand at https://Kway.tv Connect and learn more at https://MyKWC.ca
Notes on Holy Spirit: Using the Gift of Tongues
Good morning, Church. I am delighted to have each one of you here, and I appreciate those who are joining us online live or at a later time. I have spent some time watching some of my sermons online. Some of them feel like they were just yesterday, but in reality, it has been over a decade since we started uploading our sermons online. What I can see is that God is saying the same thing to me today as He was speaking to me 11 years ago. It makes sense. God doesn’t change.
It even extends beyond me. I was watching a video of Oral Roberts from 1954. He was prophesying about many of the things we are facing right now, a large part of these things God has been sharing with me in 2024. I’ll share with you at the conclusion of this message… so stick with me!
On this long weekend before many people take some much-deserved time off, Shirley & I will be away the first three Sundays in July. Pray for us! Rest and refocus are my desires.
But today we want to continue in our series “Partnering with the Holy Spirit” where we are going to tackle the topic of the Gifts of Tongues and Interpretations.
The Gift of Tongues
The gift of tongues is probably one of the most rejected gifts of all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It has been embraced by many, but many more openly reject the gift. They will usually acknowledge the Gift in Biblical times but are quite adamant that God does not give it out today. There are full-length books and websites dedicated to disparaging the gift of tongues.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if it is simply that and not from God, what value does it have for everyone else? Just saying!
Why is there such opposition by self-proclaimed Christians to the gift of tongues? What is it about the gift that some Christians are so worked up about dismissing it, some even coming to the point of recognizing a demonic tongue but not accepting a tongue given by the Holy Spirit?
Fourteen facts about the gift of tongues:
Even with verses like 1 Corinthians 14:39:
1 Corinthians 14:39 NASB95 39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
Fact #1: We should not forbid speaking in tongues.
Yet many mainstream denominations do exactly that! Why is it such a threat to them?
For me, the gift of tongues has been a source of strength and power since I was a child. I first spoke in tongues when I was 9 years old. It happened right after I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and I’ve enjoyed it daily for almost four decades. I’m dumbfounded when I hear people who say they are Christians and yet present such opposition to a gift that has blessed me so much.
But let’s seek out the scripture and see what the Bible has to say about the gift of the Holy Spirit that is speaking in tongues.
Let’s begin by defining the Gift of Tongues:
The Gift of Speaking in Tongues Definition: Speaking in an unlearned language that is either earthly or heavenly.
Fact #2a: There are Various Kinds of Tongues.
Various Kinds of tongues… This is where many skeptics get caught up. They believe there is only one type of tongue, specifically the type used in Acts 2, which was in the languages of the people who were there so they could hear the Gospel in their own language. When they hear someone speaking today in a tongue that doesn’t line up with another earthly language, they use that as evidence to discount it.
This fact is affirmed in 1 Corinthians 12:28:
1 Corinthians 12:28 NASB95 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
Fact #2b: Some tongues are the languages of men, and some tongues are the languages of Angels.
1 Corinthians 13:1 NASB95 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Fact #3: The gift of tongues must be operated in Love.
1 Corinthians 13:1 NASB95 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Without operating in Love, the gift of tongues is just noise to the listeners.
Fact #4: Those who believe will speak in tongues.
Mark 16:17–18 NASB95 17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Please know some Christians find these verses offensive. But these are Jesus’s words so let’s get over it and embrace what He’s teaching us. I don’t have time to go into this verse in detail; I already did in a previous sermon.
It’s clear from verse 17; speaking in a new tongue is a sign of those who believe – not my words but Jesus’s. We see the fulfillment of this when the Holy Spirit birthed the Church on the day of Pentecost.
Fact #5: Many examples in scripture show that when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin speaking in tongues.
Acts 2:4 NASB95 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 10:45–48 NASB95 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
In this passage, we see Jewish believers amazed that Gentiles were also filled with the Holy Spirit. How did they know? What was it that tipped them off? They heard them speaking with tongues and exalting God!
Acts 19:6 NASB95 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
It’s normal in the New Testament; when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit, they speak in tongues. There may be an exception to the rule in Acts 4:31:
Acts 4:31 NASB95 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
This is the one time where people are filled, and we are not told they speak in tongues; instead, they “speak the word with Boldness.” But the people being referred to here are those who had already been baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
Well, let me give you some backstory:
The Church in Corinth was experiencing an explosion of gifts released by the Holy Spirit. Everyone was so extremely excited to use their gifts, but their jubilance resulted in disorder. Paul intended to bring order back to their services together. Please notice he never told them to stop but instead taught them to do it in an orderly productive manner.
Fact #6: Not every Christian will speak in tongues.
Understanding Fact 4 that those who believe will speak in tongues, there are suggestions in 1 Corinthians that not everyone speaks in tongues specifically:
1 Corinthians 12:30 NASB95 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Paul is asking a rhetorical question. The expected answer is “No.” But Fact #2 may play a role in this apparent contradiction between believers and those operating the gift in Church.
Jesus may be referring to the kind of gift used privately, and Paul is definitely referring to the public use of this gift; more on this later.
Fact #7: The gift of Speaking in Tongues will cease to operate.
1 Corinthians 13:8 NASB95 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
The question is when will this occur? The skeptic of the Gift of tongues will say when the canonization of Scripture occurred or after the first Apostle Died; but those are hypotheses without any scriptural backing. It’s often when scripture is twisted to fit their opinion rather than scripture forming their opinion. I know a time when we won’t require the gift of speaking in tongues any longer – when we are in heaven!
The portion of scripture that has much to say about the operation of the Gift of Speaking in Tongues is found in 1 Corinthians 14.
Fact #8: Speaking in tongues is to God not Men.
1 Corinthians 14:2 NASB95 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
Fact #9: Speaking in tongues edifies oneself.
1 Corinthians 14:4 NASB95 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
Fact #10: Prophecy is better than tongues unless it’s interpreted.
1 Corinthians 14:5 NASB95 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues unless he interprets so that the church may receive edifying.
Prophecy edifies the entire body; Tongues edify the speaker… when it’s interpreted, the Body is also edified.
1 Corinthians 14:6 NASB95 6 But now brethren if I come to you speaking in tongues what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
1 Corinthians 14:9–13 NASB95 9 So also you unless you utter by tongue speech that is clear how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into air. 10 There are perhaps a great many kinds languages in world and no kind without meaning. 11 If then I do not know meaning language I will be one who speaks barbarian and one who speaks barbarian me. 12 So also you since zealous spiritual gifts seek abound edification church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks tongue pray that he may interpret.
Fact #11: When you Speak in tongues its your spirit praying not your mind
1 Corinthians 14:14 NASB95 14 For if I pray in a tongue my spirit prays but my mind unfruitful.
Fact #12 You can also sing in tongues as well as speak
1 Corinthians 14:15 NASB95 15 What outcome then? I pray with spirit and I will pray with mind also; I sing with spirit and I will sing with mind also
Fact #13 Paul Spoke in tongues more than all them Corinth
1 Corinthians 14:18–19 NASB95 18 I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however church desire speak five words mind so instruct others also rather than ten thousand words tongue
When did he do this? In His private time Prayer one kind Tongues is corporate worship should interpreted but another kind tongues personal prayer time Praying mind spirit
Fact #14 Tongues sign unbelievers
1 Corinthians 14:22–23 NASB95 22 So then tongues sign not those believe unbelievers prophecy sign not unbelievers those believe. 23 Therefore whole church assembles together all speak tongues ungifted men unbelievers enter will they not say mad?
Paul appears be contraction here. Tongues definitely sign believers we see Pentecost Where Apostles 1st believers spoke languages people could hear understand but then goes say tongues confuse ungifted unbeliever
believe paul referring here verse everyone speaking tongues unbeliever comes church. They want get out fast possible won’t understand He referring corporate gift operation where appears Church Corinth using person kind tongues corporate setting That believe Paul trying correct here
Fact #15 Tongues regular part us gathering together
1 Corinthians 14:26–27 NASB95 26 What outcome then brethren? When assemble each one psalm teaching revelation tongue interpretation Let things done edification 27 anyone speaks tongue should two most three each turn must interpret;
Corporate kind Tongues limited 2 or 3 should interpreted benefit Body this instituted bring order Chaos jubilant operation gifts Holy Spirit Corinthian congregation
The Gift Interpreting Tongues
def ability translate unknown language given corporate setting edification Body Christ We’ve covered most usage looked gift speaking tongues gift interpretation simply interprets spoken tongue language understood people hear tongue
A word given interpretation old language understood person
I want to share a prophetic word for you
I know since I’ve done this but God gave word parts may be pertinent for you
God spoke these 5 things season currently Dramatic increase Godly dreams supplied by God seek after Him Angelic visitations imparting Protection Provision Peace challenges lay ahead Great healings miracles released unchurched take notice God increase passion disciple making within His Bride foundation established great “coming together” believers around globe
Let’s Pray
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