Tongues

Speaking in Tongues – An Explanation
By Diane Paley Davis

There are actually four different types of tongues, commonly referred to as “speaking in tongues.”

1. Initial evidence of Holy Ghost baptism

2. Devotional tongues - during personal prayer time and when worshipping

3. Tongues spoken when interceding in prayer for others (intercessory prayer)

4. Gift of Tongues - when God has a message to be delivered to a group that is assembled together. This is the only time when an interpreter must be present.

I will explain each type individually:

Evidence of Holy Ghost baptism

When we speak in tongues for the very first time, it is the outward evidence that the Spirit of God now dwells within us. The Book of Acts tells us this in the following verses:

Acts 2:2-4

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 8:18-19

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

(There had to have been an outward sign for Simon to know that they received the Holy Ghost at that time.)

Acts 10:44-46

44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

Acts 19:6.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Devotional tongues

As we grow in the Lord and draw closer to Him, we should pray in the Spirit for self-edification. When we pray in tongues, we don’t know what we are saying, but God knows. He knows our needs, and His Spirit gives us the utterance to say what we need to say. There is no need for interpretation here.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4

2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Tongues spoken during intercessory prayer

We also might pray in tongues during intercessory prayer. Sometimes, when we pray for somebody else’s need, we might not actually know what their need is. When we pray in the spirit, God gives us the words to pray. He knows exactly what they need. Again, no interpretation is needed.

Gift of tongues

Also referred to as “divers kinds of tongues,” it is one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

This is the ONLY time that when tongues is spoken an interpreter needs to be present. The purpose of the “Gift of Tongues” is for the edification of the group of believers who are assembled together.

1 Corinthians 14:12

12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the use of tongues, he was talking about spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:1

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

How the gift of tongues operates in the church today:

When God has a message for the whole congregation, one person receives the message to deliver in tongues (sometimes two or three, but they will speak one at a time). They speak out in a loud, clear voice. The rest of the people who are present somehow know (usually) to quiet down just before the message is delivered. One person (who possesses the gift of interpretation) subsequently delivers the interpretation of the message. This may or may not be the same person who delivered the message in tongues. (The reason why Paul wrote the Corinthian church about this subject is because the people there were abusing these gifts and causing confusion.)

1 Corinthians 14:27-28:

27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

When God uses those who possess these spiritual gifts, these people must step out in faith. On those occasions when God has used me in the gift of tongues, I had to speak out, believing that someone would interpret the message. On the few occasions when I also interpreted, God gave me only the first few words to speak at first. Upon speaking them out loud, several more words were given to me, and then the rest of the interpretation just flowed into my mind and out of my mouth. It is a most awesome experience!

Not all believers possess the gift of tongues, but all believers, in order to be saved, must have spoken in tongues at least once in their life as evidence of Holy Ghost baptism.

There is much controversy among different churches regarding tongues. Speaking in tongues is not something that “went out with the apostles,” as some churches teach. If that were true, why does God still give people the utterance today? And why would nearly an entire chapter of the Bible have been devoted to the use of the gift of tongues, were it not for us today? Tongues is not “of the devil,” as some say. When we speak in tongues, we magnify God, and we edify ourselves and the church. If God gives us the utterance, it comes from Heaven. Any church that forbids speaking in tongues is teaching a false doctrine. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Church: “… forbid not to speak with tongues.” (1 Corinthians 14:39).