Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Please notice they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them the utterance. The word all here is very important, because people confuse this tongues with the gift of tongues. Remember the were all filled and they all spoke in other tongues.

 

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:10 To 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:

 

There is a difference between the apple tree and the apples. You must have the apple tree to have the apples. There is also a difference between the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost. As with the apple tree and apples, you must have the Holy Ghost to have the gifts. When a person receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost they will all speak in tongues, but this does not mean all have the gift of tongues.

 

Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Please notice one of the signs of the believer. Jesus said they shall speak with new tongues. Even though they were more than tongues as a sign of a believer I want to stay on lesson. Remember God is a spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. You can't see the Holy Ghost when someone receives it, but you can see or hear the evidence of the Spirit. Again on the day of Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.

 

Act 10:45 And 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. Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

How did Peter know that they received the Holy Ghost? In verse 46 it said for they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Not only that but Peter said, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we. What happen when Peter received the Holy Ghost? he spoke in tongues Acts 2:1-4 That is why he was able to know Cornelius and his house hold received the baptism.

 

Now concerning the other tongues as mention in the Bible.

 

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

 

The apostle Paul was letting us know that he would pray with the spirit and his understanding, plus sing in the spirit and with his understanding. This is very important in our Christian walk to pray with the spirit. This is when we will pray in tongues. We can pray with our understandings but that is not good enough.

 

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

 

Notice it said we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Also building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. When we pray in tongues or in the Spirit we are building up our faith. The Spirit of God will make intercession for us.

 

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 

Here is one of the number one verse used to try to prove tongues isn't for today. Notice it said, whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Ministers will try to point out using this verse saying see here, tongues will cease. However I challenge their thinking to read the rest of the verse. Whether there be KNOWLEDGE it shall vanish away. If tongues are gone than so is knowledge. Who would dare say we have no longer knowledge? Plus we need to read the more of Corinthians chapter 13 to understand what this is talking about.

 

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 

When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. I honestly believe this is talking about the return of Jesus Christ back to earth to rapture the church. I believe when we go to heaven there will no more need to praying in the Spirit or prophecy. The Spirit won't have to make intercession for us anymore because we are already in heaven. Even if I am wrong , the scriptures in First Corinthians doesn't support the ideal tongues is not for today. Remember if tongues and prophecy has failed or cease, than knowledge also is gone.

 

1Co 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

 

The apostle Paul said he thank God he spoke with tongues more than ye all. He was happy he spoke in tongues. He also said yet in church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach also. Which gets me back to the beginning of this lessons. When the minister spoke in tongues while preaching in my chat room he didn't do anything wrong. He was preaching and teaching us the word of God. The message was awesome. When he spoke in tongues it was more of a rejoicing or prayer and not a message for the church. If he had stopped his message and started speaking in tongues as a message for the church he would have been out of order without an interpreter.

 

1Co 14:27 If 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. 1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

 

You must remember the tongues here is the gift of tongues. When this gift is used there must be an interpreter or they are to keep silent or speak to himself or God. However to pray or sing in the Spirit doesn't need an interpreter.

 

1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 

I like this scripture very well because it shows me that everyone should be involved with the church service and not only the ministers. Let everyone have a psalm (song) doctrine, tongue, and revelation. If you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost God has given gifts to all. That is why it's important to come together in unity. While in church one may have the gift of healing, another gift of tongues, while someone else may have the gift of interpretation. Everyone is important with God and to be used in the ministry of Christ.

 

Final thoughts.

 

Everyone that receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost will speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. This is the initial sign that someone has been born again of the Spirit. Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues is different than the gifts of tongues. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 1Co 12:10 To 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: To pray or sing in the spirit needs no interpretation. Just because a person prays in tongues doesn't mean he or she is out of order. I do believe though we must use wisdom while in church or with unbelievers. When a person stands up in church and speaks with divers kinds of tongues as a message for the church there must be an interpretation.