TONGUES

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Key Verses

  • And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues1; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18 NKJV
  • I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together 1 Corinthians 14:18 AMPC
Other versions
 
  • And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. Mark 16:17-18 AMPC

A Sign Of Receiving The Holy Spirit

  • And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately]. Acts 2:4 AMP 
  • And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying. Acts 19:6 AMP

Types of Tongues

1. Different Languages

  • And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately]… Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”Acts 2:4 AMP & Acts 2:7-11 BSB

2. Unknown Tongues

  • For one who speaks in an unknown tongue2 does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things]. 1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP
  • I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you 1 Corinthians 14:18 AMP

When Do You Receive Tongues?

After Water Baptism

  • Peter answered them, “Every one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. Acts 2:38 ISV
Exceptions have happened but those who got Tongues before baptism got baptised immediately afterwards. See below
 

  •  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles. For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked, Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Then they begged him to stay on there for some days. Acts 10:44-48 AMPC

How Do You Get Tongues?

1. Asking GOD

  • If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13 NKJV
Other versions
 
  • If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!” Luke 11:13 AMP

2. Laying on of hands

  • And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6 BSB
  • Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17 AMP
Other versions
 
  • And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying. Acts 19:6 AMP

Wonderfulness of Tongues

  • For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things]. 1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP
Other versions
 

To summarise, he who speaks in a tongue speaks to God! How wonderful is that? When we pray in words we may wonder whether God has heard us or not. With tongues we never have to doubt that as we are speaking directly to God.
Read: Prayer transforms us

Benefits

1. Builds up/Confirms/Emboldens/Concretes

  • He who speaks in a tongue edifies3 himself 1 Corinthians 14:4 NKJV
  • by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things]. 1 Corintians 14:2 AMP

  • But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit Jude 1:20 AMPC

Other versions
 
  • The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself 1 Corinthians 14:4 BSB
  • One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy]. 1 Corinthians 14:4 AMP
  • But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21 NKJV
Edifies = confirm, build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden, concretely
Tongues confirm: Are you wavering? Speak in tongues.

Tongues embolden: Do you lack boldness? Speak in tongues.

2. Rest & Refreshing

  • No, but [the Lord will teach the rebels in a more humiliating way] by men with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people [says Isaiah, and teach them His lessons]. To these [complaining Jews the Lord] had said, This is the true rest [the way to true comfort and happiness] that you shall give to the weary, and, This is the [true] refreshing—yet they would not listen [to His teaching]. Isaiah 28:11-12 AMPC 

See also

  • In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:21 NKJV

3. Mysteries

  • For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things]. 1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP

Other versions

  • For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].  1 Corinthians 14:2 AMPC
    Nothing is a mystery to GOD. GOD can reveal to us the meaning of the mysteries we speak in tongues. See below

    • But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and
      illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because
      they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. 1 Corinthians 2:14 AMP
    See examples

    • Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Daniel 2:19 ESV
    • The king answered Daniel and said, “Most certainly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery!” Daniel 2:47 AMP
    • And they said to him, “We have [each] dreamed [distinct] dreams and
      there is no one to interpret them.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not
      interpretations belong to God? Please tell me [your dreams].” Genesis 40:8 AMP

    Frequency Of Use

    Other versions

    • I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together 1 Corinthians 14:18 AMPC

    Implying that he was speaking in Tongues all the time. Possibly the secret of Paul’s spirituality and fruitfulness. If GOD uses others more than you, could it not be that they did something more than you that caught His attention?
    Read: No Favouritism

    Pray with Tongues & Words

    • I will pray with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand]. 1 Corinthians 14:15 AMP

    Pray with tongues alternating with words.  

    Algorithm

    Praying in Tongues –> Building of Faith –> Command (Power in Proclamation)

    • Tongues & Faith: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 20-21 NKJV

    • Faith & Command: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like4 a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. Luke 17:5-6 NASB 1995

    See also

    • The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself 1 Corinthians 14:4 BSB

    • And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked privately, Why could we not drive it out? He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:18-21 AMPC

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    Footnotes

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    1. 1100 γλῶσσα [GLW=SSA] {glōssa} \gloce-sah'\ of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.
    2. 1100 γλῶσσα [GLW=SSA] {glōssa} \gloce-sah'\ of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.
    3. 3618 οἰκοδομέω [OI)KODOME/W] {oikodoméō} \oy-kod-om-eh'-o\
      from the same as 3619; to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figuratively) confirm:--(be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.
      3619 οἰκοδομή [OI)KODOMH/] {oikodomḗ} \oy-kod-om-ay'\
      feminine (abstract) of a compound of 3624 and the base of 1430; architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:--building, edify(-ication, -ing).
    4. 5613 ὡς [W(S] {hōs} \hoce\ probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.