WHY TONGUES
Now when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them cloven tongues as of fire, and one sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts, Chapter 2, Verses 1-4.
Speaking in Tongues was the first physical evidence that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on believers. The Disciples had obeyed Jesus and gathered together in the Upper Room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus told the Disciples to “tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with Power from on High.” The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room was the first recorded incident where men spoke in unknown tongues.
I do not wish to over emphasize the importance of speaking in tongues. There are some people in Pentecostal circles who place too much emphasis on speaking in Tongues and forget there are other gifts of the Spirit which are important. Although tongues are an important gift of the Holy Spirit, there are eight other gifts of the Spirit which are important. According to the Apostle Paul, prophecy is more important than tongues. However, many Pentecostal churches focus more on tongues than they do prophecy. Each gift of the Spirit has a purpose; and when we use these gifts properly the WHOLE BODY will be edified.
Speaking in tongues is mentioned 35 times in Scripture. It is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. Many people do not understand WHY speaking in tongues is important so they disregard its virtues. If we study the Scriptures with an open mind we will come to understand that speaking in tongues is an important gift of the Spirit. Every believer should earnestly desire to “speak in tongues” so they can commune with God on a more personal level.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, but have not love, I have become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 1.
The Apostle Paul says there are two basic types of supernatural gifts which deal with the gift of tongues. One is the” tongues of men” the other is the” tongues of Angels.”
Many Bible Scholars believe the “tongues of Angels” or the language spoken in Heaven is Hebrew. The other tongues spoken of in the Bible called the “tongues of men” are the many different languages spoken by different Nations and ethnic groups. All unkown tongues or unlearned languages are foreign to those who may be speaking them.
Unknown or unlearned tongues are given to us as a sign for non-believers. When the Disciples began speaking in unknown tongues after the Outpouring in the Upper Room, men from other Nations were amazed to hear them speaking in each of their languages. These tongues were a supernatural sign to the unbelievers that God was speaking to them through the Disciples who were not multi-lingual. Each of the unbelievers heard the Disciples speaking to them “the wonderful works of God” in their own language. Acts, Chapter 2, Verses 5-12.
TONGUES EDIFY
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the Church. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verse 4.
The word “edify” in this Scripture comes from the Greek word “okiodomeo” which means to “refresh,” “build up,” or “charge up.” In other words, speaking in tongues helps to strengthen and recharge our spirit man.
For with stammering lips and another TONGUE He will speak to His people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, And “this is the refreshing.” Yet they would not hear. Isaiah, Chapter 28, Verses 11-12.
Tongues are meant to refresh our spirit and build up our faith. Tongues can give us both spiritual and natural rest when we are spiritually and/or naturally weary. Many times when I have a problem sleeping I pray in my prayer language and soon I fall asleep
We must realize that there are many other virtues besides tongues which also help us in our daily walk with Christ. There are other signs and wonders which are manifestations of the Spirit of God which helps us draw men to Christ, including healings and miracles.
POWER FROM ON HIGH
I do not wish to minimize or magnify the importance or BLESSING of speaking in tongues. However, Jesus did not tell the Disciples to “tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with “tongues from on High,” but with POWER from on High. Jesus gives us the POWER to believe and receive. He gives us the ABILITY to heal the sick, raise the dead, and yes, to “speak with other tongues.” Jesus gives us POWER to do the “greater works.” Jesus also gives us POWER to tread on serpents, scorpions and POWER over all the works of the enemy. Jesus gives us POWER to become the Sons of God. Through the POWER of His Name we can set the captives free and bring souls into the Kingdom of God. On the day of Pentecost 3000 souls were added to the Church because God’s people were “endued with POWER from on High.” God’s POWER which was displayed on the Day of Pentecost is still available to believers today. All we have to do to experience POWER FROM ON HIGH is to ask God to baptize us with the Holy Spirit.
Today we need a Outpouring of Pentecost. The initial Outpouring of the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. The POWER of God was poured out by the Holy Spirit upon His people in the Upper Room. For those who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we do not need TONGUES OF FIRE to fall on us. Many of us have already experienced and possess that virtue. However, we do need a new infilling of a greater PENTECOSTAL POWER in order to fulfill the command of God to heal the sick, raise the dead and perform mighty signs and wonders in His Name.
Although many believers do not speak in tongues, the Church as a whole needs a new resurgence of the POWER which ALL the 120 believers experienced in the Upper Room. If we are going to fulfill the call of God on our life and proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Nations, with signs and wonders following, we need to experience God’s WONDER WORKING POWER through a new PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE.