THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 37)

 How Important Is Speaking in Tongues? 

There is more to being filled with the Holy Ghost than speaking in tongues, but tongues are an integral and important part of receiving the Holy Ghost since they are the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Also, speaking in tongues is an integral part of the believer's devotional prayer life, for as the Apostle Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues . . ." (1 Cor. 14:18). I, too, can say with Paul, "I thank my God I speak with tongues." Have Tongues Been Done Away With? In the church world today many people say, "Tongues have been done away with, because the Bible says that tongues will cease." The Bible does say that one day tongues will cease, but that is not referring to this present church age. 

However, to try to prove that tongues have already ceased, these folks usually refer to First Corinthians 13:8-12: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-12 8 Charity [love] 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when THAT WHICH IS PERFECT is come, then THAT WHICH IS IN PART shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For NOW we SEE THROUGH A GLASS, darkly; but THEN FACE TO FACE: NOW I KNOW IN PART; but THEN SHALL I KNOW even as also I am known. These folks use verse 10 to try to prove that tongues have ceased, because they say the Bible is "that which is perfect" which has already come. 

They say that since we have the Bible in its complete form now, we no longer need "that which is in part" — which includes supernatural gifts (1 Cor. 13:10). Of course, the Bible is perfect, but our under-standing of the Bible certainly is not perfect. Therefore, until that which is perfect has come, we still "see through a glass darkly" in this life (1 Cor. 13:12). Hence, "that which is in part" (1 Cor. 13:10) has not ceased. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8 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. 

These folks who say tongues have ceased don't say anything about knowledge having vanished away (1 Cor. 13:8)! But if they are going to quote that verse, they need to quote the whole verse because it also says, ". . . whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it shall VANISH AWAY" (1 Cor. 13:8). Verse 10 says that when that which is perfect has come, we shall see face to face and not through a glass darkly. That's when prophecies, tongues, and knowledge shall "vanish away" and cease to exist; however, as I said, that is not in this Church Age. However, since it is quite evident that we still see through a glass darkly, it is also obvious that that which is perfect has not yet come. Hence, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge have not passed away or ceased to exist. Knowledge has not vanished away. Prophecies have not failed or ceased to exist, and, therefore, tongues have not ceased. 

However, one of these days, tongues will cease. In heaven there will be no necessity for tongues because that which is perfect will have come (1 Cor. 13:10). 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 2 For 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. Let's look at Moffatt's translation of First Corinthians 14:2. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 (Moffatt) 2 ... For he who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses God, not man; no one understands him; he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit. When we get to heaven, there won't be any more mysteries or secrets, so it won't be necessary to speak with tongues. As long as we are this side of heaven, however, tongues will not cease.

Are Tongues Available for All Believers? 

As we said before, there is more to being filled with the Holy Spirit than speaking in tongues; but speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are those who purport to believe in speaking in tongues but do not feel that tongues are necessary for all believers. However, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all those who believe (Acts 2:38,39); therefore, speaking in tongues as evidence of the Spirit's infilling is also for all those who believe. Those who say that speaking in tongues is not necessary for all believers use the scripture in First Corinthians 12:30 which says, ". . . do all speak with tongues?. . ." to prove their argument. However, one could take a part of a verse of Scripture, or even one entire verse of Scripture out of its setting and try to prove anything with it. But we have to read the entire context to see what the writer is talking about. 

To learn what Paul is talking about in First Corinthians 12:30, ". . . do all speak with tongues? . . ." we must read the entire context in First Corinthians chapter 12. Having done that, then let's look specifically at verses 27 through 30. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-30 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS...

                                                               ...To be continued

FFT: Speaking in tongue is still crucial and relevant today!

ACTION POINT: To access divine secrets, activate speaking in tongues by the Spirit.

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