Do all speak with tongues?

Did God give the gift of tongues to every believer? Many people in traditional churches believe the answer is NO. They use the verse fragment from 1 Corinthians 12:30 (do all speak with tongues?) to support their case. They also now have an excuse why they didn’t receive the gift of tongues and shouldn’t speak with tongues. After all:

• It’s not for everybody.
• I guess it’s just not my gift.
• If God wanted me to have tongues, then He would give me tongues.

Let’s take a closer look at this passage to see if that’s what it’s really saying.

1 Corinthians 12:28-30
²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

This verse has two lists, a list of ministries that God has appointed in the church, and a list of questions showing that not everybody gets each ministry. If we put the two lists side by side we gain some insight.

Number	Verse 28	Verses 29-30
1	First apostles,	Are all apostles?
2	Second prophets	Are all prophets?
3	Third teachers	Are all teachers?
4	After that miracles	Are all workers of miracles?
5	Then gifts of healings	Do all have gifts of healings?
6	Helps
7	Administrations
8	Varieties of tongues	Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Numbers 1-5 are on both sides and match well.
Numbers 6-7 “helps, administrations “, do not have a corresponding question.
Number 8 is quite different, and helps to explain the misunderstanding.

God appointed varieties of tongues in the church. And then He asked: Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

The word varieties implies there are many different types of tongues. And the question addresses only ONE of those many varieties. Do all speak in the variety of tongues which is to be followed by interpretation? The answer is NO. But what about the other varieties of tongues?

There are four varieties or diversities of tongues:

1. Tongues for the believer
2. Tongues for interpretation
3. Tongues as a sign to the unbeliever
4. Tongues for intercession

Of these four varieties only the first one – tongues for the believer – is given to every Christian. The remaining three are as God appoints them in the church. Let’s take a look at these four varieties.

1. Tongues for the believer (Mark 16:15-17)

¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:15-17)

This is describing tongues for the believer. It doesn’t say these signs will follow the apostles, or deacons. It doesn’t say it will follow those who receive the special gift meant only for some.  It simply says the sign will follow those who believe. Look at the highlighted part below.

Preach the gospel ...; He who believes  ... will be saved; and these signs will follow those who believe: In My name ... they will speak with new tongues;

Everyone who believes the gospel will be saved. This is an open invitation to every single person not to a select few. And if you believe the gospel then the sign of speaking with new tongues will follow you. The only condition is that you must believe the gospel. This gift of tongues if for ALL believers.

2. Tongues for Interpretation (1 Corinthians. 14:5, 18-19)

⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Prophecy edifies the church because it is spoken in a language people understand. But when tongues is followed by interpretation then this is equivalent to prophecy.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul continues his explanation by saying how he uses “tongues for the believer” more than anyone else in the church, but he chooses to do it in private. When he is speaking in church then he always speaks with his understanding (which includes tongues with interpretation as shown in verse 5).

Tongues with interpretation following is not given to all believers. Not all speak in tongues with interpretation.

3. Tongues as a sign to the unbeliever (Acts 2:4-8; 1 Cor. 14:21-22)

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵ And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ Then they were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸ “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  (Acts 2:4-8)

On the day of Pentecost all 120 believers were filled with the spirit and began to speak with other tongues. They all received variety #1 - tongues for the believer. However God also did a miracle by showing variety #3 - sign to the unbeliever - in that the multitude of Jews from foreign countries could all hear these tongues in their own foreign language.

21 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,” [Isa 28:11, 12] says the Lord. 22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; (1 Cor. 14:21-22)

Only the Holy Spirit can give the gift of tongues in a foreign language and it is entirely at His discretion.

4. Tongues for intercession

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Roms. 8:26-27)
¹⁹ My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Gal. 4:19)

The last variety of tongues is that used in intercession. A person cannot manifest this gift by choice, but only when the Holy Spirit joins Himself to the persons prayer. Initially the person may be praying with tongues for the believer but then it switches and gets deeper, and soon becomes groaning and travail very similar to a woman giving birth. This is effective intercession, because it is the Holy Spirit co-labouring with the individual and praying the perfect will of God.

Do all speak with tongues for the believer?

The question has changed now.

Do all speak with tongues for interpretation?     NO.
Do all speak with tongues as a sign to the unbeliever?    NO.
Do all speak with tongues for intercession?         NO.
Do all speak with tongues for the believer?         YES, YES, YES!

Read these three separate accounts of people being filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues. Firstly on the day of Pentecost the believers (120 of them) were ALL filled and ALL spoke in other tongues.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

Secondly, all the gentiles who believed the Gospel then received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts 10:44-46)

Finally, at Ephesus, these twelve believers received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:4-7)

God does not have favorites but He does have variety. He distributes the ministry gifts to individual believers as He chooses. But He offers both the gift of salvation, and the gift of tongues for the believer to ALL who will believer.

God wants all to believe in Jesus Christ, all to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and all to speak in tongues (and continue speaking in tongues until Jesus Christ returns).

Week 4 - Overcoming Strongholds

Week 4 - Overcoming Strongholds

This is the last week of a four week course designed to teach you how praying in tongues will change your life.

Last nights bible study was aimed toward showing you how praying in tongues will help you overcome all strongholds in your life, and continue growing to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;(Ephesians 4:13)

The three main beliefs/outcomes were:

• There are no strongholds in my spirit – I am free from all sin 
• While I am alive – I will suffer temptation – but satan cannot force me to sin  
• My emotions are stronger than my will-power, and mind-power BUT NOT my born-again spirit

A stronghold is a system of thought (or way of thinking) opposite to God's truth, which is empowered by emotions. A stronghold will hide behind your emotions so you don't recognize it. From there it will control the way you act with it's faulty reasoning which is against God's word.

But thank God - you don't have to keep strongholds. Learn the steps of freedom and how you can walk out of a stronghold into real freedom!

 Here are the notes and the outline from this study.
Week 4 - Outline View  Download

Here is the MP3 recording of the night.
Total length = 1:12

MP3  Download   (alternate link) 

God bless!

Week 3 - Receiving Revelation From God's Word

Receiving Revelation From God's Word

Last nights bible study was aimed toward showing you how praying in tongues will help you receive revelation from God's word so you can know Him.
To Know God is to Know His Word.
The Bible is a written revelation of who God is in a tangible form which can be held and read. And it allows us to fellowship with God and to know Him. The very purpose of our life is to know Him.

I present a simple 5-step plan to understanding God's Word.

1. Born again - receive a new nature capable of understanding God
2. Baptised with the Holy Spirit - Invite the Holy Spirit inside you to begin to teach you
3. Praying in Tongues - pray in tongues and download the "mysteries" of God's wisdom
4. Receiving Revelation - when your spirit understands the mystery and begins explaining it to your mind
5. Share with Others (Prophesy) - Begin to share the how God has changed your life through the revelation of His word

But remember - don't rush off with a half-baked revelation that you haven't fully understood.
Don’t run around like a headless chook. Wait until you properly understand the revelation!

 Here are the notes and the outline from this study.
Week 3 - Full Notes  View   Download
Week 3 - Outline View  Download

Here is the MP3 recording of the night.
Total length = 1:15
(Teaching for first 55 minutes; then some practical discussion)

MP3  Download  (alternate link)

God bless!

Week 2 - Pray in Tongues to discover Gods will for your life

Pray in Tongues to discover Gods will for your life

Last nights bible study was aimed toward showing you how praying in tongues will help you discover God's will for your life. Some of you may already know, some of you may not.

God's will isn't just for the spiritual in your life. God wants to coach you on how to be His child in every area of your life - how to be a godly wife/husband, father/mother, employee/boss, student/teacher. And He also wants you to discover the particular role and function you have in the body of Christ.

Praying in tongues is the act of presenting your body as a living sacrifice, and as you do this then you won't be conformed to this world  but you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind --- and then ---- you'll discover the good, acceptable and perfect will of God for your life.

The secret is to begin praying in tongues.

Here are the notes and the outline from this study.
Week 2 - Full Notes  View   Download
Week2 - Outline View  Download

Here is the MP3 recording of the night.
Total length = 1:14
(Teaching for first 51 minutes; practical examples till 1:04; then questions and discussion till the end)

MP3  Download

God bless!

Foundational Gift of Tongues - Video

Since I've finally rediscovered my blog (after nearly 5 year gap), here's a youtube link to myself preaching at our local church, Ranui Baptist, on 27 July 2014 last year. (It was the second service)

Watch on Youtube
Download MP3

Why should you watch it?
If you pray in tongues it will change your life. Praying in tongues activates the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life. When you pray you are literally inviting him into your born-again spirit to mentor, coach and train you. Every minute you spend praying in tongues is a minute you've given to the Holy Spirit to allow Him to transform you more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.

Just do it. Begin to pray in tongues. Make that a constant in your life, and you'll never regret it. You'll be able to look back on your life within 6-12 months and recognize the change that the Holy Spirit has made.

I cannot recommend it highly enough (praying in tongues), and this video is simply my attempt to share some of my testimony and encourage you to begin your own journey going deeper into God.

God bless!
Alan

PS Here's the teaching notes that I used.View Download
Here's the slides that I used. View Download
 

Pray in Tongues to change your life - Week 1

Gods Will is for me to pray in tongues

After preaching last year on the Foundational Gift of Tongues, I was approached by a number of people wanting more information, especially:

• How do I start?
• How do I know if I've received the gift of tongues?
• Can everyone pray in tongues?
• Why should I do something I don't understand with my mind?

I approached Pastor Russell with my ideas, and offered to do a 4-week course with practical training on how and why you should pray in tongues. And then two people asked me if it was going to be recorded at all. And so I've reactivated my blog to give a place to listen to and read the material.

The first week is called - Why God wants every Christian, especially me, to pray in tongues

Here are the notes and the outline from Week 1 of "Praying in Tongues to change your life".
Week 1 - Full Notes View Download
Week1 - Outline View Download

There are two MP3 recordings of the night.

A full session with all questions and discussion (1:44 length)
MP3  Download

And an edited session, with most of the discussion removed (1:10 length)
MP3 Download

Enjoy!