In the Power of His Might NEXT SLIDE: Lesson 2

LESSON 11 The Gift of Tongues

1 Corinthians 12 lists nine different ways the Holy Spirit shows itself in a believer.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: We begin our study of the individual gifts with ‘divers kinds of tongues.’

This is one of the gifts by which we SPEAK a new thing.

Divers Kinds of Tongues “Divers” is an Old English word for diverse or different.

Divers Kinds of Tongues “Divers” is an Old English word for diverse or different. “Tongues” are languages. Languages are made of words and sentences, not motorcycle noises.

Divers Kinds of Tongues “Divers” is an Old English word for diverse or different. “Tongues” are languages. Languages are made of words and sentences, not motorcycle noises.

Divers Kinds of Tongues “Divers” is an Old English word for diverse or different. “Tongues” are languages. Languages are made of words and sentences, not motorcycle noises. With this gift, a person is able to speak different “kinds” of languages.

Divers Kinds of Tongues A “kind” is a classification.

Divers Kinds of Tongues A “kind” is a classification. All life on earth was brought forth “after his kind.”

Divers Kinds of Tongues Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Divers Kinds of Tongues A “kind” is a classification. All life on earth was brought forth “after his kind.”

Divers Kinds of Tongues Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Divers Kinds of Tongues A “kind” is a classification. All life on earth was brought forth “after his kind.” Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. There are two KINDS of tongues: of men and of angels.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. The only way a mortal man could speak with the tongues of angels is if the Holy Ghost gave him the utterance.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. When someone speaks using the gift of tongues, the language he speaks will be either of men or of angels.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. When someone speaks using the gift of tongues, the language he speaks will be either of men or of angels. The choice is made by the Holy Ghost.

The Bible is very clear that the person speaking in tongues will not understand the words he is saying. To the human mind, the meaning of the words remains a mystery:

1 Corinthians 14:2 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.

1 Corinthians 14:2 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. The gift of tongues is not for man to man communication.

1 Corinthians 14:2 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. This is how my spirit – the NEW MAN – speaks to God.

1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. This is how my spirit – the NEW MAN – speaks to God.

1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. “My spirit” is the new creature in Christ. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The mind gets no benefit from speaking in tongues The mind gets no benefit from speaking in tongues. That is why it is good to pray with both the spirit and with the understanding.

1 Corinthians 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 mind gets no benefit from speaking in tongues. That is why it is good to pray with both the spirit and with the understanding.

As a person speaks in tongues, his inner man is built up.

1 Corinthians 14:4a He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself… As a person speaks in tongues, his inner man is built up.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, He is built up in his faith.

The gift of tongues is the ONLY one of the nine spiritual gifts whose primary benefit is to the one using the gift.

That is why it is so highly recommended.

1 Corinthians 14:5a I would that ye all spake with tongues . . . That is why it is so highly recommended.

How does one receive this gift?

The Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

Luke 11:9-13 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. The Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? The Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

But that request must be made in faith.

James 1:6-7 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Sometimes the laying on of hands is required. It happened like this in Ephesus:

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

In Joppa, it was more spontaneous:

Acts 10:44-46a 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God …

Holding a trumpet up to your lips does not cause it to make sound Holding a trumpet up to your lips does not cause it to make sound. You must use your lips and your breath to blow through it.

The same is true of the gift of tongues. You use the gift by speaking.

Acts 2:4 says the apostles “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The Spirit works in tandem with the person it indwells.

2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

The words are born …

The words are born as you speak.

The first time you speak in tongues, the words may trickle out like a dripping faucet.

But if you don’t quit, they will soon flow like a river.

John 7:37-39 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) But if you don’t quit, they will soon flow like a river.

John 7:37-39 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) GOD is “the fountain of living waters” (Jer. 2:13), and the words come from him!

Surrender to the fact that the concept is foolish to your mind.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Pick out a tune and SING in tongues. You will get your mind off yourself, and it will become much easier.

The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues WHAT IS IT? By the gift of tongues, the Holy Spirit gives utterance to a prayer or message from God in a language that is unknown to the person speaking, a language that is either of men or angels.

The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT BENEFIT? By the gift of tongues, the Holy Spirit gives utterance to a prayer or message from God in a language that is unknown to the person speaking, a language that is either of men or angels. The inner man speaks to God and is built up by him. No other gift makes this claim.

The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT BENEFIT? HOW IS IT BEST USED? By the gift of tongues, the Holy Spirit gives utterance to a prayer or message from God in a language that is unknown to the person speaking, a language that is either of men or angels. The inner man speaks to God and is built up by him. No other gift makes this claim. In one’s private sanctuary, in prayer or song. (Instruction on its public use will be in a later lesson.)

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 11 What are the two “kinds” of tongues?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 11 What are the two “kinds” of tongues? The gift of tongues is for communication between (a) man and man, or (b) the inner man and God?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 11 What are the two “kinds” of tongues? The gift of tongues is for communication between (a) man and man, or (b) the inner man and God? What is the benefit of speaking in tongues that no other gift lays claim?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 11 What are the two “kinds” of tongues? The gift of tongues is for communication between (a) man and man, or (b) the inner man and God? What is the benefit of speaking in tongues that no other gift lays claim? Describe the role of the laying on of hands in receiving the Holy Ghost.

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 11 What are the two “kinds” of tongues? The gift of tongues is for communication between (a) man and man, or (b) the inner man and God? What is the benefit of speaking in tongues that no other gift lays claim? Describe the role of the laying on of hands in receiving the Holy Ghost. Why does speaking in tongues seem foolish to people?