Diverse Tongues and Tongues and Interpretation

Tongues in general:

In general the gift of tongues is a language that is unknown to the speaker that is given by the Holy Spirit from within the believer. It is the words of the Holy Spirit spoken by the believer as utterance is given by the Spirit of God.

There are in the Word of God two different  manifestations of tongues!

In one manifestation man speaks unto God, and in the other God speaks to mankind.

1Corinthians12:8-11 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: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

These two manifestations are known as

1.      Tongues and interpretation: Showing forth supernaturally , by the Spirit of God, the message which was given in tongues
 

2.       Diverse tongues: Supernatural ability to speak in a language that is unknown to the speaker. 

Tongues and Interpretation:  God speaks to mankind

We will focus shortly here on the gift of tongues and interpretation.

    The gift of “Tongues and Interpretation “ occurs when God chooses to speak a message to the congregation or to an individual believer by way of a message given in diverse tongues , this message is then followed by the interpretation given to another believer to speak the message out  to the congregation or to believers present. The interpretation of the message is usually given to a different individual than the one to whom the message in tongues was given, however I have seen times when the interpretation was given to the one who was given the original message in diverse tongues.

I have experienced times in my own prayer life when I was praying unto God( in the Spirit) in diverse tongues, when I became suddenly aware of the meaning of the words I was speaking and also aware that the words being spoken were directed to me as a message from God to me. It was his words, spoken from my mouth, to me.

Mr 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.(KJV)

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,(KJV)

Diverse Tongues:  Mankind Speaks To God

1Co 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

 We focus here on the gift of diverse tongues which differs from the gift called interpretation of tongues. “Diverse tongues” is the gift of the Holy Spirit that is given to believers and is the initial physical evidence of ones having received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

A Prayer Language:

   Diverse tongues is a language unknown and unlearned by the one who speaks it, given to men to pray as the Spirit of God gives utterance. “Diverse tongues” is not the same as "tongues and interpretation" and does not require interpretation. It is a language that is spoken to God. Of the gifts given to man by the Holy Spirit diverse tongues seems to be the most prominent, however some consider it to be the least of the gifts. I for one do not consider it to be the least of the gifts. On the contrary I consider it to be a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness, because oft times we do not know how to pray, but God knows what we have need of.

Ro 8:26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.(KJV)

“Diverse tongues” is given to man to profit as the Spirit of God wills, to edify the spirit of mankind , though our  understanding is not edified.

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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.

Tongues in the Church:

26 ¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

God is a God of order. I have been to some churches where it seemed like all they cared about was speaking in tongues and everbody was expected to speak in tongues and sometimes even everybody at once. This happened in my early years when I was not able to speak in tongues although I had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues. The whole scene made me very uncomfortable. I found out later that this particular denomination had received a false doctrine that taught that if you don’t speak in tongues you are not saved. They had twisted a scripture into a doctrine that simply was not true.

    Although the speaking of tongues is evidence of having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit the lack of tongues is not evidence of not having received that baptism. The fact of the matter is that some people simply have not learned how to yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in the speaking of tongues.

Tongues As Evidence: ( true or not ?)

There are numerous accounts in the bible listed below where certain peoples received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and began to speak in "other Tongues"

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

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

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.

A false teaching in the churches:

While the speaking of tongues is evidence of ones having received the baptism of

the Holy Ghost, the lack of speaking in tongues is not evidence of ones not receiving the Holy Ghost. Look at it this way, If I come in to your house while you are sleeping and while I am there I leave finger prints and other evidence of my presence you will know somebody has been there. But If I come in to your house and you don't see me or any physical evidence of my presence , that certainly does not negate the fact that I am there. Your inability to see or recognize my presence in your house does not change the fact that I am there. I’m still there even if you can't see any evidence of my presence. In the same sense many people ask for and receive the Holy Ghost baptism but are not able to yield to the gift of tongues and because of their inability to yield to the gift of tongues they think they have not received the Holy Ghost because of the lack of the "evidence" of the gift of tongues.

Another false teaching: In some churches it is taught that if one does not speak in tongues that one is not saved. Speaking in tongues is not required for salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not of works lest any man should boast.

This teaching of tongues being required for salvation is utterly disastrous and is responsible for many losing faith in their salvation experience.

We must come to realize that the two experiences salvation and the
baptism of the Holy Ghost are separate experiences, which can but do not always happen at the same time.

 Speaking in tongues does not occur apart from the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

One must be saved " born again by the Spirit of God" prior to or in conjunction with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Lu 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

Lu 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

The Holy Spirit "New Wine" cannot be placed in to a vessel "old wine bottle" that has not yet been cleansed " by the blood of Jesus ". Once we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus in the new birth experience we are then ready to receive "the new wine" the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Who can receive the Holy Spirit?

The promise is unto you and to all those who will believe.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.