The Speaking In Tongues Issue …
By Gregg L. Marshall
Where Is Tongues Mentioned In The Bible?
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 8:12-18
Acts 10:44-48
Acts 19:1-6
Why Always Acts? (Overview of the NT)
Matthew – John are the Gospels. They are the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.
Acts of the Apostles deals with the History of the NT Church & How the Apostles Applied Christ's Teachings.
Romans – Jude are the Epistles are writings to established churches and/or ministers, etc.
Revelation is the book of end-time Prophecy which is being fulfilled in our day.
Have Tongues Ceased? (Read 1 Cor. 13:8-10)
According to this scripture when Tongues ceases, so do Knowledge and Prophecies.
Ask yourself, has knowledge vanished yet; have Prophecies failed?
The logical answer would say that “No, we are living in the Information Era and we are seeing Biblical Prophecies coming to pass in staggering proportions!”
But the most important question is “Has that which is perfect come yet?” NO! So if the perfect (or the perfect One) has not come yet … Prophecy, Tongues & Knowledge are still accessible and are needed now more than ever!
So Is The Evidence Of The Holy Ghost Speaking In Tongues?
Jesus said to His disciples, in Luke 24:49 “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
They obeyed, Acts 1:4-5 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
The promise was experienced, Acts 2:1-4 “And 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”
Is There Ever An Account In The Bible Where People Got The Holy Ghost And Didn’t Speak In Tongues?
Acts 2:1-4, 37-44 – Received The Holy Ghost & Spake With Tongues!
Acts 8:9-18 – Received The Holy Ghost – Visible Outward Sign
Acts 10:38-48 – Received The Holy Ghost & Spake With Tongues!
Acts 19: 1-7 – Received The Holy Ghost & Spake With Tongues!
Acts 2 – The Apostles received the Holy Ghost infilling, they preached the Gospel message (Acts 2:38) and the people received the same experience as they; strong indications in verses 41, 42 & 44. These people “continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine.” They believed it, proclaimed it, they also then must have received the experience for themselves!
Acts 8 – Here it never says that these people "spoke in tongues." However, it does say that “Simon SAW that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given.” Just like Acts 2, 8 and 19 … there is a VISIBLE OUTWARD SIGN when the Holy Ghost was been received by a believer! It wasn’t “spiritual discernment,” it was very obvious!
Is The Gift Of Tongues & The Gift Of The Holy Ghost The Same Thing?
Let me answer this question up front. “NO! They are quite similar in outward appearance, but have two separated purposes. Two Gifts, and two different purposes.
"The Gift Of Tongues" is a supernatural Gift of the Spirit. It is a message in Tongues from God, alerting the Church Body that God is speaking and He has a fresh word to those people. It is coupled with the Gift of Interpretation; this is when someone interprets, in the known language of the people, what God is saying. It is interpretation; it is not a “translation.”
But the "Gift of the Holy Ghost" is when God’s Spirit is indwelling a believer. It is a supernatural outward experience that alerts the believer and the people surrounding this experience can confirm that this believer has indeed received the Spirit of God.
Read James 3: 2-8 – Step in a Holy God. He does for us, what we can’t do for ourselves. When we totally surrender to Him, He fills us with His Spirit and we are literally “GOD POSSESSED!” That’s the Holy Ghost!!
Acts 2:39, “THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU!!”
