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Should we seek the gift of speaking in tongues?

 Answer: NO

The first mention of speaking in tongues is found when Jesus commanded the apostles and believers to signs and wonders. Included in these signs were taking up of serpents, healing the sick, and drinking deadly things.

 

Mark 16:17-8---“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

 

I Corinthians 1:22---“ For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”. 

 

            The next time that we see people speaking in tongues is in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the room where Jews out of every nation had gathered together and they could understand everything being said in their own language (Acts 2:3-6---“ 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. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”). Paul wrote the church at Corinth during the Acts period and told them to correct the way they were using the tongue gift.

 

We find the rules for speaking in tongues in I Corinthians chapter 14.   

1. Tongues are spoken to God,   not to men

I 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.”

2. Whoever speaks in tongues edifieth himself

I Corinthians 14:4---“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”  

3. If you speak in tongues then you must have an interpreter

I Corinthians 14:5---“I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”  

4. Tongues are not used to teach

I Corinthians 14:19---“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”  

5. Tongues are for a sign

I Corinthians 14:22---“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

6. Two, at the most three, may only use tongues and one must interpret.

I Corinthians 14:27---“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.”

7. Women are not allowed to speak in tongues

I Corinthians 14:34---“ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”    

8. Tongues must be done decently and in order

I Corinthians 14:40---“ Let all things be done decently and in order.”

 

 Paul tells us that there will be a time when tongues will cease.

 I Corinthians 13:8-10---“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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

 

Some people say that they pray in tongues and use as the scripture to prove that what they are doing is correct. It is the Spirit that makes intercession and the groaning not the person who is doing the praying.

 

Romans 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.”

 

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