Legacy · Q&A
Understanding Speaking in Tongues

Question:
I am trying to understand this, if you have any info, I would appreciate it. I have heard both sides and am very confused in speakng in tongues.
Thank You,
Tammy Gross
Answer:
Hi Tammy,
Thanks much for your inquiry regarding our website. Actually there is a whole lot of biblically informative stuff on our site concerning the topic of speaking in tongues. Our menu bar is on the right and also at the bottom; and also wherever you see black scripture quotations on our site, those are links to articles, most of which have to do with speaking in tongues. If you would like to tell me just exactly what it is, about speaking in tongues that is confusing to you, I would be more than happy to correspond with you on the topic. Also since you've left your address I'll try to get a couple of our radio or tv broadcasts copied and send them along as soon as I can.
The main things I would like to pass along at the moment is that speaking in tongues is a by-product of the experience of the new birth, or the holy ghost baptism. In other words speaking in tongues is not so much the experience itself, but rather the initial manifestation that the new birth has occurred. When a person fully repents of sin, and turns their will completely over to God, and believes whole-heartedly on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, Jesus baptizes them with the holy ghost. The experience brings with it the literal washing away of sin from the inner being, and replaces it with the divine love and peace that dwells in the heart of God. And it always comes with the manifestation of the Spirit of God speaking through us in tongues that we've never spoken in before. It's automatic, and the tongues do not come by seeking for them or being mindful of them coming. They only come when the heart and mind is set fully on drawing nigh to Jesus, and that special new birth connection of faith is made. Speaking in tongues is the consistent "sound" that accompanies every new birth experience, that Jesus mentioned in John 3:7,8.
After one experiences the new birth they can and should continue to exercise the practice of speaking in tongues, in prayer and in worship. Once you've received the Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, it is a natural thing to continue this manifestation on a regular basis, and it always brings a renewing and peace to the soul. Isaiah referred to it as "rest and refreshing for the weary" (Isa. 28:11,12). In addition to these things, there is also a "gift of tongues," where someone may be particularly gifted in speaking in various kinds of tongues, and may also follow the utterance with the English (in our case) interpretation (I Cor. 12:10,28,30). I have done this some myself though I don't consider myself to have that particular gift of the Spirit in a prolific manner. I have been on the receiving end of this type of message from the Lord, spoken through someone in tongues and then in English, manifesting things that no one in the world could have possibly known other than myself.
So there is a difference between speaking in tongues as the steadfast sign of the new birth experience, and having a "gift" of tongues. Everyone speaks in tongues when they are born again, but not everybody receives a special gift of "divers kinds of tongues," and or the "interpretation of tongues." Thus the statement in I Cor. 12:30, "Do all speak in tongues?" The context there is all about "gifts" of the Spirit for people who have already received the Spirit. Anyway I hope that this helps some. I really recommend studying our website very thoroughly. You can really learn some solid bible truth through the various articles on the site that deal with this topic, as well as other topics of great importance. I'm leaving you a couple of good links to get you started, and the main thing is for you to really seek the Lord in prayer with total honesty of heart, humility, faith, and willingness to know what He would show you. He will steer you into the right understanding of things if you are willing and determined for Him to do so. May God bless you richly, and hopefully we will be able to correspond further in the future.
Sincerely,
Lary Hale



