The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
The
Gift Of Tongues
A sign to the
Unbeliever
The gift of tongues is a sign to the unbeliever.
“Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers
but for unbelievers...”
I Cor. 14:22a
Concerning The Descent of The Holy Spirit upon the
disciples at Pentecost, the Bible records:
“All of them were filled with The Holy Spirit and began to speak
in other tongues as The Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4 NIV
The Spirit Of God diffused throughout their souls
and enabled them as He gave them clear and loud expression—in each tongue
appropriate words.
The Holy Spirit took control of everyone in the
upper room.
What manner of speech did they utter?
The Bible says they spoke other languages (foreign
languages, divers tongues). Each of them uttered the native language of people
of other nations (see verse 6-11). By this, they indeed declared the wonders of
God (v.11).
As a result of this sign about 3,000 people received
The Lord Jesus Christ and were baptized on the same day.
While the event of Acts 2 speaks of the sign of
other tongues; which is a declaration of
the wonders of GOD in the languages of men, the event of Acts 10 demonstrates
signs of the new tongue (Heavenly language). The Gentiles who received The Holy
Spirit spoke in ‘unknown tongues’ (languages)—extolling and magnifying GOD.
While Peter was still speaking these words, The Holy
Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had
come with Peter were astonished that the gift of The Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles. For
they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people
from being baptized with water? They have received The Holy Spirit just as we
have." (Acts 10:44-47 NIV).
New tongues means new languages. And these new
tongues are distinct from speech to speech; expression to expression and from
sound to sound.
They are attesting signs—they serve as evidence of
our Heavenly citizenship.
New tongues declare the wonders of GOD in Heavenly
language. Speaking in new tongues is one of the signs of true believers (see
Mark 16:17).
Our Heavenly language—like the stars, show forth
knowledge. They tell of God's invisible qualities—His eternal Power and divine
nature.
During Paul's third missionary journey, he laid his
hands on some new converts and The Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in
tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:6). That was the “new tongues”.