Monday's Devo - Now About Tongues...

Read I Co. 14
So what is this "baptism in the Holy Spirit"? Jesus would not even let his disciples go out without it so why do we never hear about it anymore? I think the devil has stolen this from the general Christian public and made it look weird and only for the fanatics. Emphasis has been placed on gift of speaking in tongues and off the main reason for the gift. The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was to give the disciples power to be witnesses. Tongues came with it. So what is tongues? The Greek says it is a language not acquired by natural means. Four times in Acts it says that people received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. 1 Co 12:28 says that God set people in the church with different gifts: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues. He went on to say in 1 Co 13:1 that he spokes with the tongues of men and of angels. So to speak in known languages must be the tongues of men, and speaking in new languages not known on the earth must be tongues of angels. I met a man who had been given 6 different know languages supernaturally. He uses them to witness in those countries. In 1 Co. 14: 5,6 Paul states that he wishes everyone would speak in tongues but in the church it is better to prophesy unless you can interpret your tongue. He explains in verse 12 that if you desire a gift, you need to grow in that gift till you can use it to edify the church. We are a body. My gift should give those around me encouragement and help. The next two verses it says that if you speak in an unknown tongue, pray that you may interpret it because speaking in tongues is your spirit praying not your understanding. So his answer is: do both. Pray in tongues and in your understanding; sing in tongues and in your understanding. Paul thanks God that he speaks in tongues but realizes that in the church it is better to speak with his understanding so that he can teach others. Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever like on the day of Pentecost. Many were saved as the people spoke in tongues. Of course their "unknown tongues" were known by the people. If they hadn't have known the language they would have thought they were crazy. Prophecy, on the other hand, reveals the secrets of one's hearts. The way God set up the church is that one should have a psalm, one have a teaching, one have a tongue, one have the interpretation, and one have the gift of prophecy. The only time tongues is to be used in a corporate setting is when they know there is a person there who can interpret it.
Paul said he spoke in tongues often but you don't see him doing it in the church. So what did Paul do with his heavenly language? He used it privately. Tongues is speaking out your future. Because you don't know the mind of God and what He has in mind you can pray in tongues and know that you are praying the will of the Father. Do we need to speak in tongues now? Do you want to pray the will of the Father? Is the baptism in the Holy Spirit for today? Do you want power to be God's witness? Yes, to both. We need power and God's perfect will like never before. The Holy Spirit is to be our comforter and also our dynamite power! Ask for his baptism today and let him fill you to overflowing!