Speaking in Tonguesনমুনা

Different forms of tongues

Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10-11). And the gifts are meant for everyone.

From the moment we receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we receive those gifts. So, we also have the capacity to speak in tongues from that moment on.

You can read that in Acts 19:6, for example. The Holy Spirit came upon the people after Paul had laid hands on them. Then they started speaking in other tongues and prophesying: they were speaking in tongues.

But tongues aren’t always understandable, right?

No, that is correct. There are different forms of tongues.

The first form is for the building up of ourselves in the Holy Spirit. That is primarily what the language of tongues is given to us for. We are spiritually strengthened and built up in our faith by speaking in tongues (Jude 1:20). You also get things revealed in the spirit.

Tongues are also called the language of angels. When we speak in the language of angels, we don’t know what we pray (1 Corinthians 14:2), and nobody understands it.

This manifestation of tongues is only meant for yourself. To build yourself up. Every Christian can speak this form.

The second form of tongues is the receiving of the supernatural ability to suddenly speak in another language that you couldn’t speak before.

This happened in Acts on the day of Pentecost.

The disciples started speaking to the people who were present in their own language about the mighty works of God (Acts 2:1-11). What happened on the day of Pentecost was that they received the gift of tongues and it manifested itself in that moment in the speaking of the languages of people. In this way, they could spread the Gospel to all peoples under heaven.

The third form of tongues is the language of tongues, which we speak in the church and can then translate. That is the gift of tongues for the upbuilding of the church. This is different from the language of tongues that is meant for yourself. If tongues are used in the church, the gift of the explanation is also needed (1 Corinthians 12:10). One individual speaks in tongues to build up the church, and the other can interpret it (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).

This is specifically intended for the church. That means where believers come together.

Not everyone can speak in the languages of people or in tongues meant for the church; these are given to some. But every born-again Christian who is baptized with the Holy Spirit can speak in the language of angels and can apply this non-stop in his personal life.