How do you speak in tongues? If you do not speak in tongues, does that mean you have not received the Holy Spirit? Perhaps there are many theories or instructions with regards to this subject. In order to understand which is the correct way, let us examine the Bible carefully.
1. When did the word “tongues” first appear?
Acts 2:1-9 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place … All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them… Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Footnotes:
Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11
The first record of speaking in tongues can be found in Acts 2. Jesus Christ gave a promise to His disciples and followers that He will bestow the blessings of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. When we continue to read the subsequent verses of the chapter, we can find out that speaking in tongues actually meant speaking in other languages. At that time, Jesus’ disciples and followers who were Galileans, were speaking in other languages such that even people from other nations like Parthians, Medes and Elamites could understand. Speaking in tongues does not refer to babbling or gibberish, but speaking in other languages.
2. What was God’s will for His disciples and followers to speak in tongues (other languages)?
Jesus gave the commandment to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
How could His disciples preach to all people and nations? For example, if I can only speak English and Mandarin, how can I preach to other nations who do not speak these languages? Therefore in order to complete the mission of preaching to all nations, God gave them the Holy Spirit so that they could preach to people of other nationalities.
3. Apostle Paul’s message on speaking in tongues
1 Corinthians 14:6-10, 13-15, 18-19 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning… For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding… I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Footnotes:
1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
Apostle Paul emphasised that we should speak intelligible words, and he clarified the subject on languages. Therefore, speaking in tongues refers to speaking in a language which other people can understand.
Matthew 6:5-7 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
In conclusion, with regards to speaking in tongues, the Bible has never instructed us to babble or speak gibberish. The Bible has clearly shown us that when we receive the Holy Spirit from God, we should pray and proclaim the good news through intelligible words, so that people from other nations may also receive the message of salvation.
Speaking in tongues is one of the many common misunderstandings of Christians nowadays. Instead of blindly following the theories of other people or simply rejecting all teachings, we should always fall back on the Bible to find out the truth.
Nowhere in the bible says that speaking in gibberish means having the Holy Spirit. When the disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, people could understand them in their own language, proving that ‘speaking on tongues’ meant speaking in foreign languages. Gibberish can be spoken by anyone; does that mean that everyone possess the Holy Spirit? Including non-believers, Muslims, Buddhists, etc? Please distinguish the words of men from the words of God in the bible, and come and keep the Feast of Pentacost in the WMSCOG :).
I had a friend tell me how she earnestly prayed to receive holy spirit and to be able to speak in tongues like others in the church because she felt like she couldn’t fit in or that her faith was lacking. When she was able to speak in “tongues”, she was so shocked and happy and boasted to me about it. After knowing the truth about how speaking in tongues meant languages, i preached to her about it. But she could not easily accept it as most churches are teaching that they are true christians only if they could speak in gibberish tongues.
Truly hope that this truth can be shared with more people and they can realise the deep love of God to allow us to speak in true tongues (languages) so we can preach the truth of God through the bible and not just gibberish words that has no meaning. Also hope that all people can know about the Feasts of God such as Pentecost and Tabernacles that can allow us to receive true Holy Spirit of God.
Faith comes from hearing the words of God. How can one have faith if the words used has no meaning and can never be heard or understood. Holy Spirit is also a gift from God that is promised through Feasts of God, without keeping them how can we receive the gift.
Really thankful that only in the World Mission Society Church of God is such Feasts and truth kept!
Sound and language are different. Sound, we can not understand what it means. Language, we can understand what it means. God never give us sound but language.
Amen. Thanks to God for allowing the truth and the ability to distinguish the truth from falsehood.
Speaking in tongues means speaking in other languages. Because Jesus’ disciples have to preach the gospel to salvation the people of the other countries. At that time, God gave the people ability to listen their own languages.
Bible says we are captured by a spiritual Babylon. We should do is to meet a prophetic David who comes in the East to accomplish mission of bible. ^^
“I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Clearly, we can see that tongues is used to preach the gospel! Those who heard the gospel 2,000 years ago, they heard the good news in their own language, not some gibberish. When I first knew about tongues, I wondered why some people could speak in “tongues” but funnily, I couldn’t understand. I’m so thankful that I finally understood the real meaning of tongues.
Truly give thanks to God Elohim for letting us understanding the meaning of speaking in tougues.
If speaking in tougues means babble or speak gibberish, that defeat the purpose for God to
come down to this earth to save us sinner as we do not understanding it at all.
Let’s not misunderstanding the will of God but follow the words of God through the Bible so that we
know the central truth of the Bible that lead us to salvation. 😁
Well i think, this teaching is more aceptable. Cause i have question on this? As i do not understand why we need to learn to contact the holy spirit. Can we do it on our own way by calling the spirit to come into our body? Not as the bible says, the holy spirt comes to you. Hope i can have more understanding of the truth in the bible from this web page.
Wow God already knew that people now will consider blabbering as speaking in tongues. So the bible already recorded apostles clarifying and explaining that speaking in tongues refer to languages. So we should not be blabbering but rather preach the gospel making use of the different languages.
Amen 🙏 I truly truly give thanks to Elohim god ^^
I received Holy Spirit through the Feast of Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacle 😄.please come to world mission society church of god 👍Where that have true god and truth
I give thanks to Elohim God. At that time, through the Holy Spirit, the disciples were able to speak in “tongues” (footnote- other languages) and preach the gospel to Samaria and ends of the earth! I also pray to God for Holy Spirit to brush up on my chinese so that I can preach to friends and collegues who are more well-versed in Mandarin.
While in the truth, I came to know some of my friends who speak in tongues while praying to God. I told them I do not understand the babbling/gibberish words they used but later they explained to me that it is natural for me not to understand because only God and the person praying can understand. Since God is creator of everything on this earth and omniscient, how would God not understand if we speak or pray in intelligible words? I am glad that the world mission society church of God gave us this article, bringing us to the truth. Thanks be to our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.
Wow !!! I give thanks to Elohim God for allowing us to be able to distinguish the will of God about speaking in tongue.
Just as mentioned in the article, to speak in tongue means to speak in the language for the listener to understand.
But if people do not understand what you are trying to say, then it is not speaking in tongue. The purpose of speaking in tongue is should be to proclaim the gospel.
Amen! Well said. Since the gospel is good news, people must be able to understand it and receive the Savior!
1 John 2:16, For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the father but from the world.
I only understand people who learn to speak in tongue are people just want to boast his ability “not from the Father” as the bible teaches us, “but from the world” . Let’s learn one thing at a time and fully realise the teaching of God. Blindly follower suffered the same ending as the leader who leads. Bible teaches us that we have no excuse. John15:22 here after. Please at least go and ask question. Time are short and i believe all christian understand the “Fig tree” parables knows the clock started to click. I hope you have your salvation promised by God.
I give thanks to Elohim God for allowing me to understand the true meaning of speaking in tongues via precious word of God. Tongues is really to communicate a message which the recipient heard can understand.
Many have been disappointed that they couldn’t speak in tongues in other churches, thinking they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit. I hope this article shine the light of truth in your heart and do not be dismayed. Please visit us, the World Mission Society Church of God, to study the truth of God in the Bible. Let’s also keep the Day of Pentecost together to receive the Holy Spirit! 📖❤️
This is a great article, thanks to God! 😀
This is so true! Why would God want us to say something no one could understand?
Surely the reason why God gave his people the power to speak in tongues was to proclaim the new covenant gospel. When we examined what the apostles did two thousand years ago, after receiving the power to speak in tongues through the feast of Pentecost was to proclaim the new covenant passed on by Jesus.
If one does not proclaim the new covenant gospel according to the bible, then clearly the ability to speak in tongues is redundant.
From what I observe, the Church of God, World Mission Society has clearly received the Holy Spirit of the latter rain by proclaiming the gospel that Jesus preached, to all nations in this age. That’s truly what I call speaking in tongues! Clearly reigniting the fire of the Holy Spirit that was given 2000 years ago!
All I can say is that the Church of God is clearly doing a great job in proclaiming the good news of salvation to the whole world. Keep up the good work!
Sadly in many churches today, “speaking in tongues” means you have been enlightened or have reached a new level of faith. It became a discrimination against christians who simply cannot speak in those “tongues”. Thankfully I was not able to speak in those babbling words which I never understood because those babbling is not even biblical at all. Through this article I am able to understand more about speaking in tongues.
Many people and sources gave me the idea that tongues was gibberish and completely incomprehensible.
When i was at a church last time, the people told me that it is supposed to be incomprehensible and that our soul was praying for us.
They claim that with more faith, we are able to understand those gibberish words.
However, when i questioned if they understood what they were praying, they were dodging and couldn’t give a definite answer to my question. Which felt really suspicious.
So i always questioned myself why were they speaking in tongues if they are unable to understand as well.
From the explanation, i can clearly see the message that God wants to tell us through the bible.
For us to fulfill God’s will of preaching to the world, God have given us the blessing of tongues to be able to communicate to people of different languages.
May all thanks be to Heavenly Father and Mother~
Amen ^^ It is truly give thanks to Heavenly Father for letting us know the absolute TRUTH about the true meaning of speaking in tongue…
The interpretation of tongues is so clear. We can find them all in the bible. I hope that the others will be able to see this too!!!
love to find out more 🙂
I used to attend a church that spoke in tongue for 5 years. Though I tried for 5 years to be filled with the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongue, it didn’t get me anywhere.
I don’t feel anything and my heart was still empty.
Only after coming to World Mission Society Church of God did I truly receive the Holy Spirit through the Feast of Pentecost and feast of Tabernacle promised by God in the Bible.
Tongues is definitely not another language… amen thanks for the clarification! Always knew it’s iffy when my friends “spoke” it randomly in however ways they wanted and told me to do the same to communicate to God…
Tongues refer to languages- this means that it must be something that can be understood by men. Let us recognise the correct interpretation of Tongues and worship God the right way!:)
It is very clear to understand the true meaning of Speaking in tongues^^
Wow the explanation is so clear and it is all from the Bible!!!
That’s why so many people now come to the WMSCOG to study the Bible.
However, there are still so many people who do not know the truth of speaking in tongues.
Let us share the truth to people out there and lead them to the true church -ZION (the city of Truth) !!❤
Yea this topic is so true. In the past, I went into so many churches and most of them speaks in tongues. So as curiosity killed the cat, I went and approached one of them and ask what are they saying?
Interesting they said they are speaking in tongues, an angelic language, and asked me to try. So I was telling them I can’t but they were quite persistent so I tried. They were so happy and excited and said I received the Holy Spirit. But in actual fact, I do not know what I am saying.
I started to question them since they said it’s an angelic language, they should be able to understand each other. However, when I said something while thinking of a number, they failed to understand me and tried to say strange things that I wasn’t even thinking of.
In conclusion, I left as I can’t believe in something that is wrong. This was one of the reasons why I didn’t go to any churches for a very long time.
Not until when my sister invited me to the World Mission Society Church of God. I was telling myself that this will be the last time I ever step into a church and if it is wrong, then never again.
However, I was amazed when I first came in, everyone was so joyful and happy to see me come. But I held fast to my resolution, if they cannot answer my questions, so be it. Despite all the negative thoughts I have, my questions were answered one after another and even the answer for tongues. Everything falls into place and all the puzzles seems to fit in one after another. I was lost in words for the first time. I feel so bless and happy that I have finally found the source of all truth and happiness.
True enough, God created languages on this earth therefore there is no language created with no man unable to understand.
I’m sure Jesus will not confuse us with some kind of languages that we need to memorise to babble to prove to others “I received Holy Spirit, because I’m able to speak in tongue” 😕
Shared this with my cousin who was from a church that “speaks in tongues”… she was very shocked to know the correct explanation of speaking in tongues thru the Bible.
Give thanks to Elohim God Father and Mother! Only World Mission Society Church of God has the correct teachings to let us know speaking in tongues refers to speaking in different languages. I never took notice of the footnotes of the bible. Let us keep the Day of Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles to receive abundant blessings of Holy Spirit— and preach the gospel to save 7 billion people!
Speaking in tongues doesn’t mean to babble or speak gibberish. It means – other languages. In the time of the Early Church, apostles preach the gospel in different languages to other nations just after receiving the Holy Spirit from God during the Day of Pentecost. It does not make sense for the apostles to preach to people using babbling languages or even for them to pray to God babbling. Try using babbling languages when you want to preach to your physical parents, can they understand what you are saying? Or do you think by babbling “expertly” to God, it’s a sign God gave you the Holy Spirit? No! Biblical records shows that Early Church members receive Holy Spirit by KEEPING DAY OF PENTECOST. Let’s follow the Bible and not come up with our own interpretation of speaking in tongues.
If we look closely at the Bible, we can find the true meaning of terminologies like ‘tongues’, and not be misguided by misinterpretations.
Amen!
Just as the article mentioned, ability to speak in tongues through the gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to the apostles 2,000 years ago, when they kept the Day of Pentecost. So, no one should claim that they have the Holy Spirit if they did not keep the Day of Pentecost.
More importantly, as the article highlighted, tongues, according to the Bible, refers to languages of the world (Acts 2:8-9) which people are actually able to comprehend should it be their native language, and not incomprehensible words that what mainstream churches understand and practice today.
Please read and understand the bible carefully, and not follow blindly whatever you might have heard or seen.
As it is written: “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14), if we follow blindly without basing the teachings on the bible, we will fail to receive salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).
Let us all follow the words of the Bible, the manifestation of God’s Love, who wants all to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved!
If you are seeking for the truth, please come and visit us. Then, you can receive the knowledge about the eternal world that you can receive from no where else.