The Power to Speak in Tongues (Part B)

The Acts of the Apostles
The Growth and Expansion of the Church in Jerusalem
Parenthesis: Speaking in Tongues (2)
The Power to Speak in Tongues (2)
Tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14
1. Tongues in Acts 2 - Human Communication
A. A Simultaneous Experience to Being Baptized with the Holy Spirit
B. A Consequence of Being Filled
C. An Expression of Human Languages
2. Tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14 - Divine Edification
1 Corinthians 12-13: The Theological Framework for Understanding Tongues
1. Intelligibility must define communication in the church (12:2-3).
2. Gifts are not given independently of ministries and effects (12:4-7).
3. Gifts are given in sync with the Spirit’s will and not the recipients will (12:6-11).
4. The same gift or set of gifts will not be given to every believer (12:12-30).
5. Gifts can be at least partially ranked by level of importance (12:28, 31a).
6. True spirituality can never be determined by the gift one has, particularly the gift of
tongues, but is only known by the expression of love towards believers (12:31b-13:13).
A. The Eternal Nature of Love
B. The Temporal Nature of Gifts
C. Tongues Were Designed to Fade in Use
1) In Nature
2) In Purpose
A) Validation of an Official Office Holder
B) Verification of Officer Holder’s Message
C) Pointing to a New Era in God’s Program
1 Corinthians 14: Tongues must be intelligible and practiced orderly to be God approved
1. Tongues must be intelligible to be practiced by Christians (14:1-12).
2. Tongues is nothing more than a vehicle for communicating God’s word and is consistent
with God’s design of the world (14:6-12).
3. Intelligibility is important to both the speaker and the hearer (14:13-25).
4. Tongues must be practiced in an orderly manner (14:26-40).
A. Tongues must limited in number, consecutive in order, accompanied by an
interpreter, and practiced in self-control (14:27-28).
B. The Pattern for practicing tongues is designed by Jesus Christ, not the apostle
Paul (14:37-38).
C. Tongues should be welcomed only if they are practiced in this way
(14:39-40).