Spiritual Gifts ~ what the bible says about speaking in tongues

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;     Mark 16:17

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?     Acts 2:5-8

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  1 Cor 14:22

To make us see the importance and benefit of speaking in tongues I am going to quote parts only of what the apostle paul said about speaking in tongues and then after the whole scripture. Paul was speaking primarily about prophesying but I want us to not miss what he was saying about speaking in tongues along with it. So for some of my examples I ignored the prophesying part temporarily and included it after the part I want us to particularly see:

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:     1 Cor 14:18

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:  Yet in the church I had rather  speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.   1 Cor 14:18-19

I would that ye all spake with tongues…   1 Cor 14:5

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.    1 Cor 14:5

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…    1 Cor 14:4

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.   1 Cor 14:4

In the book of Jude it says:
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,     Jude 1:20

Also Paul said:
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;     Eph 3:16

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding  also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.   1 Cor 14:15

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.   1 Cor 14:2

So what I saw from those scriptures is, why would I want to speak with tongues? Because: they are for a sign, the apostle Paul hoped that everyone would, it would be a way of my speaking to God, I like mysteries, it would edify myself, it would build myself up on my most holy faith, and strengthen my inner man.

A thing I have heard in some church’s is that if you don’t speak in tongues you aren’t saved. I looked up some scriptures on this also to see if it was true~

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.      1 Cor 12:7-11

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?    1 Cor 12:27-30

I hope I have the right interpretation of the scriptures above, it reads to me that all are not apostles, all are not prophets, all are not teachers, and that all do not speak with tongues.

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.   1 Cor 12:17-21

Some of you have been to one of those churches where everyone there speaks with tongues at the same time. For years I didn’t want to get too close to the Holy Spirit because I thought the people were kind of odd. Then I read:

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?            1 Cor 14:23

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.    1 Cor 14:26-33

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.   1 Cor 14:27-28

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order.    1 Cor 14:37-40

It is almost impossible to convince people that when the Spirit of the Lord is in them and they feel like speaking in tongues, or prophesying that they should wait for the timing of the Lord and if there be no interpreter they should not speak in tongues in church. But that is what Jesus has shown us through His servants.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.  1 Cor. 14:32-33

Like the scripture says… If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Cor 14:23) , I thought those people were odd, but what if I had thought and said it was of the devil instead of just that the church didnt have much spiritual discipline?

in the gospel of Mark it says:

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.     Mark 3:22

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:  Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. Mark 3:28-30

I don’t want to be using my gifts in such a way that a person could sin and face eternal damnation. This may happen in the course of Jesus working through me, but if its because “I know better than Jesus and the scriptures and just have to speak out in tongues when I feel like it and especially in large gatherings in front of unsaved people” then won’t the Lord deal with my part in it?

In Corinthians it says, …Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts..   1 Cor 14:1

“… faith which worketh by love.”   Gal 5:6