There appears to be some confusion about tongues.

We know that God is not the author of confusion.

1Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Therefore we know that if there is confusion, this confusion is from Satan.

We must have the Holy Ghost in order to be saved.

We must have His Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We need His Spirit to belong to Him.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

If we want to please God, we must walk in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit, we must STAY FULL of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 ¶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

It is by the power of His Spirit that we overcome sin, live a holy life, and become witnesses.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

To be a true worshiper, we need His Spirit.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God’s Spirit acts as our Defense Attorney. “Counsel for defense” is a meaning of the Greek word that is translated as “Comforter”.

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

God gives us His Spirit to "plead the blood of Jesus", reminding Satan that the blood of Jesus washed away our sins when we were baptized in Jesus name.  Because we are now living a holy and overcoming life, Satan has nothing to accuse us with!  

Jesus gives us His Spirit to teach us and to remind us of what He said.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

His Spirit guides us into all truth and will show us things to come.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

It is by the power of His Spirit that we will be resurrected. It is His Spirit that will raise us up from the grave.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Because we need God's Spirit to be saved, it makes sense that Satan would try to cause confusion as to whether or not a person has received God's Spirit! Satan would like a person to think they have received God’s Spirit when they have not. Thankfully, God makes it clear when a person has received His Spirit: they speak in tongues (a language they have not learned) as the Spirit of God gives them the ability to speak.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (God’s Spirit) we speak in tongues. We speak in tongues as God speaks through us in a language we have not learned.

A key to why God chose tongues to be the sign of a person receiving His Spirit is found in James 3:2-8.

James 3:2-8 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

In these verses, the tongue is described as an “unruly evil” among the members of the body. James declares, “the tongue can no man tame”.  No man can tame the tongue, but by a repentant heart and the desire to receive God’s Spirit, God can tame our tongue.

With words of praise, worship, and thanksgiving, God will baptize a person with His Holy Ghost and they will speak in another tongue (language) as the Spirit of God speaks through them.

The tongue is the last thing to surrender to God when we are allowing him to fill us with His Spirit. When the Lord controls our tongue, it is a sign that we have given Him full control of our life!

Because the tongue is the last to surrender, it makes sense that tongues are the sign for being FILLED with the Holy Ghost.

Some people say, “I have the Holy Spirit, but I haven’t spoken in tongues – I don’t have the Gift of Tongues”.

This confusion comes from lack of knowing the Word of God. The Word shows that God uses tongues for more than one purpose.

First of all, God uses tongues when a person is filled with the Holy Ghost. Tongues are a sign. When a person is filled with God’s Spirit for the first time, they may speak only a few syllables, or may speak for a long duration. Because it is by God’s grace that God gives us His Spirit, it is called the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

When Peter preached the gospel to the Gentiles for the first time, Peter knew they received the Holy Ghost because he heard them speak in tongues.

Acts 10:45-48 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 11:15-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

When disciples of John the Baptist were re-baptized in Jesus name, Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. When they received the Holy Ghost they spoke in tongues.

Acts 19:1-6 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost [heard that the Holy Ghost was being poured out]. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Second, God uses tongues as one of the nine gifts of the Spirit.

1Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

The gifts of the Spirit are given to individuals for the profit of all. Thus, this use of tongues occurs as a message to the whole church body.

This gift of tongues needs to be combined with the gift of interpretation of tongues in order for the church to understand the message and be edified. Otherwise, only the person speaking is edified (built up, strengthened).

1Corinthians 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.

1Corinthians 14:17-19 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 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.

The Bible gives rules of order for this.

1Corinthians 14:27-28 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.

1Corinthians 14:39-40 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Everyone speaks in tongues when they receive the Holy Ghost, but not everyone speaks with the gift of tongues. This can be compared with faith and the GIFT of faith. Everyone that comes to God must have faith.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

However, not everyone is used in the GIFT of faith.

The key that distinguishes the GIFT OF TONGUES is that it is for the purpose of ministering to the church body, rather than to an individual. This holds true for all nine gifts of the Spirit. They are designed to operate when the whole church is come together. For example, the gift of prophecy includes anointed preaching, which is ministered to the “whole church” body.

1Corinthians 14:23-25 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? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Third, God uses tongues in prayer. When we have a feeling (“burden”) to pray for a person or situation and we do not know exactly what to pray, we can allow God to intercede in our prayer with tongues, speaking the words for us according to what God knows needs to be prayed.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Praying in tongues is also called praying “in the Spirit” and “praying in the Holy Ghost.”

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we have prayed all the words we can think of, the Lord can pray through us in tongues as the Spirit of God speaks through us in languages we have not learned. The Lord can speak through us precisely what the person or situation needs and that only Jesus may know about! What a blessing to ourselves and others!

Not only is receiving the Spirit of God essential, important, and useful in so many ways, so too is speaking in tongues. Satan would rather have us confused about this so that we would not receive the promises and blessings of God. But we are not ignorant of his devices!