When you seek the answer, or seek knowledge, you
"seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...". (matthew 6:33)
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. (proverbs 1:6)
The fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction (proverbs 1:7)
So naturally you would and should begin with God's word. For it is profitable for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. (2 timothy 3:16)
Secondly, define what speaking in tongues means, thereby citing examples. 1corinthians
6 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?
7 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?
8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
9 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.
10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.
12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 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.
16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,
d say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
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.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
So clearly it is shown that one spoke in a tongue to build up the church and was done so according to the spirit. To be a witness to someone, and lead them to the Lord. It shows that these men from Galilee (Acts 2:7) spoke and they were heard in the language of the hearer for that purpose.
In reference to the beginning of Chapter 14 verse 2 I believe in Corinthians it states that IF WE SPEAK IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, that we are speaking to God, and not to men. It s for the purpose of edifying oneself that we speak in an unknown tongue to God (this is called praying if I'm not mistaken) and in verse 3 it talks of prophesying as the greater gift which is used for the edifying of the church, exhortation, and comfort. (Not tongues)
Beware false miracles.
Personally, I've been to many Pentecostal churches, and they seem to indeed have zeal for the Lord. But I know not the shape of another man's heart as the Lord does. I cannot say what one does in a church I have never seen or utterances which I have not heard. But my testimony is this:
Most, if not all people who claim to speak in tongues, really only speak gibberish. They have truly become so lost as the Gentiles are prophesied to be as "those who seek after signs". They drive people away from the church and fight with others as to the validity of it, when the very concept BIBLICALLY is said to be for self-edification. (Lifting oneself up, and in church might I add).
I am certain, that I have spoke in tongues before, but it wasn't anything like it is shown in Charismatic congregations. I was in deep prayer, probably a good twenty minutes at least at this point and I literally heard and felt a voice speaking that was not my own, but yet came from inside me at the same time. I felt words, that I could not express, that only resonated through me like an emotion or a feeling. A voice that said things that I could not say. As Pau pointed out from his vision where he was caught up in the spirit, there were things that were unlawful for man to say. And does not even James warn us that the tongue is an unruly evil full of deadly poison? I beseech thee to be temperate in all things, be humble. Because I have noticed that none prophesy, yet all speak in tongues with no interpreter. Concerned primarily with "gimme, gimme, gimme" and gifts; all the while missing the point of the gospel, which was?? TO PREACH IT!!! Sounds rather selfish and exactly what we were warned of. As if Corinthians were the only book in the Bible. I would not condemn you, as I have not. But that is my testimony. I love the Lord Jesus Christ with everything I am. I am sinner that he chose to have mercy upon. He pulled me from a darkness that was so deep and miserable I can't even express in words what depths it felt like, but he was there the whole time by my side. Just as David had said in Psalms, whether I had made my bed in heaven or hell, he was there. I encourage you to discern what is godly and righteous, from what is fake and idolatrous. The biggest idol (and first mentioned in the bible) we need to recognize is ourselves. Too many of us worship ourselves and not God. Even when we claim to worship God, most still really don't. How would I know? I've been there.
