A Video Bible Study on Speaking in Tongues

For those who are interested, this video is posted for your prayerful consideration and Biblical study. It is my fervent conviction that this experience is the closest a person will get to heaven on earth. Not just the initial experience, but the daily privilege found in the fellowship of the Spirit.

I pastor New Birth Church in Clinton on Springridge Road and invite you to join us in worship and Bible Study. If you are interested in a personal Bible Study or would like prayer to receive this experience, contact me or the church.

scottphillips@newbirth.us

The following notes are for your own personal use and study.

Mark 16
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall ....they shall speak with new tongues;

The Gift of the Holy Ghost that produces speaking in tongues in the believer and The Gift of Tongues are two separate experiences. The debate about the "Gift of Tongues" is for another day.

The case I am going to make is the devotional use of tongues in the believers life. The scripture is clear concerning the proper use of tongues in the assembly of the Church.

However there is much confusion about tongues in the individual believer.

Paul said the following about those who speak in tongues and there is no interpreter. In Paul's writing concerning tongues, he communicated the following intrinsic values.

Speaketh unto God 1 Corinthians 14:2
Speaketh mysteries
Your spirit prays1 Corinthians 14:14
You are edified, or built up.

Paul makes a clear delineation, when he prays in church if he prays in the spirit... he will pray with understanding also.

He makes this connection between praying in the spirit and praying in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 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.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 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.

Paul is not here or anywhere else advocating not speaking in tongues, but rather explains the intrinsic value and virtue found in exercising in this dimension of praying in the Spirit.


Jude 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,


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

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 † I would that ye all spake with tongues,

Many will discount this discussion because of a misapplication of scripture and an erroneous teaching concerning tongues. But let me challenge you in this.

Paul gave this Admonition in his teaching concerning tongues.

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

The following scripture has been misapplied and misinterpreted to this current dispensation.

However, I contend with you all to pray and study closely.

1 Corinthians 13

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


What is that which is perfect? This scripture is speaking of our Eternal experience we will find in heaven at the second coming of Christ. He is that which is perfect.

Do we not still know in part? Do we not still understand in part?

Do we not still look through a glass darkly?

To use this one isolated scripture to invalidate two chapters for the proper administration of the spiritual gifts does not make good biblical sense. Add to this, the Biblical record that shows this happening over and over again in the Book of Acts. Couple that with the phenomenal outpouring of the Spirit around the world today that is accompanies by people speaking in tongues.

Why would the Lord allow this much teaching and such a strong record of this experience in scripture... to invalidate it with one scripture?

Jesus promised something to all believers. It applies today.

I am so blessed to this experience of praying in the spirit. I believe it is a promise to all believers.

One of our Favorite scriptures as Christians, if read in context requires some spiritual interaction on our part.

Romans 8

26 † 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.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, becausee he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

If you do not experience and exercise Vs. 26 & 27, you will not enjoy the following to the fullest. The following is a product of spiritual exercise.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.