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How does one interpret Tongues? This is the question that I hear most often about Speaking in Tongues.
Tongues, for our purposes here has its first mention in the book of Mark, reading:
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)
If you are a believer, you should be speaking in Tongues.
The second mention of Tongues is in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
Speaking in Other Tongues is introduced to the 120 visitors to that Upper Room meeting that day. Those gathered there were from different areas and spoke different languages (tongues). They heard their languages as being spoken by those who did not know their language (vs 5-11).
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (Vs 12)
Peter said to them:
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:16-18)
The essence of the pouring out of the Spirit of God is Tongues. He pours it out incessantly (Acts 2:33). Visions, Dreams, Anointing, Light, Revelation, Faith, Prophecy, Power, Healing, Deliverance, Wisdom, Shalom and much more are the by-production of this “Living Water” (John 7:38).
God works by His Word (John 1:1-4). The purest form of His Word is Tongues or as He is commonly called, Unknown Tongues.
The primary use of Tongues equates to Him proclaiming those things which He decrees through His Mouthpiece; His Body, the Church even the Church Members (The Saints).
These transactions are meant to be done in private. Even when “Speaking in Tongues” happens in the church building during the Assembly it should occur in ones “own space”.
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 Corinthians 14:19)
The Bible tells us that when “Speaking in Tongues in the “open” Assembly there is to be the “Interpretation of Tongues”.
The Bible says this:
If any man speaks 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 14:27-28)
Tongues (divers kinds of Tongues with the word divers being added by the translator) with Interpretation of Tongues is equal to Prophecy. These Spoken Manifestations are given for the edification (building up), exhortation (encouraging) and comfort of the Local Assembly.
One simple thing to remember is that when Tongues or Divers Kinds of Tongues with the Interpretation of Tongues happens GOD IS ALWAYS IN THE ROOM.
God is in the room giving the Utterance when meditational Prayer in the Spirit or when Ministerial Tongues with Interpretation happens.
HE IS GIVING THE UTTERANCE. We, His Body are a co-laborer. His Spirit works through our spirit with the natural tongue being the mechanical part or necessary apparatus for the execution. HE GIVES THE INTERPRETATION.
We do well to keep our minds (souls) out of this Spiritual/spiritual transaction.