The Purpose for Tongues

Pastor Ernest L. Williams Sr. • October 2, 2021

We will start with 1 Cor 13:8 – 10, 12. Before that consider in Acts, all of the mentioning of

baptism and speaking in tongues.


  •  Acts 2: only the apostles speak in tongues.


  •  Acts 3: no reference to tongues


  •  Acts 4: the church grew to 5000. The Holy Spirit gives “boldness” of speech. See Acts

1:8, “Ye shall receive power…”


  •  Acts 8: they speak in tongues who are saved.


  •  Acts 10: they speak in tongues who are saved


  •  Acts 16: no reference to tongues in conversion.


  •  Acts 19: Paul’s conversion; no reference to tongues.


  •  All the above scriptures reference baptism in conversion with the exception of Acts 3 and


  • Acts 4, which seems to be general statements.


A question that I have received for years is on the topic of spiritual gifts. Is speaking in

tongues a requirement for salvation? Are there still apostles today? Does God still give men the

ability to heal? A good place to start is 1 Cor 13:8 – 10, 12. There Paul argues that three of the

spiritual gifts will “cease.” Paul uses the word cease, which in this case means “will be

completed.” The three gifts are prophesy, tongues, and knowledge. All prophesy is fulfilled and

has ceased (completed) in Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1 – 2). There is no prophesy beyond Christ, he is

the first and the last. Likewise, all knowledge is about him. The completion of the word of God

(the Bible) contains all knowledge that God has given to man. Thus, all knowledge is completed

(ceased). To say that all knowledge and prophesy is complete means that it must be rejected

today when anyone speaks about receiving a revelation from God. All revelation, knowledge,

and prophesy are contained within the pages of the sixty-six inspired books of the Bible.

Regarding tongues, the purpose of tongues was to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah

concerning Israel:


21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto

this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.


22 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 14:21 – 22, Is 28:11, 12.)


On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were endowed by the Holy Spirit to speak in other

languages that they had never spoken before neither learned prior. Speaking by the direction of

the Holy Spirit, the apostles were able to preach the gospel in different languages, whereby those

who were in attendance were able to hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2).


Going back to 1 Cor 13:9, 10, Paul speaks about prophesy and knowledge being in part

but when that is “perfect is come,” then that which is in part shall be done away. Notice further

in 1 Cor 13:12, 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. New Testament scholars are uncertain to

the exact meaning of these verses. Three possibilities. One, when Paul speaks about when that

which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…now I know in part; but

then shall I know even as also I am known, that Paul may be referring to the Parousia (The

Second Coming). Secondly, this could be a reference to death. Thirdly, the reference could speak

to the completion of the word of God as being perfect. I accept all three as being possible

answers to the meaning of the language. Currently, the third notion is most beneficial for us.


Following the historical discourse, the apostolic authority of signed gifts diminished as the

apostles died. When the canon of scripture was complete, all knowledge and the words of

prophesy were all contained within sixty-six inspired writings.


Paul applies the same teaching to tongues as he does knowledge and prophesy (1 Cor 13).


Paul devotes a considerable amount of time about tongues in chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 1

Corinthians.


Does a believer have to speak in tongues in order to be saved? NO


 In 1 Cor 12:29 – 31, Paul raises rhetorical questions with the implied answer of No. 29 Are

all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the

gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best

gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. In verse 30, Paul is clear, not all will

speak in tongues. He says to covet the best gifts (verse 31), but he only tells us one of

them, prophesy (1 Cor 14:1, 39). In 1 Cor 12:31, Paul states that he will show you a more

excellent way. The next verse that follows is the first verse in 1 Corinthians 13. Paul’s

“more excellent way” is love coupled with faith and hope. The prophesy in 1 Corinthians

14 more than likely resembles our preaching today (see 1 Cor 14:3).


Does being filled with the Spirit imply speaking in tongues?


Upon conversion, at that very moment, the individual receives the Holy Spirit.


13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,


whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor

12:13).


Being filled with the Spirit does not necessarily imply sign gifts. In Ephesians 5:18, the believer

is to be “filled” with the Holy Spirit. To be led or baptized by the Spirit is a one-time act of God.

To be filled by the Spirit is a continuous repeated process.


18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit

To “be filled” here is a command from the imperative voice in the Greek. It means to be guided

by or to be put under controlled. Thus, to “be filled” does not imply speaking in tongues.


Two Reasons Why Tongues Were Given


  • To authenticate the apostles’ message. 1
  • A sign of judgment to unbelieving Israel.

Our Sermons

How do I project Jesus through me in my community?

By Pastor Ernest L. Williams, Sr. • January 20, 2023
How do I project Jesus through me in my community? How to take Jesus to the street? Tuesday, September 6, 2022 A. Be Intentional (Ephesians 4) 1. Start by telling the truth (stop lying), vs. 15. 2. Put off the old man and put on the new man, vv. 22, 24, 25. 3. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, v. 23. 4. Learn how to get angry without sinning, v. 26. 5. Stop being lazy, stealing and get a job, v. 28. 6. If you don’t have anything encouraging to say, shut up! V. 29. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” B. Be Available (Mark 5:18, 19) 1. How to take Jesus to the street? First, we must get him in the home. 2. Booker T. Washington said, “Cast down your bucket where you are!” No need to do anything extra, in the areas where you reside and work or go to school or serve, live for Christ. In Mark 5, the Lord healed a lunatic man who lived among the tombs. This man wanted to be with Jesus. “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mk 5:19). 3. The woman at the well was available. 4. When the Lord got ready to enter into Jerusalem, Jesus told two of his disciples that they would find a colt and its ass tied. Jesus told his disciples to loose him and let him go. The colt was available. A Roman centurion, who had great faith was available. Even the rooster that crowed when Peter denied the Lord, was available. Jesus calmed the waves and the wind one day: even the winds and the sea were availability. 5. Jesus told Peter and John to go into Jerusalem and they would see a man bearing a pitcher of water. The man was available. C. Be Relevant 1. Jesus, the apostles, and the NT writers addressed issues that people were facing and could relate to. Many in our Christian circles are not reaching people because our methods, not message, are out of date. It took a pandemic to force many of our churches to use technology. 2. Why is it that many of our churches are one man shows with just one pastor that is hired by the church. We need to have an elder board with various “paid” pastors on staff to meet the growing needs of our community. Our business model in the church does not work. Here is one reason why it doesn’t work: It's not biblical! 3. Jesus came to die for sinners because that was and still is the current pandemic: sin. However, the church focuses more on the cross and little emphasis is placed on the fact that Jesus will return to receive his church. Our message, if it is to be relevant, must be balanced. Conclusion  Let us learn to pray this prayer before we leave the home: Lord provide the platform for me to let you shine through me. Lord I give my mind, my abilities, my words, and my deeds as service to you in this day. Lord, help me to be available for my spouse, family, pastor, church family, to people in my community, those on my job, school, or to a stranger that I may meet today. Father, I know that no encounter is an accident. So, Lord, help me to be intentional with my words, thoughts, and actions, that I may minister grace to the hearers and so someone will come to know the love of your Son Jesus Christ through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Three Signs of a Joyful Spirit: Live, Give, and Forgive

By Pastor Ernest L. Williams, Sr. • January 20, 2023
The Three Signs of a Joyful Spirit: Live, Give, and Forgive Luke 6:20 – 38 September 4, 2022 Ernest L. Williams, Sr. In some translations, the word in Greek for “blessed” is translated as “happy.” Could Jesus be saying to the crowd in his sermon on the plains to be happy? (See v. 17 compared to Matthew’s sermon on the Mount, Matt 5). True joy contains living, giving, and forgiving. Illustration Proverbs on laughter. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Prov 17:22). A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (Prov 15:13). All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast (Prov 15:15).  Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad (Prov 12:25). Dea. Jacque’s funnies!  Three surprises in heaven! 1. LIVE a. In verses 21 to 26, Jesus speaks to true blessings, but he also balances a happy life with warnings. 2. GIVE a. In verses 28 – 35, Jesus speaks to the nature of giving. b. A true sign of a person’s joy is seen in their giving. c. Paul speaks of allowing yourself to be defrauded in order to win souls for Christ: Luke 6:28, 29; compare with 1 Cor 6:7. i. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? d. The Golden Rule, v. 31. e. Give, looking for nothing in return, vv. 32 – 35. 3. FORGIVE a. Verses 36 – 36. b. One attribute of forgiveness is giving. Conclusion Vv. 22 – 23. We rejoice because our reward is in heaven. Job said, “my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high” (Job 16:19). Jesus told the disciples after they had returned from preaching and healing, that they should rejoice not because of what they could do, but rejoice because their names have been written in heaven. I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free. His eyes are on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me!
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