5 interesting things you probably don’t know about spiritual gift

This is probably due to its mysterious nature which has led to conflicting opinions surrounding it. While others would kill for it, others prefer to be without it.

Pulse Religion is here to shed to some light on this issue. Here are five interesting things you probably don’t know about speaking in tongues.

1. It manifests for the first time in the Book of Acts

The term ‘speaking in tongues’ comes to life on the Day of Pentecost seen in Acts 2.

Verses 1–4 say, “When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Prior to this, the term is seen in Mark 16:17, which says, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.”

2. “Tongues” seen in Acts were real languages

These days, speaking in tongues usually refers specifically to divine languages that no one understands.

On Pentecost day, the tongues that were received were actual languages spoken by real human beings.

This explains the crowd’s reaction in Acts 2: 5–11, which says, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language."

“Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Fun fact — the Greek word translated “tongues” is glossa and it means “languages.”

ALSO READ: 'Is speaking in tongues falsehood?' - Daddy Freeze asks

3. Speaking in tongues has at least four uses

This special gift serves four different purposes; prayer, praise, thanksgiving and a form of upliftment.

Paul refers to it as a form of prayer when he says that it “speaks not to men but to God” (See 1 Cor. 14:2).

It is seen as a form of praise in 1 Cor. 14:15 and a way to offer thanks in 1 Cor. 14:16–17.

Paul describes it as a way to uplift and strengthens oneself in 1 Cor. 14:4, which says, “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”

4. It is available to everyone

This is communicated in 1 Cor. 14:5 where Paul writes, “Now I want you all to speak in tongues.”

However, it is important to add that the dispersion of this gift is as the Holy Spirit wills.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 explains: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just

5. Speaking in Tongues is mentioned 35 times

There are at least 35 passages which mention speaking in tongues.

They include: Acts 19:6, 1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:23, 1 Corinthians 14:27–28, 1 Corinthians 12:8–11, 1 Corinthians 13 and chapter 14.