Acts 2:4 (Amplified) says, "And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) Languages (Tongues) as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression (in each tongues in appropriate words)."
Acts 10:44-46 (Amplified) says that, "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. And the believers from among the circumcised (the Jews) who came with Peter were surprised and amazed because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the gentiles. For they heard them talking in (unknown) tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God."
Acts 11:15-16 (Amplified) says, "When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning." Verse 16 says, "Then I recalled the declaration of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with (be placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:2-6 (Amplified) says, "And he asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed (on Jesus as the Christ)? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he asked into what (baptism) then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism." Verses 4-6 go on, "And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should believe in the One Who was to come after him, that, in Jesus (having a conviction full of joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah and being obedient to Him). On hearing this they were baptized (again, this time) in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in (foreign, unknown tongues) languages and prophesied."
These are only some on the scriptures concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit found in the Word. In each one, we find that when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the people, they spoke in tongues or different languages. They received the "gift" of tongues and others heard them in their own language. In Acts 2, the people spoke in "unknown tongues" that no one understood, so they were accused of being drunk.
The gift of tongues is used only as the "Spirit gives it." 1Corinthians 12:7 (Amplified) says, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the (Holy) Spirit (the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit) for good and profit."
The gift of tongues is a way to speak the Gospel to people of different language without the speaker having never learned or been taught this language himself. The speaking of the gift of tongues is to be used in the congregation in order to convey God's message to His Church. 1Corinthians 14:26-28,32 (Amplified) says, "What then brethren, is (the right course)? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a (strange) tongue, or an interpretation of it, (but) let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all." Verses 27-28 say, "If some speak in a (strange) tongue (gift of tongues) let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one (taking his) turn, and let one interpret and explain (what is said). But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and to God." Verse 32 goes on to say, "For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker's control (and subject to being silenced as may be necessary."
This may seem like a lengthy and different explanation of the difference between unknown tongues (the prayer language of the believer) and the gift of tongues where the Holy Spirit can speak through a person in a foreign language in order to reveal Jesus to someone of a different language or country.
Paul explains the unknown tongue in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) saying, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
The unknown tongue or language of the new, born again spirit, can now communicate with god in a language that can "bypass" his intellect. There will be no doubt, no unbelief, and no interference in his "perfect" prayer. Your spirit can ask for and receive things from the Father into your life, that the carnal mind knows nothing about. The new spirit man by passes your mind and feeds wisdom directly into his own spirit. 1Corinthians 14:4 (Amplified) says, "He who speaks in a (strange) tongue, edifies and improves himself."
This is the language of the spirit we use to commune with our Father, Who is a Spirit. We can commune Spirit to spirit, without interference. If the Father didn't believe we needed the unknown tongues, then He wouldn't have given it to us. This is a language of prayer that the devil cannot interfere with at all. You are speaking directly to God in an unknown tongue. The language isn't unknown to God, but it is unknown to your intellect and to the devil.
Does this mean that if you don't speak in tongues, then you are not saved? Of course not., because "All who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." But, tongues is certainly a tool of God to be used in the life of the believer for edification and building up our most holy faith and praying for others.
If the Lord woke you at 2a.m. to pray for me, then what would you pray? You don't know me. You don't know what I need. You don't even know if I'm in danger or where I'm at. What would you pray?
This is why 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) is so very precious to me. Thus, it says, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
It's a wonderful thing to be able to pray in the Spirit for others, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, without my even having to be concerned whether it's God's will because it's God Who is actually praying through me.
One unknown language is God speaking through a person to His people and the other is your spirit speaking to God through the Holy Spirit. Both are grace and spirit for the individual and the Church. BOTH ARE GOD. If I am limited in my prayer life because of my own language, then I can't always ask for what I need in my spirit. I have needs in my spirit that my mind cannot understand. Now, "Ask and you shall receive" is unlimited to my spirit.
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