Has tongues ceased? Is it only meant for the spreading of the gospel in the book of acts?
1 Cor 13:8-10 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

**These verses seem to point out that tongues have ceased!
What is the context? It is when the PERFECT has come, tongues will cease.
PERFECT: many of us have been taught that this is when the entire bible has completed but in essence PERFECT refers to the day in which JESUS comes back again.
This day is identified in the same chapter
1 Cor 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then i shall know just as I also am known.
2 characteristics of the PERFECT day are:
1. we see God face to face (at the 2nd coming of Christ)
2. we know Jesus personally face to face in our glorified bodies (resurrection of the saints)
conclusion::**as such since the perfect has not come,gifts of the spirit are still being used to build up the church, tongues has not ceased.


1 Cor 12:30 says "Do all speak in tongues?" as such is it true that not all believers need to speak in tongues?
1 Cor 12: 29-31 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

What was Paul refering to in these verses?
These giftings listed above were gifts used for public ministry to edify the church as a whole. It is true that not all are called to be teachers or apostles or have the gift of healings. As such not all are called to the public ministry of speaking and intepreting tongues.
Here in the original greek the bible makes a distinction between 2 different greek words for the word "gift":
Dorea-this gift is given to all, such as tongues for personal prayer (baptism in the holy spirit)
Charisma-this gift consists of the 9 supernatural gifts used for public ministry to edify the church.

Lets look at the 4 different kinds of tongues

1. Tongues as a sign to an unbeliever (for public ministry- CHARISMA)
1 Cor 14:22 therefore tongues are a sign not to those who believe but to unbelievers

these kinds of tongues are those experienced in acts chpt 2 where on the day of pentacost. The holy spirit came upon the people in the upper room and they spoke in different earthly languages. This is the ability to speak in another earthly language (say french or german) that we had no previous ability or training to speak. This shows unbelievers a sign that God is real when they witness this miracle. As such following acts 2, many received salvation.

2. Tongues given for intepretation (for public ministry- CHARISMA)
1 Cor 14: 23
Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there comes in those who are uninformed or unbelievers will they not say that you are out of your mind?
1 Cor 14:13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may intepret.

These kinds of tongues are in a heavenly language not understood by natural men and needs intepretation in order to edify the church.

3. Tongues for personal prayer (praying in the spirit or baptism of the holy spirit- DOREA)
1 Cor 14: 14-15
For if i pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with understanding.

These tongues are not for public ministry (which needs intepretation) but for personal prayer. Your spirit prays through you in a heavenly language that your natural mind cannot comprehend.
What is the use of this?
Jude 20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the holy spirit.
It is to build up our spiritual life.

4. Tongues for intercession (Dorea)
Rom 8: 26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, becoz he makes intercession for the saints (you and I) according to the will of God.

This is needed in personal prayer when we are at a lost of what and how to pray. The holy spirit may led us to have a burden to pray specifically for a person who may be far away and needs divine intervention.

For myself personally, this occurred once when the holy spirit prompted me to pray for Adeline's eyes (she was going for a checkup the next day and she was very worried that she may go blind etc, she had stuff floating around in her vision) in the middle of the nit. Anyway i prayed for her in tongues till the burden lifted. Still remembered that I shared with her (at pizza place raffles city) about jesus being our healer during the day time. I believe that God's healing was for her.
Thankfully after that, the doc said that it would be alright if she left it alone and she wasnt so worried and afraid any longer...

A testimony given in john bevere's book was about Esther, his aust office manager. Who was led by the spirit to pray for a person in a vision. In this vision, she say a chinese man kneeling on a dirty floor moving his hands in a circular motion as if cleaning it. As she was praying she felt the urge to cry out: "get up! get up! get up!". After praying for awhile, she felt a released of the burden.
5 months later a New Zealand man who was a missionary in china came to the bible sch that esther was at to share a story about a chinese pastor who was persecuted in prison. This pastor was the very person cleaning to floor when he heard the holy spirit prompting him: "get up! get up! get up!". As he obeyed, he was able to walk out of the prison door as it was somehow unlocked. he walked undetected out of the prison courtyards (the guards somehow just couldnt see him) and outside of the maingate (which was also left ajar) was a taxi waiting for him!
WOW, what an incredible testimony that corresponded to Esther's prayer. If you guys have read this testimony, its actually in the book <> about the pst named bro yun.
The exact day he was released from prison corresponded exactly to when esther prayed!

conclusion: praying in tongues for personal prayer and intercession is certainly for all believers, embrace the gift of the baptism of the holy spirit. as christians we are called not to live out of lives in the natural only, god has given us the holy spirit as a helper! his gifts are to build up our spiritual walk! lets embrace not despise them!

love,