The Bible is clear that this wonderful gift has divine purposes. What are they?

Paul Walker in the Spirit-filled Life Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2018) lists eleven (p. 1944).

The NIV is used here. For more translations, please go to biblegateway.com.

1.. The gift unique to the church (1 Cor. 12:28; 14:21), while other gifts were also in the Old Testament, like miracles, and prophecy and healing;

²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  (1 Cor. 12:28)

²¹ In the Law it is written:

2.. Fulfillment prophecy (Is. 28:11; 1 Cor. 14:21);

See the Scriptures in no. 1.

3.. Witness to the resurrection and glorification of Jesus (John 16:7; Acts 2:26-28);

⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)

²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.
²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ (Acts 2:26-28)

4.. Sign of Spirit-immersion-baptism (Acts 10:44-46; 19:4-6);

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Acts 10:44-46)

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:4-6)

This is the standard belief of Pentecostals. Others in the Renewal Movement, teach that tongues may be a sign, but it is not necessarily the sign.

5.. Self-edification (1 Cor. 14:4; Jude 20);

⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Cor. 14:4)

²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, (Jude 20)

6.. Church edification with interpretation (1 Cor. 14:5);

⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,  but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Cor. 14:5)

7.. Communication with God in private worship (1 Cor. 14:15);

¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. (1 Cor. 14:15)

8.. Intercession through us (Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 14:14; Eph. 6:18). When the believer does not know how to pray in his first language, Spirit-inspired language is the perfect prayer and praise since the Spirit is the one praying and praising through the mind of the speaker.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Rom. 8:26)

¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (! Cor. 14:14)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph. 6:18)

9.. Rejoicing in the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-19);

¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. (1 Cor. 14:15)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, (Eph. 6:18-19)

10.. Rest and refreshing (Is. 28:11-12; 1 Cor. 14:21)

¹¹ Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
    God will speak to this people,
¹² to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”—
    but they would not listen. (Is. 28:11-12)

²¹ In the Law it is written:

11.. Confirmation of the preached Word of God (1 Cor. 14:22; Acts 10:44-46);

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.  (1 Cor. 14:22)

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Acts 10:44-46)

Conclusion

Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:38-39 that the outpouring in Acts 2:1-4 is for them back then and for all who are far off into the future and spread around geographically—you and me. He will learn later that Cornelius, a Gentile (non-Jew), will receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit with a Spirit-inspired language (Acts 10:34-35). Acts 2:1-4 can happen to us, either exactly the same or in modified form, tailor made for us.

How does this post help me grow in Christ?

I wrote the following in another post.

The Spirit launches you out. Picture it this way.

Imagine that you are in a big international airport. You have two ways to get to your next flight. You can take the conveyer belt or walk next to it. You sensibly choose the conveyer belt, and you even walk on it while it is moving forward. The belt and motor driving it empowers, carries, and propels you forward. This is like Spirit baptism-immersion and Spirit-inspired language. Not the same thing, though often connected. Others who choose to walk without the conveyer belt are moving forward, because they have been born again, but you enjoy faster progress because you have been baptized-immersed with power in the Spirit.

If you got your prayer language, use it! You will be propelled forward in your walk with God and service! If a sin or habit keeps holding on, then regularly using your Spirit-inspired language will loosen its grip on you because your spirit is built up and your Spirit-inspired prayers work its way to your flesh and withers away besetting sins.

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