Pentecost means 50. It is 50 days after the first Sabbath after Passover. It's exactly 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, when Pentecost had "fully come," it was on the exact 50th day.
Acts 2:2 – And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Verse 3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire and one sat upon each of them. (Verse 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
They began to speak with other languages. Tongues are a "Language." Speaking in tongues is not "jibberish," it is a language.
Acts 2:5, 6 – And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (Verse 6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
Here are some myths about speaking in tongues, untruths. (1) You start speaking it fluently the first day! The Bible does not say that they spoke "fluently" on the day of Pentecost. It says the people that were gathered from every nation "Heard fluently" in their own language, because they yielded their tongue to the Holy Spirit. Isn't it amazing that the first thing the Holy Spirit changes when He comes, is the tongue. In addition, they had to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Think about it like this: We don't start speaking any language fluently. Neither do babies speak fluently when they start to talk.
(2) Myth – You can't control it! People think they just go into a trance and start speaking in tongues – false! Think a minute about some of the other gifts of the Holy Spirit; can you just start teaching without studying or preparing, or practicing? Can you control the gift of teaching? Can you control the gift to prophesy? We can control the other gifts, so why not the gift of speaking in tongues? Is it not an act of our will by cooperating with the Holy Spirit?
Now here is the third myth: It's just going to jump out of my mouth? Some people think, "If God sees fit, He'll give me this gift!" Hold on, we have been given all the gifts of the Holy Spirit already. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Tongues are a language. It is a language of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2 – For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God for no one understands him; however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
My question is: "How many people pray only with their own understanding? How many prayers are not being fulfilled because they pray with only what they understand? Is it possible that the Spirit has more understanding than we do? Yes, does not the Bible say that the Spirit knows all things? If you're not praying in tongues, then your prayers are limited because you're praying only what you understand and know.
Have you been told that speaking in tongues is of the devil or tongues are not for today? Many have, and that places a stronghold in them that won't allow them to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit. It's the same if you don't believe in healing or miracles. Those strongholds have to be broken in order to receive. You have to "yield" your tongue to the Spirit. A breakthrough will come after being obedient to the Spirit – yielding.
In case you didn't know, this is part of our "Armor!" The armor of God – Ephesians 6:17, 18 – and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Jude, verse 20 says – But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that you are losing some battles because you're not building yourself up spiritually? Is it possible you're losing some battles because you're not putting on your whole armor of God? We are spirit, soul, and body. Are you only praying through your soul, which is your will, mind, and emotions?
This is a pure language. Look at Genesis 11 verse 1 – Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. So what language was that? Some say it was Hebrew, but it's not until the next chapter that God calls Abram, Abraham. Is it possible that this one language was a heavenly language? Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, was it a heavenly language?
Think about this: God said, "Nothing they propose to do will be withheld from them." In other words: "We better take this "one" language away from them, because with this language "all things are possible!" Isn't it possible that whatever they prayed for, nothing would be withheld from them. Those would be spiritual prayers. This is where all the languages are formed when He confused their speech and scattered them all over the earth.
Now look at this. This is talking about when Jesus comes and the Holy Spirit comes. Zephaniah 3:9 – "For then I will restore to the peoples, a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord." Remember on the day of Pentecost, they were all with one accord. Zephaniah said, "Restore!" He didn't say, "I'll give", or "I'll create," he said, "Restore!" I'll give back the language, the pure language, that nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them!
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 12:8, 9, lists the nine gifts, manifestations of the Spirit; wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. So if you believe in healing or even miracles, why would you disregard the speaking in tongues? Don't throw away what God gives!