Now there are diversities (various kinds) of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations (ministries), but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations (activities), but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal  1st Corinthians 12:4-7.

Divers kinds of tongues is supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker; it’s not understood by the mind of the speaker nor necessarily always understood by the hearer. It has nothing to do with the mind or the intellect of man.

God is the God of all nations, and He ministers to His people through the utterance of the gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues. On the day of Pentecost, after Peter and the mother of Jesus and other disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke with other tongues or a dialect other than the language they normally spoke. There is a difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is permanent, happening once and for all, but the filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing, occurring continuously.

The word translated tongues here is the normal Greek word for known languages. Speaking in “tongues” or diverse languages underscored the universal outreach of the church. These witnesses were speaking foreign dialects to the people who had gathered for Pentecost from other nations.  The Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages that they had not previously known.

Diverse Kinds of Tongues and individuals who are Spirit-filled praying in an unknown tongue are two different occurrences. An unknown tongue is speaking directly to God (For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit, he speaketh mysteries – 1st Corinthians 14:2). Whereas Divers Kinds of Tongues is speaking in another language such as French, Chinese, Spanish, languages that weren’t learned to an individual who speaks that language (And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue {language} wherein we were born – Acts 2:7-8). 

The people who had gathered for Pentecost were from about fourteen different nations, but they heard the  Apostles speak in their native language (Acts 2:9-11). The visitors probably expected the Apostles to use Aramaic or Greek, but instead, they heard their own dialect, and they knew this had to be a supernatural event that came from God. Sometimes God will use an individual to witness or to minister to an individual that speaks another language, and He will use the gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues.

This gift is for today’s believers, and God still manifests Himself through this gift through those who will yield themselves to the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave spiritual gifts to the body of Christ to use to edify the body of Christ. These gifts are not to be used as merchandise for sale; they are not to be misused in any form or fashion; these gifts are to be used to magnify God and to be a blessing to God’s people. Because of the dysfunction in some churches, the gifts aren’t being manifested because of offenses, unforgiveness, and the practice of sinful actions. God is not residing in the ministry, nor are the gifts.

The gifts of the Spirit are not just imparted at the church. If the individual is living a godly lifestyle, they can receive spiritual gifts in their home; this is not to say, one should stop attending church. The church was established by God for people to come and worship and gather with other believers. This is where the body of Christ will receive instructions from God through the minister. This is where spiritual growth begins and will continue as long as the believer is submitted and committed to God.