| Speaking in Tongues |
Speaking in TonguesA VALID SCRIPTURAL EXPERIENCE
The New Testament church started in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in 33 AD. Those in the upper room were filled with power from the Holy Ghost. This power was the Spirit of God that came to dwell inside of them, giving them the ability to speak a language they did not know. The Bible calls this Speaking with Tongues. Some say only the 12 apostles received Holy Ghost baptism, but the Bible says:
Acts 2:4 says they were all filled—all 120 received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and they all spoke with tongues. The Holy Ghost is still falling today.
The Holy Ghost baptism was poured out on Jews (God's chosen people) and gentiles (you and me) alike. The Jews were the people of the circumcism; the gentiles were the people of the uncircumcism.
How did they know they got the Holy Ghost? How could they tell the Holy Ghost was poured out on the gentiles as well as themselves?
Much of the mysticism and doubt surrounding the baptism of the Holy Ghost—Speaking with Tongues—can be alleviated by simply taking the Word of God at face value and believing it. Additionally, tradition must be extracted from the mind. It is a powerful deterrent to truth which can keep us from receiving the powerful truth of God. Some think that when they believe on the Lord they are automatically filled with the Spirit right then, that very moment they believe. This is not what the Bible teaches. It is one thing to believe, yet another thing to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The people in Acts 19:2 believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the question was asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?" It takes more than just believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. In spite of the fact these people had believed on the Lord, and in spite of the fact they had been baptized, their belief in the Lord was not enough, and their baptism—since it was not in the name of Jesus—was not sufficient.
Repentance alone is not enough. Belief alone is not enough.
Gentile believers in Ephesus received the Holy Ghost and they spoke with tongues. Jews received the Holy Ghost in Acts 2 and 4 and they spoke with tongues. Gentiles received the Holy Ghost in Acts 10:46 and they spoke with tongues. Disciples received the Holy Ghost in Acts 19:6 and they spoke with tongues. The Bible teaches that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established. It is to become an established principle of truth in our lives. The initial sign or evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost is Speaking with Tongues. When a person receives (or is filled, or is baptized) with the Holy Ghost, no matter where they live, no matter what their race, creed or color, and no matter what nation they are from, they will speak with tongues. This is the external outward evidence or manifestation that a person has received the Holy Ghost. The Bible consistently shows that when we receive the Holy Ghost, then Speaking with Tongues will be evidenced as a sign.
In the New Testament, Paul refers to Isaiah 28:11 in the Old Testament. He is saying that Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled.
Other Scriptures:
John 3:8 (above) says receiving the Holy Ghost baptism is always accompanied by a sound. God said He would give his Spirit to all. It is not just for some people and not for others.
"As the Scriptures hath said”—Jesus said that believing and faith has to be according to the Scriptures, according to the Word of God. If we believe according to the Scriptures, and not the notions of men, then out of our inner most being will flow rivers of living water. People often confuse Speaking with Tongues with the Gift of Tongues. These are two entirely different things, and it is important for us to know the difference so that we will not become confused. Receiving the Holy Ghost, evidenced by Speaking with Tongues, is not the same as receiving the Gift of Tongues. The entire chapters of Corinthians 12 and 14 deal with the matter of spiritual gifts. Paul includes the Gift of Tongues as part of God's spiritual gifts to the Church in I Corinthians 12:8-12. Remember that this book of the Bible was talking to people who had already been baptized in Jesus name and who had already received the Holy Ghost, evidenced by Speaking with Tongues. Speaking with other tongues is the sign/evidence that a person has been filled/baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is a language that already exists somewhere in the world and, yet, is a language which is unknown and/or previously unspoken by the person seeking the Holy Ghost. The Gift of Tongues is a spiritual gift and can only be given to someone who is already filled with the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by Speaking in Tongues. It is a language that does not exist in this world, as it is of God. Everyone who received the Holy Ghost in the New Testament spoke with tongues, including all the disciples and Mary, mother of Jesus (Acts 1).
They all spoke with tongues upon receiving the Holy Ghost. If they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues at the beginning of the church, why should it be any different today? God's plan for salvation today is the very same as it was back then. His Word has not changed. He said His Word is settled. It is established and will stay the same forever. Even if nobody followed it, God's Word would stay the same, His plan would stay the same, and all would be judged by what “Thus, saith the Lord.” Those who have modernized God's Word and/or are following a form of His Word will be held accountable on the day of Judgment. The Holy Spirit is still falling. The Holy Spirit is still being poured out just as it was on the day of Pentecost in that upper room in Jerusalem. It is still accompanied by a sound, by Speaking in Tongues. |
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