Jun 4

Written by: Adrian Wright
Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:20:26 GMT

Q: I just wanted to know what your opinion about tongues. what is the purpose of it, can every1 do it, if you cant are you a Christian?

A: HERE IS WHAT I READ IN THE BIBLE ABOUT TONGUES:

Firstly, there is a difference between Tongues as a GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and Tongues as a PRAYER LANGUAGE. 

1 Corinthians 12:7 - 10, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL: for to one is given... DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES." (This is the Gift)

Jude 1:20, "But you, beloved, BUILDING YOURSELVES UP on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. (This is the prayer language)

So here you see that THE GIFT OF TONGUES is to profit all - meaning it when Christians gather together and God wants to supernaturally bring a message to the congregation, He could do it through tongues, which then need to be interpreted. So this is not for everyone, in fact it will be whoever the Holy Spirit chooses in that service or group.

PRAYING IN TONGUES however is a prayer language FOR EVERYONE since it is a private prayer language which builds up our own faith. 

1 Corinthians 14:18-19, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others..." 

Romans 8:26, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words."

1 Corinthians 14:14, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand."

(THIS ABOVE VERSE PROVES THAT PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT MEANS PRAYING IN TONGUES)

Ephesians 6:18, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion."

In the book of Acts:

We see in Acts 8 that there are 3 EXPERIENCES for Christians:

1. Salvation
2. Baptism in Water
3. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

READ ACTS 8, AND YOU'LL SEE THE SAMARITANS WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT SOME TIME AFTER THEY WERE BAPTISED IN WATER.

There are also many other examples in Acts of how people were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. 

THE PURPOSE OF TONGUES:

1. Initial evidence of being filled with the Spirit (Acts 10:43-46)
2. To Build up your Faith (Jude 1:20) 
3. To Pray the perfect will of God (Romans 8:28)
4. To Pray for/against things you are unaware of (Romans 8:28)

CAN EVERYONE DO IT?

All BELIEVERS can speak in tongues, if they receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by faith. 

John 14:17, "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him." 

So you have to be a believer BEFORE you can receive the Holy Spirit. 

IF YOU A CHRISTIAN IF YOU CAN'T?

If you are a true believer you CAN, so there is no believer who CAN'T - unless they are NOT asking God for it, and believing for it. 

Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

NB: You CAN be a Christian and know God and HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT without being sealed with the Holy Spirit Baptism. You're just missing out on the POWER FROM ON HIGH (ACTS 1:8).

John 14:17, "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; BUT YOU KNOW HIM, for He dwells WITH YOU and WILL BE IN YOU."

You can have the Spirit with you and not in you.

But why not have ALL that God has given to you?

Ok I guess that turned out to be an essay...

Hope it helps, 

Adrian

 

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