Must I speak in tongues to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit?

dear brother, you don't have to speak in tongues, not everyone who is baptised in the Holy Spirit speaks in tongues, and you are no less saved or less baptised if you don't speak in tongues. Lots of churches have LOADS of people who don't speak in tongues but are Christians and the Holy Spirit is working in their lives in most amazing ways which is fabulous really.
God is not rejecting you, He would never do that, maybe He is trying to reach you in other ways and show you who He is before you find out which gift is for you. I don't know what other gifts God has for me yet, so you're not the only one! don't be discouraged, you are saved and love the Lord which is wonderful! I'm so glad you are saved and part of the family

Yes

Hi nephilimiyr

I agree with Maxer, although speaking in tongues is a sign of Baptism in the Holy Spirit (the most common one), the fact that you are not speaking in tongues DOES NOT mean that you have not received your baptism. This is where faith comes in, you have to believe, in faith, that you have received it (the first time you were prayed over to receive it, it's yours now, you don't lose it when you leave God for a while - I know because I did, but never lost my ability to speak in tongues. So I don't believe you need to have prayer again to receive it). Now, I believe that God gives us the desires of our hearts and it is obviously your desire to speak in tongues, so my advice is to seek God for it. And being baptised or not does not impact on the fact that you are saved. I think of it as a bonus. God IS NOT rejecting you. I find that sometimes God witholds the things we ask Him for from us in order for us to learn lessons from Him. That's why I say to seek Him for the answer. This is a time for you to draw closer to Him, not drift away. And speak to your pastor about it, he/she can help you.

Just a quick story, my Mum had a really similiar story to yours in that she was baptised but did not speak in tongues. It took some prayer and seeking God for answers as to why, because she wanted it, and God revealed a really deep and ongoing issue of her childhood that was sort of acting as an emotional barrier to her receiving and once she was prayed over and received healing she was able to receive the gift of speaking in tongues.

That's why you need to seek God about it, but please, don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's sin that's stopping you from receiving it, since we are all sinners those that speak in tongues and those that don't, I don't believe that God witholds His gifts from us for this reason if we are genuine with Him and you obviously are. I am going to be praying for you, I have found the ability to speak in tongues a tremendous gift in my life and I wish and pray for you to receive it as well.

enoch son said:

Yes

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Wrong answer here.....Those who are saved and have received the baptism in the spirit don't always have to speak in tongues to show that they have been saved, Go back and reread maxer's post.

Hey

You are baptized in the Holy Spirit. God says that when you ask him he will give.. So even though you backslided and did wrong things and didn't speak in tongues... He did baptize you the first time in the Spirit

After I was Spirit filled it took a few months before I spoke in tongues.. But I never doubted that I was spirit filled.. And no God will not withheld his spirit because of Sin in your life.. Infact he will want to baptize you all the more then since the Holy Spirit will help you against the sin. My life was in a real big mess at that stage

I don't know if somebody will agree but I would say the first thing that happen when you are spirit filled is that your spirit comes alive.. You begin to "see" God in a real way.. Your love for him increase and you faith increases. But I believe the degree of this will differ between people.

About tongues. Well I believe you can speak in tongues, but If you don't don't worry. Remeber the Holy Spirit is gentle and will not force tongues into your mouth or something. He will not move your mouth for you. And infact.. It's your spirit that prays.. not the Holy Spirit. Just don't worry about this. God will lead you to this.
Please don't feel rejected when this doesn't happen...

Black Sheep said:

Wrong answer here.....Those who are saved and have received the baptism in the spirit don't always have to speak in tongues to show that they have been saved, Go back and reread maxer's post.

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I don't think so my friend. When one is baptism in the Holy Spirit the tongues will come. As for being saved only the blood can do that. But one must be saved to get the infilling.

I do not believe you HAVE to speak in tongues to prove you are Baptised/filled with the Holy Spirit. Many that are spirit-filled do speak in tongues (mainly in prayer language only)... but not all do, and those who do not aren't any less spirit-filled.

That does not line up with acts 2-4 "they all spoke as the spirit gave then utterance."

enoch son said:

That does not line up with acts 2-4 "they all spoke as the spirit gave then utterance."

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That's because that verse is during the day of Penetocost or close to it.

nephilimiyr said:

I lost my faith over ten years ago because I was being taught that in order to be baptised in the Holy Spirit I had to speak or pray in tongues. I did consider myself saved and very much did love the Lord but I knew I had to recieve the baptism. Whenever I went forward to recieve the baptism I did feel the presence of God but never did I speak in tongues. I felt God was rejecting me and slowing but surely became entrenched in sin to the point where I hated myself, blameing both myself and God. I felt it was because of sin that He was not accepting me but from what I understood was that the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to give us power over sin so I was very much confused and still am!

Since than, or about 2 years ago I was feeling empty. I was deep into sin and felt my life comeing apart. I rededicated my life to him but never have asked again for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I'm trying hard to live the christian life but I still feel there is something missing. That feeling of not being full in the spirit has led me to learning about all kinds of theologies and although this has help to fill part of that void I still don't feel full.

This brings me to the point of the thread. I feel once again that I need the indwelling of the Spirit of God but I'm afriad that once again God will reject me for some reason. I don't want to go to a church, walk up in front and pray for the Holy Spirit only to find that I will not speak in tongues. Now since this is the charismatic forum can I please get knowledge from some of you on whether or not I must speak in tongues. The only real pentacostal church I know of in town is The Assemblies of God and from what I gather they say that the speaking in tongues is a necessary manifestation of the Baptism. Is this true? I truely love the Lord and I don't think I could take another try at the baptism and end up not speaking in tongues. My heart will break if this happends all over again and I'm scared that if I do try this again and the same thing happends I will end up falling into sin again, just like the last time.

PLEASE HELP!!!

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My brathah...be encouraged. I'm not debating this with anyone, but I have been where you are. You have to remember there is a receiving of the Holy Spirit at conversion and a baptism for power also (this IS signified by the speaking in other tounges) But be encouraged...I too went for many years without this, but I experienced the presence of God like never before. I didn't know there was a presence of God, or a baptism. Sadly the church stops at a certain level, and scoffs at any power. God Wants you to have the power also, but remember, when you received Jesus as savior, his Spirit came to indwell you.

Remember Jesus came into the Disciples and breathed on them and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost"...Don't worry about the baptism currently, develop your RELATIONSHIP to JESUS to a DEEP level. Get in the word, pray, get sincere with God...I'm sure you are. You'll continue to know his presence, and that comes by repenting continually, and living in his WORD.

Remember the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes for POWER. Jesus said "go, TARRY, at Jerusalem, until you be endued with POWER from on high". THIS WILL COME TO YOU, my brother...you are NO LESS a child of God than anyone else currently, God wants to give this to you also "God sent forth his spirit into our hearts crying Abba, father". This is probably not going to come going down to the alter crying out the Name Jesus for 1/2 hour every Sunday. This may very well come in a time of prayer or worship privately. God Loves you and has given you his spirit if you've been born again, he desires to give you liberally all good things. Remember this, and not, "god doesn't like me"...your faith must be in the Word, and that Jesus died for us and commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

You will use this as your prayer language, Paul says that it is your spirit that is praying, or Praying in the Spirit, and when it prays with groanings that can't be uttered (sometimes we really don't know what to pray for) he prays the PERFECT will of GOD FOR US!!!!! Just develop your relationship with him, and say Lord, "you're for me, who can be against me", I know you have desired that I prosper in this life, and you want to give me all good things. Your faith will increase, and you will receive. Don't worry if it's not today or tomorrow, just keep loving him ,and keep the love of Christ in your heart.

Remember the fruit is more of an evidence that we are his than a sign (tongues). But seek after God with your whole heart, and he will be found.

Be encouraged! You are a child of God.

nephilimiyr said:

Funny, I knew this would turn into a debate.

The passage escapes me now but doesn't paul say that without the gift of interpretation of what has been spoken in tongues he askes what good it will do? Wouldn't that cover the thought that everyone has to speak in tongues who have been baptised in the Holy Spirit?

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Yes paul was saying that IN THE CHURCH, if there is no interpretation, the church is not edified. He wasn't against speaking in tongues, as he said "I speak in tongues more than ye all, but rather in the house of God I'd rather edify"...he says if one speaks in an unknown tongue and there is no interpreter, let him continue because he speaketh to God mysteries inthe spirit. He himself is edified, but in the house of God I'd rather speak in plain language that the Church may be edified.


You will use your gift privately much more than in church. This church had placed such an emphasis on the supernatual gift, that not much edifying was going on. Paul was saying hey, when you come together family of God, do so to edify each other, and not just to edify yourself (by speaking in tongues)

I went through what you are going through! I cried out and cried out to the Lord for to speak in tongues. Everyone said: "All you have to do is ask! If you ask Him for bread, He won't give you a stone!" Yet time after time, it didn't happen - no matter how much I believed.

Month after month, I would ask Him.....yet, nothing. Some nights I would lie in my bed, tears falling. I can still feel the tears rolling into my ears..... it was such a time of feeling utter rejection. Like you said..... what was so wrong with me.

After about 16 months of asking, I was in bed, and all of a sudden these sounds came out of me..... wasn't sure what they were. Then it hit me! I was speaking in tongues... and have every day since -- 16 years.

To this day I don't know why..... why it took so long. Or if I did anything "different" that day to make it happen. All I know is it finally did happen.

nephilimiyr,

To know the difference betw salvation and the baptism of the Spirit with tongues, read here:

http://sg.geocities.com/saltandlight5/born.html

I see the problem here is NOT that you are unworthy or have sin and thus cannot receive, but that you do not understnd how it is received.

Like salvation, you receive it by grace thru faith, not by how little sin you have. It is a gift of God, you cannot earn it by how 'holy' you are.

The key to receiving is once again, faith. Once you ask to be prayed for, or even if you simply pray for it in your own room, you need to step out in faith, open your mouth, use your tongue and vocal cords, and begin to just speak.

Don't know what to say? Just praise God, worship him, and speak out whatever strange words you hear rising up of your spirit or popping into your head. Still don't know what to say? Then just go "la ra ba ma....etc" in faith, trusting that it will flow forth.

If you are waiting for the Spirit to control and wag your tongue, and for a foreign voice to just speak thru your mouth, you can wait till the cows come home. BTW, that is demonic possession. The Holy Spirit is such a gentleman, He will not force you if you don't want to cooperate. He will supply the words, but it is YOU who speak.

I hope this has helped. Rem: it is not that you are unworthy, you simply do not understnd how it is received. Don't give up, you are almost there!

Andrew said:

nephilimiyr,

To know the difference betw salvation and the baptism of the Spirit with tongues, read here:

http://sg.geocities.com/saltandlight5/born.html

I see the problem here is NOT that you are unworthy or have sin and thus cannot receive, but that you do not understnd how it is received.

Like salvation, you receive it by grace thru faith, not by how little sin you have. It is a gift of God, you cannot earn it by how 'holy' you are.

The key to receiving is once again, faith. Once you ask to be prayed for, or even if you simply pray for it in your own room, you need to step out in faith, open your mouth, use your tongue and vocal cords, and begin to just speak.

Don't know what to say? Just praise God, worship him, and speak out whatever strange words you hear rising up of your spirit or popping into your head. Still don't know what to say? Then just go "la ra ba ma....etc" in faith, trusting that it will flow forth.

If you are waiting for the Spirit to control and wag your tongue, and for a foreign voice to just speak thru your mouth, you can wait till the cows come home. BTW, that is demonic possession. The Holy Spirit is such a gentleman, He will not force you if you don't want to cooperate. He will supply the words, but it is YOU who speak.

I hope this has helped. Rem: it is not that you are unworthy, you simply do not understnd how it is received. Don't give up, you are almost there!

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Are you serious about speaking out whatever comes to mind? lol you don't have to start saying la ra ba ma...etc...lol I don't understand your comment on Demon possesion. The spirit will move your tongue as you yield to him...that is dangerous territory saying praying in the spirit is demonic possesion...I'm still trying to figure out if you're serious. "with stammering lips..." Before long, you will not have to fight praying in the spirit, but it's not learned words...I never think about what is coming to mind, it just comes out.

Saulball,

I'm all for the Baptism of the Spirit and speaking in tongues.

I'm just saying that speaking in tongues is not like demonic possesion, where you are not in control, don't know/remember what's going on, and the evil spirit just physically controls your body.

A lot of Christians think that speaking in tongues is something like that. They are waiting for the Holy Spirit to literally/physically control them, to take hold and wag their tongues, and to produce another voice. That's not how it works.

So, I'm saying that it takes faith. We have to do the physical talking. Not the Spirit. He supplies the words. But we cooperate by opening our golden mouths ourselves.

As for the learned words, its not an attempt to 'learn a tongue', but simply breaking away in faith from speaking our usual English. Stepping out in faith. That's how I received. But the difference is this: There will come a point (sooner or later) where you dont have to think or make up what to say anymore. The words just come out like a machine gun from your spirit, bypassing the brain. You dont have to think b4 you speak, you just speak and its there.

Andrew said:

Saulball,

I'm all for the Baptism of the Spirit and speaking in tongues.

I'm just saying that speaking in tongues is not like demonic possesion, where you are not in control, don't know/remember what's going on, and the evil spirit just physically controls your body.

A lot of Christians think that speaking in tongues is something like that. They are waiting for the Holy Spirit to literally/physically control them, to take hold and wag their tongues, and to produce another voice. That's not how it works.

So, I'm saying that it takes faith. We have to do the physical talking. Not the Spirit. He supplies the words. But we cooperate by opening our golden mouths ourselves.

As for the learned words, its not an attempt to 'learn a tongue', but simply breaking away in faith from speaking our usual English. Stepping out in faith. That's how I received. But the difference is this: There will come a point (sooner or later) where you dont have to think or make up what to say anymore. The words just come out like a machine gun from your spirit, bypassing the brain. You dont have to think b4 you speak, you just speak and its there.

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I better understand you...I agree, the spirit doesn't throw us up against a wall..we can always stop it and are in control of our faculties....but I still don't do the la cha bra shem talking...

To answer the OP, no.

12Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

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The reference to Acts was a reference to a single event.
In His love,
Rob