I'll say something that is probably controversial but I believe I could teach any believer to speak in tongues in about 30 minutes. Theres certain things you must know to do it. 1. You do the speaking, you aren't controlled by some outside force moving your lips and vocal cords. 2. After you speak you don't think about what you are trying to say you just speak and let the holy spirit form the syllables that come out of your mouth. I never tried to get an unbeliever to do it but it would be interesting if someone tried it. That said speaking in tongues is not a difficult process to learn and I wish someone taught me but If I am honest I learned how to speak in tongues from God himself and he not only taught me how to do it but then with that knowledge he allowed me to teach my sister how to speak in tongues as well. Theres a myth that you can't control when you speak in tongues its just the spirit taking over but that is not true.
I can speak in tongues sing in tongues rap in tongues and act(act dramatically) in tongues. If I knew sign language i'm sure I could give the syllables coming out in sign language. Whats funny is when God taught me to speak in tongues he taught me exactly how a man on an audio tape I was listening to taught to do it. As I said for those here reading this that want to speak in tongues but don't believe they can or that it isn't possible anymore. Remember you do the speaking, and you must speak. If you are new to it start out saying a syllable of ahhhhhhhh le mo so te ha pe ke.......Use starters to get you in the flow of speaking in tongues. Sometimes if you get stuck force another syllable out and you can speak in tongues. What I am saying is something that is not taught but if you listen to what I say you will be speaking in tongues this very day. I can answer any questions about speaking in tongues if someone has one.
I do exactly the same. Faith is not just waiting around for some outside force to move our tongues and lips. Trouble with that is that it might be some other Spirit than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works according to our faith in God's Word. Faith is something we have to activate by doing something we couldn't do before we decided to step out in faith. I believe that we are filled with the Spirit when we are converted. That's the way it seemed to happen in the Book of Acts. But sometimes to step out and use a gift, it takes faith on our part. I believe that when a person speaks in tongues, they are doing the speaking, and it is their faith that causes them to believe that God understands and appreciates what they are saying. I would say that it takes a strong faith in God's faithfulness to step out and speak in a made-up language.
I get a person to speak in my tongue, and then I get them to put it all together and speak rapidly without stopping. Every time, they have come out with their own distinctive language quite unlike my own. I find that remarkable. Once when we did that, one guy spoke in such a beautiful melodic language that we all fell on the floor laughing. The joy of the Lord hit us.
However, I show a seeking person some principles first. I don't think that it is helpful for a group of people trying to get a person speaking in tongues at an public altar call in front of a church congregation. I take the person to a quiet and private place and counsel them using the following points:
1. The person has to accept that it is God's will for them to speak in tongues. It is a waste of time going any further until that person is clear in their own heart that this is what he or she wants and knows that God wants them to have it.
2. I get them to ask God out loud for the gift. This is according to Scripture where we are by prayer and supplication make our requests to God.
3. Then they must tell God that they accept the gift. He who asks, receives, according to Scripture, so this shows that God hands us the gift and we need to take it from His hands.
At that point I tell them they can speak in tongues whenever they wish because they now have the gift. Firstly I tell them to try and speak, or speak any strange words that come to mind. If they cannot, I get them to speak words from my prayer language, like priming old style water pump to get the water flowing out of the ground. Once they have spoken a few of my words and got used to speaking a different language, then I get them to put all the words together and speak rapidly. I command them to speak in the Name of Jesus. This is when they often speak their own distinctive language.
I believe that because I am using this method in accordance with God's word, and they are stepping out in faith, there is no way they can receive a counterfeit.
A person receives a counterfeit often in a public setting surrounded by people who try and force them to speak and they speak some type gibberish just to get that group off their back. Or someone says just speak "bababababa" when they do they tell them that is the gift of tongues.
When I hear a person speaking in tongues when I have counselled them, I am listening for an articulate and expressive language. When I hear that, I can encourage the person that they are actually speaking in tongues. I sometimes ask God for the interpretation and then given it to them. That amazes them that they have just begun speaking in tongues and it is interpreted.
I don't care whether people in the occult or false religions speak in tongues. There are counterfeits, but when a person steps out in faith on the basis of God's Word and all they want to do is to praise and glorify Jesus, then 99 percent of the time it is genuine.
I have counselled people through PM on CF, and through email, and achieved the same result, because it is the Holy Spirit who gives them the gift and not me. I believe that anyone seeking the gift of tongues follows the procedure that I have outlined, they will speak in genuine tongues
If there are those reading this thread who don't believe in the gift of tongues for today, don't waste your time responding because you can believe what you like and if you don't believe in the gift, you will never practice it and will never know whether it would be of any use to you or not; but don't hinder those who are genuinely seeking it. Remember the guy in the Book of Acts who tried to stop the Deputy from hearing Paul. The Holy Spirit blinded him. Take a lesson from that.