Tongues...

[GregoryTurner]

I have been involved with a church since I was saved. I teach a discipleship process at this church. The church believes that the only evidence is speaking in tongues. Jesus said that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses unto Him in Samaria, Judah and all the earth. I just wanted some feedback and scripture reference to this if it is true that tongues is the evidence of the Spirit...

 

[Catholic Wife]

I'm sure you're familiar with I Corinthians 12:8-11:

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discering of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Tongues are a gift of the Holy Spirit, but not the only gift of the Spirit. As such, having or not having the gift of tongues is not proof as to whether a person is "filled with the Spirit" or not.

 

[Simonline]

I'm sure you're familiar with I Corinthians 12:8-11:

Tongues are a gift of the Holy Spirit, but not the only gift of the Spirit. As such, having or not having the gift of tongues is not proof as to whether a person is "filled with the Spirit" or not.

I concur.

See: The Normal Christian Birth by David Pawson available online from www.anchor-recordings.com (UK) or www.Goodseed.org (USA) or from your local Christian bookstore or public lending library.

Simonline.

 

[megg]

I agree with perky.
Tongues are a gift, not proof of the Holy Spirit in you.

 

[GregoryTurner]

Those are my feelings as well. I thank you all for that. Bless you all...

 

[Sketcher]

Also, there are fake tounges. That's why the gift of interpretation is so important. I agree that 1 Corinthians 12 is the best reference for putting spiritual gifts in their proper place, with chapters 13 and 14 elaborating.

 

[LifeInChrist]

I totally agree with Perky and Twistedsketch.

The real Gift of Tongues is when the Holy Spirit of God gives us the utterance in a supernatural way and not merely our own utterances according to the verse below -

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The verse below suggests another kind of Tongues manifestation wherein the people uttered words of another language which they themselves did not know but the people of that language recognised the words and praised God.

Acts 2:11 - Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

When i experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, roughly a decade ago, it was a genuine supernatural experience but i did not recieve the Gift of Tongues at that time for i was not enthusiastic to recieve it. I had only asked God for the Filling of the Holy Spirit and not the Gift of Tongues.

Over the years, i had skeptics question the genuinity of my experience although i had a genuine filling of the Holy Spirit. This is because they always thought that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit should always be accompanied with the manifestation of the Gift of Tongues. God knows the Truth.

I think this misunderstanding, among some of us christians, is because of the lack of thorough knowledge of the Bible Scriptures.

 

[WillworkforJesus]

I totally agree with Perky and Twistedsketch.

The real Gift of Tongues is when the Holy Spirit of God gives us the utterance in a supernatural way and not merely our own utterances according to the verse below -

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The verse below suggests another kind of Tongues manifestation wherein the people uttered words of another language which they themselves did not know but the people of that language recognised the words and praised God.

Acts 2:11 - Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

When i experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, roughly a decade ago, it was a genuine supernatural experience but i did not recieve the Gift of Tongues at that time for i was not enthusiastic to recieve it. I had only asked God for the Filling of the Holy Spirit and not the Gift of Tongues.

Over the years, i had skeptics question the genuinity of my experience although i had a genuine filling of the Holy Spirit. This is because they always thought that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit should always be accompanied with the manifestation of the Gift of Tongues. God knows the Truth.

I think this misunderstanding, among some of us christians, is because of the lack of thorough knowledge of the Bible Scriptures.

Looks unanamous to me, all agreed.

 

[Radagast]

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

 

[salida]

I have been involved with a church since I was saved. I teach a discipleship process at this church. The church believes that the only evidence is speaking in tongues. Jesus said that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses unto Him in Samaria, Judah and all the earth. I just wanted some feedback and scripture reference to this if it is true that tongues is the evidence of the Spirit...

Tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit not "the evidence". When you read the Book of Acts not everybody got the Holy Spirit with tongues included. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is given with tongues sometimes it isn't- it may be given with a different gift like prophesy or not a gift at all at that time.

Acts 4:31- After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Ok, no tongues mentioned in this case).

This is just one example in the Book of Acts. In addition, some of my christian friends got it when the received the Holy Spirit - or sometimes they got tongues a few months later. Or got the gift of healing and not tongues at all. It is whatever gift God wants to give you.




The evidence of the Holy Spirit are the fruits of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, peace, meekness, patience, and faith. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits (actions).

Also, what is the most important is love. I Corinthians 13 - is the love chapter.

 

[Elijah2]

I have been involved with a church since I was saved. I teach a discipleship process at this church. The church believes that the only evidence is speaking in tongues. Jesus said that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses unto Him in Samaria, Judah and all the earth. I just wanted some feedback and scripture reference to this if it is true that tongues is the evidence of the Spirit...

G'day Gregory,

Well mate, all I can say to you, is that you are caught up with false teaching, and possibly false teachers.

Tongues is the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. And GIFTS are given to you if you desire it.

I was given the GIFTS OF TONGUES, without asking for it. It just came upon me, out of the blue, while I was attending a seminar back in 1994. I won't go into any detail.

Mate, you just go ahead and desire the GIFT it will come to you. One day, our Lord will put somebody on your heart to pray for, and you may have no idea what to say, and then you'll begin to pray in tongues.

Heavenly Father, we come to you now through Your Precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we ask You, Lord to give Gregory this wonderful, and special gift when he desires it, in Jesus' Name. AMEN

It's a wonderful GIFT, and don't you let anyone at your church make your feel guilty or shame, because you don't speak in tongues.

Bless you mate,
Love in Christ