A careful reading of the Acts of the Apostles will reveal that SPEAKING IN TONGUES was the common experience of every New Covenant believer who received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues was always the confirming sign that a believer had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The very first instance when the baptism in the Holy Spirit was received was on the day of Pentecost, and the Bible records that all 120 disciples (including Peter, James, John, and Mary, the mother of Jesus) spoke in tongues. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4 NKJV, emphasis mine). The second notable instance is in Acts chapter 10 where Peter ministered to Cornelius’ household – the first Gentile converts. The Bible records that while Peter was still preaching, “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the gospel. And those of the circumcision who believed (i.e. the Jewish believers) were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT had been poured out on the Gentiles also. FOR THEY HEARD them SPEAK WITH TONGUES and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit JUST AS WE HAVE?” (Acts 10:44-47 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Contextually, the Jewish brethren knew that Cornelius’ household had received the baptism in the Spirit, because “they heard them speak with tongues.” Speaking with tongues was the conclusive evidence for Peter and all the disciples present that these Gentiles had also been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In fact, this evidence was so important that it later helped settle the big question of whether salvation was for the Gentiles (see Acts 11:15-18).
Again, in Acts 19:6, when Paul had laid hands on the believers in Ephesus to receive the baptism in the Spirit, “the Holy Spirit came upon them, and THEY SPOKE WITH TONGUES and prophesied” – all 12 of them. All these examples from the Acts of the Apostles support Jesus’ promise in Mark 16:17 that “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name...they will SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES.” This is a promise to everyone who believes. Every believer can have this wonderful experience of speaking with new tongues. It was not for the early disciples only. Once you understand this, you will have the faith to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. And if you have already received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, you will have the faith to start speaking with tongues, as the Spirit gives you utterance, because the baptism in the Holy Spirit ALWAYS comes with the ability to speak in tongues.
The new prayer language of tongues is dormant in you until you pray out in faith. There are many believers today who have received the baptism in the Spirit but have not started praying in tongues. I was one such believer. I received it but did not use it because I was ignorant. I didn’t understand how it worked. I thought I had to just wait for the Holy Spirit to take control of my tongue and start speaking through me. I thought I had to just ready my lips and the Spirit would take over; but as long as I spoke nothing, nothing came out. The Bible says, we are to speak; it doesn’t say the Holy Spirit will speak. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman; He does not force us to speak. His role is to prompt us or give us the utterance (see Acts 2:4). And He is always prompting us to speak in tongues; He is always giving us the utterance. We have to speak out in faith so that the Spirit can keep the utterances flowing. It takes faith to speak in tongues. When we pray in tongues, we do so by faith because we do not know what we are saying. “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1 Corinthians 14:14). When you speak in tongues it makes no sense to your natural mind. It could even make you look stupid in the natural or sense realm, but in the spirit you speak mysteries. (see 1 Corinthians 14:2). It is the fact that speaking in tongues takes faith that makes it so powerful. When we speak in tongues, we allow the Holy Spirit to be in total control, as we trust Him to give us the words and we speak them out by faith. This helps us to exercise and activate our faith in Him. In doing so, we build ourselves up on our most holy faith. (see Jude 20). Today, you can take a step of faith and start praying in tongues. If you’re not sure of the first word to say, just pray with friends who can encourage you. And trust me, once you say the first word you're prompted to say, the Holy Spirit will prompt you to say more. It may initially sound like stammering, but you will eventually become fluent as you keep at it. Some people cannot speak in tongues because they have magnified their intellect to the point where they will not say anything that their intellect cannot grasp. It is hard to experience the reality of the Holy Spirit when we are engaged in the realm of the intellect. But when we pray in tongues, it brings us to a higher realm – beyond the mind – a realm where we experience God in a very real way through faith. It brings us into a realm where we exercise faith to speak things our mind doesn’t understand.
Some believers are hesitant to pray in tongues because of confusion over the passage in First Corinthians 12:30 where Paul asked, “Do all speak with tongues?” Some have misunderstood this passage and stopped short of receiving this powerful prayer language, so let us consider this verse in its proper context. “And God has appointed these IN THE CHURCH: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” (I Corinthians 12:28-30 NKJV). It is important to understand that there is a difference between the PUBLIC (or Ministry Gift of) TONGUES and PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL TONGUES. First Corinthians 12:28-30 was written in the context of spiritual gifts IN THE CHURCH or for ministry. These are public or ministry gifts given to individuals for the edification of the body of Christ or the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:16). Not everyone has the gift of “public ministry tongues,” which is used to convey a message from the believers to God or from God to the believers, just as not all are apostles, prophets and teachers, etc. When one speaks with the gift of “public ministry tongues,” the message has to be interpreted by the gift of interpretation in order to be useful (see 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:27-28). The question “do all interpret?” comes immediately after “do all speak with tongues?” confirming that Paul was referring to the gift of “public ministry tongues.” In his private devotions, Paul prayed in tongues all the time (see 1 Corinthians 14:18), yet in the church, he would rather speak five words with understanding, that he may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (see I Corinthians 14:19). Paul emphasized that praying in tongues is for personal edification (see 1 Corinthians 14:4), and thus should be done in our private devotions rather than in public worship, and that whenever it is done during public worship, it has to be interpreted in order for it to be useful (see 1 Corinthians 14:27-28). This clearly brings out the distinction between “private devotional tongues” and “public ministry tongues.”
Thus, in contrast to the gift of “public ministry tongues,” the new prayer language of “private devotional tongues” received during the baptism in the Spirit is for our personal use, and everyone who believes can have it. (see Mark 16:17). It is a private prayer language for self-edification and for you to communicate with God. “For he who speaks in a tongue does not SPEAK to men but to GOD, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (see 1 Corinthians 14:2). “He who speaks in a tongue EDIFIES HIMSELF.” (see 1 Corinthians 14:4). A person who first receives personal edification from God is able to operate more effectively in the gifts of the Spirit to edify others. Praying in “private devotional tongues” is, therefore, a powerful key to fan aflame or stir up the gifts of the Spirit (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7). Many anointed ministers who flow powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit attribute their success to the wonderful prayer language of tongues. No wonder the apostle Paul spoke in tongues more than all the believers in the Corinthian Church (see 1 Corinthians 14:18). He understood the benefits of speaking in tongues. You build yourself up when you speak in tongues. You edify yourself. As Paul prayed in tongues, God also gave him great revelations as can be seen from his epistles. He was able to minister with such great power. We can just imagine how charged up he was! Perhaps this is why the devil is so much against speaking in tongues and keeps creating controversy around this powerful gift. Some Christians even say speaking in tongues is of the devil. By saying this, they are basically saying all the early disciples (including Paul) who spoke in tongues were of the devil. How absurd! And is it surprising? Satan always wants to cast doubts on every good gift from God by portraying it as being of demonic origin. Even Jesus was accused of being of the devil when He cast out demons from those who were possessed. (see Matthew 12:22-32). So don't let the devil’s false accusations fool you or prevent you from speaking in tongues.
The Bible tells us in First Corinthians 14:39 that we shouldn’t forbid speaking in tongues. This is a slap in the face of believers who forbid speaking in tongues. Such believers have the erroneous belief that the gift of tongues has ceased. They use First Corinthians 13:8-10 as the basis for such belief: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” (I Corinthians 13:8-10 NKJV). The problem with their belief, however, is that prophecies have not failed and knowledge has increased rather than vanish. They say "that which is perfect" in verse 10 refers to the Bible and that since we have the complete Scriptures, tongues are unnecessary. However, tongues were never used as a teaching tool like the Bible is. I believe "that which is perfect" refers to Jesus and His second coming. This is why in verse 12, Paul says, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then (when that which is perfect has come) we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV, brackets mine). In other words, in this present time, we only see what the Bible says about the glory of Jesus and our own glory (as in a reflection or with our imagination), but then (when Jesus comes), we shall see Him face to face, and know Him and His glory (as well as our own glory) completely and fully, just as He knows us fully. Prophecy and tongues are valid gifts until then. Contextually, Paul was simply emphasizing to the Corinthian Church the point that all spiritual gifts must be used in love. May you always speak in tongues and edify yourself. Remain blessed.
I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
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