Speak With Tongues
Believers Speak With Tongues When the Holy Ghost Comes
Have you ever been in or seen a thunder storm and have you ever seen the flash of the lightening and not heard the thunder? This thundering all started on the day of Pentecost. Just as how thundering follow lightening, we speak with tongues when the baptism of the Holy Ghost comes.
Pentecost was a very unique event and unlikely to be repeated in similar fashion. The main reason, it was the start of the Church and all Believers were without the Holy Ghost. Today, anyone starting a local congregation most likely would already be baptized with the Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost one hundred twenty Believers were waiting in the Upper Room in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Suddenly He comes like a tornado quickly and noisily. He never comes quietly, Acts 2:2.
Initially Evidence Spirit of Christ Come – Speak With Tongues
When the Holy Ghost came to those waiting Believers in the Upper Room at Jerusalem how did they and the town know they had received the Promise of the Father? According to Acts 2:4, Jerusalem knew because they ”speak with tongues.” So initially, you know that the Spirit of Christ has entered your body because you speaks with tongues or speak in “unknown tongues”.
When the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius and his household how did the Apostle Peter and his colleagues know this? The Bible says, “for they heard them speak with tongues,” Acts 10:46.
Similarly, when the Apostle Paul was in northern Ephesus he found twelve Believers who were not baptized “unto the promise” of the Father. He re-baptized them so they would now fall under the promise. After he laid his hand and prayed for them the Holy Ghost fell on them. How did Apostle Paul know and how did they know they were filled with the Holy Spirit? Again the Bible says, “they spake with tongues,” Acts 19:6.
Do All Speak With Tongues?
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues,” (1 Corinthians 12:10).
At the start of first Corinthians chapter twelve verse one (1 Corinthians 12:1) the Apostle Paul made it abundantly clear, in his letter, that he is addressing spiritual gifts or gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was not writing about the Promise of the Father or the baptism of the Holy Ghost or the Comforter BUT the spiritual gifts a Believer may receive when the Comforter comes. Can there be a flood without water? Similarly, there can be no spiritual gift(s) without the Holy Ghost. He is the giver of the gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:11.
First, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak with tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance, then whatever gift(s) of the Spirit pleases the Lord Jesus, He gives you, 1 Corinthians 12:11. All Believers do not have the same gifts but all must have the same Spirit, therefore, all cannot speak with “divers kinds of tongues“. This is what Apostle Paul is writing about here but all must speak with tongues for that is the initial sign (evidence) the Spirit has come. That is Paul’s point exactly, when he asked , “do all speak with tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:27-31). He is asking, if all the Believers possess the same gift, the gift of divers kinds of tongues. No. Is your body only consist of your head?
It is also important to understand that not all Believers have any of these spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. But all Christians must have the Spirit of Truth. The gifts of the Spirit are mainly exercised by the holder of an “office” in the church.
Finally, this letter of the Apostle Paul and this writing of mine both share the same objective : “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant,” (1 Corinthians 12:1), edification of gifts of the Holy Ghost. Yet as Paul points out there is even a better way, to be desired, than possessing spiritual gifts. He discusses this supreme way in, ( 1 Corinthians 13:1-3), LOVE. Let us strive to love each other as we love God.
Further Reading(s):
Spiritual Gifts, Sign of Jesus’ Coming
Spiritual Gifts, Sign of Jesus’ Coming and Except you Become as Little Children
Jesus Teaches Believer – Except You Become as Little Children.
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