Speaking in Tongues : Is it real or fake?

Speaking in tongues is the New Testament phenomena where a person speaks in a language that is unknown to him. This language is either the language of angels or other earthly languages (1 Cor. 13:1). It occurred in Acts 2 at Pentecost and also in the Corinthian church as is described in 1 Corinthians 14. This New Testament gift was given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian church and is for the purpose of the edification of the Body of Christ as well as for glorifying the Lord.

There seems to be three divisions in the use of tongues: First, a private prayer language that is not interpreted; second, a language that is interpreted — this defines proper usage in the Christian congregation; and third, missionary context — that is, it appears in the context of evangelism where people are presenting the gospel.

Speaking in Tongues : Must for Salvation?

Some churches maintain that you must speak in tongues in order to be saved. This is a grave mistake since not all people speak in tongues because not all people are gifted by the Holy Spirit this way. Tongues must not be focused on as being the only evidence of having received the Holy Ghost/Spirit. It is NOT the only evidence of Holy Spirit! 1 Cor. 12:27-31 Everyone does not receive the gift of speaking in tongues. Just as we must not forbid it, we must also not require it. The bible does NOT say that speaking in tongues is required and it does NOT say that speaking in tongues is the only evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. 12:7-11,28-31 — “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills…28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

So, the gifts of the Spirit are varied and they are for the edification of the body of Christ. Speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation and it is not a prerequisite proof of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We must remember the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 13:1-2,13 given below.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing….13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Speaking in Tongues : Holy Bible says

Speaking in tongues is a Real Gift from GOD. Sometimes some people speak false gibbish, some times people speak in devil tongues but other times some people do correctly use the real gift from GOD known as speaking in tongues. If and when done from and of God, it is Biblical. The ministers that forbid it are going against 1 Cor. 14:39 “forbid not to speak with tongues”! Paul’s solution to the tongues problem in the Corinthian Church was not to forbid tongues, but to correct the improper use of the gift from GOD.

It was not for just the day of Pentecost. Pentecost happened in Acts 2. But speaking in tongues was continued in Acts 10 and Acts 19. No where in the Bible does it say that it stopped being allowed or that it was reserved only for the early days of the church. In fact, it says it will also be for the end times! And if it was for the early days AND the end times, then it is also for the in-between times! Acts 2:16-20.

Do you speak in tongues? Please share your thoughts here.

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. - Romans 8:23

For most of us, the gift of the Spirit living within us is a calming reassurance of God’s love and of our future glory. Even in our times of difficulty, the wonderful blessing of the Spirit’s presence breaks through and gives us a sense of God’s love, real strength for our ongoing difficulties, and a deep and abiding joy at being God’s child.

The breakthroughs of the Holy Spirit’s grace is a foretaste, a small sample, of the great blessings that are in store for us when we go home to God. Let’s revel in these moments of glory and grace, but let’s also recognize that these are just a glimpse, a tiny taste, of our great glorious future with Jesus!

Prayer : Father in heaven, I long to see you face-to-face, to behold your glory, to have you brush every tear from my eyes, and to feel your embrace as you welcome me home. Until that day, please make me aware of your Spirit’s presence in my life and to savor the small tastes of your glory and grace until I arrive at home with you. In the name of the Lord Jesus I ask this. Amen.

Holy, Holy Spirit Poem

Holy, Holy Spirit, I have quenched your flame.
I received you, but I grieved you
when conviction came.

Holy, Holy Spirit, whom I have despised,
Jesus sent you and He meant you
when He prophesied

that He would send the Holy Spirit
showing me the way
and leading me into the truth,
the truth I disobey,
revealing life and liberty
that I have shoved away.

Holy, Holy Spirit, present in my heart,
I repent of grieving your love.
Please do not depart.

Holy, Holy Spirit, when I hear your voice,
confirmation of salvation
makes my heart rejoice!

- – - written by Michael Rew

Come Holy Spirit Poem

Come, Holy Spirit, come in power
You wish us all to bloom and flower
Fill us now with all we need
Change us, as on You we feed.

Help us concentrate on You
Waiting for Your point of view
Show us where we need to change
Our priorities, rearrange.

Lead us to The precious Lamb
Father God’s most loving plan
Let us celebrate Him now
And to Him lets make a vow.

We desire to seek His face
Put Him in His proper place
Head of all we say and do
Come, Holy Spirit, help us to.

Also Read Holy Spirit Dwell In Me poem