IS IT NECESSARY TO SPEAK IN TONGUES? (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 02 DAY 44)

 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit And Speaking in Tongues Go Hand in Hand

 I know in my own case as a denominational pastor more than fifty years ago, that as I read the New Testament and the Spirit of God helped me understand these verses, I was convinced that if I received the same Holy Ghost the Christians in the Book of Acts received, I would have the same initial sign or evidence they had — I would speak with tongues too. I wasn't satisfied with anything else. We need to understand that speaking in tongues is not the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is not speaking in tongues, but the two do go hand in hand. For example, it is just like the tongue of a shoe. The tongue isn't the shoe and the shoe isn't the tongue, but the tongue is a part of the shoe, and it's an integral part of the shoe; a shoe is not a shoe without it. 

To further illustrate this point, when you buy an automobile in the United States, you receive a certificate of title. That certificate of title is evidence that the automobile is yours. Certainly, the automobile is not the certificate of title, and the certificate of title is not the automobile. But you'll never get very far in the automobile without the certificate of title because the car would not be considered legally yours without it! Therefore, the automobile is not fully of benefit to you without the certificate of title. It's the same way with receiving the Holy Spirit. If you have the infilling of the Holy Ghost, then you should have the biblical evidence that goes along with that experience, which is speaking in tongues. 

To answer the question, Is it necessary to speak in tongues? let me put it this way: If you want a New Testament experience of the baptism in the Holy Ghost and you want the same Holy Spirit the apostles and the Early Church had, then you will want to speak with tongues. That is what the Christians in the Early Church did, and that is consistent with what the scriptures teach. 

The Ephesian Disciples: 

Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying It is interesting to note that in the account of the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19, the Bible says that the believers spoke in tongues and prophesied when they received the Holy Spirit. ACTS 19:6 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and PROPHESIED. Sometimes believers receive additional spiritual gifts as well as tongues when they are filled with the Spirit. However, tongues always come first and it is the evidence of having received the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:6 doesn't say that they prophesied and then spoke with tongues. It says they spoke with tongues and then prophesied.

 I have seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and then prophesy. I have also seen folks receive the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues and interpret the tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). But don't expect any more at the moment you are filled with the Spirit than what the Word of God teaches, which is that the believer will speak in tongues as the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). If another spiritual gift is added, well and good. However, we must also remember that spiritual gifts are given to the believer as the Holy Spirit wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). But, again, every believer should expect to speak with tongues as the initial evidence of having received the Holy Spirit. 

When I received the Holy Ghost, I knew I had received Him because I spoke with tongues. But I also received an additional gift of the Spirit, too, although I didn't realize it at that time. But I will be perfectly honest with you, when I received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, I felt a little disappointed in a way. I think maybe I expected some kind of overwhelming spectacular experience. Having heard some Pentecostal folks testify about receiving the Holy Spirit, I thought I would have some sort of experience that was out of this world, so to speak. But I didn't. I said to myself afterwards, Well, all I did was talk in tongues. I've gotten a bigger blessing than this many times just praying in English with my understanding. 

But the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just receiving a blessing. It is more than that. I knew the Bible and I knew about walking by faith, so I said, "I don't care what I feel or what I don't feel. I know I have received the Holy Spirit because I have spoken with other tongues. I have the Bible evidence for the baptism in the Holy Spirit." I kept speaking in tongues and praising God almost continuously for about three days. Later I realized that at the same time I had received the Holy Spirit and had spoken with tongues, I had also received another gift of the Spirit, the word of knowledge.

FFT: Spirit baptism and Tongues go hand in hand!!!

ACTION POINT: Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

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