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the Holy
Spirit • speaking in tongues
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Believe...
...we are baptised
into the Body of Christ (the Church) Speaking in Tongues "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
So is recorded for us the first time that human beings spoke with other tongues. Speaking in tongues is to speak in a language miraculously given to the speaker and unlearned by him/her. Speaking in tongues was, in fact, the very first utterance made by the Church. It was the first crowd-gatherer at what became the first 'outreach' of the Church. It was the cause that brought about the occasion of the first 'sermon' of the Church. This first expounding of the things of God by the Church (represented by the Apostle Peter) included: • an explanation of speaking in tongues as the sign of the coming of the promised Holy Spirit; • an explanation of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; • the identification of Jesus as the one who was sending the Holy Spirit with this accompanying sign; and • instruction on what to do about it. In view of its prominence in the birth of the Church, speaking in tongues can be considered to have some importance - and indeed it does. While its use in church meetings is relegated in the Scriptures
as "least" among the miraculous gifts, its significance
for the individual believer is amply demonstrated by the momentous
timing of its introduction. Indeed, Paul the apostle, in the midst of instruction to a church
that had 'gone overboard' in its use of speaking in tongues in
public meetings, nevertheless made this statement: "I
thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all" (1
Corinthians 14:18). Jesus said believers would speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).
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More Bible Occasions of People Receiving the Holy Spirit
In the book of Acts we read of the salvation experience of more people. For example, in Acts 10 we read of the happenings at Cornelius's house. These events culminate in Peter the Apostle preaching the death and resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit "falling" on the hearers: "While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit
fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because
that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify
God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these
should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Spirit
as well as we?"
A Personal Experience When an individual receives the Holy Spirit today it is in this same manner. Read some personal stories about this here. The same clear and unmistakeable "receipt" is given to all who have received God's Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1, in the Bible, we read of those in the Church having been "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise". The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal we are given. In this context, to be sealed is similar to the old method of signing a document with a signet ring pressed into wax. To receive the Holy Spirit is the "signature" that authenticates what God has done in your life. So that we may be in do doubt, God gives you the same "sign" given in Bible days. You will speak in tongues.
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Why this? Apart from being the unmistakeable and personal evidence of having received the Holy Spirit, and apart from its use in meetings of the church, speaking in tongues has further personal benefits. Paul the Apostle spoke of his personal prayer life in this way: I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
also... (I
Corinthians 14:14) The context makes it clear that "praying with the spirit" is him speaking in tongues in his prayer life. In the last of the letters to the early church in the Bible, Jude gives this advice to the church during a period when false teachers were infiltrating it: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost... (Jude
20) One must be filled with the Holy Spirit to 'pray in the Holy Spirit'. We identify this particular scripture as an instance of advice to spend time praying in tongues that you may be 'built up' in your faith.
Is this for today? Is this for you? Some contend that speaking in tongues passed away during the time of the Bible. This is clearly wrong. The Holy Spirit is still being sent to people today, with the same outcome as in Bible days. They speak in tongues. Others suggest that speaking in tongues is of little benefit to people today. Paul the Apostle was glad that he spoke in tongues. So are we. Rather than rely on the words of men we recommend you investigate the idea of God meeting you personally.
Related Links Personal Stories of receiving the Holy Spirit Voice of Revival Articles
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