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Praying in Tongues? - Part One

Some churches today teach that the evidence of being baptized by the Holy Spirit is when a believer speaks in tongues. Let's search the Scriptures and carefully examine exactly what the Bible says.

In Acts 2:4, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles were in one place. The Bible says:

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Next, we read that there were devout Jews who were confused because

"...every man heard them speak in his own language." -Acts 2:6

Some denominations teach believers that an unintelligible "tongue" is a gift of the Holy Spirit. However, the Scripture clearly says that the devout Jews heard the apostles speak in their own language:

"And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ...we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." -Acts 2:10-11

Now let's look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:28. After naming the diversities of gifts, he poses the question:

"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"

Indeed, every believer is given a gift, but not all speak in tongues. Yet, there are still those denominations who claim that believers should be speaking and/or praying in tongues as evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Let's closely examine what Peter says:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." -Acts 2:28

Peter did not say after repenting and being baptized you would be given the gift of speaking in tongues. He said, you will be given the gift -- not a gift of the Holy Ghost. That means the gift is the Holy Spirit Himself, abiding within you, just as Peter stated.

As for praying in tongues, Paul tells us plainly in 1 Corinthians 14:11-15:

"So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air..." "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also."

If one is praying in an unknown tongue, his or her spirit is praying according to Paul. But, if the understanding is "unfruitful", one has no idea what he is praying. How effective can that prayer be?

In addition to not understanding what one is praying, Paul tells us plainly that in the life of the believer, tongues will cease, and prophecies will fail. But guess what? The Word of God is constant. It is enduring.... so we put away childish things, like depending on "signs and wonders".

Why? Because God doesn't want His children putting their trust in things that are subject to change, or likely to fail. He wants us to depend soley upon the written Word of God for instruction, knowledge, and prophecy.

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease..." -1 Corinthians 13:8

Finally, let's look at the following statements Paul made when addressing the immature church in Corinth:

"Wherefore tongues are a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." -1 Corinthians 14:22 "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." -1 Corinthians 13:11 "Brethren, be not children in understanding..." -1 Corinthians 14:20 "If therefore the whole church be come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?" * -1 Corinthians 14:23 (*Greek: mainomai - meaning one who so speaks that he seems not to be in his right mind)

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