By: Elder Vista Jeffries

 

In the religious world today, many promote tongues as a necessary sign that a person has been born of the spirit of God. The Lord Jesus declared that except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God. This new birth is not of the flesh, but of the water and the spirit. The water baptism is apart and receiving the Holy Ghost is the spirit part of this new birth. Many have the doctrine of getting the Holy Ghost, with the evidence being speaking in tongue. As we read the scriptures you will not find this doctrine in the Apostles’ teachings.

 

 

When the disciples of the Lord first received the Holy Ghost, they were in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting on the Holy Ghost. There came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house, were they were sitting. (Acts 2:1) The scripture doesn’t say, one was clapping or standing over the others telling them to speak in tongues. At this time there wasn’t any in the upper room who had been given the Holy Ghost. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. It was the spirit that they had received that gave them the words and the ability to speak in other men’s languages. The tongue didn’t give them the Holy Ghost rather the spirit allowed them to speak in another language. They didn’t have to be taught the language and no man told them or predisposed them to speak. They simply did it by the power of God. There were dwelling at Jerusalem devote men out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, behold are not all these which speak Galileans? How hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born? (Acts 2:6-8) Peter declared to the people who inquired saying this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel, that God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh. After Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost the people wanted to know what to do. Peter replied to their question saying 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. He didn’t have speaking in tongues as a part of his answer.

 

 

Tongues are for a sign. When the Lord commissioned his apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he mentioned some signs that would follow them that believe. He said these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. These signs were not to be fulfilled in each and every believer but the group of believers. Every believer should not lay hands on the sick. James the Apostle stated (James 5:14), the sick among the believers should call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Paul took up a serpent while gathering sticks for a fire, this venomous beast hang on his hand. Paul shook off the beast and felt no harm. (Acts 28:3) Should we all take up serpents, cast out devils, lay hands on the sick and speak with new tongues? These signs follow them that believe. Tongues are not what make you a believer. People have taught, except you speak in tongue you don’t have the Holy Ghost. The Lord said ye shall know them by their fruits. (Matt 7:20) The fruit of the spirit will produce out of them who have been born of God. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe but to them that believe not” (I Corin14:22) On the day of Pentecost those who were unbelievers asked the question with amazement saying to one another, what meaneth this? (Acts 2:12) The door was open for Peter to preach the Gospel. When Peter went to the Gentiles, he went by revelation for it was an uncommon thing for Jews to have dealings with Gentiles. As Peter spoke the word to the Gentiles, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. The Jews were astonished, as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heard them speak and magnify God. They magnified the Lord with the tongue they spoke in and the Jews had to believe that God had granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles. (Acts 11:15-18) Peter defended his going in unto the Gentiles to the Jews. The Jews had unbelief or doubt that Jews and Gentiles were both granted repentance unto life. They spoke in tongues as a sign to the unbelievers. (I Corinthians 14:22) When Peter had explained to the Jews how the Gentiles had received that Holy Ghost as the Jews had at the beginning, the Jews held their peace and acknowledged that God had granted repentance unto life unto the Gentiles.

 

 

In conclusion, tongues were used by God to show a sign to the people when he gave the Holy Ghost at different times in the scripture, but it was not taught in scripture that it was a necessary sign. The tongues that were spoken in on the day of Pentecost were the tongues of men but the people of this generation will speak in an unknown tongue and say it was like they did on the day of Pentecost. Apostle Paul declared, though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.(I Corinth 13:1) The tongue is not altogether the proof but the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5) The Lord said, by love shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.