Is Speaking in Tongues an Emotion?
Many pastors don’t preach about speaking in tongues and many “Christians” don’t know that it exists.
Yet, award-winning scientists and renowned universities are attempting to validate that speaking in tongues comes from God and is no emotion?
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples” (Acts 19:1).
In the verse of Scripture above, what’s the importance of the phrase “while Apollos was at Corinth”?
What’s Luke attempting to convey to his readers with this opening construct?
It’s also important to keep in mind that the Acts of the Holy Ghost or Acts of the Apostles describe the workings of the Holy Ghost in the Church.
This Preacher Knew Only the Baptism of John
This is the operations of the Spirit of Christ Jesus that has returned to earth to function through his disciples, that is, the Church.
Recall, Apollos first came to Ephesus but now he was at Corinth, (Acts 18:24).
Additionally, even though he was might in the Scriptures and he was an eloquent speaker he didn’t know the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Consequently, the people he taught didn’t possess complete knowledge of God and Christ and of salvation because he knew only the Baptism of John.
Therefore, when Paul journeys to these parts he was going to fix some problems and fill-in any doctrinal gaps that Apollos had overlooked.
So, when Paul got there, he asked them a very pertinent question.
Speaking in Tongues Vs. The Holy Ghost
“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2).
Now, how could these Christians be “disciples” yet they have never heard about the Holy Ghost, much less received Him (Acts 19:1)?
These are some of the brethren of the Ephesian Church Paul that had started and established on his previous missionary journey.
I have always maintained that a person who receives the Holy Ghost, has gotten Him as a result of believing that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God.
And the Holy Bible concurs with me, on this point, for it says the identical thing in the verse below.
Speaking in Tongues is For Whom?
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
One of the ways we recognize a Believer in Jesus Christ is the occasional working of the Holy Ghost through such a person.
And on many occasions the operation of the Holy Ghost manifest as speaking in tongues.
However, today many Christians or “disciples” attend church and they never heard about the existence of the Holy Ghost much less to receive Him.
Consequently, many teach that when you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord automatically gives you His Holy Ghost. This is a false doctrine of the so-called church.
For, we have seen in the scripture above, that is untrue. If that were true, Paul would have no need to ask: “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Acts 19:2).
Speaking in Tongues and Asking
This would have been a redundant question.
Because these “disciples” not unsaved persons, but Christians, would have already possessed or received the Holy Ghost since they believed on Jesus Christ.
But they didn’t because first, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then we must ask the Lord for His Holy Ghost, and next we “wait” for Him to “fall” on us.
Therefore, the writer of both the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Saint Luke explains:
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).
Have you asked the Holy Lord God for His gift of the Holy Ghost? Yes, we must ask.
Asking For the Holy Ghost
If we never ask we never will receive Him.
And yes, it’s a gift. It’s free but we must ask the Lord for His Spirit before He gives Himself to us.
There are only two people in the Bible who never asked for it, yet they had Him. The Holy Ghost is free but we must ask God for it to receive it.
They are Jesus and John the Baptist. They were born with the Holy Ghost!
Therefore, possessing the Holy Ghost is proof that we believe on Jesus Christ. Yet many Christians are still saying, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost”.
They have never heard about Him. Not to mention that they have never spoken in tongues.
Again, here, at this juncture, is where many so-called ministers of the Word of God have erred.
Have You Ever Spoken in Other Tongues?
Speaking in tongues, according to the Holy Bible, is always a consequence of the Believer possessing the Holy Ghost.
We cannot speak in tongues on a whim. It’s the Spirit that is speaking through us. We are mere instruments for His use.
According to the quotation immediately below, why did the founding members of the first church speak in tongues?
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
They spoke in tongues because the Spirit allowed them, or permitted them, or uttered through them.
Therefore, if the Spirit wasn’t speaking, they couldn’t be speaking in tongues.
Is Speaking in Tongues Different From Praying in Tongues?
Know this, speaking in tongues and praying in tongue is not the same thing.
The former usually is an utterance of a few words and may last only for a few seconds.
The exception here is the initial receipt of the Spirit. At such time, speaking in tongues could continue for a very long time.
However, the latter case usually endures much longer than a few seconds.
Nevertheless, both have something in common, the Spirit. He is the one speaking or praying.
As a result, the person through whom the Spirit is speaking or praying gets no benefit. Such a one doesn’t know or understands what the Spirit is uttering.
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:14).
Can You Interpret Speaking in Tongues?
Therefore, if you can interpret the tongues that you are speaking, do so. But if not, pray and ask the Lord to give you the skill to interpret them and He will grant it.
The first Gentiles only received the Holy Ghost, with the initial evidence of speaking with tongues, after they believed Peter.
“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 Ghost” (Acts 10:45).
How did they know this? The very next verse-of-scripture answers this question!
“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter” (Acts 10:46).
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:47).
If You Received The Holy Ghost This Will Happen!
So, receiving Him is a result of believing on Jesus. However, speaking in tongues should only occur if we possess Him. Only when He’s residing in us.
Apostle Paul, having addressed the issue of receiving the Holy Ghost, then asked another relevant and companion question.
He enquired, if you never heard of the promise of the Holy Ghost “unto what then were [you] baptized?”
Read it for yourself.
“And [Paul] said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism” (Acts 19:3).
Limitations of The Baptism of John
But there is also a problem with the baptism of John. It’s limiting. It cannot grant eternal salvation.
Jesus never promised the gift of the Holy Ghost to anyone who experienced the baptism of John.
All who were baptized by him, Jesus or his apostles later re-baptized them.
Additionally, Jesus made the Promise of the Father only to those Believers who are called by his name.
The only scriptural manner to take on or be called by the name of Jesus Christ is to do so via water baptism by immersion invoking his name as you are buried with him.
“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4).
What Would You Do If You Were Improperly Baptized?
See what these Christians did when they realized that they were improperly baptized?
“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).
Have you been baptized in some other name or title?
If while you were been baptized the baptizer was saying “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”, he still has not said, “the name”(Matthew 28:19).
Consequently, you need rebaptism in the name Jesus Christ. This will enable you to participate in the Promise of the Father.
“The name” is Jesus Christ. However, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the three universal roles of God to all humanity.
He was Father in Creation; Son in the redemption of humanity; and Holy Ghost in the operations of His Church.
He will never assume any of these roles ever again. They are complete. Finished! He has achieved His purpose. He has redeemed humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ.
When Should Speaking in Tongues Happen?
As a result, Paul fixed this problem.
“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).
These Christians never heard about the Holy Ghost and they never spake with tongues, but when Apostle Paul preached the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to them, they believed and they experience both.
“And all the men were about twelve” (Acts 19:7).
Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believe? What is proof that He came on you?
And have you spoken in tongues since He came? For if He comes, you MUST speak with “other” or “new tongues”, no exceptions.
Finally, if no. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Ask the Lord for His Holy Ghost.
We all must ask, then seek for Him. Seek by prayer and fasting and searching the Bible for the knowledge of the truth.
And in closing, “wait”. Wait and while you are waiting for Him to fall on you accept and experience water baptism in the precious name: Jesus Christ, (Acts 1:4).
Keep at it until He manifest accordingly.
Could Unbelievers Validate That Speaking in Tongues is From God?
This is the only route to salvation with Jesus Christ and Apostle Paul preached it and we must too.
Preach it and live it!!
If Believers maintain their faith in God through Jesus Christ to the end of their lives, those who speak in tongues as the Holy Ghost direct them, they never will suffer from mental problems. Never!
And that’s just one of the many benefits that we enjoy!! Blessings!
Allow no one, no university or scientist to deceive you. They cannot validate that speaking in tongues comes from God or the Holy Ghost.
They are not Believers, they have never experienced Him, and they adhere not to the authority of the Word of God. Dismiss them!
Speaking in other tongues is never an emotion. Our feelings never dictate its occurrence and its impetus is always the Holy Ghost. Know the Word!
Believe only the Word of God.
