Should Christians Speak in Tongues?

I remember walking down the famous white wall on the OAU campus and I encountered these two handsome guys on the road. I would have tripped for one of them honestly or maybe just admired until I heard the following words.

"I'm just tired of these students who pray in tongues, praying in tongues is not for everyone". 

Well, in case they might stumble on this I can't remember the exact words but the words were along this line.

I was triggered for obvious reasons you know. Imago Dei can't overlook these.

Is praying in tongues for all believers or only a select few?

First, I think it's important we are on the same level regarding the definition of a Christian so that there wouldn't be any form of confusion along the way. I'll also be talking about the conversations I heard with those guys as I proceed.

Kindly note that the basis for everything to be discussed here is God's word only. Having understood that, we can proceed.

Who is a believer?

 A believer is someone who has believed in the gospel which is the good news of Christ's death, burial and resurrection for the sins of the world of which his own sin is among.

Scriptural reference: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-3, Romans 10:9-10. 

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Romans 10:9‭-‬10 NLT

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15:1‭-‬3 NLT

 Should all the people that fall under this category speak in tongues?

Now, there is a scripture that says all prayers and supplication must be done in the spirit. now, that's debatable since there is no specific reference to tongues.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

Ephesians 6:18 AMPC

I'll give 4 claims or scenarios on which I believe all Christians should pray in tongues.

1. The probability test: 

This test makes a claim that if all Christians are not expected to speak in tongues then there should be at least a 0.1% probability of finding a place where people had the infilling of the holy ghost and at least one person didn't speak in tongues in the Bible.

And when the day of Pentecost fully came, they were all in one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and was confounded, because every man heard them speak in his language.

Acts 2:1‭-‬6 KJV

Be careful to take note of the following sentences "and they were all with one accord",  " and it sat upon each of them", and "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with new tongues".

So according to this first account, everyone in the hall spoke in tongues excluding no man.

Second account.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them who 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 Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 10:43‭-‬47 KJV

The Holy Ghost was poured upon all men who heard and believed. Pay attention to the " all" and they spoke in tongues. Who spoke in tongues? All who the Holy Ghost fell on spoke in tongues.

So if it's consistent  that everybody who believed spoke in tongues, why do we fight it?

2. Really, what's the big deal?: 

Do you remember the Bible passage where Apostles had to be sent to another church to get them filled in the holy ghost?

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they came down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:14‭-‬17 KJV

Did you see that? They sent Peter and John to Samaria, just for the sole purpose that those who had believed might receive the Holy Ghost. Whoosh! That's a lot right here. Quick question: What are the criteria for speaking in tongues? On what basis does he distinguish who gets the gift?

3. Do all believers have the spirit, then why not?:

 The book of Ephesians 1:13 gives us the understanding that we all have the spirit as long as we have believed.

Not convinced? Let's check

In whom ye also trusted, after that, ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:13 KJV.

Having the Holy Spirit is the prerequisite to praying in the Holy Ghost. The next question is "who are those who have the spirit"? The believers have the spirit hence they can pray in the Holy Ghost.

I had to ask the guy I was in a conversation with if he had the Holy Spirit and he said Yes, he believes he has the Holy Spirit. At this point, my head was doing"gbas gbos". So you think others don't have the Holy Spirit? or do you think those praying at the white wall don't have the Spirit?

How does the name "Omniscient" sound to you? You need a new name.

4: The benefits are Countless

Do you know that praying in the holy ghost boosts your immune system by 40% I'm not even capping. According to a well-recognized brain surgeon Dr. Peterson from Oral Roberts University when a person prays in tongues continually he releases two hormones that could improve health by 40%. More interesting is that those activity are not ignited by any other human activity except praying in tongues.

Well, let's say it's because it's a Christian school and they were biased. I'll be updating you with more shocking reveals in the next blog post. I'll advise you to subscribe to the newsletter so you get updated when it drops or you reach out to the writer via her various social media platforms. Connect on Instagram. Feel free to slide into her slippery DM.

Aside from scientifically proven gifts, there are still several spiritual gifts that come with speaking in tongues.

Will God limit such great gifts to only a select few? Have you thought about it this way before?

5. The Bible says it plainly that it is for all men:

 I think this is the most solid of all arguments. This makes me wonder at all times why we still usually stress on this topic. It's clear like crystal clear in the world.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:39 KJV

Do not forbid tongues, it's in your Bible. If he hasn't given it to you, he won't say you should not forbid it. He's saying don't forbid speaking in tongues.

In consecutive blog posts,  I'll be discussing counterclaims that might be ringing in your head to counter the teachings I have taught you. Like, what about passages like 1 Corinthians 12:30 and other passages?

How Important Is Speaking in Tongues?

There is more to being filled with the Holy Ghost than speaking in tongues, but tongues are an important and inte­gral part of receiving the Holy Ghost, since they are the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4). Also, speaking in tongues is an integral part of the believer's devo­tional prayer life, for as the Apostle Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues . . ." (1 Cor. 14:18). I, too, can say with Paul, "I thank my God I speak with tongues."

In the Church world today, many people say, "Tongues have been done away with, because the Bible says that tongues will cease." The Bible does say that one day, tongues will cease (see First Corinthians 13:8–12), but that is not referring to this present Church Age. In Heaven, there will be no necessity for tongues, because that which is perfect will have come (1 Cor. 13:10).

There are those who purport to believe in speak­ing in tongues but do not feel that tongues are neces­sary for all believers. It's important to understand that there is a difference between the gift of tongues that accompanies the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which every believer can receive, and the gift of tongues that is a ministry gift. (For a more detailed teaching on this subject, please read my study guide entitled, The Holy Spirit and His Gifts Study Guide.)

 

Read: Biography of Pastor Seun Osigbesan

In this article, we are talking about the gift of tongues given for every believer.  The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all those who believe (Acts 2:38–39); therefore, speaking in tongues as an evidence of the Spirit's infilling is also for all those who believe.

Many have been robbed of the blessings God intended them to have by believing that speaking in tongues isn't for everyone. But the Word shows us that every believer needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost. And the Word says that when we get filled with the Holy Ghost, we will speak with tongues (Acts 2:4).

However, speaking with tongues does not occur as just one initial experience of being filled with the Holy Ghost, and then it ceases. Speaking with tongues is a continual experience for the rest of one's life.

Notice that in writing to the Church at Corinth, Paul very definitely encouraged the Corinthian Christians to follow the practice of speaking with tongues in their own private prayer lives. And he gave a number of reasons for it.

1. Devotional Use - Speaking Divine Secrets

There is the devotional use of tongues. 1st Corinthians 14:2 says, "For he who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses God, not man; no one understands him; he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit" (Moffatt). Here, Paul is talking about the individual Spirit-filled believer employing the use of tongues in his prayer life. Through speaking in tongues, you can pray out the plan of God for your life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Spiritual Edification

Tongues are also used as a means of spiritual edi­fication. The Bible says, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifteth himself . . ." (1 Cor. 14:4). The word "edifieth" means to build up. Further down in the chapter, The Amplified Bible reads, "My spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unpro­ductive . . ." (1 Cor. 14:14). So praying in tongues is not for mental edification, but for spiritual edification.

3. Worshipping God

For the believer who is filled with the Holy Ghost, his tongues are given to him to use constantly in his worship and devotion to God. The Bible says in Acts 10:46 concerning Cor­nelius and his household when they began to speak with tongues, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. . . ." Speaking with tongues is a supernatural way to magnify God.

4. Doorway to the Supernatural

Speaking with tongues is the doorway into all the other spiritual gifts. Some people want to experience all the gifts of the Spirit at once, but you have to go through the door to get into the supernatural. Also, it is as the Spirit of God wills, not as we will (1 Cor. 12:11). In other words, you can't force or "put on" a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.

The Bible teaches us to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1). The Bible also teaches us to earnestly covet the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). But remember that those words were written to people who already spoke in tongues. They weren't written to people who did not speak with tongues.

I have found in my own life over a period of more than 60 years that the more I speak in tongues—the more I pray and worship God in tongues—the more manifestation of the other gifts of the Spirit I have in my life too. And the less I speak in tongues, the less manifestation of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit I have operat­ing in my life.

The Holy Spirit knows what is coming in the future, and I am thoroughly convinced that if we will be sensitive and responsive to Him, He will show us things to come (John 16:13). He will equip each of us for what lies ahead in life, if we will yield to Him. Praying and speaking with tongues is one way to do that; it is one way to be built up spiritually in order to prepare and be ready for whatever may come in the future.

God has given each of us a supernatural means of edifying ourselves, or building ourselves up, spiritually. God has given to us a supernatural means of communicating with and worshipping Him. Are you as a Spirit-filled believer taking full advantage of the gift of tongues?