Can you please help me regarding speaking in tongues ? There is a teaching doing the rounds that stipulates that for one to be filled with THE HOLY SPIRIT one has to be able to speak in tongues. Is speaking in tongues not one of the gifts of THE SPIRIT as are prophecy. interpretation etc? I do believe that I have a measure of THE SPIRIT within me as I always feel convicted and have the urge to repent immediately after a wrong thought,word or deed, but feel condemned and am not sure of THE HOLY SPIRIT when told that we have to speak in tongues.
I have never spoken in tongues yet, but, i do desire to be able to by GODS GRACE. I have sometimes tried in my own strength but to no avail. Can you please help me in this area?
This teaching has been around since the early 1900’s, and what they usually mean when they say “speaking in tongues” is really a prayer language. It’s said to be a private prayer from the Holy Spirit to God that is not meant to be understood or interpreted, and is based on an alternate understanding of Romans 8:26-27. It doesn’t fit the description of Paul’s teaching on the use of tongues, where he clearly states that not all believers receive this gift.
Even so some Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations require that believers demonstrate their prayer language as evidence of a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Their belief that receiving the Holy Spirit, as in Ephesians 1:13-14, is not the same as being filled with the Holy Spirit is not universally accepted.