A person possessing the true gift of tongues, more than likely will not be arrogant and prideful towards other Christians not having the gift. He will not use his gift as a means to cause division within the body of Christ. The first thing we need to understand in approaching the subject of tongues is... A person cannot be a Christian without having the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE We receive the Holy Spirit by being Baptized into the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. KEY WORDS All made to drink.....One Spirit Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:4 One Body ... One Spirit Ephesians 4:5 One Baptism BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE All true Christians have been baptized into the body of Christ. At that point our identity is change before GOD BY GOD. (I Corinthians 12:7) But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Spiritual Gifts I Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. Also Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will. Not your will - His will! If we could "will" ourselves into a gift, why not the gift of healing? Then we could go down to the School for the Blind and Hearing Impaired and perform miracles. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. At the point we are born again, baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit we receive at least one Spiritual Gift. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE ROMANS 10:9 DOES NOT SAY: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, (AND SPEAK IN TONGUES), you shall be saved; JOHN 5:24 DOES NOT SAY: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears the word, and believes Him who sent me, (AND SPEAKS IN TONGUES), has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. JOHN 16:8 DOES NOT SAY: "And He when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment, and attempt to get everyone to speaking in tongues. Galatians 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Human mentality is out to seek after a sign or experience, rather than simple faith in Jesus Christ. Christianity certainly has experiences. We should not promote the experience, we should promote Jesus Christ who gives the experience. Satan knows the mentality of man is to seek after signs and experiences. Therefore, he gives them to the saved and to the unsaved. The unsaved to keep them from Christ, and the saved in order to keep them from what Christ wants them to be. Test the spirits ! (1 John 4:1) With most people, when they have an experience, they automatically assume the experience has come from God, rather than Satan. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE To teach, that a person can be a Christian and not be baptized by the Spirit nor be indwelt by the Spirit, is heresy. To teach speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift... is correct. Let's keep in mind, there are only three cases of speaking in tongues in the book of Acts. Acts 2:4 Acts 2:11 same event 11) Cretans and Arabs-we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God. This is the sign tongue on the day of Pentecost. Acts 10:44-46 Key phrases are: vs.45; poured out upon the Gentiles also. (Refers to the Pentecost tongue). Vs. 46: exalting God. (Refers to the result of the Pentecost tongue.) Acts 19:1-6 This is the first and only case recorded of speaking in tongues, which does not directly refer to the Pentecost experience in the Book of Acts. This case is unique to our day, however, in as much as you had believers that had not received the Spirit. The reason is that when the Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, it only fell on the people in the upper room. Then they went out throughout the lands asking the already believers if they had received the Spirit since they believed. But in our day when we believe in Jesus, we automatically receive the Spirit. Romans 8:9 BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE In the Book of Acts There are four cases of receiving the Spirit or being filled with the Spirit. In these four cases, there is no mention of speaking in tongues. Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4, Acts 8:17, Acts 9:17 In the Book of Acts, there are only three cases of speaking in tongues. In the rest of the New Testament, tongues are addressed only in I Corinthians chapters 12-13-14. Twenty-one Books of the New Testament from Acts to Revelation do not mention tongues. (Why not, if it's so important?) One of the most important ideas is found in: I Corinthians 14:37-38 referring to, 1. Women speaking in the Churches and 2. Tongues. 37) If any one thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. 38) But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Tongues Acts 2:3-4 No control vs. control I Corinthians 14:28 Acts 2:3-4 To heathen vs. to the church I Corinthians 12:7-11 Acts 2:3-4 No repetition vs. repetition I Corinthians 14:26 Acts 2:3-4 Man understands vs. no man understands 14:2 BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE There appears to be different kinds of tongues. To the unbelievers. (SIGN) . Acts 2:4 Prayer tongue. (To God). I Corinthians 14:2 To the Church. (With Interpretation). I Corinthians 14:26 NORMAL SPEECH. COMMUNICATION. 1 Corinthians 14:9