Everything You Wanted to Know About Tongues but Were Afraid to Ask
Holy Ghost Baptism and Speaking in Tongues

Holy Ghost baptism is the immersion of a Christian’s spirit into the Holy Ghost. The purpose of Holy Ghost baptism is empowered Christian service. (Acts 1:8) Just as water has the effect on the Christian’s spirit when it is immersed in it at water baptism, the Holy Ghost has an effect on the Christian’s spirit when it is immersed in Him at Holy Ghost baptism. That effect is the phenomenon of glossolalia or speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is the supernatural ability of a Christian to speak directly to God in a language he or she has never learned and does not know (intellectually). The Christian speaks in tongues by the aid of the Holy Ghost. Speaking in tongues is the initial sign of Holy Ghost baptism. (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 29:6) Holy ghost baptism is available to every Christian. Therefore, the gift of speaking in tongues is available to every Christian.

Two Uses of Tongues

There are two uses of glossolalia. They are 1) personal use (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,14,18) 2) ministry use. (Acts 2:8,11; 1 Corinthians 12:10,28,30; 14:6,13) When a Christian speaks in tongues, that Christian speaks directly to God and edifies himself. (1 Corinthians 14:2,4) This is the personal use of tongues (called by some, “praying in the Spirit”). When a Christian ministers to others through the use of tongues, that Christians speaks in a language the hearer can understand (Acts 2:8,11) or gives the interpretation of what is said in tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:11,30) Speaking in tongues and the corresponding interpretation of tongues are the same as prophecy. (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:5)

All Christians have the ability to speak in tongues for personal use. (Mark 16:17) All Christians are not used by the Holy Ghost to minister to others through the use of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:11,30) The ability to minister to others through the use of tongues is manifested at the discretion of the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:7,11)

The Heart Abundantly Speaks

Jesus said whatever is in a man’s heart in abundance will come out of his mouth. (Matthew 12:33-37) If evil is in a man’s heart in abundance, it will come out of his mouth. When a man becomes a Christian, the Holy Ghost comes to live in his heart. When the Holy Ghost is in the Christian’s heart in abundance or to overflowing (as a result of Holy Ghost immersion) the language of the Holy Ghost will come out of that Christian’s mouth.

Why Should a Christian Speak in Tongues?

There are at least two reasons why a Christian should speak in tongues. 1) It is a means of speaking directly to God. (1 Corinthians 14:2-5) The intellect does not know what is being said (neither does the adversary), but the heart knows. 2) It brings down the high mind. (Isaiah 28:11,12) The recreated spirit of man (as a result of being born again) is the Lord’s candle. (Proverbs 20:27) It is capable of receiving information from God. When God speaks to man, He speaks to his heart (spirit), not to his intellect. The intellect receives the information from the heart (spirit). (1 Corinthians 2:11) This is called revelation. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10) Speaking in tongues is the language of communication between the Christian and God. The corresponding revelation brings understanding to the Christian’s mind. The Holy Ghost baptized Christian has a telephone in his belly that is a hotline to God.

References