Is the Holy Spirit always about speaking in tongues?

[Elder-Elect Justin Sudler]

There is a question that people are thinking in their minds "Is the Holy Spirit always about speaking in tongues?" The answer is absolutely not. The Holy Spirit is not always about speaking in tongues, although I believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the physical evidence of speaking in tongues according to Acts 2:4. Yes, speaking in tongues is the physical evidence of a person being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation according to 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. But the true evidence of a person having the Holy Spirit inside of his life is having spiritual fruits according to Galatians 5:22-23. Yes, a person who has a heavenly gift of tongues should use their prayer language daily to receive daily fullness. But, spiritual fruits are more important than the gifts.

The job of the Holy Spirit is not just to enable you to speak in other tongues, dance, jump, shout, fall on the floor, and lay hands on sick seeing the sick recover, although they are the moving of the Holy Spirit. But, you got to think about the various jobs that the Holy Spirit performs. According to John 14:26, Jesus promised that the Father will send down the Comforter in His name. What is the Comforter? The Comforter is the Holy Spirit, also known in the Greek term parakletos, meaning helper or counselor. It means that He can comfort you in trying times, help you bring what you learned in classes and studied into rememberance during exams, and bring revelation. Also, the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth. In addition,according to John 16:9,14, the Holy Spirit convicts us on where we sinned and fell short of God's glory.

Acts 1:8 states that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Why did the Holy Spirit give us power? He gave us power to be witnesses, speak his word with boldness, and to live right. In addition according to Romans 15:16, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, meaning that He can also help us to stay saved

Is it possible to have the Holy Spirit in you and not speak in tongues? Absolutely, yes!! According to Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, because you're saved, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit, meaning stamp of approval.

Why did I write this message? Well, I wrote this message because it's been on my heart. My point is that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and a biblical thing, not a denominational thing. The incident that disturbed me is when the elder at my home church, who is in Florida on an apostolic project, talked about how he shut off Charles Stanley because of his statements on tongues being used as psychology. Also, the elder was judging Charles Stanley as not having the Holy Spirit because he doesn't believe in speaking in tongues. I myself find nothing wrong with Charles Stanley. Neither did my late pastor. Charles Stanley is a great preacher and teacher, and he teaches on the Holy Spirit more than any other preacher. I don't care about Charles Stanley's theology, as long as he preaches sound doctrine. What I meant is as long as he preaches biblical doctrine.

I want to tell you that just because you speak in tongues doesn't mean that you're a Super Christian. Don't look down on Christians who don't speak in tongues and believe in tongues. They're your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. As Christians, the issue of tongues is not the central theme of the Gospel. The central theme of the Gospel is salvation through Jesus Christ.

If you enjoy this message, give me an amen!!

[John]

Hahahaha! Don't start! LOL I told you I got a lot of things going on in my head that is making me feel like a hurricane is inside my head rearranging things. LOL

[Pastor Ronald Kendrick]

In this discussion on tongues, as a man of God, this is also issue that has troubled my heart as well. Is the Holy Spirit About Speaking In Tongues. I think that we really have to look at this giver of gifts. I am in agreement with Minister Justin Sudler, we must look at the fact that the Holy Spirit was given for a reason and that is mainly to "shine the spotlight on Jesus." Watch this, in John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Here is the main duty of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, in Acts 1:8, in the Holy Spirit "pointing the spot light on Jesus", the Holy Spirit gives us power to witness concerning Jesus (But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.) Here is the key concerning tongues, according to scripture, Jersusalem, Judea and Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth are different places whereas one would have to travel in order to "shine the spotlight on Jesus." When looking at the scriptures, we must not put our own interpretation on scripture, but interpret it according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, historical content, context and word usage. In scriptures, tongues is looked at a spiritual gift. Keep in mind that according to scripture, all gifts are used for the edification of the body of Christ. Tongues are said by many to be a prayer language. This however is not mentioned in scripture. Again, we have to look at the context and content of the scripture. In I Corinthians there were some who had the gift of tongue speaking. They could speak in different languages, but needed to have an interpreter. Paul wanted them to understand that when they spake in tongues, that IT DID NOT EDIFY THE BODY if there were no interpreter. Only the person and God knew what they were saying.This is why is referred to as unknown. If a person does not know, it is unknown. Also it must be known that a lot of the Corinthians were converted from pagan worship whereas the worship idol gods. In their worship, there did a lot of sensual babblings. Some carried over into their conversion and were confusing this with the gift of Tongues. Again, according to scripture all gifts are used not for self edification but for the Body of Christ to be edified. Gifts are not used for self to be glorified, but for souls to be added to the kingdom and lives to be changed. This is why Paul states in I Cor. 12:4&5 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Keep in mind that to the person to be edified, tongues is unknown unless there be an interpreter. Paul himself spoke in tongues, but keep in mind Paul went on three Missionary journeys to spread the Word of God. Within the three journeys, he met different nationalities of people. God is not the author of confusion. The Corinthians were in confusion concerning spiritual gifts. When gifts are not used correctly or ignorantly, there will be confusion. Why speak in tongues but not live right? Why speak in tongues but want study the Word? The final conclusion is, the Gift of Tongues is to edify the Church, not confuse it or bring self edification.

[Rev Jeff]

Pastor Kendrick,
I enjoyed you post. What seems to be rudimentary about speaking in tongues many have made complicated, but your points were excellent but mainly biblical. So much of the explanations of tongues are not rooted in God’s Word. Your explanation of Paul speaking in different languages helped me, because he did encounter many nationalities and had to communicate the Word of God in their native tongues. The confusion of today’s tongue doctrine is it is not a known language, it is said to be (1) a heavenly language or (2) a Hebrew dialect. The LORD understands all languages for He created them at the Towel of Babel therefore there is no language that is not understood by Heaven, Acts 2 gives a glimpse of how we will understand each other in heaven and that is in our own language, and they will understand us in theirs. I'll answer the second point with a true story, a friend of mine who's doctrine practice corporate tongue speaking invited an Israelite for Jesus member to their church, they spoke in so called tongues to him, knowing he was well articulate in Hebrew dialect they asked him if he understood their "babel" he told them he had no idea of what they were talking about and had never heard anything like that in all his travels of the Middle East. I thought it to be amusing but mostly I find it unintelligent. Thank you so much for your post.
How to reach the masses, men of every birth, for the answer JESUS gave the key. He said if I, if I, be lifted up I draw all men unto ME. Let us lift up Jesus and not ourselves and we can save this world.

[John]

Pastor Kendrick though I share your thoughts of wanting to save the world. Let's face it that's not God's intentions of saving the world. This world is going to pass and all things we know. When we are changed the old thoughts will not be remembered. It's His plan. One thing I've always prayed for and that is that everyone no matter who, what or where can come to the realization of Jesue Christ and be saved so that none are lost. The only way that happens is for those that are followers of Christ go to them and teach and show them. It does nothing to me to talk and teach those that believe, what does that profit? We get comfortable talking to believers because they are easy. It's the uncomfortableness that makes us uncomfortable but it's where we need to be meaning those that believe in Him.

[John]

I am so glad this conversation has come up again! I started a post quite a while ago on tongues. I still say that the Bible when talking about speaking in tonges isn't talking about some angelic language that one speaks and there is no one to interpret. In the bible speaking in tongues was referred to all the individuals being able to understand and speak another person's language that they couldn't understand or speak before once the Holy Spirit was in them. I don't know how or when this talking to angels became something in the eyes of Christian people but I do believe it is false teaching just because Paul made the statement "though I speak to angels" I guess. When I go before God maybe it will be told to me but I simply do not believe that speaking in tongues is talking to angels in some angelic language. If an angel were to talk to us I do believe it would be in dreams or through other beings (humans, animals) or simply talking to us in our own language. It just puzzles me as to how people have gotten to a point of speaking jibberish and then feeling they are better because of it. I have a cousin that attends a church that impresses on one to speak in tongues and if not that person is made to feel they aren't completely saved and in the Holy Spirit until that happens. That's ridiculous to say the least. If you had a whole room full of people talking in what they define as speaking in tongues I will guarantee no one would understand what the other is saying so what good is it! As I've said before I know I haven't gone to a Theologian School, though I went to Pepperdine but not to minister, I still believe the Holy Spirit teaches you even if you aren't a minister or have gone to a Theologian School. Being close to God is not reserved for ministers or anyone thinking they speak in some magical or godly language they are closer to Him. No one will ever convince me of that. I know He teaches me through the Holy Spirit everytime I'm in His Word. His is no repecter of persons and He cannot lie! If I have offended anyone please believe that is not what I do, but I am adamant (as some know) about sound doctrine being taught from God's Word. We are in the last church age and days and He said there will be false teachers, preachers and prophets. Man has always gone after man's traditions and not follow God's. I believe what He says and see it daily. Please believe I'm nothing and am not trying to put anyone down but you have to be real about God and you can fool people but you can ever fool Him.