Why can’t i speak in tongues as a Christian
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Scriptures fall into two categories: descriptive and prescriptive. In other words: Does Acts 19:6-9 describe something that happened to certain believers in Ephesus or something that applies to all believers in all times, or both? Since we know from other scriptures that have been posted, not everyone receives the gift of tongues, then it follows that it's possible to be baptized in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues.
My question to you is: Have you been baptized in water? The believers in Acts 19:6-9 were baptized in water first. In the first sermon by Peter in Acts 2, Peter said: "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
My question to you is: Have you been baptized in water? The believers in Acts 19:6-9 were baptized in water first. In the first sermon by Peter in Acts 2, Peter said: "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
I am sure you will hear many things pertaining to this question. But the answer is simple. Don't seek to speak in tongues.
Until you know:
- Why speak in tongues?
- What is the gift used for?
- What does it mean when you do speak in tongues?
- Who is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit?
- Who do we ask to be empowered with the Holy Spirit?
- What is the empowering of the Holy Spirit for?
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That was descriptive of an event not prescriptive henceforth.
Its also written not all speak in tongues. Also what is neglected about those passages is that they also prophesied. You never heard anyone worked up about not being able to prophesy. I wonder why? Maybe because its not promised to do either, prophecy is hard to fake while babbling in word fragments in an ecstatic state is not.
Its also written not all speak in tongues. Also what is neglected about those passages is that they also prophesied. You never heard anyone worked up about not being able to prophesy. I wonder why? Maybe because its not promised to do either, prophecy is hard to fake while babbling in word fragments in an ecstatic state is not.
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But not receiving the gift doesn't mean you are not saved.
All the gifts are evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6-7
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
Do you prophesy?
Look at the following
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
All have been baptized by the Holy Spirit but not all speak in tongues.
All the gifts are evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6-7
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
Do you prophesy?
Look at the following
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
All have been baptized by the Holy Spirit but not all speak in tongues.
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Hi again Elo!
Hope you are doing well.
It sounds like you have an important question.
There are many churches that point to a couple of verses of examples of those who are Christians speaking in an unknown tougue. The word "tongue" simply means "language." There are early examples of this in the book of Acts, but over a hundred examples of no Holy Spirit miraculous language given throughout the Bible.
There are reasons why He did things that way, but before that is understandable, a more important point is what one must do to be saved. Speaking in a different language that you did not study is not a requirement according to the Bible. There's a lot of clear passages that do give us the answer.
One is in Acts 16:30,31
"
2nd Was the answer.
Jesus said the same to a high ranking Jewish Pharisee.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.8 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
We are all condemned to begin with.
We have put our trust in good works like baptism, keeping the law, treating others with respect, avoiding crime, and even miracles. You should forget about the spiritual gift of languages for right now.
We know that Jesus, the very Son of God, gave His life on our behalf. He suffered the punishment that we deserve in hell.
There's nothing we can do about our sins.
HE did it ALL.
Now our part is to call on Him to save us, knowing that He was buried and rose back to life. He wants to give us eternal life.
Elo, do you understand this so far?
Hope you are doing well.
It sounds like you have an important question.
There are many churches that point to a couple of verses of examples of those who are Christians speaking in an unknown tougue. The word "tongue" simply means "language." There are early examples of this in the book of Acts, but over a hundred examples of no Holy Spirit miraculous language given throughout the Bible.
There are reasons why He did things that way, but before that is understandable, a more important point is what one must do to be saved. Speaking in a different language that you did not study is not a requirement according to the Bible. There's a lot of clear passages that do give us the answer.
One is in Acts 16:30,31
"
- And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
- And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
2nd Was the answer.
Jesus said the same to a high ranking Jewish Pharisee.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.8 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
We are all condemned to begin with.
We have put our trust in good works like baptism, keeping the law, treating others with respect, avoiding crime, and even miracles. You should forget about the spiritual gift of languages for right now.
We know that Jesus, the very Son of God, gave His life on our behalf. He suffered the punishment that we deserve in hell.
There's nothing we can do about our sins.
HE did it ALL.
Now our part is to call on Him to save us, knowing that He was buried and rose back to life. He wants to give us eternal life.
Elo, do you understand this so far?
Great. You are born again and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Some people teach there's another "blessing" or work of grace subsequent to being born again, the so-called baptism of the Holy Spirit. It's based on certain accounts from the New Testament where people were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. But I'd approach this kind of teaching with some skepticism.
These accounts are more descriptive than prescriptive. Consider, for example, that the accounts of speaking in tongues in the New Testament describe people speaking in known human languages that they had no previous knowledge of. And in 1 Corinthians 12-14, the clear teaching is that speaking in tongues was for the building up of the whole congregation, not an ecstatic gibber-gabber fest like you see in a lot of charismatic churches.
People and churches who teach speaking in tongues can very vocal and may seem persuasive, but observe with your own eyes and compare that to what's taught in the Bible. You may start seeing a sharp contrast. They play on your desire to have an "experience" that will somehow empower you. But the greatest power of all comes through God's word, faith and prayer.
Some people teach there's another "blessing" or work of grace subsequent to being born again, the so-called baptism of the Holy Spirit. It's based on certain accounts from the New Testament where people were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. But I'd approach this kind of teaching with some skepticism.
These accounts are more descriptive than prescriptive. Consider, for example, that the accounts of speaking in tongues in the New Testament describe people speaking in known human languages that they had no previous knowledge of. And in 1 Corinthians 12-14, the clear teaching is that speaking in tongues was for the building up of the whole congregation, not an ecstatic gibber-gabber fest like you see in a lot of charismatic churches.
People and churches who teach speaking in tongues can very vocal and may seem persuasive, but observe with your own eyes and compare that to what's taught in the Bible. You may start seeing a sharp contrast. They play on your desire to have an "experience" that will somehow empower you. But the greatest power of all comes through God's word, faith and prayer.
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