Is Speaking in Tongues for Today?

This is also from Joyce Meyer's book "Filled with the Spirit" and is the next chapter. Enjoy!

And they were all filled ( diffused throughout thier souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other ( different, forgein) languages ( tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. Acts 2:4

[ In an easrlier chapter] we saw that the Holy Spirit was first poured out upon believrs on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were all gathered together, waiting for the gift that Jesus reminded them God the Father had promised them.

It is important to note that when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the assembled disciples, all 120 of them began to speak in tongues. That gift of speaking in tongues has never been revoked; it is still available too all believers who will receive it today. As we have seen, it is part of the whole range of gifts that are given us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Does Everyone Have All of the Gifts?

Now you [ collectively] are Christ's body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [ each with his own place and function].

So God has appointed some in the church [ for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles?

Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

I Corinthians 12:27-30

The obvious answer to all these questions is no. What Paul is saying here is that not everyone operates in these gifts - in the church. However, that does not mean that not everyone will receive any one particular gift.

Since that may be confusing, let me explain by giving an example. Not everyone has the gift of healing in the sense that they launch into a full-time ministry of healing people. But, remember, every believer does have the power within them to lay hands on the sick and believe they will recover, as Jesus taught in Mark 16:17,18: And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;...they will lay thier hands on the sick, and they will get well.

Are you a believer? If so, Jesus plainly says in this passage that one of the signs that will accompany you is that you will have the power to drive out demons, speak in tongues and lay hands on the sick and they will recover. That is part of the universal faith in which all of us as believers are empowered to operate in, in our everyday lives.

In James 5:14, 15 we are told that we can anoint the sick with pil and pray the prayer of faith over them, and they will be restored to health.

So you and I do not need a special gift from the Holy Spirit to exercise our faith to lay hands on the sick. The same is true of speaking in tongues.

Not everyone has the gift of tongues - to stand up in a congregation and speak in tongues with interpretation, which would equal a prophecy given the church or worship service. But every believer who receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit has been given the ability to pray in tongues and to speak to God in our own individual prayer language.

Next we will look at "Differences in Tongues"