Dear Sabrina,

Your Question(s): [D]oes everyone who believes in God and his Son receive the spirit of tongues and if so why hav[n’]t I received it.

My Answer(s): Sabrina thank you for your questions. The answer to your question is "no" everyone believing in God and His Son, Christ Jesus do not speak in tongues. If the reason for your question is that your religious denomination requires you to speak you tongues, then I must point out that no man can require you to prove you’re a Christian by speaking in tongues. The only requirement for you as Christian is to remain in the faith of Christ until the end. And the only religion God the Father accepts is spell out in James 1:27 where it says, "to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." To add any other requirement to a believer in Christ other than keeping the faith is beyond the Scriptures. However, there are man-made religions with requirements that go beyond the Scriptures. For I am fully persuaded that speaking in tongues are for the unbeliever and not those who already have the Spirit of Christ. Some of the Scriptures in the New Testament that helps us in our understanding of why Christians speak in tongues are Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.

Now, in Acts 2, the first disciples of Christ Jesus were told to wait for the baptizing with the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, see Acts 1:4-8. At that time about a hundred and twenty believers were in Jerusalem awaiting the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:1-41, these believers having waited until the day of Pentecost came, and the Spirit of Christ came from heaven and filled the whole house. The Spirit of God came down in the form of tongues of fire, and separating these tongues of fire rested on each believer present filling them with the Holy Spirit. At this time, all the believers began speaking in "other tongues as the Spirit enabled them". Now, the miracle in this was that each believer spoke in the language of those "staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven". The God-fearing Jews all heard the disciples speaking in their own language, making them ask in utterly amazement. "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?" They wondered what this meant. At this time, Peter stood up saying this was the fulfilling of the words spoken by the prophet Joel: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people". And they will prophesy, see visions, dream dreams, and God would show wonders in the heaven above and the signs on the earth. There we have it; the disciples spoke in tongues here for the God-fearing men gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish day of Pentecost and fulfills the prophecy of Joel. Having no understanding of the Man Jesus of Nazareth, Peter enlightened these men after God performed this miracle of causing the believers to speak in these men native languages. And upon hearing that this same Man Jesus, whom they caused to be crucified, God had made Him both Lord and Christ. Upon hearing these things the men were cut to the heart, saying what shall we do. "Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". It is noted that Peter did not say they would speak in tongues as the disciples had just done. And if every believer in Christ were required or would be given the gift to speak in other languages (tongues), then this would have been the best time to state it. Yet, Peter did not because speaking in tongues (languages of others) were for the unbelievers in the Man Jesus of Nazareth being the Son of God whom God had made both Lord and Christ. As a result of this miracle, on this one day God called and added about three thousand to the disciples numbers.

After these things, we see Paul explaining the reasons for gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12. Here the Holy Spirit tells us that, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men". Meaning we as Christians all have gifts but not all have the same gifts of the Spirit, yet we all have the same Spirit of Christ in us. The Holy Spirit also says, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good". Therefore, we as Christians receive gifts from God and His Christ for the good of the Church of the Living God, and not for our own benefit nor are we to receive any credit for these gifts because they belongs to the God not men. The Scriptures tell us those God give gifts through His Spirit, some the gift of the "message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge, by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines". Meaning that God gives us different gifts and not everyone will be given the gift of tongues or the ability to interpret those tongues. Having the gift of tongues do not mean babbling about with non-intelligent sounds as some do today bringing upon themselves this shameful sin, but speaking in tongues is having the ability to speak in other languages for the glory of God and bringing the unbeliever to faith. Now, the Christian should eagerly desire the greater gifts, but the more excellent way (gift) is love. See 1 Corinthians 13, where find the meaning of love.

Next, in 1 Corinthians 14 we as Christians are told we must follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For speaking in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Then the Spirit goes on in this chapter to explain that speaking in tongues are for the unbelievers, not the believer. If a believer comes to you speaking in tongues without interpreting what is said, then what good is it for you? Unless, the speaker interprets what’s spoken in tongues there is no edification of the Church. It is said that if you speak in tongues then you should pray for the gift of interpretation. For the Spirit says, "if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" In the Church of the Living God, the Holy Spirit says, all things must be done for the strengthening of the church. And "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God".

So, you see Sabrina speaking in tongues is for bringing the unbeliever to the faith because you would be speaking in their native language having not studied their language. And not all Christians will receive this gift. Most of the Christians you see today speaking in tongues are just babbling unintelligible sounds for glorifying themselves rather than God. There is nothing wrong with you because you do not speak in tongues, but there is something wrong with those who have made you feel that you must speak in tongues. I pray that our Father in heaven will continue to bless you in His Holy word. I exhort you pray always and study God’s word for understanding. May God bless you and your household, amen and praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, minister of Christ