There is controversy regarding speaking in tongues. The purpose for this is to show that there is more than one mode of tongues, and tongues are for everyone that is born of the spirit. The different modes are by gift of the spirit (1Corinthians), or by intercession (Romans), or upon first receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts). We begin with the book of Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
[8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
[10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Tongues and the interpretation takes place within a gathering of believers, usually taking place in church. Being moved by the Holy Spirit, a person stands up, speaks in tongues and sits down. A second person then stands up, speaks in tongues and sits down, and so a third. Then comes the interpretation. This is all done in an orderly fashion. The message is for time and place, and is for the edification of that body of believers.
However, that is not the only mode of tongues, and thereby controversy through misunderstanding. Lets turn to the book of Romans:
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
This speaks of an intercessory mode of tongues. With this we make intercessory prayer, and have confidence that our prayers are in God’s will.
Intercessory tongues isn't a gift, but a mode or operation whereby the spirit moves. For example: Let's say that we walk into the Lord's house and we have a need that must be met. A saint begins to pray for us in tongues (as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance). This saint has never seen us before nor knows our need. But God knows. This is something on a personal level. This is something that meets a personal need.
The amazing thing about tongues, is that the Lord wants us to know it is available to everyone that has, or will have, the Holy Spirit as seen in the book of Acts. Which brings us to speaking in tongues as initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit the Bible way:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Throughout the book of Acts, everyone that received the Holy spirit had received with speaking in tongues as the spirit gave the utterance. Now, within the controversy there are some quick to point out a few scriptures whereby it is simply not recorded either one way or the other. However, they cannot provide a single scripture that says someone failed to speak in tongues. We do have tons of scripture that folks did speak in tongues, but simply a non-statement does NOT mean that anyone has not spoken, it is simply not mentioned.
Here is a scriptural example:
This is an account of the exact same event. Only one account offers more information than the other. See if you can spot it:
Matthew 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
You are correct, it was John that lists the name of the servant who's ear was smote off, AND lists the name of the person that had drew the sword. We have observed that the other scripture did not mention these facts, but where it is not mentioned does not mean that it did not happen.
Lets continue and find out how we can receive what God has offered to us:
Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Question: Why didn't Peter lead them through a sinner's prayer? Why didn't Peter say to accept Jesus as their personal saviour? Why didn't he say to simply "believe"? If there was ever a time to do all that, this certainly would have been it.
That is what happened on the birth day of the New Testament Church. The book of Acts did not end, there was no "Amen". It continues to this day. God's plan for salvation has not altered, it remains the same.
Let's turn to the book of Matthew...
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
If we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus we would have to do what he did. We would have to symbolize his death, burial, and resurrection. And, that is exactly what Peter said to do.
1. Repent = symbolic death
2. Be water baptized = symbolic burial
3. Receive Holy Spirit = symbolic resurrection
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Friend, I followed Acts 2:38 as per Peter's instructions. I had repented. I then found a church that would baptize me full immersion, and in Jesus name. After I was baptize, I could not fill myself with the Holy Spirit (as seen in the book of Acts), I tarried with faith that God would fulfill His promise (Acts 2:39).
Then, at church one Easter morning, after altar call, I went up front (as I always have) and raised my hands up to the Lord and closed my eyes, but this time was different. This time, when I raised up my hands and closed my eyes, I saw words with my eyes closed, and these words were not English. As I tried to pronounce what I thought these words might sound like, I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and I began to speak these words as though it were a language, fluently. Then, joy came down from above and rested upon me and then dissipated after a few minutes. I later remembered that joy is some of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What happened that day changed my life forever.
I have spoken to people from around the world and find it amazing, those that do not speak in tongues, presume to be the foremost authority on the subject. Please don't let anyone tell you that you cannot receive something, that God himself, has waiting.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
[8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
[10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Tongues and the interpretation takes place within a gathering of believers, usually taking place in church. Being moved by the Holy Spirit, a person stands up, speaks in tongues and sits down. A second person then stands up, speaks in tongues and sits down, and so a third. Then comes the interpretation. This is all done in an orderly fashion. The message is for time and place, and is for the edification of that body of believers.
However, that is not the only mode of tongues, and thereby controversy through misunderstanding. Lets turn to the book of Romans:
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
This speaks of an intercessory mode of tongues. With this we make intercessory prayer, and have confidence that our prayers are in God’s will.
Intercessory tongues isn't a gift, but a mode or operation whereby the spirit moves. For example: Let's say that we walk into the Lord's house and we have a need that must be met. A saint begins to pray for us in tongues (as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance). This saint has never seen us before nor knows our need. But God knows. This is something on a personal level. This is something that meets a personal need.
The amazing thing about tongues, is that the Lord wants us to know it is available to everyone that has, or will have, the Holy Spirit as seen in the book of Acts. Which brings us to speaking in tongues as initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit the Bible way:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Throughout the book of Acts, everyone that received the Holy spirit had received with speaking in tongues as the spirit gave the utterance. Now, within the controversy there are some quick to point out a few scriptures whereby it is simply not recorded either one way or the other. However, they cannot provide a single scripture that says someone failed to speak in tongues. We do have tons of scripture that folks did speak in tongues, but simply a non-statement does NOT mean that anyone has not spoken, it is simply not mentioned.
Here is a scriptural example:
This is an account of the exact same event. Only one account offers more information than the other. See if you can spot it:
Matthew 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
You are correct, it was John that lists the name of the servant who's ear was smote off, AND lists the name of the person that had drew the sword. We have observed that the other scripture did not mention these facts, but where it is not mentioned does not mean that it did not happen.
Lets continue and find out how we can receive what God has offered to us:
Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Question: Why didn't Peter lead them through a sinner's prayer? Why didn't Peter say to accept Jesus as their personal saviour? Why didn't he say to simply "believe"? If there was ever a time to do all that, this certainly would have been it.
That is what happened on the birth day of the New Testament Church. The book of Acts did not end, there was no "Amen". It continues to this day. God's plan for salvation has not altered, it remains the same.
Let's turn to the book of Matthew...
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
If we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus we would have to do what he did. We would have to symbolize his death, burial, and resurrection. And, that is exactly what Peter said to do.
1. Repent = symbolic death
2. Be water baptized = symbolic burial
3. Receive Holy Spirit = symbolic resurrection
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Friend, I followed Acts 2:38 as per Peter's instructions. I had repented. I then found a church that would baptize me full immersion, and in Jesus name. After I was baptize, I could not fill myself with the Holy Spirit (as seen in the book of Acts), I tarried with faith that God would fulfill His promise (Acts 2:39).
Then, at church one Easter morning, after altar call, I went up front (as I always have) and raised my hands up to the Lord and closed my eyes, but this time was different. This time, when I raised up my hands and closed my eyes, I saw words with my eyes closed, and these words were not English. As I tried to pronounce what I thought these words might sound like, I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and I began to speak these words as though it were a language, fluently. Then, joy came down from above and rested upon me and then dissipated after a few minutes. I later remembered that joy is some of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What happened that day changed my life forever.
I have spoken to people from around the world and find it amazing, those that do not speak in tongues, presume to be the foremost authority on the subject. Please don't let anyone tell you that you cannot receive something, that God himself, has waiting.
God has made Himself real to this gal. 
