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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses. |
Bible Question:
The gift of speaking in tongues is a desired gift Is this gift already in the in the believer only to be manifested as the believer desires |
Bible Answer: Well, your longer question and shorter question are slightly different so let me answer it this way. Yes, we should ask God for the gift of tongues if we haven’t already been filled with the Spirit (being born again or born of the Spirit is different then being filled with the spirit). Mark 16:17 starts a list of signs that will follow them that believe, one of which is speaking with new tongues. With the assistance of a concordance, I have found that you could also read the passage as this, "speak in new languages superior to the old." So this passage states that speaking in tongues is superior regular human speech. Now, please don't misunderstand me and take off on that idea. Tongues are useful for 3 main things: edification and as a sign to convey a message, to pray the will of God. You can't just get in the pulpit and preach a message completely in tongues with no interpretation, because that won't do anyone but you any good (1 Cor 14:5). Another individual answered your question with a story about an individual who spoke in an Ethiopian tongue. That would be tongues used as a sign. The third main usage is tongues to pray the will of God. Since you know that utterance of speaking in tongues is given/directed by the Holy Spirit (you referenced 1 Cor 12:11) than you can clearly see that tongues are of God. You can be given the “burden” or a strong urge to pray a certain way or for a certain thing, but if you don’t know how to pray you can always pray in tongues as the Spirit would lead. For example I had the strong unction the other day to pray for Ireland. I didn’t know what about then and I may never. It’s kind of hard for me to explain. As for your second question, the believer is born of the Spirit, but not filled with the Spirit. Born of the Spirit means that you're going to Heaven, you believe in Jesus. Filled with the Spirit, means that you operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the most obvious and usually the first sign of this is speaking in tongues, but that isn't always the case. For more info on tongues I would suggest reading 1 Cor 14. Also, there are some very good books by Kenneth E. Hagin: Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and Why Tongues? Even if you don’t agree with his position on tongues, I would suggest reading them purely to be informed on the subject. If anything needs clarification, don’t hesitate to ask. God Bless, Jesified |