Does God want us to speak in tongues in order to praise God?

[Dave Slayer]

May I please have some thoughts on the following arguments by Dave Williams? Thanks and God Bless!

I tell believers wanting to be filled that God has allready given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He has made this wonderful baptism available to us now. You don't have to beg. Just shout for joy and begin praising God in a language you've never learned.

I tell everyone who has asked to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit to begin worshipping and focusing on Jesus.

Sometimes I'll have soft music playing in the background, but it is not necessary. I instruct them to focus on Jesus, for He is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

Finally, I tell them that the moment I lay my hands on them, the Holy Spirit will give them the utterance to speak in tongues.

I instruct them to cease all native language praises (in other words for most Americans, this would mean to speak no more words in English for the time being), and immediately begin to praise God in tongues. I am honest, and tell them it will sound foolish, but to do it anyway. I once again go over the benefits of this experience with them, reminding them that our spirit needs to ascend above our minds. Since the word "spirit" in the Greek language is the same as "air" or "breath", I sometimes will instruct the candidates to take a deep breath when they feel my hands touch them, then begin to praise in other languages.

 

[Tina]

Finally, I tell them that the moment I lay my hands on them, the Holy Spirit will give them the utterance to speak in tongues.

I speak in tongues but I don't agree with this statement. Many people don't receive the gift immediately but days, weeks or even months later. I also don't agree that you only praise God with tongues. Not biblical.

 

[Edouard]

Interesting.

Many denominations have different views on the gift of tongues.
If you look deeper into gifts. Paul talks to us about how some are teachers, some are prophets, some are healers. Now the 12 disciples were given these gifts by Christ through the Holy SPirit.

If you look chronologically at the order of events. The Apostles were all baptized at some point.
But when did they speak in tongues? Acts chapter 1-3. They did not begin speaking in this manner until after Christ's death.

The next question. How many types of "speaking in tongues" do think exists based on scripture?
My conclusion is that "tongues" were given to preach the gospel to those they could not speak to.

For instance, If you were to visit some friends in Chicago or in the U.S. and you could not speak spanish or russian. You know the Holy Spirit has filled you with this gift and God fills you with these words.
You start speaking. This is what happened in Acts 1 - 3.

Also, there is a way that tongues are to be practiced outlined in the N.T. and this I believe is more relevant than how we should worship in the book of corinth. The corinthian letter I do not believe is to be taken 100% literal. but its implications are!

Like when it talks about women in worship. In some cultures that is what is necessary to reach a people group. In others women are a part of this service.

There is a lot more conversation and study that you should take into consideration for yourself through scripture rather than conversation. I would study any topic or relation to gifts of the spirit. Both old and new testament. We all have different gifts that God has ordained us with to reach different people.

If you look at the disciples they were all different; including the apostles. why?
well could a unscholared roman gentile preach to the jews? could a jew preach to a uncircumcised gentile?

Yes they did. Lets put this in perspective. Could a woman preach to Islam men in Egypt? of course not.
She could. But that would warrant death.

I hope I did not go off on too many tangents in order to make a my point about speaking in tongues and gifts of the spirit. May God give you guidance in all his wisdom.

Grace and peace be with you.
Edouard.