Praying in tongues

[JP1]

Fact of the matter is tounges is NOT the only gift given after the Holy Spirit comes into your life...there are several if I remember correctly...I will look for the verse...so I don't think we should focus on just one to prove we have the Holy Spirit indwelt in us. Bless those who have this gift...great for them...I believe in tounges wholeheartedly....I just haven't spoken in them....maybe someday if God wills it I will.

Very well said , Angel.

So many times I have heard people say "speaking in tongues is your sign that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit", as if because I didn't speak in tongues I wasn't filled by the Spirit. As was pointed out earlier, Paul said that not ALL people would have ALL gifts.

Which leaves me to wonder about entire church congregations that speak in tongues. How many of them are just going along with it so that they don't feel "left out"?

[waitingforhim]

According to scripture-and that must be our final authority. All Christians-those born again-have the Holy Spirit-look at the disciples-they received the Spirit in John 20:22. Yes, again according to the scriptural pattern given-there is a subsequent "experience" that Jesus called "the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5)-The disciples received this in Acts 2:4. We are given several examples in scripture of believers who received this "experience"-in every case it is obvious that they were believers-and in one case-they were baptised in water first (Acts 8:16-17). Everytime we are given the details of this baptism we are told that the people who received it spoke in tongues. In fact, according to scripture-the way that those present knew this had occured was because "they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God"-Acts 10:46-

There is also a "gift of tongues" which is NOT for all-all those baptised in the Holy Spirit can pray in tongues-but NOT all will be used in the gift of tongues-which according to Paul is for "when you come together", and is a Spirit inspired utterance aloud in the gathering of believers that must be interpreted so that the church can know the meaning of said utterance. As a Spiritual gift, it is NOT given to all believers-they might be used in another gift. However, even for those who are used in this gift-it does not dwell with them, so they can bring it out for show for others-it is given as "the Spirit wills", and is only one of the nine gifts.

[godrulz]

I concur with the above post.

There is a distinction between the personal gift of tongues for personal prayer and edification that is available for all believers (it is His will for us, so it is a matter of receiving the gift), and the public gift of tongues and interpretation for the edification of the church. This public exercise of tongues is not for every believer, but as the Spirit moves on a person. It requires interpretation, unlike the devotional use. In corporate worship, it must be decent and in order.

A verse by verse exegesis of I Cor. 12-14 (use and misuse of spiritual gifts) and the pattern in Acts will develop an understanding that supports a subsequent experience to conversion ('baptism of the Holy Spirit") evidenced initially by a personal prayer language. The tongues of fire were a one time initial sign that the Spirit was given to the church; speaking in tongues is the sign for the individual that He is immersed in the Spirit for power to be a witness. This is not to be confused with all believers receiving the Spirit as conversion. It is a matter of how much we yield to Him. We are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Spirit at conversion. A non-charismatic can experience the release of the Spirit in their lives, but there is another dimension that adds even more life to the believer for service, etc. It also talks about many 'fillings'/anointings (subsequent to the initial baptism of the Spirit) as new situations arise that require a specific anointing of the Spirit. We should walk in the Spirit and not just have a one-time experience with Him. Be continually filled with the Spirit.

[Guest mcm42]

First of all, Paul tells us that he who speaks in a tongue-edifies himself.-we are built up in our faith.-It is a tool the Lord gives us by which we can be built up.

I don't feel this is something necessary for my Spiritual growth, I'll stick to being edified by the Word of God.

Secondly, we can pray in tongues when we don't know what to pray as we ought-for example-when the Lord lays on your heart a burden for another person-yet you do not know what the need is or exactly what the particulars are of a certian situation.-let me give you an example of this one-Once right after I and my husband received the baptism in the Holy Spirit-we both had a strong desire to pray for my brother-being shy in the Lord-we separated-and went our seperate ways to pray. After coming back together we both admitted that we did not know why the sudden urge to pray-and used our prayer language to commune with the Lord. The next day-we found that my brother had been contemplating suicide and had the gun pointed at his own head at the time we were praying in the Spirit for him.

When you have a burden for someone is it not sufficient to say "Lord your have laid this person on my heart, I do not know the reasons, or the problems, or the situation, I just know that it is pressing on my heart?" No need for tongues, praying in a tongue will not be any better than the above prayer.

It seems to me that if you had "NOT" used your "prayer language" that the same results would have occured, therefore I don't think the fact that you prayed in "tongues" changes anything. Why not just pray what's on your heart?

Thirdly-and this is the reason I pray in tongues the most-we can pray in tongues because our hearts are overwhelmed with love and worship to the Lord that our own language seems quite inadequate to express our love for Him.-God inhabits the praises of His people.

Does the "tongue" do a better job? Does babbling or whatever experience you have better suite the praise and glory and majesty of the Great Almighty? No doubt that our language is quite impared to adequatly describe our Lord. But I believe it to be more adequate than any Babbling, or "TONGUE" nonsense. If you know what your praying, then why not just pray in your own language. If you do not know what your praying, then say that... because speaking in a tongue will still be you not knowing what to pray.

[waitingforhim]

First of all, Paul tells us that he who speaks in a tongue-edifies himself.-we are built up in our faith.-It is a tool the Lord gives us by which we can be built up.

I don't feel this is something necessary for my Spiritual growth, I'll stick to being edified by the Word of God.

Me--Paul tells us-"He who speaks in tongues edifies himself" He also said, that he used tongues in his prayer life. The Word tells us that it is for our spiritual growth. Just because you do or do not FEEL that it is, is not a good reason for disgarding the Word of God-we don't go by feelings.

Secondly, we can pray in tongues when we don't know what to pray as we ought-for example-when the Lord lays on your heart a burden for another person-yet you do not know what the need is or exactly what the particulars are of a certian situation.-let me give you an example of this one-Once right after I and my husband received the baptism in the Holy Spirit-we both had a strong desire to pray for my brother-being shy in the Lord-we separated-and went our seperate ways to pray. After coming back together we both admitted that we did not know why the sudden urge to pray-and used our prayer language to commune with the Lord. The next day-we found that my brother had been contemplating suicide and had the gun pointed at his own head at the time we were praying in the Spirit for him.

When you have a burden for someone is it not sufficient to say "Lord your have laid this person on my heart, I do not know the reasons, or the problems, or the situation, I just know that it is pressing on my heart?" No need for tongues, praying in a tongue will not be any better than the above prayer.

Me--I don't know that-I only knew to be obedient to the leadings of the Holy Spirit-for we did not know what to pray as we ought.

It seems to me that if you had "NOT" used your "prayer language" that the same results would have occured, therefore I don't think the fact that you prayed in "tongues" changes anything. Why not just pray what's on your heart?

Me--Because our hearts are not a good indication of "what is right to do"-the heart is deceitful.

Thirdly-and this is the reason I pray in tongues the most-we can pray in tongues because our hearts are overwhelmed with love and worship to the Lord that our own language seems quite inadequate to express our love for Him.-God inhabits the praises of His people.

Does the "tongue" do a better job? Does babbling or whatever experience you have better suite the praise and glory and majesty of the Great Almighty? No doubt that our language is quite impared to adequatly describe our Lord. But I believe it to be more adequate than any Babbling, or "TONGUE" nonsense. If you know what your praying, then why not just pray in your own language. If you do not know what your praying, then say that... because speaking in a tongue will still be you not knowing what to pray.

Me--You'll have to take those quotes of yours "babbling, or tongue nonsense" up with the Lord Jesus. He is the One who gave it to us, and to belittle or negate the tools He gives is are not something that one who calls Himself a Christian should be doing. Unless you have scripture to support your degrading of the things of God, maybe you better keep your insults to yourself.

[jmwhalen]

Wordsower writes:

"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1 Cor. 14:14

14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him, however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

Hmmmm" commenting on a previous post of

---------------------------------------

QUOTE

Well, of course, any individual conversant to any real extent with Holy Writ will know that there is no such thing anywhere in the Holy Bible as an "unknown" tongue. All biblical languages are known, understood, earthly & national dialects. In the classic Acts 2 passage, the disciples spoke in earthly, national dialects which they had not studied & learned. Period.

----------------------------------------

My comment again:This is the verse that is used to say that you will not understand what you speak and that no one else will either. But the word unknown is meant that speaker does not understand the language. This does not mean it is an unknowable language. On the day of Pentecost, those that heard them speak recognized their native language (tongue). This is not referring to an angelic language.

Additionally, as far as an angelic heavenly language, angels only ever spoke in known languages of earth and Satan would know any others if there were as he was the most highest created being. We must keep in mind that 1st and 2nd Corinthians was written before Acts.28:28, when God stopped using this Jewish sign gift.

1 Cor. 14:2,4 does not support a heavenly prayer tongue. The whole context of this chapter is the order of how things should happen IN the CHURCH. v5 .'that the Church may be edified'.v12 'let it be for the edification of the church'. v18 This verse is used to claim that Paul spoke tongues in private. Paul knew many languages apart from having the gift which was used in the context of verse 22. 'a sign'.

Also consider the inevitable ramification for "the Pentecostal Movement" if the tongues spoken at Penecost were not identical to the tongues referred to by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians(i.e., they were "angelic languages", ecstatic utterances). If the tongues at Corinth were not the same as at Pentecost(a false view by the way), then there is absolutely no connection whatsoever between speaking in unknown tongues and Pentecost. The whole Pentecostal movement is undermined and the name itself becomes a misnomer. Claiming to possess a Pentecostal gift such as the ability to speak in "heavenly languages"(which is in reality "psycho babble") that has no connection with Pentecost is so obviously logically wrong that one wonders why it is being advanced!

He writes:

"The prophesies and the knowledge haven't ceased, so why the tongues? "

Yes they have- They ceased when they fulfilled their purpose, one of which was to confirm the word, and when Israel was temporarily set aside at the end of Acts. The revelation of God is complete in His written word-no more signs, no more tongues, no more prophecies, no more apostles. Those that say that prophecies are still be revealed had better start writing right after the book of Revealtion. And those that say they are an "Apostle" refuse to believe the biblical defintion of such a person.

Waitingforhim writes:

"Yes, again according to the scriptural pattern given-there is a subsequent "experience" that Jesus called "the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5)-The disciples received this in Acts 2:4..."

There is one baptism today in this "...dispensation of the grace of God...."(Eph. 3:2), and it is not the baptism you are referring to. This baptism "With" the "Holy Spirit" is not the one baptism of Eph. 4:5 and 1 Cor. 12:13-"By" the "Spirit". The baptism today is that where the Holy Spirit is the baptiser, not the Lord Jesus Christ, where one is baptized ("identified") by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, and thus identified into the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. "With the Spirit" was not performed by the Spirit but by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! That particular baptism was to impart spiritual power("power from on high"-the spiritual gifts) to certain men that they might be able to perform many miracles and signs(the purpose of which I discussed in a previous post). As they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they thus could also be witnesses of the Messiah's resurrection.

Much of the confusion today arises from failure to distinguish the Holy Spirit's role at Pentecost under the prophetic proram, and thus the purpose of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit's role today under the unprophecized mystery program as revealed to Paul-failure to rightly divide the word of truth.

The rise of the modern day Pentecostal Movement, which claims to "go back to Pentecost" and pray to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, we are not to do this-we are to go on to perfection, which is found in the epistles written by Paul. Believers today must rightly divide the word of truth, which includes recognizing that there has been a dispensational change, and that we are presently living in "the dispensation of the grace of God"(Eph. 3:2). With a change in dispensations has also come a change in the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the Church, "which is his Body", today.

If you carefully study Mark 1:8, we learn that there was a promise given by John the Baptist to the nation of Israel. The promise was "He(Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost"-the Lord Jesus Christ was the baptizer. What was He going to baptize them with, or identify them with? The answer-the Holy Spirit. The purposes were discussed previously.

Read carefully:

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:13

Today, the work of the Holy Spirit differs greatly from that of the former dispensation. The baptizer is not Christ-today the Holy Spirit is doing the baptizing, the purpose being to identify us with the Lord Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and identifying us into the Body of Christ as a vital member(Romans 6:1-4, 1 Cor. 12:12-14)

Understanding "Pentecost"

In the course of God's dealings with the nation of Israel, there have been a number of times when He has produced in her midst a grand and phenomenal event which was intended to make a big impression upon her. The extraordinary nature of the parting of the waters of both the Red Sea and the Jordan River would fall into this category. So also would the taking of Jericho, and the consuming of Elijah's sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, to cite just a few. These events were certainly remarkable in nature, and they were designed to make specific impacts upon the people of Israel in the outworking of God's program with them.

Another event which falls into this category is that which took place in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, not many days after the Lord Jesus Christ had returned to heaven. As is recorded in Acts 2:1 4,...

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (the 12 apostles and other disciples) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Without a doubt, this was also a remarkable and phenomenal event. In fulfillment of what the Lord had promised before He returned to heaven, these apostles and disciples were at this time "baptized with the Holy Ghost" and received "power from on high" in connection with it. (cf. Acts 1:4 5,8) The Holy Ghost came upon them as so described, and they began miraculously uttering forth in other languages "the wonderful works of God". This was truly astounding and impressed the Jews from every nation which were then dwelling at Jerusalem. As verses 6-7 declare they were all "confounded" and were "all amazed and marvelled."

But as with other phenomenons that God had produced, this didn't occur simply to amaze or astound. This event on the day of Pentecost meant something. It signified something in God's plan and purpose.

What was happening?

It is commonly believed that this remarkable event on the day of Pentecost signified the beginning of this present dispensation of God's grace in which we live. This is thought to be the case primarily because of the fact that the Lord's sufferings have just been accomplished, and the Holy Spirit has now come on this day. It is generally thought that with Israel's rejection of Christ at the cross, that at that time God set Israel aside and suspended His program and dealings with her, and began to turn to us Gentiles. Therefore, the coming of the Holy Spirit following Christ's return to heaven is assumed to be for the purpose of forming the "new creation", the church the body of Christ. Hence, the day of Pentecost is often called The Birthday of the Church, or The Birthday of this Age of Grace.

Though this is often thought to be the case, it is actually a misunderstanding of what was going on at this time. In truth, it is in conflict with the testimony of the word of God concerning both what was happening on the day of Pentecost, and when it actually was that God ushered in this dispensation of Gentile grace in which we live today. In truth, as we need to note, God's program and dealings with the nation of Israel were still in effect on the day of Pentecost. The things which transpired at that time all had to do with the outworking of God's special program with His nation. It was not until later on, through the occurrence of another remarkable and phenomenal event the unexpected return of the Lord from heaven to raise up Paul as a brand new apostle that God ushered in this present dispensation of Gentile grace.

The testimony of "the 4 gospels"

There are a number of things recorded in the Gospel accounts which teach us that God's special program with Israel would be continuing and advancing on following their rejection of Christ. Notice the reality of this in the following examples:

Luke 24:13 27 In view of the Lord's sufferings on the cross, these two dejected disciples thought that Israel's hope was now dashed because of His death. But the Lord's words to them clearly show that His sufferings were NOT an obstacle at all to Israel's redemption and glory. They were NOT a stunning blow to God's program with her. But rather, the sufferings were necessary to accomplish their redemption and to give them the glory. Christ's sufferings were foreordained, planned for, and prophesied about. They were an essential step in the outworking of God's program with Israel so that the glory of their covenanted kingdom could be theirs. The prophets set forth the issue of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory which should follow". And now that the sufferings were accomplished, the program was ready to advance on to "the glory".

The Lord did not teach His disciples to look at His rejection as a hinderance to God's program and purpose with Israel. They were not taught to think that God, in view of it, was now going to set the nation aside. But rather, they were taught the prophesied necessity of Christ's sufferings in order "to enter into his glory". The hope of the glory wasn't dashed at all. But instead, now the way was paved for the glory to come.

The Lord's own testimony concerning His rejection, therefore, indicates to us that God's program with Israel would be continuing on in spite of it.

Luke 13:6 9 The Lord earlier on also gave evidence that this would be the case in this particular parable which He set forth. Against the background of Israel's failure to "discern this time" and their mounting negative response to the "gospel of the kingdom" and to Him as their Christ, the Lord described what their situation was soon going to be.

As the parable describes, Christ's three year ministry to His nation was not going to be received by them. They would not bring forth "fruit" unto Him. At the end of that time they would be in the position of deserving the Lord's day of wrath. The nation would then be like the fig tree worthy of being cut down. But, just as with the "dresser of the vineyard" in the parable, the Lord would request an extension of mercy and forbearance be given to the nation, during which time they would be worked and given the opportunity to yet bear the fruit.

As is recorded in Luke 23:33 34, when Christ hung upon the cross He did the very thing He described in the parable.

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him,...Then said Jesus, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."

In praying for them, the Lord provided for the extension of mercy and forbearance to be given to His nation. Israel would neither be cut down nor set aside at this time. But rather, God's program and dealings with His nation would advance on, and the people of Israel would be given a further opportunity to change their minds and believe the "gospel of the kingdom". And this is what the opening chapters of the book of Acts goes on to record.

The testimony of Acts 2 itself

The definitive explanation, though, regarding what God was doing on the day of Pentecost, is that which He Himself gave on that very day. In response to the multitude of Jews themselves "saying one to another, What meaneth this?", the apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up and explained what was going on. God had Peter explain exactly what the remarkable event was and what it meant. And God's own testimony is that He was still dealing with Israel.

" 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: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:14-21

Peter's declaration here lays all conjecture to rest. As he says, "THIS IS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL." The day of Pentecost with its remarkable events, therefore, was NOT the beginning of a new dispensation. It was NOT the commencing of this present dispensation of God's grace to us Gentiles, which, as the apostle Paul testifies, was a "mystery"; "hid in God" in ages and generations past, and not made known to the sons of men. (cf. Eph. 3:1 12; Col. 1:25 27) But rather, what God was doing on the day of Pentecost was something He had made known in the past. He hadn't kept it "hid in Himself". But instead, He foretold of it and had Joel declare to Israel that it was coming. Obviously, the events of the day of Pentecost, which God had long foretold would come, were not the ushering in of this present dispensation, which God before kept "hid in Himself".

Also notice that what Joel foretold were the things which would be transpiring in "the last days" of God's program and dealings with Israel. As Joel set forth in his entire prophecy, God's dealings with Israel were advancing on to the time when He was going to have His day with them and this world. The "day of the LORD" was coming, as Joel 1:15 warned, and as 2:1ff described. By it God would purge Israel of all the rebellious ones. Also, He would avenge His cause with them upon the nations, and judge this world, and establish His kingdom in Zion.

As Joel 2:28ff states, when God's dealings with Israel came down to their "last days" and the "day of the LORD" was, therefore, "at hand", certain things would take place which would signify the arrival of those "last days", and the progression of them. First of all, God would be doing certain things by His Spirit in connection with Israel's

[Guest mcm42]

and the pattern in Acts will develop an understanding that supports a subsequent experience to conversion ('baptism of the Holy Spirit") evidenced initially by a personal prayer language. The tongues of fire were a one time initial sign that the Spirit was given to the church; speaking in tongues is the sign for the individual that He is immersed in the Spirit for power to be a witness. This is not to be confused with all believers receiving the Spirit as conversion.

First of all there are only 3 instances when Salvation is accompanied by the gift of Tongues, and all three of these instances were simply to show that the Spirit had come on these men. First in Acts 2 to show the crowd that they had received the Spirit of God... In Acts 10 the Jews are shown that the Gentiles can receive the Spirit, and in Act 19 The believers in Ephesus who had only receive "John's Baptism" now received the Baptism into the Lord Jesus.

My point? 3 times!!! 3 TIMES! only three times was tongues ever mentioned to be used in the Book of Acts, rather in any book. These are the only instances of tongues.. Other than what is spoken of in 1 Corinthians, we see no other place to gain understanding on this Supposed Doctrine. Only in these three occurances does speaking in tongues relate to reception of the Holy Spirit. In Corinthians the Believers already had the Spirit, and were excercising tongues. It was not proof of anything in particular, it was simply people with the spirit, working in the spirit.

I have another question... If Speaking in Tongues is so important, why was Paul the only one to speak of it? And even then, why didn't He speak of it more often. Surely in writing to the ephesians He would have encouraged them to speak in tongues when they prayed, or when He wrote to the Phillipians he would have told them how Speaking in tongues had helped him get through the difficult days. Or when he speaks of praying for other believers surely he would have said "I pray for you in tongues always, as the Spirit gives me utterance".

Does He? NO! Why did he feel that this issue should only be addressed in Corinth? Were the others using it correctly? IF so maybe we would see something like "I'm glad to hear that your correctly use the gift of tongues when you assemble" But no where. The only tongue speakers were in Corinth. And no where else is it even mentioned. In romans 12 surely this gift would have been mentioned but it is not.

We know this, that it occured a few times in acts, and some people were doing it wrong in Corinth. Nowhere is it encouraged to do, and nowhere is it expected for a people who had a "filling of the Spirit"

You want to show you have the Spirit? Go to Galatians 5, notice that the fruits of the Spirit have nothing to do with speaking in tongues.

More to come...

[Guest mcm42]

Hey JM :t:

You've Nailed it on the head

God Bless

[jmwhalen]

Mcm42 writes:

"Hey JM

You've Nailed it on the head

God Bless "

_________________

Thank you! Should you and I "be worried"? You and I seem to agree from "the scripture of truth"(Daniel 10:21). I always "get a little nervous" when this happens!

Interesting enough, the Corinthians were the most "carnal" bunch of believers, and Paul's letters were aimed at lovingly rebuking their practices, as well as encouraging them and reminding them who the were "in Christ". He referred to them as "babes" and understood they were digesting "milk" instead of "meat".

In Christ,

John M. Whalen

PS-Thought for today re "sanctification", since the Corinthian letters were aimed toward rebuking their "walk":

Did you ever realize that it is impossible to physically crucify yourself? Spiritual application-Our salvation is God's work, as is our sanctification.

[salt and light]

Several years ago, my pastor was preaching at this church that he was visiting,and he was preaching in english,and there was this italian man who didn't understand a word of english,but yet he was clapping his hands and acting as if he understood my pastor,and I guess he did,because after the sermon,my pastor was told that this italian man was saying how good he was speaking italian, when my pastor didn't know any italian. A russian guy was there also, and his son who knew a little english told my pastor that his dad said that he spoke excellant russian,and my pastor laughed and said that he didn't know any russian. My pastor said that he guesses that God allowed that italian and russian men to hear my pastor in their own language. That is the true biblical speaking in tongues. This other tongue stuff is of the devil I believe. It's funny,because some people who claim to be full of the Holy Spirit,and are babbling some gibberish,have treated me wrong,and they don't believe in witnessing,are one that I know in particular,is quite worldly,not to sound judgmental,but I've never spoken in tongues,and I witness every day,and try not to be like the rest of the world. If they really were filled with the Holy Spirit,you'd think that they wouldn't be able to help but going out and telling people about Jesus and they wouldn't be so worldly. I've actually had some pentecostals tell me that I wasn't saved because I've never spoken in tongues,but yet,their lifestyle makes me wonder if they're saved. Understand,I'm not trying to sound judgmental,because I'm not judging their hearts.