I believe a good book to get is called They Speak With Other Tounges by John and Elizabeth Sherrill. John was with the Guidepost for years. This book outlines the history of the baptism of the holy spirit . John also gives his accounts. There is nothing offensive about the book, it is just a very good read which gives a person insight into the movement.
Here is a man who has a tremendous story about the Lord using a woman to speak to him . I tried to find a link with his testimony but could not find anywhere with it. That is like him, he never put's the attention on HIM..
Maybe if you contacted him, he would gladly send you a tape or maybe write out his story... it is so powerful.
Missions
The gift of tounges is just that a GIFT.
It is no better than any other gift.. Salvation is the ultimate one. 1st Corinthian basically tells you that the spiritual gifts are for today, all of them. They are God's presents to us..
1 Corinthians 12
The Use of Spiritual Gifts
1Now concerning (A)spiritual gifts, brethren, (B)I do not want you to be unaware.
2(C)You know that when you were pagans, you were (D)led astray to the (E)mute idols, however you were led.
3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking (F)by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is (G)accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is (H)Lord," except (I)by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are (J)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6There are varieties of effects, but the same (K)God who works all things in all persons.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit (L)for the common good.
8For to one is given the word of (M)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of (N)knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9to another (O)faith by the same Spirit, and to another (P)gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10and to another the effecting of (Q)miracles, and to another (R)prophecy, and to another the (S)distinguishing of spirits, to another various (T)kinds of tongues, and to another the (U)interpretation of tongues.
11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (V)distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12For even (W)as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, (X)so also is Christ.
13For (Y)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (Z)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (AA)drink of one Spirit.
14For (AB)the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18But now God has (AC)placed the members, each one of them, in the body, (AD)just as He desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now (AE)there are many members, but one body.
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are (AF)Christ's body, and (AG)individually members of it.
28And God has (AH)appointed in (AI)the church, first (AJ)apostles, second (AK)prophets, third (AL)teachers, then (AM)miracles, then (AN)gifts of healings, helps, (AO)administrations, various (AP)kinds of tongues.
29All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
30All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not (AQ)interpret, do they?
31But (AR)earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthinas 13
This passage tells us that the gifts mean nothing if there is no love. To me personally, it is telling that people can proclaim these things and act like they have it but then be mean, does it really mean they have it? Are they doing God's work? Is it more emotion than annoiting?
Here is the passage
1 Corinthians 13 (New American Standard Bible)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
1 Corinthians 13
The Excellence of Love
1If I speak with the (A)tongues of men and of (B)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a (C)clanging cymbal.
2If I have the gift of (D)prophecy, and know all (E)mysteries and all (F)knowledge; and if I have (G)all faith, so as to (H)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3And if I (I)give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I (J)surrender my body [a]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love (K)is patient, love is kind and (L)is not jealous; love does not brag and is not (M)arrogant,
5does not act unbecomingly; it (N)does not seek its own, is not provoked, (O)does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6(P)does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but (Q)rejoices with the truth;
7(R)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of (S)prophecy, they will be done away; if there are (T)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
9For we (U)know in part and we prophesy in part;
10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12For now we (V)see in a mirror dimly, but then (W)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also (X)have been fully known.
13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is (Y)love.
1 Corinthians 14
In this passage, Paul talks about how we should desire spiritual gifts and that prophecy is the superior to have... He also disguinishes between those that speak for themselves and not to the congregation and those that speak in tounges in church and having prophecy... Make it clear the bible states that people who speak to theirselves speaks a mystery to themselves but their spirit knows.. there is edification of the spirit... and those that speak outwardly with a prophecy is for the edification of the church body, for the unbeliever to see and understand that God is amongst us.
Here is the passage
1 Corinthians 14
Prophecy a Superior Gift
1(A)Pursue love, yet (B)desire earnestly (C)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may (D)prophesy.
2For one who (E)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks (F)mysteries.
3But one who prophesies speaks to men for (G)edification and (H)exhortation and consolation.
4One who (I)speaks in a tongue (J)edifies himself; but one who (K)prophesies (L)edifies the church.
5Now I wish that you all (M)spoke in tongues, but (N)even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who (O)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive (P)edifying.
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of (Q)revelation or of (R)knowledge or of (S)prophecy or of (T)teaching?
7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
8For if (U)the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be (V)speaking into the air.
10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a (W)barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
12So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the (X)edification of the church.
13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15(Y)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will (Z)sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say (AA)the "Amen" at your (AB)giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not (AC)edified.
18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Instruction for the Church
20(AD)Brethren, (AE)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil (AF)be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21In (AG)the Law it is written, "(AH)BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.
22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but (AI)prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that (AJ)you are mad?
24But if all (AK)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is (AL)convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
25(AM)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will (AN)fall on his face and worship God, (AO)declaring that God is certainly among you.
26(AP)What is the outcome then, (AQ)brethren? When you assemble, (AR)each one has a (AS)psalm, has a (AT)teaching, has a (AU)revelation, has a (AV)tongue, has an (AW)interpretation Let (AX)all things be done for edification.
27If anyone speaks in a (AY)tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must (AZ)interpret;
28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three (BA)prophets speak, and let the others (BB)pass judgment.
30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.
31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
33for God is not a God of (BC)confusion but of peace, as in (BD)all the churches of the (BE)saints.
34The women are to (BF)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but (BG)are to subject themselves, just as (BH)the Law also says.
35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
37(BI)If anyone thinks he is a prophet or (BJ)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you (BK)are the Lord's commandment.
38But if anyone does not recognize this, he [a]is not recognized.
39Therefore, my brethren, (BL)desire earnestly to (BM)prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
40But (BN)all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
In conclusion, some people believe that the spiritual gifts are not meant for today.. that was bible times. I though as a person who has salvation believe that when Jesus died on a cross, that it broke the curse of the old law's in the old testament and that we are living under the new testament, that salvation, healing, prophecy, tounges are meant for today. Paul reaches out and tells us how to use them and to have love because without a drop of love then they are not real... they mean nothing because they aren't of God.
There are some wonderful churches who have an outpouring of the holy spirit and they are mature because they practice the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.. You must test that . Galatians 5 :22 states 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnes
For me, if a pastor of a church says that the gifts are unbiblical , there is a problem because they have committed a herasy... You must recognize that it is spoken of in the bible, if it is in the bible in black and white it is not UNBIBLICAL. We can't ignore it, there can be discussion and debate about it.... Now does a church NEED to speak in tounges?.. no Do they have to have outward signs of spiritual gifts to function as a great church.. NO...
For me, what is important to remember that there is this thing called maturity... I had a pastor tell me they recognized the gifts but they weren't ready to do that because they weren't mature as a congregation .
Some denominations are so focused on the outwards signs that they forget the rest of the picture... the gifts of tounges is just a tiny piece in the whole picture of who God is. We need to whole heartedly keep our eyes focused on Jesus and what he wills us to do... which is to be his hands and feet.. love one another... spread the word. If someone wishes for the gifts, that is a personal quest and Paul ask of us to desire them but it is NOT required.
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