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Is Speaking In Tongues Necessary?

By Ken Raggio

I cannot scripturally separate the baptism of the Holy Ghost from speaking in tongues. They are one and the same. Please read (or re-read) my article on The Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

ALSO, I urge you to you read my article about Praying in the Spirit and The Lord is that Spirit.

Does everyone who has the Holy Ghost speak in tongues? YES.

“They of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God,” Acts 10:45-46.

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning,” Acts 11:15.(At the beginning, they spoke in tongues. See Acts 2.)

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” Acts 2:4.

If I do not speak in tongues, does that mean I am not born again and saved?

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his,” Romans 8:9.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” John 3:5.

Is everyone supposed to receive this gift? YES.

“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. 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," Acts 2:38-39.

“I would that ye all spake with tongues," 1 Corinthians 14:5.

Jesus taught that "These signs shall follow them that believe; ...they shall speak with new tongues," Mark 16:17.

Paul testified that, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all," 1 Corinthians 14:18.

It is WRONG to teach against speaking in tongues.

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues," 1 Corinthians 14:39. (If your church teaches AGAINST speaking in tongues, you should leave and find a church that encourages you to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.)

If I do not speak in tongues, should I be praying to do so? YES!

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost,” Acts 8:14-17.

When someone demonstrates that they are HUNGRY to receive the Word of God, SEND SOMEONE to pray for them to receive the Holy Ghost. Lay hands on them and pray that they will receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. When they receive it, they will speak in unknown tongues. The Bible gives no examples of anyone receiving the Holy Ghost without speaking in tongues. The Bible NEVER teaches the Baptism of the Holy Ghost apart from speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is the first verifiable evidence that a person has received the Holy Ghost.

While attending Bible College in 1970, I saw the Holy Ghost fall on a class of deaf students, and many of them were baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues, even though some of them did not even speak English. They were genuinely ecstatic to have been filled with the Spirit.

I have also witnessed numerous instances when people whose first language was NOT English were astonished to hear a direct message from the Lord, when they heard an English-speaking person praying in a language they did not know. One of my Bible College instructors, Ralph Harris, wrote a book documenting about 200 cases when someone speaking in unknown tongues was actually speaking a powerful word from the Lord to someone who understood the second language.

I am a firm believer that speaking in tongues is a supernatural phenomenon ordained by God. Even when no one interprets it, it is a cryptic prayer language between you and God, and men or devils cannot foil or intercept it.

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Christ, so nothing is impossible when the Spirit of the Lord is working.

I urge you to find a Spirit-filled Pentecostal Church and ask them to pray for you to receive the Holy Ghost.

“Covet earnestly the best gifts,” 1 Corinthians 12:31.

Does being filled with the Holy Ghost require one to jump and shout?

The Bible does not say anything about people jumping or shouting or having a big emotional reaction when they receive the Holy Ghost (although sometimes people do). That varies from person to person. It is OK to have an emotional response, but remember that it is YOUR PERSONAL REACTION, not the action of the Holy Ghost.

Are people actually not able to control their actions when they are filled with the Spirit?

The Spirit inspires the person to speak out in a language they do not understand. You still have control over your body. You may receive the Holy Ghost sitting, standing, kneeling, or whatever. (Unfortunately, you have power to resist the Holy Ghost. He does NOT FORCE HIMSELF ON YOU.) So do not resist, or be nervous, or uptight. Surrender! Give yourself in complete surrender to the LORD. You may become very excited, or you may laugh, or you may cry, or you may have a different reaction than someone else.

I suggest that you begin by making sure that you have repented of all your sins and ask God to forgive you. Then take the time to pray for God's will in your life and begin to worship the LORD. Lift your hands and your voice and worship Him, and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Ghost. Then be careful to respond when you feel the presence of the LORD. You will feel His presence, and you will feel like praying in the Spirit in other tongues.

Some people develop a “mental block” that keeps them from responding.

Don't let that happen to you. Do not be afraid, or reluctant to speak in the Spirit. Just let the LORD have His way with you. It will happen.

Read this article: Praying in the Spirit

I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit very soon, in Jesus’ name.

God bless you.

Sincerely,
Ken Raggio

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