A word of Knowledge: The evidence of tongues vs the gift of tongues

A word of Knowledge:

The Evidence of Tongues vs The Gift of Tongues


Many of us confused the initial evidence of tongues upon the Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 and often quote this chapter as an opposition.

I hope to clarify the confusion and give you understanding.


Firstly, 1 Cor is written to the community of believers who have all received the gift of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of other tongues and should be understood as such.

So 1 Cor 14 cannot be understood as "not all spoke in tongues" upon the baptism with the Holy Spirit.


1 Corinthians 14:5 KJV

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.


In fact, 1 Cor 14 is not referring to the initial evidence of utterance in other tongues of the baptism with the Holy Spirit but it is actually a continued discussion of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 12:7-11, the gift of divers kinds of tongues, prior to this chapter 


There is a difference between the initial evidence of other tongues and the gift of divers kinds of tongues, which is really prophesying to the Church in an unknown tongue. 

They are not the same thing. 


One is the evidence upon receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (as described multiple times in Acts) and the other is one of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-11) of the believer who has already received the baptism with the Holy Spirit.


One is the utterance (of the spirit of man) given to the born again believer upon receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit,

the other is a gift belonging to the Holy Spirit and not the believer 


The following 2 verses refers to the evidence upon receiving the Promise of God but that is not the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit which is a new thing not mentioned in the OT since the seven Spirits are not sent to man and only the 1) Spirit of the LORD came upon them in OT.


Isaiah 28:9,11-12 KJV

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 

[11] For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 

[12] To whom he said, 

This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.


Mark 16:17 KJV

And these signs shall follow them that believe;  ...they shall speak with new tongues;


~


How do we reconcile this understanding then, one might ask?


Well, although the Bible did not specifically address this difference, if one has been "observing all things whatsoever Christ has commanded us" and following after the apostles' teachings and traditions in the laying of hands to impart the Gift, one will find and "see" the distinct difference between the evidence and the gift of tongues to prophesy, having experienced both tongues.


In my own experience of personally leading like 20 believers to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, I have observed that a few (2 or 3) of them who have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, initially uttered in tongues upon receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit but subsequently after that they were not able to do so anymore either out of a non-desire or lack of confidence or even out of a subsequent unbelief. 

The majority continues to be able to speak in tongues thereafter.

There is also one particular instance of them where after the initial evidence of tongues, the girl was not able to speak any more but she earnestly coveted for the gift of tongues and eventually received the supernatural ability to speak in tongues. 


Reference:

The Evidence of Having Received the Gift of the Holy Spirit 

https://herevruach.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-word-of-wisdom-evidence-of-having.html

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