Acts 2:4 states, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
"They" included the disciples, Mary and close followers of Jesus. Was this a one-time event? Certainly not. Consider Acts 8:14-17 and Acts 10:44, along with the writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12,13,14.
According to the Greek text, these were "unacquired" languages. In other words, the speakers had no intellectual control over the language spoken.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied "speaking with other tongues" in Isaiah 28:11, although not in detail.

Peter declares in Acts 2:38-39 that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for "...as many as the Lord our God shall call." As a Believer, you are a candidate. Some believe speaking in tongues was only for the early Church. Others say it ended with the death of the disciples, while some use Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 13:8 to declare tongues to have ceased.

I have heard others state, "Speaking in tongues is of the devil." I never cease being amazed at born again followers of Jesus who intellectually reason away the gift of God and rob themselves of additional supernatural help and blessing. To make the foolish statement that speaking in tongues is satanic borders on blaspheming the Holy Ghost; a sin for which there is no forgiveness, Matthew 12:31.

For those who think tongues have ceased, let us carefully examine 1 Corinthians 13:8. "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." Without question, love never fails and God's love is demonstrated daily around the world. Have prophecies failed'? I think not! We presently live in the most prophesied generation in history. More Biblical prophecies are now in the process of fulfillment than ever before. Prophecy has not yet failed. Has knowledge vanished away? You and I know it has not. We are experiencing an explosion of knowledge eclipsing all previous periods.

Why then would one use this verse to declare tongues has ceased? Please notice the scripture clearly states, "tongues shall cease" indicating a future event, occurring along with fulfillment of all prophecies and knowledge vanishing away. Anyone who declares tongues have ceased must also

declare prophecy to have failed and knowledge to have vanished away. If knowledge has vanished, then the speaker who says tongues have ceased is without knowledge and could be likened to a "babbling idiot." The ministers I have heard make negative statements about tongues were not idiots by any means, but seriously misled by traditional church teachings.

So often you hear pastors, evangelists, teachers and people from various churches declare, "We believe the Bible," only to have them explain away various parts or declare them of no benefit today.

Speaking with other tongues has been prominent among Christians for nearly two thousand years. Every time some great intellect attempts to explain it away, there has come a new surge. Often the fresh wave will come from a different source than the last one. For instance, the turn of the century wave reached into the ranks of the holiness movement. Many of those dear Godly people experienced being baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues just as stated in the book of Acts.

Out of that period came the Church of God, the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the United Pentecostal Church, and later the Pentecostal Church of God, and the Four Square Gospel Church. These churches made up what has been called the Pentecostal movement.

Actually the word "Pentecost" has nothing to do with speaking in tongues. It identifies a Jewish feast. It isn't strange that God chose a popular Jewish feast for the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He knew there would be devout Jews from the known world in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. The message of this Holy Spirit outpouring and Believers suddenly with an ability to speak in other tongues would quickly be reported to the then civilized world. Keep in mind, there were no telephones, television, newspapers, radio, computers or e-mail. God used a Jewish feast to bring the devout ones together and surprise them with a supernatural event.

Another interesting facet of the Upper Room event was the divided flame of fire that appeared above each Believer who was being filled with the Holy Spirit. Why has this facet of the experience not been repeated? The answer is found in the Old Testament. All in the Upper room were Jewish, descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were, as was the assembled crowd, Children of Israel. As one studies the Old Testament, supernatural fire often became a manifestation of God's divine presence for the benefit of His people. Consider the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), the pillar of fire by night for forty years (Exodus 31:21), Elijah's mount Carmel experience (1 Kings 18:20-40), David's sacrifice (1 Chronicles 21:26), along with other recorded events when God made Himself known to the people through a demonstration of supernatural fire.

Since all in the Upper Room and the crowd of devout Jews were Israelis, they were no strangers to historically manifested fire. God literally used an Old Testament symbol to help them accept a New Testament symbol of God's presence and readiness to minister to His people.

Speaking with other tongues was a normal manifestation in the early Church. So much so that the Corinthians abused, or misused, tongues. The Apostle Paul provides them with correction in 1 Corinthians 12,13 and 14. He was not by any means diminishing the use of tongues either by the individual or collective worship in a public meeting. Read carefully 1 Corinthians 14 and you find the Apostle declaring in verse 18 that he spoke with tongues more than any of the Corinthians, who were guilty of misuse. In verse 2, Paul clearly states that with the use of Holy Spirit-given tongues one can communicate with God. In verse 4, he states that speaking with tongues brings self-edification. In not one verse of this chapter is the Apostle discouraging speaking with other tongues. He is correcting the abuse and misuse in order that the manifestation might be effective. The teachings of Jesus, in John's Gospel, reveal that the coming of the Holy Spirit was designed for man's benefit. Jesus refers to Him as Counselor, Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Guide and Standby. He also brings loving conviction of sin that one might realize their lack of true spiritual life. He is definitely involved in the act of salvation, as is revealed through the conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus.

The work of the Holy Spirit must be recognized, if for no other reason, for the fact that many are accepting Jesus as Savior. Daily the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction of sin upon the whole human race. No one escapes His loving conviction. Conviction is a part of His assignment and He carries it out very well. The evidence lies in the fact that many people are now born again and many others will soon follow. Since one's initial encounter with the Holy Spirit produces the new birth, Believers ought not be adverse to being filled with the same Holy Spirit or to the ability to converse with God in heavenly languages. Last, but not least, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit who gives one the ability to win souls.

Father I come to you through your son Jesus just as I am. 1 repent of my sins. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, All evil spirits, and their works.
I give my entire self to you Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life Jesus. I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I ask you to go before me today and prepare the way in Jesus name. I thank you Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Romans 10:9,10