Why can't I speak in tongues?

[PneumaPsucheSoma]

Give New Testament example of instruments played in worship.

No instrument appeared in church service for 8 centuries.

Have you ever heard the term acapella? it literally means in English...in the style of the chapel...(no instruments)

all the best...

This one time, when I was getting one of my music degrees, I vaguely recall the term "acapella". You probably need to debate this with someone who is musically illiterate.

There wasn't much Word for 8 centuries, either. We shouldn't use it today.

(This is getting a bit far afield of tongues, etc.)

[kay-gee]

Tell be about it dude... the Lord is STILL breaking me of my "convictions". Took a full 2 years before I'd raise my hand in praise at church. Third year in my present church... now both are up

Try to imagine 50 years.

all the best...

[kay-gee]

We've digressed a fair way from tongues. Maybe pull it back.

all the best...

[Slug1]

Try to imagine 50 years.

all the best...

Hey, I was 41 when I was told by God to serve Him in the church I now attend

Going onto the 4th year here in a few months... maybe it is 4 now... I lost track of time.

It was tongues that turned me from an unbeliever in the power of God to one who does believe. Then He spoke to me through a prophet and I didn't blasphemy the Holy Spirit because I wasn't an unbeliever in the power of God anymore... I almost ran, but at least I didn't doubt and make a mistake I can't ask for forgivness of.

I spent many years as a "cessationist" and I know for a fact if a prophet was allowed to speak near me, I'd have called foul and would have said it was false and of satan... I know this in my heart and I know God knew this. Took Him awhile to get me to the point to witness Him in power and manifesting through a Christian who was used as a vessel and speak in tongues and I went from unbeliever to believer that night... spent much of that night on the floor crying.

I think you've heard all this testimony before from me.

[saved11]

As many have given bible scriptures, I will just mention this. Through the ages there are many strong Christians that do not speak in tongues. I can't remember most of them now, only a few which I shall name here--Charles Spurgeon, William Booth (Salvation Army founder and he does believe in the gift of tongues), John Piper (he's still alive and have asked for this gift but still do not have it. ).

[BroRog]

We've digressed a fair way from tongues. Maybe pull it back.

all the best...

Maybe we could find a scripture in which someone asked to to have the gift of tongues?

[kay-gee]

Maybe we could find a scripture in which someone asked to to have the gift of tongues?

It would be a good start. I can't think of one.

all the best...

[BroRog]

It would be a good start. I can't think of one.

all the best...

Me neither. That's why I asked. Someone here was suggesting that God would give us that gift if we asked for it. I always thought that the gifts were given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.

[kay-gee]

All I know is that whenever these miraculous things happened, an APOSTLE was laying hands on, or at the very least was present. (as in the case of Peter at Cornelius House Acts 10).

all the best...

[IMINXTC]

I've been marveling since since a young believer how many, on either side, are so quickly prone to take a judgmental position towards those of the other side, even calling each other satanic etc.

Been around quite awhile and have yet to see the scriptural authority to either condemn or demand tongues, tongues as described clearly in the Scriptures.

Generally boils down to one's interpretation as to what is meant by "that which is perfect," in 1Cor 13:10. In other words, when exactly do tongues cease?
v. 8.

As mentioned in earlier posts.

[Slug1]

Maybe we could find a scripture in which someone asked to to have the gift of tongues?

It would be a good start. I can't think of one.
all the best...

Me neither. That's why I asked. Someone here was suggesting that God would give us that gift if we asked for it. I always thought that the gifts were given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.

We don't actually have to pray "for" any gift, they are already given. By seeking God's will in the Spirit, one would find themselves praying for a gift that they have already been given. It may be at this time that God activates the gifts because they have reached a point in their relationship with him that they are "in" the Spirit and are listening to His will.

1 Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

[PneumaPsucheSoma]

kay-g

(I whole-heartedly agree about the asking FOR a gift... though asking that His delegation of gift(s) be manifested in/through you is appropriate.)

To clarify: Are you including the office-gifts (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) in cessation, also?

[Firefighter]

Give New Testament example of instruments played in worship.

Revelation 15:2

We have musical instruments in the OT, and musical instruments in Revelation. Are we to believe that they are a no-go in between???

[BroRog]

We don't actually have to pray "for" any gift, they are already given. By seeking God's will in the Spirit, one would find themselves praying for a gift that they have already been given. It may be at this time that God activates the gifts because they have reached a point in their relationship with him that they are "in" the Spirit and are listening to His will.

1 Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

I'm not getting you. Did you say we do or we don't pray for the gift of tongues? At first it sounded like you said, no, we don't pray for the gift. But then you sounded like, yes, we do pray for the gift.

One might even question whether the "gifts" listed in 1Cor. 12 are actually "gifts" or simply manifestations of the Spirit. I used to think of them as gifts in the same way that Aslan gave the kids "gifts" in the Chronicles of Narnia, or when Galadriel gave "gifts" to the Fellowship. In other words, I'm not so sure that the gift of tongues is something that is given to us to keep and use at our own discretion or whether the Spirit simply takes over the vocal chords of anyone that pleases him at the time. I'm not saying that I know the answer, but just now, as I was looking at the passage again, I came across this verse.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons].

Paul presents us with three categories here: gifts, ministries, and effects. Maybe tongues isn't a gift: maybe it's an effect instead?

[tango]

Yes, but Gods word is Gods word, whether displayed on a power point or scribbled on a cocktail napkin.

We are commanded to sing. We are no where commanded to play instruments.

all the best...

We aren't commanded to serve tea, coffee and biscuits afterwards either as far as I can see. We aren't commanded to use our cars to get to church. We aren't commanded to lay out seats in nice orderly rows.

Does that mean all those things are prohibited, or that God doesn't have a preference what we do?

Seriously, to assume everything is either mandatory or prohibited, and in the absence of a clear instruction to do something we are not to do it, is absurd. The Bible doesn't tell us to use the internet yet here you are using the internet.