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by Jonathan Israel

In 1988, a little over eight years after I repented of my sinful life and began attempting to follow Yahshua/Jesus as my Lord, I received the Holy Spirit in a powerful way that liberated me and empowered me to begin worshiping, glorifying and honoring the Lord with all my heart, mind and strength. At that time, I also received gifts of the Holy Spirit, including a prayer language, which Scriptures reveals is a gift called “tongues”. WARNING: some falsely claim you are not saved or do NOT have the Holy Spirit inside if you do not have the Holy Spirit gift to speak in tongues.

But the Lord has revealed what true believers MUST have, and it will surprise many to learn they are disqualified and in great danger without it.

1 Timothy 1:3, “…command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer …”

When did the Holy Spirit first empower true believers with the gift of speaking in tongues?

Acts 2:5-12, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

Does the Lord include gift of tongues among the spiritual gifts He gives His followers?

1 Corinthians 12:4-11, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Do ALL true believers speak with the spiritual gift of tongues?

1 Corinthians 12:27-31, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gift of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a MORE EXCELLENT way.”

Since not every individual true believer speaks in the Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues, what is the more EXCELLENT way?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of MEN and of ANGELS, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

How does both ‘love’ and speaking in ‘tongues’ reconcile?

1 Corinthians 14, 1-5, “PURSUE love, and DESIRE spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”

Since we are instructed to DESIRE Holy Spirit gifts, such as speaking in tongues, clearly not all true believers MUST speak in tongues as some falsely proclaim. So how can we know we are truly glorifying the Lord and are true DISCIPLES of Yahshua/Jesus?

John 15:18, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

What fruit MUST we bear?

Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

So, Bible Scripture confirms it is the FRUITS (not gifts) of the Holy Spirit that we MUST bring forth if we are those who truly honor our Abba in Heaven. Okay, does Yahshua identify spiritual fruit as the EVIDENCE of a true believer?

Yahshua said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES in Me, and I in him, BEARS much FRUIT; for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:16, Yahshua also said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and BEAR FRUIT, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Why is it a MUST to bear fruit? What if we do NOT bear fruits of the Holy Spirit?

John 15:2, Yahsua said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;…”

Matthew 3:10, Yahshua said, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Note: To learn more about origin of Spiritual gifts and Spiritual fruit, see “Holy Spirit” article in the list of Scripturetopics located in the third column from the left on ConnectionMagazine.org homepage.

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