Speaking in tongues is not a yardstick to measure spirituality, as most believers erroneously believe. The carnally-minded can speak in tongues because it is just a gift. Therefore tongue-speaking does not make believers in Christ to be perfect, neither does it make them to be furnished unto good works. But prophesying,  which is profitable for reproof, for correction, for doctrine and for instruction in righteousness, makes the man of God to be perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto good works- 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17.

Paul asked, Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?- 1 CORINTHIANS 12:29-30. Of course all Christians do not speak in tongues, neither do all prophesy because the Holy Spirit distributes His gifts AS HE WILLS. And so, if the Holy Spirit does not give a Christian, the gift of speaking in tongues or the gift of prophesying, that Christian may have one or two or more of the other gifts of the Spirit. Therefore, no Christian should covet or emulate the gift of another Christian. Emulation is one of the works of the flesh- GALATIANS 5:19-21.

And even though, one has the gift of speaking in tongue, what is important is that this tongue must be tamed because the tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity, which can defile the whole body and this same tongue is set on fire of hell. The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison- JAMES 3:6-10. Therefore, those who have the gift of speaking in tongue, must pray earnestly, that their tongues be tamed, from that old tongue of lying and cursing, or from that old tongue of speaking evil of others, or from that old tongue of gossiping and backbiting, or from that old tongue of idle talk and idle word, and from that old tongue of foolish jesting and filthy communication, into a new tongue, that is wholesome and into a new tongue of the learned- ISAIAH 50:4a.

Job asked this question, “Is there iniquity in my tongue?”- JOB 6:30a. Therefore all believers in Christ, who are born again of the word of truth, and of the Holy Ghost, should constantly ask the Lord in prayer, to purge their tongues of every iniquity. Speaking in tongues and all other gifts, shall cease someday- 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8b. But charity, faith and hope will abide forever. The greatest of these gifts, is CHARITY. Therefore, if we have the gifts of speaking in tongues of men and of angels, and do not have charity, we shall be as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, and it shall profit us nothing- 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-3.

To have the tongue tamed, should be the earnest desire of every believer in Christ, rather than the ardent desire to speak in tongues. Finally, not all tongue-speaking is genuine. Tongue-speaking that is acquired by practice or acquired by being taught in the bible school, is not of God. It is sensual and of the flesh and demon inspired.

Believers in Christ can have the gift of prophesying, the gift of casting out devils, and of doing wonderful works in the name of Jesus, and even can have the wonderful gift of speaking in tongue, and of interpretation, yet will not be allowed into the gates heaven, if they are workers of iniquity- MATTHEW 7:22-23. Stubbornness to any of the doctrines of Christ, is as the sin of iniquity and idolatry- 1 SAMUEL 15:22-23a. It is only the righteous nation, who bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, by keeping the truth, that will be allowed to enter the gates of heaven- ISAIAH 26:2.

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