Answer:
Speaking in Tongues was the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spiri on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4, also when Peter preached in the home of Cornelius, Acts 10:44-46, and when the Christians in Ephesus received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). Please read these scriptural verses.
If you ask my take, I would prefer that every believer should desire the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It isn't that it is the only sign that someone has received the Holy Spirit but because of its importance in the prayer life of a Christian. Read Romans 8:26 and 1 Corinthians 14:2.
Every gift of the Spirit can be idolised and abused; today, we have "pentecostal people" who speak in tongues, but you can't see the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Why? They have exalted the gift above the person of the Holy Spirit. So, He has withdrawn his presence and left them with an empty language, which at times is just another activity in futility.
I have met Evangelical and Baptist believers and ministers who don't speak in tongues but have more of the Spirit's fruits evident in them than Pentecostals who speak in tongues. So, someone can receive the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues, but if they open up to the Holy Spirit to express Himself through them via the heavenly language, it will be helpful in their prayer life. Read the entire 1 Corinthains 13 & 14.
We need both the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit to be balanced and effective in our ministry to the body of Christ and the world. However, if I were to choose, I would prefer someone with the fruits of the Spirit than someone with the gifts of the Spirit without the fruits.
The Pentecostal movement is in the mess we see today because of the emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit over the fruits. Galatians 5:22-23.
Dr Benard Etta, GFC Visionary
Comments
Thank you for this knowledge filled answer to the above question.