Filled with the Spirit and the Gift of Tongues
Answer: By Jon Mullins
If you are filled with the Holy Spirit must you speak in tongues or can you be filled with the spirit without receiving this gift.
I think that the best place to start would be to examine what the role is that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives, then look at the Gift of the Holy Spirit as given to the apostles and others during the first century, and finally to look at what the bible says about speaking in tongues today.
According to God's word, we receive the Holy Spirit once we are baptized and we become saved, or added to the church. (Acts 2:37-38-Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.)
What is it though that the Holy Spirit does for us? The bible states that He is a Helper (John 14:16,17 26)-And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The bible also says that He is a giver of gifts. (Romans 12:6-8) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. (I Corinthians 12:8-11) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;