Was speaking in tongues only meant for the day of Pentecost? Certainly not! There are Bible verses that show that speaking in tongues continued after the day of Pentecost.
I have never come across a scripture in the Bible that points towards speaking in tongues going extinct after the day of Pentecost.
Some people argue that speaking in tongues was only meant for Biblical times. I wonder if they also claim that the Holy Spirit was only meant for Biblical times.
The Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues are one. The Bible clearly tells us that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. For as long as the Holy Spirit is around, speaking in tongues will continue.
For someone to argue that speaking in tongues ceased after the day of Pentecost he must be a poor reader of the Bible.
There is an incident in Acts 19 where people got baptized with the Holy Spirit and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. I don’t think I will be wrong to say that happened after the day of Pentecost, will I?
Speaking in tongues never ceased after the day of Pentecost. It continues to this day.
For those who say Speaking in Tongues after Pentecost is Unbiblical
I know there is a scripture in 1st Corinthians that people who believe speaking in tongues ceased after the day of Pentecost love to quote.
The scripture says where there are tongues and prophecies they will cease but love will never fail. I find the challenge with this scripture to be English rather than spirituality.
Knowledge will pass away, prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled. These three statements show us the limitation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I hope you are able to see that knowledge, prophecies and tongues are all gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to help us in our relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit is our helper and He uses His gifts to help us. Knowledge helps us gain confidence when approaching God, prophecies help us hope in God and tongues help us speak to God.
But once we are united with God in His eternal dwelling, these gifts will have completed their purpose.
In the same verse, love is said to be everlasting. I hope you know that love is the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is what makes us to be like God. The fruit of the Spirit is the character of God.
Love will never cease even when gifts of the Spirit cease because it is the character of God. You and your character are one. That is why the Bible tells us that God is love. If love was to cease, then God too would cease which of course is impossible.
The perfect that replaces the imperfect that Paul talks about in the verse is the life we will be ushered into when Jesus returns. In that life, gifts would have done their work but the fruit of the Spirit will stay.
Those who interpret it to mean that speaking in tongues ceased do so out of their limited understanding. I mean, does that not make sense?
Gifts help us develop the fruit. Once the fruit is developed in us, the gifts cease. At any given time, there are people who need the gifts to help them develop the fruit of the Spirit. How then can gifts cease when they are still needed?
Speaking in Tongues at Pentecost was only the Beginning
God is usually very clear with beginnings and endings. Take an example of how the world we live in began; God laid out step by step how everything came to be.
The end of this world is also laid out clearly. We are told of the signs that will precede the end and what will happen to mark the end.
Everything else that comes from God follows the same pattern. Before Jesus showed up, John the Baptist prepared His way.
Jesus came and His birth had numerous signs to signify that He was the messiah. He lived, died on the cross and rose on the third day. He then ascended to heaven in the sight of the disciples. It was a clear sign that His assignment was done.
Speaking in tongues too was promised through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost was the day that marked the beginning of the reign of the Holy Spirit on earth.
It was clear as daylight and even non-believers also witnessed it. The Holy Spirit came with gifts including speaking in tongues.
His departure and the end of His gifts on earth will be the day that Jesus returns. Since Jesus has not returned yet, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still at work.
Speaking in tongues remained valid after the day of Pentecost. To this day, it is active and it is transforming many lives. Read how speaking in tongues changed my life.
Speaking in Tongues after Pentecost: Conclusion
The most important thing about speaking in tongues is your ability to practice the gift. There will be many who will say all manner of things about the gift. Listening to them will only distract you.
If someone thinks that speaking in tongues was not meant to be practiced after the day of Pentecost, let him continue struggling to pray in understanding. As for me (and my house), we shall flow in tongues.
Speaking in tongues is a gift. Just like other gifts, if you think it is not worth it, you gain nothing from it.
As long as I get edified when I speak in tongues, it won’t matter whether it was meant to be practiced after Pentecost or not. I wonder which God wouldn’t want His children to be edified.
Why would God send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and deny us the gifts? It doesn’t add up, does it?
People who say speaking in tongues was only meant for the day of Pentecost annoy me with their rigid mindset. I won’t punch them in the face when I meet them but I will definitely be annoyed to the core.
If you are one of them or you know someone like that, tell them to ask God for understanding. It is God who opens our eyes if we humble ourselves.
Peace!