I have explained this to you before...
As I recall that in every example of people speaking in tongues in the book of Acts, I see that all new believers spoke in tongues. Doesn't it seem like there's a contradiction here? In other words, God shows us groups of people speaking in tongues in the book of Acts, but in the that passages He tells us that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit which only certain people will receive.
Check Acts 1:
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an
hundred and twenty,)
--There were only 120 disciples at the very most that could speak in tongues.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
--This refers to the 120, or some say just the 12. Either way it was no more than 120 that could have possibly spoken in tongues.
The Result:
Some accused them of being drunk.
Then Peter preached.
There were about 100,000 Jews present, all unsaved. Out of that number, 3,000 were saved, NONE of which spoke in tongues.
Faith is listed as a gift of the Spirit. Does this imply that only certain people will ever have faith? No, because all believers are meant to have faith.
Faith is not a God-given gift for the unsaved. He must come to Christ in faith. Faith is not a gift today, but a fruit of the Spirit. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. It comes from walking with God, from a close relationship with God. It is not some mystically given gift. It is a simple confidence in the promises of God, that what God has said, God will do.
The gift of the Spirit that is called faith, was something different. It has ceased. It was supernaturally given.
Serving is listed as a spiritual gift. Does this imply that only certain people will ever serve? No, because we are all commanded to be servants (see for example John 13:1-17 and Philippians 2:3-16).
Teaching is listed as a spiritual gift. Does this imply that only certain people will ever teach? No, because we are all commanded to be able to teach (see 2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Encouraging others, contributing to the needs of others, showing mercy to others, helping others, and so on are listed as spiritual gifts. Does this imply that only certain people will ever do these things? No, because we are all commanded to do these things.
Evangelism is listed as a spiritual gift. Does this imply that only certain people will ever share the Gospel? No, because we are all commanded to do evangelism (see Matthew 28:18-20).
There are various things which all believers are told to do, but which certain people will have a special gift for doing. So in a sense there are two forms of these gifts: One form which any believer can do, and another form which is the special gift of the Spirit.
THere are two forms of tongues.. The public form of tongues (which must always be interpreted) edifies the church congregation just as the gift of prophecy does (1 Corinthians 14:5). This is the spiritual gift of tongues because spiritual gifts are given for the public good (1 Corinthians 12:7). The gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation go hand in hand. In contrast, the private form of tongues is for praying to God in the Holy Spirit, and this is the form of tongues which all Christians are told to do.
I think it would be wiser to spend the time discussing those gifts which are labeled "sign gifts" for most of us (Baptists) are agreed on that.
When speaking of the gift of tongues there is only one gift, one kind of gift of tongues--and it is a foreign language. It must always be interpreted. It always edifies the church. There is no other kind of tongues spoken of in the Bible.
There is no private form of tongues taught in the Bible. You can say that is what you do, but you can't back it up with Scripture. You pray in nonsense syllables and say it is from God. It isn't. Prayer is communication and you aren't communicating to God. You say you are praying to God in the Holy Spirit. That is a claim, but not a demonstrable claim. You don't know if it is the Holy Spirit or not, because you don't know what you are saying. There is no communication. God doesn't operate that way. There is no such thing as a private prayer language in the Bible. You have not been able to demonstrate that in the Bible.
You have not been able to demonstrate that any of the "sign gifts" are in operation today: miracles, prophecy, revelatory knowledge, Biblical tongues, the gift of healing, etc. Not one of these gifts have you given any evidence that they are still in operation today.
Who can heal like Peter did in Acts 5:16 today? No one can. The gift has ceased, just like tongues.