I have had the ability to speak in tongues for years. It began in early 2013 when I received my baptism of the Holy Spirit alone in my apartment.
Sorry, Stephen, but being Baptized with the Holy Ghost is not a subsequent event in the life of a Christian, it is in fact the moment when men are immersed in God. It is the moment when we are saved. Don't feel bad, most groups, particularly Charismatics, incorrectly teach that it is an empowering.
That is the "filling" of the Spirit.
Remember this...
Matthew 3:11-12
King James Version (KJV)
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
...Christ is the Baptizer, and the medium is the Holy Spirit.
It is the Promise of God in the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 36:24-27
King James Version (KJV)
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Here we see the promise of the New Birth and the Indwelling of God, which was not taking place then, and did not begin until Pentecost:
Acts 1:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Peter defines the Baptism with the Holy Ghost here:
Acts 11:13-18
King James Version (KJV)
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
That is what the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is.
And what we want to do, Stephen, is practice our faith based on a sound understanding of the Doctrine of the Bible, not the doctrines of men. Now their practices.
Remember this as well...
1 Corinthians 14:5, 19
King James Version (KJV)
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Paul's point is that unless men understand what is being said to them...it is meaningless. Here, he states essentially "I would rather speak five words men understand than ten thousand they do not."
Prophesying is the speaking forth of God's Word, it does not have to hold a connotation of foretelling the future.
Lastly, look at Paul's example of speaking in tongues:
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
A couple points:
1. Understanding must always accompany Ministry, it is useless if men don't know what you are saying. The rebuke here is most likely to the counterfeit "tongues" of ecstatic speech associated with false religions, such as that practiced at the Oracle of Delphi. So Paul states don't be childlike in your understanding.
2. We know Paul is speaking of the genuine gift of tongues when he gives the example which is written (Isaiah 28:11), and the point is, in judgement God will send foreign invaders to conquer them. The "other tongues" is
heteroglōssos, other "lips" is
cheilos which is the same word used when Christ states "...they honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." The point being, again, just as in Acts 2, known languages and dialects are the "tongues" of the genuine gift.
3. "Tongues" are a sign for unbelievers. The unbelievers directly in view are those who have rebelled against God and have come under judgment.
And where do we normally see tongues employed? In their worship service. Do we see them going to foreigners and speaking the Word of God?
No.
So if you think you received a subsequent gift after salvation, you didn't. And initially you implied that you were "now speaking in tongues," so were you saved prior to doing this? Seeing you say you have been doing it for some time?
Hope that helps, Stephen.
God bless.
