Robert Lindfelt - Speaking in Tongues: A Biblical Perspective

Jesus Christ proclaimed it as a sign for those who would be saved.

It ushered in the Church age that started on the day of Pentecost.

It was the one demonstrative evidence proclaimed in the book of Acts to prove to people that they were born again of Gods spirit.

The Scripture encourages everyone to do it and commands that no one forbid it.

And yet, speaking in tongues is perhaps the most misunderstood and underused resource in all of Christianity. Much of the Christian church treats speaking in tongues as some insignificant by-product of offbeat Christianity.

The purpose of this book is to take an honest and open look at speaking in tongues from a biblical perspective.

Although many definitions and explanations exist regarding speaking in tongues, the intent of this work is to gain a precise biblical understanding. God did not supply us with a dictionary of biblical terms so we could simply look up speaking in tongues and get an exact understanding. Therefore, we need to investigate the Scriptures so we can get that understanding.

A vital part of this presentation is the survey of twenty-one different records in Gods Word that obviously deal with speaking in tongues. Each record is scrutinized to see exactly what speaking in tongues is from a biblical perspective. Other Scriptures pertaining to the subject are also considered to complete this study.

My interest in speaking in tongues came by way of my hunger to know God. My search into spiritual matters started in earnest when I was twelve years old. Although I was exposed to Christianity growing up, it was not a major issue in my life. As I grew older, I investigated many different philosophies and religions. As I concentrated on Christian groups, it was difficult to wade through the many variations of what they proclaimed to be truth. But in spite of the variety of beliefs, a common thread was evident: the Bible. They all recognized the authority of the Bible as the source of truth. So it was here that I focused my endeavors, to find out exactly what the Bible said about God and what He made available to man. It soon became obvious that the integrity of Gods Word, and not the various interpretations by man, was what mattered. Thanks to a number of events and some wonderful people dedicated to being workmen of the Word, my understanding of God and His will became more and more meaningful.

One aspect of Gods Word that caught my attention was the subject of speaking in tongues. In most Christian circles, speaking in tongues was looked down upon either as unavailable in the present day or as unimportant. But a simple reading of the Scriptures revealed a significant emphasis on speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues, I discovered, was an essential aspect of the Christian church that God instituted to bless man. It confirmed Gods desire for us to know our spiritual relationship with Him.

I first spoke in tongues in 1967 when I was twenty years old, and since that time speaking in tongues has become, and still is, a significant part of my Christian life. Speaking in tongues provides me with unspeakable joy, knowing I have a perfect twenty -four-hour link with my heavenly Father. It has truly given rest to my soul and an assurance to my heart. It confirms the eternal reality of Christ within.

I believe speaking in tongues offers unlimited satisfaction to the heart and soul of every believer who really wants to know the truth of Gods purpose. I believe speaking in tongues is one of those undiscovered blessings that have been hidden for too long from most of Gods people.

For thirty years, I have dedicated my life to biblical research and Christian service. This book is a continuation of my desire to help people with this dynamic manifestation by opening the Scriptures. I believe anyone who desires to learn can go through the Scriptures carefully and identify what God has purposed for speaking in tongues. I also believe it is available for all believers to experience the many benefits that are derived from speaking in tongues. A wonderful joy awaits the discerning believer as he or she learns about speaking in tongues from the Scriptures.

There are some important reasons why I am expanding the second edition with additional material. One reason is that I have received many favorable responses through the years about the book. Just a few weeks ago, I was blessed to receive the following response: Recently, my wife ministered to a 69-year-old believer who wanted to know the truth about speaking in tongues. He read the book and was convinced and has manifested!

Another reason for an expanded second edition is that I wanted to add some additional material that I felt would really complete the full handling of this vital subject. There are three significant chapters added: The Magnificence of Speaking in Tongues, Common Misconceptions and Fears about Speaking in Tongues, and The Benefits of Speaking in Tongues. I have also added some additional material to existing chapters and made a few corrections to grammar.

My goal is to continue providing a biblical source of truth on speaking in tongues. There is still so little written on this subject, though the interest in the manifestations of holy spirit is increasing. Another encouraging note came from a minister from the United Kingdom. He wrote: Thank you for a real breath of spiritual fresh air in this subject. I pray that you will continue with your courageous attempts to bring the light and truth into the area of the spiritual gifts. I was very touched by his letter.