fortheDeclaration, the word of God is very simple to understand. It is to be taken literally where ever possible which is 90% of the time.
...Acts 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
IF you actually read this scripture you will see that the Holy Spirit fell on ALL them that heard the word. NOT JUST THE APOSTLES. First it was given to the apostles on the day of Pentecost and here it is being given to the Gentiles. The gift is for believers and is a sign unto unbelievers.Are there still unbelievers in the world? Yes, so the gift is still necessary. Are you a believer? No? Then the gift is not for you. Yes? Then the gift is for you and:
...Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
...Acts 2:17-20 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
As you can see by the above scripture the gifts started in the apostles time and will not have an end until the second comming of our Lord when He comes to claim His bride. And it says that God will pour out His spirit upon ALL flesh. A.L.L. ALL.
The bible is very, very clear. You don't have to believe it. You don't have to seek after it yourself. But please stop trying to hinder those who hunger for more of God by spreading these lies.
The one who is spreading lies are those stating that the gift of tongues is still in operation today.
It isn't.
The passage quoted in Joel has nothing to do with the Church.
It has to do with Israel, when all of Israel will be saved under the New Covenant (Jer.31:31, Heb.8:8).
Now since tongues is for an unbeliever, not a believer, why would anyone in Joel be speaking tongues, they will all be converted!
Also, since tongues is for evangelism, why are those who claim it speaking it in private prayer, which is what the article about.
What, did God remove the gift of interpretation but not the gift of tongues?
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the gift of tongues, it is the bringing the individual into union with Christ (1Cor.12:12-13).
Even when the gift was in operation, not all saved people spake in it and Paul states that it is the least of all the gifts, and we are to covert the better gifts, the ones that edify, comfort and exhort.
The modern tongues movement is simply a Satanic counterfeit of something that was legitimate 2,000 years ago.