By Timothy W. Burnett
Although the exact date is a little sketchy, I do remember the moment that I first began to speak in tongues. It was about a month since I started to fellowship with believers in Hawaii. Nearly everybody in the fellowships had already begun to speak in tongues in their personal lives. I asked many questions about its purpose and how to start. They were always ready to help me find the answers in God's word.
After about a month, I was convinced that the Bible clearly taught that speaking in tongues was available. Furthermore I was convinced that God's word could be found in the Bible. I talked it over with God for the thousandth time while alone in my room. Finally, I opened my mouth and started speaking in tongues. You know what happened? When I started speaking, God gave the words. I was fully persuaded that what God promised, he was able also to perform (See Romans 4:21). I knew that according to God's word in Acts 2:4, when I started speaking, God would give the words. I was no longer in doubt over whether I would say something wrong, because according to 1Corinthians 12:3 no man can curse the Lord Jesus when speaking by the spirit of God.
Right before I started speaking in tongues, I was still a little nervous about the whole thing of speaking in languages that was foreign to me. But I was encouraged because of my time spent in God's word. You know...to have courage is to take action even when fear is present. Was I a bit fearful? Yes, but I opened my mouth and began to speak. And you know what? The words began to flow out as I continued to speak. At first my speech was a little rugged mainly due to a lack of experience. But as I continued to speak, the words flowed out more smoothly. Then I stopped speaking for a moment. It was quiet. According to God's word, the "spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1Corinthians 14:32). It worked just as God promised. When I stopped speaking, the words stopped coming. When I started again, the words flowed out again. I was still a little curious to know what was being said. But I knew form 1Corinthians 14:14 that it was not for our understanding. I knew from Acts 2:11 that I was speaking the wonderful works of God. I knew I was speaking either the developed languages of people or of angels (1Corinthians 13:1). From 1Corinthians 14:15, it was clear that I was praying with the spirit of God. I knew that according to 1Corinthians 12:7-10, I was manifesting holy spirit in me.
I can't explain the details of how God gave the words. When it comes to speaking in tongues, we simply trust the integrity of God's word and start speaking. It is the believer's responsibility to start speaking, and God's responsibility to give the words. When we take the believing action, God energizes the promised results. As it is written, "For this cause also we thank God without ceasing because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works in you the believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13).
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