The one problem with this gift is that it is called/translated as “tongues” when it should be “other national languages.” "Tongues" is an outdated name. We would have the same problem today if we continued to use the words “horseless carriage” instead or “car” or “automobile.” Could you imagine the look on the face of a car salesman if you said to him, “I would like to purchase a horseless carriage?” This is the same problem when the archaic word, "tongues" (gift of the Holy Spirit) is used today. Israel didn’t like it when God spoke to them at Mount Sinai. They were afraid and trembled, complaining to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak to us lest we die” (Ex. 20:19).

The Gift of tongues-languages is one of the 7,000 real languages spoken in the world today. By means of them, God is able to give messages for everyone around the world in their native languages by using another person who doesn't normally speak their language. God's amazing "gift of tongues" gives us control over our own tongue, which is the most uncontrollable organ in our bodies – “no human being can tame”, “a restless evil, and "full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:8). But the Holy Spirit can tame our tongues so we can deliver messages to people from Jesus. Spoken tongues can be accurately translated by people who normally speak the language or who have the “Gift of Interpretation of languages” (1 Cor. 12:10).

Unknowingly, while preaching in a church in Florida, I was told that my “tongues language was Portuguese”. This resulted in tremendous response of people receiving our ministry of “Signs, Wonders and Miracles” very similar to what happened on the first day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, 3,000 people heard the disciples speaking in new languages that they had never learned before. The Gift of other "New Languages" is the “initial evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). When people say that they do not want the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" with the evidence of speaking in a new language, they are really saying that they do not want Jesus to be their Saviour and Lord God. This results in a group in a church whom Paul describes as “idiotes; idiotai” (1 Cor. 14:23–24) or “ungifted or outsiders" who are people who are neither full-fledged believers or unbelievers.

When a person prays with their Holy Spirit given language, the Holy Spirit is able to given a person daily guidance (Jn. 16:8–15; Eph. 6:18; Rev. 2:7,11,17,20; 3:6,13,22). Without the continual use of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rm. 12:6–8; 1 Cor. 12:8–10) our church services become a form of entertainment and not worship services. As a result, many people go home with a feeling of being defeated, disillusioned and/or sick. Paul tells us that, “He who speaks in a tongue (Holy Spirit given language) edifies himself” (1 Cor. 14:4) which means that he/she who prays with their given language will receive healing from the inside out. Paul also encourages us, “Pray at all times in the Spirit (languages), with all perseverance and supplication.” When we do not learn to pray with our natural language, our Holy Spirit given language, we do not receive healing. When we repent and receive forgiveness, Jesus becomes our Saviour. And when we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus becomes our Lord and God.