DO ALL SPEAK IN TONGUES? - ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER - SAMPLE

DO ALL
SPEAK IN
TONGUES?
"I thank my God, I speak in tongues more than you all."
- Paul, the apostle
Yes and No
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER1

2

DO ALL SPEAK IN
TONGUES?
MAY I BE straightforward and clear-cut?
The answer is ‘Yes and No.’
All believers who have received the Holy
Spirit speak in tongues.
As a sign.
This is what Jesus said in Mark 16.
[Mark 16:17]
“And these SIGNS shall follow those
who believe ... THEY SHALL SPEAK
WITH NEW TONGUES ...”
But there is a ‘but.’
Not everybody who has
received the Holy Spirit
and speaks in tongues (as
a sign) also operates in
the gift of tongues.
This is what Paul said in
1 Corinthians.
3

[1 Corinthians 12:8,10]
... for to one is given ... , TO ANOTHER
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES, TO
ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION
OF TONGUES.
The gift of tongues, which is a message
in tongues to the church, needs to be
interpreted.
That is why those two gifts (speaking
in “different kinds of tongues,” and
the “interpretation of tongues”) work
together.
Otherwise, the first gift (“different kinds of
tongues”) is not useful.
To be useful, it needs to be interpreted.
But actually, speaking in tongues is not
the real issue.
4

5

6

THE REAL ISSUE
THE REAL issue is not whether or not a
person speaks in tongues.
The real issue is whether or not a
person has received the Holy Spirit.
If people have, they will automatically
speak in tongues.
When we read the letters, we will see that
the apostles tell us in many places that we
should speak in tongues to build ourselves
up.
Because the
letters were all
written to people
who all spoke in
tongues.
I have written 2
previous books
that both help
people to receive
the Holy Spirit.
The first book is
called Holy Spirit
Accountant.
HOLY SPIRIT
ACCOUNTANT
18 Exiting
Personal
Testimonies of
How Believers
Received the
Holy Spirit
Like in Acts
Exciting Personal Real-Life Testimonies
of How Believers Received the Holy
Spirit—Like in the Book of Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
7

In this book, I am sharing 18 testimonies
of how people received the Holy Spirit.
And did they also speak in tongues?
Yes, of course.
This is standard 101 Christianity.
The second book is called A Flame for
Every Head.
In this book,
I look at
the topic of
receiving
the Holy
Spirit from
a scriptural
perspective.
This book
lays a
scriptural
foundation.
A
It helps
people
receive the Holy Spirit even though they
may have tried to receive the Holy Spirit
many times before.
If you haven’t received the Holy Spirit
yet, get those two books.
They will inspire you.
A FLAME FOR
EVERY HEAD
If you have a head, God has a flame for you.
"If you have a head, God has a flame for you."
- Reinhard Bonnke
Receive the Holy Spirit
Today—as in the Book
of Acts
How You Can Successfully Receive
the Holy Spirit—Even If You
Have Tried Many Times Before
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
8

And impart faith to you.
So you can also receive the wonderful gift
of the Holy Spirit.
You may also have the desire to help other
people to receive the Holy Spirit too.
Then, these books will help you as well.
They will give you revelatory insights and
valuable practical tools.
So you can minister to others with
competence and ease.
I have written this third book, ‘Do all
Speak in
Tongues?’
to clarify a
specific issue
that is often
misunderstood
among the
community of
believers.
The question
of whether or
not all speak
in tongues?
Do
DO ALL
SPEAK IN
TONGUES?
I thank my God, I speak in tongues more than you all.
"I thank my God, I speak in tongues more than you all."
- Paul, the apostle
Speak in Tongues?
Yes and No—All Believers Who
Have Received the Holy Spirit Speak in
Yes and No
Tongues as a Sign, but Not Everybody
Also Operates in the Gift of Tongues
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
9

10

“And these
signs will
follow those
who believe ...
they will speak
with new
tongues ...”
- Mark 16:17
11

CONTENTS
DO ALL SPEAK IN TONGUES? 3
THE REAL ISSUE 7
PART 1: THE ANSWER IS ‘YES’ 15
1 PAUL THOUGHT HIGHLY OF IT. 17
2 THE DOREA AND THE CHARISMA OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT. 21
3 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE RECEIVE THE
DOREA OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? 27
4 WE SHOULD PRAY IN TONGUES CONTINUALLY.
33
5 PRAYING IN TONGUES BUILDS US UP. 39
PART 2: THE ANSWER IS ‘NO’ 43
6 “I WISH YOU ALL SPOKE IN TONGUES ...”
45
7 SO, DO ALL SPEAK IN TONGUES? 55
PART 3: GUIDELINES FOR HOW WE
SHOULD USE TONGUES 61
8 SEEK TO EDIFY EACH OTHER 63
12

9 YOU ARE MAD! 71
10 LEARN FROM PAUL. 77
OTHER BOOKS BY ALBERT ELISHA 84
13

14

PART 1:
THE ANSWER IS
‘YES’
15

1 PAUL THOUGHT
HIGHLY OF IT.
THANK God for Paul, the apostle.
We owe him much.
He wrote about a quarter of the New
Testament.
We should take what he wrote seriously.
In his own words, Paul was a champion in
speaking in tongues.
He thought of it very highly.
To the Corinthians, he writes,
[1 Corinthians 14:18]
I thank my God, I SPEAK IN
TONGUES MORE THAN YOU ALL ...
Does this then also mean that everybody
in the church of Corinth spoke in
tongues?
Yes.
The Corinthians all had received the Holy
Spirit.
17

They had been established by Paul. (See
Acts 18)
They all spoke in tongues as a sign.
But not everybody also operated in the
gift of tongues.
There is a difference between these two
types of speaking in tongues.
18

19

2 THE DOREA AND THE
CHARISMA OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT.
THE BIBLE has two words for the word
gift in the New Testament.
Dorea and charisma.
For example, the bible talks about the gift
(‘dorea’) of the Holy Spirit and the gifts
(‘charismata,’ plural) of the Holy Spirit.
Whenever the bible refers to the ‘dorea’
of the Holy Spirit it refers to the Holy
Spirit himself.
Not yet a gift that the Holy Spirit gives.
But whenever the bible refers to the
‘charismata’ of the Holy Spirit it refers to
the gifts of Holy Spirit.
Those are gifts that the Holy Spirit gives.
So, in other words:
Dorea = Holy Spirit,
Charismata = Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Here are some examples.
21

Peter says in Acts 2,
[Acts 2:38]
“Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the GIFT [=DOREA] of the
Holy Spirit.”
Or we read in Acts 10:
[Acts 10:44-47]
44 While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all
those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who
believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because the GIFT
[=DOREA] of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with
tongues and magnify God. Then Peter
answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that
these should not be baptized who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we
have?”
In Acts 11, Peter retells the story of what
happened.
He says,
22

This is important to understand.
[Acts 11:15-17]
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy
Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the
beginning.
16 “Then I remembered the word of
the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed
baptized with water, but you shall be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 “If therefore God gave them the
same GIFT [=DOREA] as He gave
us when we believed on the Lord
Jesus Christ, who was I that I could
withstand God?”
It clears up a lot of confusion concerning
the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.
When the household of Cornelius received
the Holy Spirit, they did not receive a gift
of the Holy Spirit.
The did not receive a charisma of the
Holy Spirit.
No.
They received the Holy Spirit Himself.
They received the dorea of the Holy
Spirit.
Before anyone can receive any gifts
(‘charismata’) of the Holy Spirit, they
23

need to receive the Holy Spirit first.
The dorea of the Holy Spirit.
24

25

3 WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN PEOPLE RECEIVE
THE DOREA OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT?
ACTS is the only book of the bible that
tells us what happened when people
received the Holy Spirit.
Only in Acts, we find clear testimonies.
They are written by a medical practitioner.
Dr. Luke.
So Acts is all we have.
And we only find 4 events where it is
written that there and then people received
the Holy Spirit.
This is our eyewitness testimony.
In Acts 2.
[Acts 2:1-4]
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully
come, they were all with one accord in
one place.
27

2 And suddenly there came a sound
from heaven, as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled the whole house
where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided
tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH
OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.
In Acts 10.
[Acts 10:44-46]
44 While Peter was still speaking these
words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all
those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who
believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out on
the Gentiles also.
46 For THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK
WITH TONGUES and magnify God. ...
In Acts 19.
[Acts 19:5-6]
5 When they heard this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
28

6 And when Paul had laid hands on
them, the Holy Spirit came upon
them, and they SPOKE WITH
TONGUES and prophesied.
And in Acts 8.
[Acts 8:17-18]
17 Then [Peter and John] laid hands
on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.
18 And when Simon SAW that through
the laying on of the apostles’ hands the
Holy Spirit was given ...
There is one thing that 3 of these 4 events
have in common.
When believers were filled with the Holy
Spirit, they also spoke in tongues.
In one event (Acts 8), we don’t know
what happened.
The scriptures don’t say.
They only say that a by-stander (Simon)
could see that when the apostles laid
hands on the Samarian believers that they
received the Holy Spirit. So there was
something that he could see.
So, we come to this conclusion.
If we go by the clear scriptural accounts.
29

There was an accompanying sign when
believers in Acts received the Holy Spirit.
They also spoke in tongues.
30

31

4 WE SHOULD
PRAY IN TONGUES
CONTINUALLY.
PRAYING in tongues is praying in the
spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 14, we read,
[1 Corinthians 14:2]
... he who speaks in a tongue does not
speak to men but to God, for no one
understands him; however, IN THE
SPIRIT HE SPEAKS mysteries.
So when we speak in tongues, it is no
ordinary prayer.
It is Spirit-directed prayer.
We speak hidden truths in the spirit.
And every believer should constantly be
praying in the Spirit.
This is what the apostles tell us.
In Ephesians 6, Paul instructs us to put on
the whole armor of God.
33

34
[Ephesians 6:10-20]
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your
waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16
above all, taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God;
18 PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL
PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE

SPIRIT, BEING WATCHFUL TO THIS
END WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE
AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE
SAINTS—
19 and for me, that utterance may be
given to me, that I may open my mouth
boldly to make known the mystery of
the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in
chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as
I ought to speak.
Take note.
In verse 18, Paul gives us a key.
He says we should be
[Ephesians 6:18]
PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer
and supplication IN THE SPIRIT,
being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all
the saints ...
Paul didn’t just teach this.
He was practicing it.
Constantly.
That’s why he could say to the
Corinthians,
35

[1 Corinthians 14:18]
I thank my God, I SPEAK IN
TONGUES MORE THAN YOU ALL ...
Jude also instructs us to pray in tongues.
He first talks about the apostasy in the last
days.
And what kind of people we would
encounter.
People who do not have the Spirit.
[Jude 16-19]
16 These are grumblers, complainers,
walking according to their own lusts;
and they mouth great swelling words,
flattering people to gain advantage.
17 But you, beloved, remember the
words which were spoken before by the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18 how they told you that there would
be mockers in the last time who would
walk according to their own ungodly
lusts.
19 These are sensual persons, who
cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
But then he gives us a key to how we can
build ourselves up.
36

[Jude 20-21]
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves
up on your most holy faith, PRAYING
IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life.
So, like Paul, Jude also says that we
should be praying in tongues.
To build ourselves up on our most holy
faith.
This is what praying in tongues does.
It builds us up.
Or, in other words, it edifies us.
37

5 PRAYING IN TONGUES
BUILDS US UP.
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14, Paul speaks to
people who all have received the Holy
Spirit, and all speak in tongues as an
accompanying sign.
In this passage, he compares the spiritual
gift of prophecy with ‘standard’ speaking
in tongues.
[1 Corinthians 14:1-4]
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,
but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does
not speak to men but to God, for no
one understands him; however, in the
spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks
edification and exhortation and
comfort to men.
4 HE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE
EDIFIES HIMSELF, but he who
prophesies edifies the church.
When we speak in tongues, we edify
39

ourselves.
The word edify means ‘to build up.’
So, as James said, when we pray in
tongues, we build ourselves up.
But this doesn’t help others.
When we speak in tongues (the sign of
tongues), we don’t speak to people.
They don’t understand us.
It’s not for them.
We speak to God.
This is what it says in verse 2,
[1 Corinthians 14:2]
... he who speaks in a tongue does not
SPEAK TO men but to GOD, for no
one understands him; however, in the
spirit he speaks mysteries.
But, when we speak prophetically, in a
language that people can understand, we
edify people.
Or exhort them.
Or comfort them.
This is what it says in verse 3.
[1 Corinthians 14:3]
But he who prophesies SPEAKS
40

edification and exhortation and
comfort TO MEN.
Again, in verse 4, Paul repeats what he
has said before.
Speaking in tongues helps us.
Speaking prophetically helps the church.
[1 Corinthians 14:4]
He who speaks in a tongue EDIFIES
HIMSELF, but he who prophesies
EDIFIES THE CHURCH.
Unless ...
41

42

PART 2:
THE ANSWER IS
‘NO’
43

6 “I WISH YOU ALL
SPOKE IN TONGUES ...”
AND NOW we get to a passage that has
been so commonly misunderstood and
caused a lot of confusion.
It is this:
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
I WISH YOU ALL SPOKE WITH
TONGUES, but even more that you
prophesied; for he who prophesies
is greater than he who speaks with
tongues, unless indeed he interprets,
that the church may receive edification.
“See, this clearly says that not everybody
speaks in tongues!”
This is what you will often hear people
say.
But does it really?
When we read the bible, we need to make
sure that we follow one primary rule.
Context is king.
In other words, we need to look at the
45

context.
So what is the context of this verse?
It’s what we have just talked about in the
previous chapter.
[1 Corinthians 14:1-4]
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,
but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does
not speak to men but to God, for no
one understands him; however, in the
spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks
edification and exhortation and comfort
to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies
himself, but he who prophesies edifies
the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but
even more that you prophesied; for he
who prophesies is greater than he who
speaks with tongues, unless indeed he
interprets, that the church may receive
edification.
Paul is still comparing prophecy with the
‘ordinary’ type of speaking in tongues.
The type that we use for self-edification.
Language that originates from the Spirit.
46

Language that others cannot understand.
When we speak in this ordinary type of
speaking in tongues, we speak as the
Spirit gives us utterance.
Now we get to the gift of tongues.
The gift of tongues (Paul calls it “different
kinds of tongues”) works in conjunction
with the gift of “interpretation of
tongues.”
Both are spiritual gifts (charismata) of the
Holy Spirit.
Not everyone operates in them.
Paul lists them in 1 Corinthians 12.
[1 Corinthians 12:4-11]
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the
same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries,
but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities,
but it is the same God who works [e]all
in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is
given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of
wisdom through the Spirit, to another
the word of knowledge through the
same Spirit,
47

9 to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healings by the same
Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, TO ANOTHER
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES, TO
ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION
OF TONGUES.
11 But one and the same Spirit works
all these things, distributing to each
one individually as He wills.
So the two spiritual gifts (charismata) are
in verse 10.
The gift of “different kinds of tongues.”
And the gift of “interpretation of
tongues.”
Now, let’s go back to our passage in 1
Corinthians 14 and the verse, “I wish you
all spoke in tongues ...”
Let’s read it again.
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
I wish you all spoke with tongues,
but even more that you prophesied;
for he who prophesies is greater
than he who speaks with tongues,
UNLESS INDEED HE INTERPRETS,
48

THAT THE CHURCH MAY RECEIVE
EDIFICATION.
Paul here is NOT saying that he wished
that everybody in the Corinthian church
spoke in ‘ordinary’ tongues.
They all did speak in tongues (as a
sign)!
But not everybody also operated in the
gift of “different kinds of tongues.”
What is this gift about?
When a person operates in the gift of
speaking in different kinds of tongues,
they give a message in tongues to the
church.
This kind of message then needs to be
interpreted by someone with the gift of
“interpretation of tongues.”
It can even be the same person.
Smith Wigglesworth commonly operated
in that gift, for example.
First, under the anointing of the Holy
Spirit, he delivered a message in tongues.
In other words, he operated in the gift of
“different kinds of tongues.’
Nobody could understand this, yet.
And then he delivered an interpretation of
49

that message in tongues.
This is how these two gifts operate. They
are on par with the gift of prophecy.
But the difference is this.
When people operate in the gift of
prophecy, they speak in an understandable
language.
Straightaway.
This will either edify, comfort, or exhort
the person (or group of people) the
prophecy is for.
When people give a message in tongues,
they first deliver the message. And
then someone (or they) provide an
interpretation of that message.
Now back to our scripture one last time.
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but
even more that you prophesied; for he
who prophesies is greater than he who
speaks with tongues, unless indeed he
interprets, that the church may receive
edification.
So when Paul says,
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
I WISH YOU ALL SPOKE WITH TONGUES ...
50

he is referring to the gift of tongues.
He is not referring to the sign of tongues.
How do we know?
Because he says,
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
I wish ... EVEN MORE THAT YOU
PROPHESIED ...
Why?
Because it edifies the church.
That is why a person who speaks
prophetically (in words that can be
understood) is greater than a person who
gives a message in tongues (that can not
yet be understood).
Unless ...
Unless what?
[1 Corinthians 14:5]
... UNLESS INDEED HE INTERPRETS,
that the church may receive edification.
So, if a person gives a message in
tongues, then this is not yet beneficial.
But if that person then also interprets
that message (into language that can be
understood), then this is useful.
51

Then this is like the gift of prophecy.
So, Paul here refers to the gift of tongues.
52

53

54

7 SO, DO ALL SPEAK IN
TONGUES?
YES, IF we talk about the sign of tongues.
But no, if we talk about the gift of
tongues.
Not everyone operates in the gift of
tongues.
After listing the spiritual gifts (charismata)
of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12,
Paul then goes on to compare the body of
Christ to the human body.
All parts of the body need each other.
There is unity in diversity.
And then Paul goes on to say:
[1 Corinthians 12:27-31]
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the
church: first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
VARIETIES OF TONGUES.
55

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? DO
ALL SPEAK WITH TONGUES? DO ALL
INTERPRET?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
And yet I show you a more excellent
way.
Again, as I’ve mentioned before, this
passage talks about spiritual gifts.
Not everyone has the same gifts.
Not everyone operates in the gifts of
tongues.
Not everyone operates in the gift of
interpreting tongues.
The Holy Spirit distributes those gifts
individually as he wills.
But, did every one of the Corinthian
church speak in tongues for selfedification,
as Paul said,
[1 Corinthians 14:4]
He who SPEAKS IN A TONGUE
EDIFIES HIMSELF ...
Yes.
Was every one of the church in Ephesus
56

able to speak in tongues to prevail in
spiritual warfare, as Paul instructed them
to?
[Ephesians 6:18]
PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer
and supplication IN THE SPIRIT,
being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all
the saints ...
Yes.
Did all the people who read Jude’s letter
know what he was talking about when he
said,
[Jude 20]
... you, beloved, building yourselves up
on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN
THE HOLY SPIRIT ...
Yes.
Did Jesus mention that signs would follow
those who believe, including speaking in
tongues?
[Mark 16:17]
And these signs will follow those who
believe: In My name they will cast out
demons; THEY WILL SPEAK WITH
NEW TONGUES ...
57

Yes.
So, do all speak in tongues?
Again, the answer is ‘Yes and No.’
In the context that Paul laid out in 1
Corinthians 12, the answer is ‘no.’
[1 Corinthians 12:27-31]
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the
church: first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? DO
ALL SPEAK WITH TONGUES? Do all
interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the
best gifts. And yet I show you a more
excellent way.
30 Do all have gifts of healings? DO
ALL SPEAK WITH TONGUES? DO ALL
INTERPRET?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
And yet I show you a more excellent
way.
Because the context of 1 Corinthians 12 is
58

spiritual gifts. Not everyone has received
the same spiritual gift.
But in the context of Mark 16, the answer
is ‘yes.’ Because the context of Mark 16 is
accompanying signs.
[Mark 16:15-20]
15 And He said to them, “Go into all
the world and preach the gospel to
every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will
be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned.
17 And THESE SIGNS WILL FOLLOW
THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In My name
they will cast out demons; THEY WILL
SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;
18 they will take up serpents; and if
they drink anything deadly, it will by no
means hurt them; they will lay hands
on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken
to them, He was received up into
heaven, and sat down at the right hand
of God.
20 And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with
them and confirming the word through
the ACCOMPANYING SIGNS.
59

60

PART 3:
GUIDELINES FOR
HOW WE SHOULD
USE TONGUES
61

8 SEEK TO EDIFY EACH
OTHER
WE CAN learn a lot from Paul about
speaking in tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 14, he continues to
educate us.
Paul desires that when the church gets
together that we edify each other.
If we only get together and speak in
ordinary tongues to each other, we don’t
edify each other.
This is what Paul tells us in the next
passage.
[1 Corinthians 14:6-12]
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you
speaking with tongues, what shall
I profit you unless I speak to you
either by revelation, by knowledge, by
prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether
flute or harp, when they make a sound,
unless they make a distinction in the
sounds, how will it be known what is
piped or played?
63

8 For if the trumpet makes an
uncertain sound, who will prepare for
battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by
the tongue words easy to understand,
how will it be known what is spoken?
For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds
of languages in the world, and none of
them is without significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the
meaning of the language, I shall be a
foreigner to him who speaks, and he
who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
12 Even so you, since you are zealous
for spiritual gifts, LET IT BE FOR THE
EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH that
you seek to excel.
If we speak to each other in an ‘ordinary’
tongue, we don’t edify one another.
Because we can’t understand when we
speak in tongues (as a sign).
It is like when you are meeting someone,
and you can’t communicate because you
don’t speak that person’s language, and
that person can’t speak your language.
So, speaking in tongues is not for
teaching.
64

So, Paul says that we should be zealous
for spiritual gifts that can edify the
church.
For example, the gift of tongues that can
be interpreted.
That is why Paul says,
[1 Corinthians 14:13-14]
13 Therefore LET HIM WHO SPEAKS
IN A TONGUE PRAY THAT HE MAY
INTERPRET.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my
spirit prays, but my understanding is
unfruitful.
The gift of tongues can be interpreted by
someone with the gift of interpretation of
tongues.
Then people can understand the message,
and it edifies them.
Because when we speak in tongues, we
can’t understand.
Paul says,
[1 Corinthians 14:14]
... my spirit prays, but MY
UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL.
So what should we do, then?
We should be praying in tongues.
65

And we should be praying in a language
that can be understood by others.
[1 Corinthians 14:15]
What is the conclusion then? I will pray
with the spirit, and I will ALSO pray
with the understanding. I will sing with
the spirit, and I will ALSO sing with the
understanding.
Praying and singing.
We can do both.
In tongues and in understanding (in an
ordinary language).
Otherwise, people who don’t understand
this (the ‘uniformed’) can’t say ‘Amen’ to
our prayers.
Others are not build up if we only pray in
tongues.
That’s why Paul says in the next verse,
[1 Corinthians 14:16-17]
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the
spirit, how will he who occupies the
place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at
your giving of thanks, since he does not
understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but
the other is not edified.
66

Paul regarded speaking in tongues highly.
He used it more than anyone else.
But he also understood the proper use of
it.
[1 Corinthians 14:18-19]
18 I thank my God I speak with
tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would
rather speak five words with my
understanding, that I may teach others
also, than ten thousand words in a
tongue.
We can’t use speaking in tongues for
teaching.
Because others don’t understand.
So, in a church meeting, Paul had the
interests of others at heart.
He understood that he could only benefit
others if he spoke to them in a language
that they understood.
In that context, saying a few words to
people they can understand is valuable. It
benefits people.
So it is more valuable than saying a lot of
words in tongues that only benefit you.
And not others.
67

(Unless...
Unless it’s the gift of tongue, that is then
also interpreted.)
68

69

70

9 YOU ARE MAD!
PAUL WAS sensitive and wise.
He had the interests of others at heart.
He put himself into the shoes of others
and then reached them from where they
were.
He was a Jew to the Jews and a Gentile to
the Gentiles.
So that he could reach them.
We see Paul’s heart also in the instructions
he gives to the church when he tells us
how to go about speaking in tongues.
I have seen prayer meetings where people
flat out spoke in tongues, and bystanders
(unbelievers or uninformed) just gasped
with an open mouth at what they were
seeing.
Because it was so far out for them.
They had never seen anything like it
before.
And, for sure, they thought that these
people must be mad.
71

This is what Paul is also talking about in
this passage in 1 Corinthians 14.
[1 Corinthians 14:20-25]
20 Brethren, do not be children in
understanding; however, in malice be
babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other
lips I will speak to this people; and yet,
for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not
to those who believe but to unbelievers;
but prophesying is not for unbelievers
but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes
together in one place, and all speak
with tongues, and there come in those
who are uninformed or unbelievers, will
they not say that you are out of your
mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an
unbeliever or an uninformed person
comes in, he is convinced by all, he is
convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are
revealed; and so, falling down on his
face, he will worship God and report
that God is truly among you.
72

So Paul says,
[1 Corinthians 14:20]
Brethren, DO NOT BE CHILDREN IN
UNDERSTANDING; however, in malice
be babes, but IN UNDERSTANDING
BE MATURE.
We should be applying our common sense
and not be insensible.
Especially if we have to do it with
unbelievers.
We can’t be just speaking in tongues and
think that this will somehow convince
them. (verse 21)
Unbelievers (we can also call them
pre-believers) will be astonished if we just
speak in tongues.
They will say that we have lost it.
That we are mad.
This is what Paul says in verse 23.
[1 Corinthians 14:23]
Therefore if the whole church comes
together in one place, and all speak
with tongues, and there come in those
who are uninformed or unbelievers,
WILL THEY NOT SAY THAT YOU ARE
OUT OF YOUR MIND?
73

But if we speak prophetically, it will
convince them.
This is what Paul says in the next verse.
[1 Corinthians 14:24-25]
24 But IF ALL PROPHESY, and an
unbeliever or an uninformed person
comes in, HE IS CONVINCED BY ALL,
HE IS CONVICTED BY ALL.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are
revealed; and so, falling down on his
face, he will worship God and report
that God is truly among you.
74

75

10 LEARN FROM PAUL.
WE CAN learn from Paul in the issue of
speaking in tongues.
His heart was that people, first of all,
receive the Holy Spirit.
Because that is part of the puzzle of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came so that we wouldn’t be left in
an orphaned state.
He said that He would go so that the
comforter, the Holy Spirit could come.
So that we wouldn’t be left orphans.
[John 14:15-18]
15 “If you love Me, keep My
commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He
will give you another Helper, that He
may abide with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it neither sees
Him nor knows Him; but you know
Him, for He dwells with you and will be
in you.
18 I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU
77

A
ORPHANS; I will come to you.
When Paul met people, his heart was
always that they would genuinely come
to the place where they could receive the
Holy Spirit.
We see that in how he approached the
Ephesians in Acts 19.
The other apostles had that same heart.
If believers had not yet received the Holy
Spirit, they were ready to help them.
We see that in Acts 8.
The Samarians had heard the gospel from
Phillip.
They got baptized. But at that time, they
didn’t receive the Holy Spirit yet.
A FLAME FOR
EVERY HEAD
If you have a head, God has a flame for you.
"If you have a head, God has a flame for you."
- Reinhard Bonnke
Receive the Holy Spirit
Today—as in the Book
of Acts
How You Can Successfully Receive
the Holy Spirit—Even If You
Have Tried Many Times Before
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
When the apostles in
Jerusalem heard that,
they send Peter and
John along to help
them.
And then the Samarians
received the Holy
Spirit.
My other
accompanying book, A
Flame for Every Head,
78

deals with this topic extensively.
And over the years, I have seen many
receive the Holy Spirit, like the Ephesians
and like the Samarians.
I write about
this in my book
Holy Spirit
Accountant.
So this is the
first step.
Helping people
to truly receive
the Holy Spirit.
And then
encourage them
to keep using
this incredible tool of speaking in tongues.
To edify themselves.
HOLY SPIRIT
ACCOUNTANT
18 Exiting
Personal
Testimonies of
How Believers
Received the
Holy Spirit
Like in Acts
Exciting Personal Real-Life
Testimonies of How Believers Received
the Holy Spirit—Like in the Book of Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
And to seek out for the gift of tongues and
the gift of interpretation of tongues.
To become even more effective in
edifying the church.
We need to understand that our real fight
is not in the seen realities.
Our real battle is in the unseen world, as
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6.
79

We need to take heed to his instructions:
to edify ourselves and pray for ourselves
and others always in the Spirit (= in
tongues).
[Ephesians 6:18]
PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer
and supplication IN THE SPIRIT,
being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all
the saints ...
And we should take heed of Jude’s advice.
He is saying the same.
He also instructs us to continually be
edifying ourselves by praying in the
Spirit.
[Jude 20-21]
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves
up on your most holy faith, PRAYING
IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life.
80

81

OTHER BOOKS BY
ALBERT ELISHA
HOLY SPIRIT
ACCOUNTANT
18 Exiting
Personal
Testimonies of
How Believers
Received the
Holy Spirit
Like in Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
82

The word ‘testimony’ means to do it again.
Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
This is His hallmark.
By this, we know that we have to do it with
the real Jesus.
Anything other than that is counterfeit.
John, the Baptist, said,
“I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance, but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I ... He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
(Matthew 3:11)
This is what we see happening in the book of
Acts.
And this is what Jesus is still doing today.
I have seen it so often, and I’d like to share
some of my experiences with you.
So that you may be inspired.
Perhaps you haven’t made this experience
yet.
Take heart.
What Jesus has done for others, He will
do for you.
In this book, Albert Elisha shares 18 compelling
personal testimonies that will inspire you.
83

A FLAME FOR
EVERY HEAD
"If you have a head, God has a flame for you."
- Reinhard Bonnke
Receive the Holy Spirit
Today—as in the Book
of Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
84

Have you already received the wonderful
gift of the Holy Spirit since you became a
believer in Jesus Christ?
If not yet, find out how you can easily receive
Holy Spirit today—even if you have already tried
to receive many times before.
There can be only one of two reasons why
you haven’t received the Holy Spirit yet.
1) You may not yet clearly understand that there
is a Holy Spirit and why we can receive Him. You
may be in the same position as some disciples
from Ephesus in Acts 19. When Paul met them,
he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit
when you believed?” They said to him, “We
haven’t heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
2) Or, you may be in the same position as some
believers from Samaria in Acts 8. They had
“believed” and “they were baptized.” But they
still hadn’t received the Holy Spirit at that point.
So then Peter and John came and “prayed for
them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.”
Whichever position you are in—your time
to receive Holy Spirit has come!
_________________
This book will give you revelatory insights and
valuable practical tools.
It is strictly scripture-based.
And it is easy-to-understand.
It will help you to receive the Holy Spirit.
And it will help you to minister to others in that area
with ccompetence and ease.
85

- A book that can clearly explain the good
news of Jesus to someone from a Buddhist
background.
- Super easy-to-read.
- Super easy-to-understand.
- With colorful illustrations.
O N L
Y J E
“This book is subtle. It looks simple on the surface, but is profound
and brilliant in its analysis of the bible.” Hendrik Alexander
“A must-get, a must-read, a must-give-away!” Debbie Kris C-E
S U S
For New Believers Especially From a Buddhist Background
A SIMPLE & CLEAR STEP-BY-
STEP EXPLANATION OF WHO
JESUS IS, WHY WE NEED HIM,
AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO WHEN
WE WANT TO COME TO HIM
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
86

A refreshing book.
“I am living in Thailand and delight to share the gospel
with people I meet. Thank you for taking the time to write
your refreshing book ... I can think of at least 100
people, including many friends, who need
to read it.” Peter J M
Makes difficult things easy to understand.
“Only Jesus is amazing by its simplicity
and the pictures and illustrations
explaining the text ... It makes difficult
things easy to understand! ... it helps
the Vietnamese believers a lot.” Jean-
Marc M
Brilliant in its analysis of the bible.
“This book is subtle. It looks simple on the
surface, but is profound and brilliant in its
analysis of the bible.” Hendrik Alexander
Simple, clear, thorough.
“Simple, clear, thorough. Profound eternal truth. The
gospel presented so that a six-year-old would be able
to understand. The gospel, as well, for a 99-year-old that
hungers for the truth and a relationship with their Creator.
Well done.” Micah Arlan A
Interested in finding out about Jesus from a biblical
perspective? Then this book is for you.
“Written with profound insight, yet easy to read and
also comprehend for someone without any Christian
background. The author brilliantly explains how the Bible
answers the most significant questions regarding our
existence and how Jesus is the key to these answers.“
Olivia S
87

BOOKS BY ALBERT
ELISHA
88

FIND REAL HELP
- easy to
understand
- with
pictures
A Step-By-
Step Guide
For Those
Who Want to
Get to Know
Jesus
FOR NEW
BELIEVERS
ESPECIALLY
FROM A
BUDDHIST
BACKGROUND
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
O N L
Y J E
S U S
“This book is subtle. It looks simple on the surface, but is profound
and brilliant in its analysis of the bible.” Hendrik Alexander
“A must-get, a must-read, a must-give-away!” Debbie Kris C-E
For New Believers Especially From a Buddhist Background
A SIMPLE & CLEAR STEP-BY-
STEP EXPLANATION OF WHO
JESUS IS, WHY WE NEED HIM,
AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO WHEN
WE WANT TO COME TO HIM
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
"He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit
and fire."
GET
BAPTIZED
LIT
Will You Allow Jesus
Christ to Set Your
Soul on Fire?
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
Like in the Book of Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
89

A BURIAL
OF SELF
A FLAME FOR
EVERY HEAD
"If you have a head, God has a flame for you."
- Reinhard Bonnke
Why Baptism Is So
Powerful
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
Receive the Holy Spirit
Today—as in the Book
of Acts
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
HOLY SPIRIT
ACCOUNTANT
AND THEY ALL
BEGAN TO SPEAK
IN OTHER TONGUES
18 Exiting
Personal
Testimonies of
How Believers
Received the
Holy Spirit
Like in Acts
ALBERT ALBERT ELISHA ELISHA OBERDORFER OBERDORFER
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Speaking in Tongues Is an
Accompanying Sign, It Is
Supernatural, and It Is for
All— Yes, You Too!
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
90

DO ALL
SPEAK IN
TONGUES?
"I thank my God, I speak in tongues more than you all."
- Paul, the apostle
SPEAKING
IN TONGUES
“He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.”
Yes and No
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
The Gateway to the
Supernatural
The Gateway to the Supernatural
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
91

WHAT REALLY
IS THE GOSPEL?
GETTING
SALVATION
RIGHT
The Gospel You Need to Preach
to See Real Conversions
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
IT’S ADAM’S
YOUR
FAULT
The Gospel You Need to
Preach So That People
Will Want to Listen to You
and Not Run Away
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
What Do You Say and Do
When You Bring People
to the Lord?
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
The Goodness of God
Leads to Repentance
JOYFUL
CHANGE
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
92

YOU HAVE
HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS
BEWARE
OF DOGS!
A Revelation That Will
Flood Your Life With God’s
Peace and Joy
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
Paul’s Astonishing
Revelation in Philippians 3
That Will Protect Your Soul
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
THE LAW
KIL S
Why You Should Stay
Away From Law, and Fully
Embrace God’s Grace
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
93

BE
HAVE
SIMPLY
UNDESERVED
DO
Know Your Identity, Discover
Your Inheritance, and Do by
His Spirit
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
A MANUAL FOR DOING LIFE
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
How to Live by God’s Favor
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
WORKING
MIRACLES
WITH GOD
TRANS-
FORMATION
THROUGH PAIN
How God Will Transform
You So He Can Use You
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
How God Uses Your
Setbacks and Sufferings
to Transform You Into
Someone Beautiful
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
94

SAY IT!
Speak the Word
to yourself—it is
powerful
Speak the Word
to Yourself ALBERT ELISHA — OBERDORFER It
Is Powerful
SAY IT
ALBERT ELISHA OBERDORFER
95

Do All Speak in Tongues? Yes and No.
Copyright 2020 © Albert L. Oberdorfer
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without the author’s written permission.
PICTURE CREDITS
Unless otherwise stated, all images are courtesy of
Pexels.com and Pixabay.com. The image on the back
cover is from the author. Any inadvertent omissions can
be rectified in future editions.
96

97