Most Pentecostals will tell you that speaking in tongues is the only evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit. Without speaking in tongues there is no evidence that you are filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not entirely true because you can and many have received the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues.
The larger and more relevant issue is the tangible evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit manifesting in your living.
There is a considerable amount of confusion and outright madness on the subject of tongues. If you follow the Bible, as we all should, the confusion clears up on the subject of tongues. When the Bible talks about receiving the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, the event will be accompanied by prophecy and interpretation. Otherwise without the prophecy and interpretation they should be no public speaking in tongues.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues andprophesying.
Therein lies the confusion, I have been in many Charismatic and Pentecostal churches where many are just babbling in tongues randomly, without anyone giving prophecy. These kind of display oftongues are out of order.
Back on subject
Here is a scripture that supports my claim that all who have the Holy Spirit do NOT speak in tongues;
1 Cor 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
There is the verse directly from the Bible. Whole doctrines have been wrongly built around tongues being the only evidence that you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit brings tremendous advantages. Here is additional evidence that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Easy for me to see the more desirable evidence of the Holy Spirit is producing its fruit..
