My name is Timilehin Fasuan. I was born into a Christian home and raised by Christian parents. My journey began while I was still in the university. For many years, I had preached against speaking in tongues because of the doctrine I was raised in. In that understanding, anyone who spoke in tongues while praying was speaking in a language they themselves did not understand. I concluded that if a person did not understand what they were saying, then their speaking in tongues must be false, either not from God or from the devil.
This mindset shaped my thinking for a long time. It was what I constantly heard around me and what was taught in the doctrine I was raised in. Those teachings settled deeply in my mind, and I became convinced that anyone I saw speaking in tongues was false. I spoke against them openly, telling them that what they were saying was not of God. In fact, one of the first signs I used to identify a false prophet was whether they spoke in tongues. I held on to this belief for a long time.
However, I remember a particular experience shortly after I had finished secondary school. One day, while I was alone in a dark room praying, I decided to close my eyes and picture myself praying. As I continued, I lost awareness for a moment. When I became conscious again, I realized that I was speaking in a language I did not understand. The words were flowing effortlessly. Fear suddenly gripped me, and I wondered if I was going mad, so I immediately stopped. At the time, I did not fully understand what had happened, but later, the Holy Spirit reminded me of that moment and brought clarity to it.
During my time in the university, when I was in my second year, I had an encounter that would challenge everything I believed. One day, a friend and I were walking back to our hostels after lectures. As I was about to part ways with him, I felt a strong impression to follow him to his hostel instead. I asked if I could come along, and he agreed.
When we got to his room and sat down, he suddenly asked me, “Can you speak in tongues?” I laughed immediately. To me, anyone who asked such a question was either a false prophet or someone trying to impose something that was not of God. I told him plainly that I did not believe in speaking in tongues and that those who spoke in tongues without understanding were not of God.
He listened calmly and then asked if he could show me from the Scriptures. He began to open the Bible and pointed me to passages, including one that says,
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (1 Corinthians 14:2)
Note the phrase: “for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”“.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;…” (1 Corinthians 14:4)
As he showed me these scriptures, I began to realize something striking. All the beliefs I had held so strongly were not rooted in Scripture. They were things I had accepted as doctrine simply because they had been taught repeatedly.
In contrast, he presented clear scriptural references that supported what he believed. At that moment, my defenses began to fall. I realized I had no scriptural foundation for my arguments. I had no verses to support my position, while he had several. As he continued, he told me that all I needed to do was believe, open my heart, and surrender. He said he would pray, but he would not touch me or do anything else. My part was simply to be open.
He then stepped aside and began to pray in tongues. By that time, the Scriptures he had shared had already opened my heart. I realized that if someone is to be convinced, especially someone with strong religious beliefs, the Scriptures must be the foundation. When people see the truth in the Word of God for themselves, it becomes easier for them to believe. Too often, we rely on others to read and interpret the Bible for us without searching it ourselves.
As I sat there, I spoke quietly in my heart, saying, “Lord, if this is real, if it is truly from You, then I want it.” In that moment, I was able to surrender because the Word had prepared my heart.
As we continued in prayer, I began to feel something within me, like a river bubbling up from deep inside. It was a sensation I cannot forget. It felt as though something was rising from my stomach, moving upward toward my mouth. At first, I resisted it. I tried to hold it back, unsure of what was happening.
My friend noticed and came closer. He encouraged me not to resist and not to fight it. He told me to surrender. In that moment, I understood that surrendering to the Holy Spirit is essential if we truly desire to experience how He works in us. Without surrender, He cannot fully operate in our lives.
When I finally yielded, the flow continued to rise until it reached my throat. I could feel it clearly. Then, it came out through my mouth. As it did, words began to pour out effortlessly. I could feel them forming and flowing continuously, beyond my control. It was unstoppable.
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)
I began to speak in tongues, in diverse expressions, as the words flowed freely from within me.
As the words began to flow, I realized that it was not a repeated phrase or a memorized sentence. It was not something mechanical or rehearsed. I was truly speaking. As I continued, I could hear different kinds of expressions, as though complete thoughts were being formed. It was like an essay unfolding, as if a conversation was taking place.
I became aware that I was engaged in communication, communicating with Someone I could not see. In that moment, the truth of Scripture became real: he who speaks in tongues speaks not to men but to God. He communicates with God, not with man. No one understands him, because in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. What I was experiencing aligned perfectly with the Word of God.
At that time, I did not yet know those scriptures, but later, as I grew and began to walk with the Holy Spirit, He enlightened me. He brought those truths to my understanding and reminded me of that experience. I saw clearly that what I had gone through was already written in Scripture. It had been revealed and manifested through me.
That day, I received the ability to speak in tongues. It was one of the most beautiful spiritual experiences I have ever had. It was excellent and deeply profound. The expressions were clear and distinct. They were not random repetitions of syllables or empty phrases, but meaningful utterances with structure and flow. There was an order to it, as though each word followed a divine arrangement.
It was a beautiful moment in the presence of God, one I will never forget. I give thanks to God for that encounter, for that time when He touched me and gave me the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling me to speak in tongues. From that day onward, I sensed a clear difference in my life. Something had changed within me, and I remain grateful to God for that transformation.
This is my testimony. For many years, I spoke against speaking in tongues, holding on to beliefs that had no foundation in Scripture. I lived in ignorance, not because I chose to reject the truth knowingly, but because I had never encountered it personally. That experience marked the end of that ignorance.
Through it, I came to understand what speaking in tongues truly is, and I now know how to guide others who may still struggle to believe. The gift of speaking in tongues is given by God. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit, freely given to those who believe.
As believers, we must recognize that Jesus does not promise anything without purpose. When He said that His disciples would speak in new tongues, it was not without significance. Throughout the Scriptures, we see the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, yet speaking in tongues was introduced in a unique way as a means of divine communication.
Mark 16:17
“And these signs shall follow them that believe… they shall speak with new tongues.”
It is a gift given to the children of God, a way to commune with the Father. Through it, we share in a deeper connection with the Spirit. If we are to walk in unity with God, there must be a means of communication that transcends human understanding. This gift provides that connection.
I thank God for this gift, and my prayer is that those who are still uncertain or confused about it will receive understanding. May their eyes be opened to what God has made available to them, so that they will not reject His free gifts out of ignorance. May the Lord grant them understanding, in Jesus’ name.
This is my testimony of how I received the gift of speaking in tongues.
“… and forbid not to speak with tongues.” (1 Corinthians 14:39)
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:..” (1 Corinthians 14:22)
Questions and answers.
Question 1: If someone can’t understand you or if there is no interpreter, the tongue is false?
Answer: When you talk to God, you don’t need man to understand or give validation to your communication. You are not speaking to man.
Question 2: Are there false tongues?
Answer: Yes, there are false tongues and demonic tongues. The devil always mimics the holy spirit gifts. You would need discernment to know them.
Question 3: Why are some tongues fluent and some tongues happens to be repeating the same syllable?
Answer: The state of your Spirit determines what comes out from your mouth. If your Spirit is emphasizing on a certain sentence or phrase, it might be very relevant for that prayer at that time. But many people may block the flow of the spirit by indoctrinating that current experience as the only and necessary way of speaking in tongues.
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