Can you control speaking in tongues?

Chuck Smith, Living Water, chapter 16: This brings up a very important point. Some believers contend that they have no control over their speaking in tongues. It is thought that somehow the Spirit takes over and they lose control - the Spirit overrides their will and they speak out in tongues. I remember the testimony of a good saint of God who described how she received the gift of tongues. The gas meter reader had come by her house and she went out to ask him a question, when she suddenly started to speak in tongues. The man got so frightened he ran off. Her point was, "I had no control over it." But Paul definitely teaches that the Spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. You do have control. you don't have to speak out. "If there is no interpreter present, let him speak to himself and to God." From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-16.

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Can you control speaking in tongues? → wsb.bible/answers/can-you-control-speaking-in-tongues

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