Does Speaking in tongues mean you are closer to God?

Can we speak Tongues and Prophecy by "Attaining Holiness and Intimacy" with God? In other words, does Tongues and Prophecy makes one "Holier and more intimate with God" than a Christian who don't?

God is certainly able to give instructions through inspiration and promptings of the Holy Spirit. But to use a prophet through a "thus says the Lord" mode? Even prophets are rare in the OT. The number OT prophetic authors that was produced was done in a span of at least 2 Millenniums.... how can we have so many "prophets" that suddenly emerge within the past century??

Yes, granted that Joel prophesied young man dream dreams and old man see visions. Jesus also predicted that there will be false signs and wonders in the last days and deceiving even the elect. Relating to Joel 2, having the same Holy Spirit who works among all believers (1 Cor 12:4-7) does not mean all believers are Prophets (1 Cor 12:29-30)

But the issue here is about the intention. What are we really chasing after? Signs and wonders? Or getting the work of the ministry done? Why is the Holy Spirit here for? Improve our quality of lives? To give us the same peace that can be similarly achieved by other religions? Gifts are meant to help us in ministry to fulfill His will, not ours.

That is the issue with the Corinthians. They have disunity because on one hand some sought the gifts thinking it gives them exclusive spiritual superiority over others, while others doubt that the spirit works that way at all... this caused disunity and needed Paul to intervene. Paul's idea is not to snuff out every tongues and prophecy but to test if everything is true... therefore he set forth his guidelines in 1 Cor 12 to 14.

1 Cor 12 tells us that there are a diversity of gifts (v4-11), none is given to all in the community, none are superior than another (v15-19). Tongues and Prophecies are not better than another other gifts (v20-26).

1 Cor 13 tells us that Love is the highest form of our giving. Next comes Faith and Hope (v13). If one thinks he is superior because of the gifts, then he is not fulfilling Paul's description of Love because Love is not proud and does not boasts (v4).

1 Cor 14 sets the guidelines for the operation of tongues and prophecy in the church:

a) Prophecies are preferred. (v1-5)
b) if there is tongues, an intepretetion is compulsary. (v13-19, 28)
c) All prophecies must be weighed by the church. (v29)
d) Only 2 or at most 3 may speak one at a time. (v27)

Today, we have people so eager to give prophetic words and word of knowledge, why? Because there is a culture of exclusivity that is being cultivated. The "gifts" are cool and makes people feel more "special" than others... precisely because they think they can "achieve" it by "Holiness and intimacy"... so if I can speak in tongue and prophecy, it proves that I have achieve that "holiness and intimacy" than you who do not.... there is a form of superiority complex involved...

What did Paul teach in 1 Cor 12? Simple.... all gifts are the same, none is better than the other.... all are members of the body. Do all speak in tongue? Do all prophecy? Do all teach? Answer is a resounding NO. All have different gifts, no gifts are better than the other. I can be playing guitar or even cleaning toilet, and there is no different from speaking in tongues nor prophecy....

Hence the idea that "it takes holiness and intimacy to get these prophetic instructions" is biblically incorrect according to the standards of 1 Cor 12, because "getting a word of prophetic instruction" has nothing to do with your efforts to attain "holiness and intimacy", but everything to do with whether there is a specific purpose for instruction relevant for your ministry. Gifts are appointed, not attained.

If your ministry works fine with practical means of work and the word of God is sufficient information to carry it out, you don't need prophecy. What you need is faith and love to carry out his commission.