IS PRESENT DAY TONGUE SPEAKING LIKE FIRIST CENTURY TONGUE SPEAKING!
INTRODUCTION:
The Christians in Berea in Acts 17:11 were commended for their diligence. They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so
2 Timothy 2:15 says to study and rightly divide the word of Truth.
The Apostle John instructs us "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." (I John 4:1)
What this lesson is not teaching!
1. This lesson is not saying I do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is real and powerful, but so are false imitations. We
must be alert - we must let no man deceive us. We must discern where
true spirituality ends and deceitful emotionalism begins.
2. This lesson is not teaching that Christian do not receive the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 1:22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. This lesson is not teaching that Christians do not have the power to live the Christian life.
The real question we must always ask ourselves is, What Does God say?
We Must ask ourselves the question, What has God willed to do?
On one side, there are those that claim to speak in tongues today. On the
other side, others believe God has fulfilled that promise and tongues have
ceased.
Lets begin on the first day of the beginning of the church. Acts 2
After Christ’s resurrection the disciples were told to "remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). The disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost. The power of the Holy Spirit had come, and this was the birth of the New Testament church.
On that Sunday known as Pentecost, crowds gathered along the streets of Jerusalem headed for the Temple, they were celebrating the annual `Feast of Weeks’ - Pentecost. There were Jews there from approximately 16 nations.
Suddenly there was a loud noise like a rushing mighty wind. Miraculously, fire came down on the disciples heads and the Holy Spirit was given to these men. They spoke in tongues and each member of the gathered crowd heard each of the men speak "in our own language wherein we were born"
Sixteen different languages are mentioned. The account states: "And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues [languages] as the Spirit gave them utterance" (v.4). For everyone present heard in their own dialect (v. 8)
From Acts 2 we see that tongues was the divine gift of being able to speak in a foreign language that had never learned. When the crowd heard these men speak, they understood they were speaking in their own language
What took place at the first Christian Pentecost is a far cry from modern charismatic practice today.
The first Christians didn’t laugh or crow like hens or bark like dogs. They did not babble incomprehensibly. Those men and women were awestruck. And they listened to and diligently followed a bonifide message as a result of the Disciples speaking in tongues (languages) They had never studied. And those present heard them in there own native tongue.
Those who sincerely seek to duplicate the New Testament speaking in tongues, however sincerely uttered are producing no more than an outpouring of emotionally-generated disjointed sounds - sounds which do not conform to any known grammatical structure or language. The Greek word for Tongues is Glossolalia it is always interpreted language
Tongue speaking today can result from self-induced emotional excitement. In some churches members are taught how to perform. Unlike Biblical times, today’s so called ’tongue-speaking’ in no way reflects the Biblical gift of language.
The world has been treated to a barrage of `tongues’ All in the name of the Holy spirit. I have witnessed people barking, laughing, writhing, `slain in the Spirit’, sticking to the floor I have seen what is called Holy Laughter, saying the spirit makes them laugh uncontrollably. But what we have not witnessed is a repeat of what happened on that first Christian Pentecost
The practice of `tongues’ it is not limited to the Pentecostal movement. The practice has spread through Evangelicals, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Many denominations have embraced it to some degree .Its practice is seen as a badge of Christianity. Can you really be a strong Christian if you do not speak in tongues?
And, by the way, I don’t know if you know this, Tibetan Monks claim to speak in tongues, Eskimos speak in tongues in many of their tribes, so do Mormons, who don’t even believe the Gospel. So, it could be Satanic
A closer look at Acts 2:1-12
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
In Acts 2:7 These 16 different nations represented were shocked. They asked, Aren’t these all Galileans? How then do we hear them in our own native tongue
Are There Two Kinds of Tongues?
Some object that those that spoke in tongues in Acts 2 are different then those that spoke in Tongues in I Cor. 14. One of the issues is the tongues in Acts 2 did not need an interpreter. In I Cor, No one understood and there was no one to interpret.
It must be pointed out that a person who spoke in tongues was supernaturally gifted by God with the ability to speak in a language that he did not know. The person speaking didn’t even know what he was saying - unless, of course, God also gave him the gift of interpretation.
Then why didn’t the tongues in Acts chapter 2 need to be interpreted? A careful reading of the text will reveal why.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:4-6
On the day of Pentecost, there were people present from "every nation under heaven". So many languages were being spoken that each person present heard his own language being spoken, so no interpretation was needed.
But this was not the case in Corinth (1 Corinthians 14). When the local Christians in Corinth gathered together and a person began to speak in a language that he did not know, It therefore needed to be interpreted. The tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 were the same as the tongues in Acts 2. Both were languages. The Bible knows nothing of two different types of tongues.
Lets look at the Tongues and the problem and Corinth. Context!
I Cor. 13:1-10 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
This text bears out that Tongues, supernatural knowledge and Prophecy would cease. The real issue was the Corinth church was practicing miraculous gifts but did not have love.
You guys are fighting over your gifts that will be done away with and the only thing that matters is faith, hope and love.
Now lets park at 1 Cor. 14
I Cor. 14:1: 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy They are to exercise there gift by having love. Prophecy is a better gift because it is understood
I Cor 14: 2, 14 For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; however in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
The common Charismatic interpretation of these verses says that speaking in tongues is a private prayer language. It is further stated that the tongues spoken of here could not be languages, for no man was able to understand them.
What a twisting of the texts. Paul is not saying that tongues is a private prayer language that cannot be understood. Paul is pointing out the futility of speaking in a language that is UNKNOWN to the hearers.
The context of this passage has to do with edification. If someone is speaking in a language that is UNKNOWN to the hearers, how is that edifying? That person is left speaking to the only one who can understand - God. This is why Paul forbid speaking in tongues without an interpreter (1 Cor. 14:28).
I Cor. 14: 3-5 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Some assert that tongues is a private prayer language which strengthens and edifies the believer. 1 Corinthians 14:4
1 Corinthians chapter 14 was written to rebuke the Corinthians for their misuse of the gifts, especially tongues. The Corinthians were each trying to take center stage and show themselves as the most spiritual. Paul rebukes them for this and tells them that this is not edifying for others in the church (1 Cor. 14:12, 26).
By trying to flaunt their gifts, the Corinthians were "edifying" themselves. This verse is not a commendation it is a rebuke
Noticed how the church was edified: I Cor. 14:26-28 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
What about Praying in the Spirit?
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit
Some advocate that this verse is saying that praying in the Holy Ghost (praying in the Spirit) refers to speaking in tongues. Well the Bible also tells us to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). If to "pray in the Spirit" means to pray in tongues, then to "walk in the spirit" must mean, to walk in tongues?
That is just ludicrous! To walk in the Spirit means to walk "according to" the Spirit’s leading. To pray in the Spirit then, means to pray "according to the Spirit’s leading". The Holy Spirit will prompt us to pray for certain things. When we follow that prompting, we are praying "in the Spirit". This verse has nothing to do with speaking (or praying) in tongues.
WHEN WERE TONGUES TO CEASE?
In I Corinthians 13:8-13, Paul states that "When that which is perfect is come" that which was in part would be "done away."
Super Natural Knowledge would be done away, Prophecy would fail and Tongues would cease….when? When that which is perfect is come!
Some claim that this refers to Christ’s second coming and since this had not yet occurred, the gift of tongues must still be in existence.
Paul, however, reminds these believers, that this gift would cease when that which is perfect is come!
The word "that" in I Corinthians 13:10 is in the neuter gender and thus cannot refer to Christ. Paul was referring to the perfect Word of God. With the completion of the book of Revelation, the inspired record was completed and thus there was no longer any need for the temporary gift of tongues
The NT is referred to as the Perfect law of Liberty: James 1:25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed
THE BEST WAY TO PROVE A MIRIACLE IS TO PERFORM A MIRACLE!
MARK 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
These miracles were performed in the infant church. Why? Let the bible speak!
Mark 16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it Once confirmed always confirmed.
They did not have the word of God in its completion.
These miracles confirmed what they spoke. ONCE the word was confirmed it is always confirmed. by the way, Why just pick out the tongues of the first century? What about drinking deadly poison.The issue is not whether or not God can perform miracles or cause people to speak in tongues -- the question is what has God willed to do?
We now have the complete word of God.
John 20:30-31 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I do not have to have supernatural miracles to have faith. I do not have to speak in tongues to believe.
Gods word says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
If man today can really speak in tongues I have a proposition: Go the International assembly where dozens of Nations come together with many languages. Get up and speak and let that assembly here you speak and language you have never known and let them hear you in their own native Tongue and if You will do that….I will change my belief…until then…I will stick with the good book!
