Questions And Answers About Speaking In Tongues

1 Cor 14.doc

GOOD ADVICE TO A GROWING CHURCH _____________________________________________

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES - 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

"I would that ye all spoke with tongues" ? I Corinthians 14:5

In chapter 12 Paul gave a lengthy discussion on the use of gifts within the church. He listed a number of gifts which was not a complete list.

In chapter 13 he spoke about the most important gift – the gift of love.

Now… in chapter 14 he gives some clarification on a specific gift – the gift of tongues. Apparently this gift was bringing confusion to the Corinthian church.

This gift is still bringing confusion to the church.

People try to avoid talking about it because they don’t understand it.

Some time ago … I sat with some Christian educators who asked me to present the Pentecostal view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

I challenged them to prove to me “why” they didn’t believe it was valid today. I then asked if I could “prove” to them that it is still a valid gift.

They went to 1 Corinthians 13:8 and showed me the scripture that says that “tongues will cease.”

I pointed out in that scripture that it also says that “knowledge and prophecies will cease.”

I asked them if those two things had ceased also. They answered no.

I then asked them to show me where the Bible says that it will cease.

They then told me that this was just a gift for the New Testament church of which I asked them where in the Bible does it state that? Again… they didn’t have an answer.

They couldn’t refute the scriptures.

For some of you… this chapter is going to stretch you. Men have taught you things that are from their understanding and NOT God’s Word.

Please open your minds today and let’s look at God’s Word and what it says.

1. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. The Promise Of The Holy Spirit From The Old Testament.

Joel 2:28-29

28 ""And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

In the Old Testament we read about men like Moses, David, Samson, Elijah and Elisha who received a special anointing of the Holy Spirit for a particular time and ministry.

But in Joel, God promised that there would come a time when His Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, and not on just a few chosen ones.

B. The Promise Of The Holy Spirit From The New Testament...

John 16:7 ""Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Luke 24:49 ""Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.’’

In these and other scriptures Jesus promises again what was promised by the prophet Joel.

Jesus gave explicit instructions that his disciples were not to begin their ministries until they had received the promised Holy Spirit.

Jesus knew the importance and necessity of the Spirit’s anointing, for all the miracles that He performed in His earthly ministry were done by the power of the Holy Spirit.

C. The Promise Of The Holy Spirit From Jesus.

Acts 1:5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

2. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE

Acts 2:1-17

1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ""Whatever could this mean?’’

13 Others mocking said, ""They are full of new wine.’’

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ""Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.