Sermon Central
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Tongues Series
Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 30, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: This message addresses the eighth gift of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10: the supernatural enablement to give a message in an unlearned foreign language. In Scripture, tongues is the ability to speak in languages unknown to the speaker.
xi 1 Cor. 14:22 “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers….” Hearing the 120 praising God in a tongue the unbelievers understood, which they knew the speakers did not understand, was a sign to them that something supernatural was going on. On the surface, 1 Cor 14:23 might seem to contradict verse 22. But notice that happened on the Day of Pentecost as well in Acts 2:13 “Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’"
xii Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) p. 138
xiii Greek scholar Derek Prince writes: “The distinction between the initial gift of the Holy Spirit, attested by the evidence of speaking in tongues, and the subsequent gift of “kinds of tongues” is very carefully preserved by the linguistic usage of the New Testament. The Greek word used for “gift” when it denotes the fit of the Holy Spirit received at the baptism in the Spirit is dorea. The Greek word for “gift” when it denotes any of the nine different gifts or manifestations of the Spirit (including the gift of “kinds of tongues”) is charismata. These two words are never interchanged in the New Testament.” Derek Prince, The Spirit-filled Believer’s Handbook: Foundations for Christian Living from the Bible (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 1993) p. 230.
xiv 1 Cor. 12:11
xv The pattern in Acts is the baptism in the Spirit is foundational to the gifts of the Spirit. Of course, God is sovereign and can, at times, supersede that pattern.
xvi Don Basham, A Handbook on Tongues, Interpretation, and Prophecy (Monroeville, PA: Whitaker Books, 1971 ) p.25.
