SPEAKING IN TONGUES

SPEAKING IN  TONGUES

  

Before discussing tongues, we need to remember one thing: True Christians cannot stop believing and teaching Bible truths, cause there are Christians, churches or people that perverts Bible truths, even if they seem to be real or part of the mainstream.  

It is people that twist the truth, disappoint and hurt others, not God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. If man is false, it doesn't falsify any truth. If we heed to those, who has a misinterpretation of the truth, by changing truths, we ourselves are in error. We must acknowledge all truths and teach a sound healthy gospel, so that others may continue in it (Tit. 1:13;2:2), regardless of false teachings by other.

A fine example of servants of God, that made people to despise (abhor) the gift of God, was the sons of Eli. Nothing were wrong with the offering (gift), but the actions of leaders made men to abhor it as if there were something wrong with it.

1Sam. 2:17  Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

1Sam. 2:24  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.

We as Christians should not change or ignore anything in the Bible, because there are so-called Christians, that misinterpret the Scriptures. As matter of fact, Jesus pre-warned us (Matt. 24) that this will happen: there will be preachers that will come and preach the gospel of salvation in Him, but they will misinterpret the truth. In so doing, they will be able to lead the righteous, who isn’t spiritually awake, away from the sound an healthy gospel. The disciples of the early church experienced this and numerously warned the church, even in writing. Not only was it relevant for the early church, but moreover for today. Should we experience a perversion of Scripture, we should acknowledge Jesus’ and the early disciples’ words that came into fulfillment; not turn our backs on the gospel.

Unfortunately, many Christians go astray cause they think it is God that misleads them, but what they don’t realize, it is man who perverts the truth. In so doing, Christians or ‘ex-Christians’ is blaming others for their passive spiritual life, cause they don’t make an effort to search out the truth themselves. Thus, those who are mislead and fall away cannot blame others, but are self to blame, because of their spiritual passiveness; sometime people are looking for a reason, not to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.           

There are many spiritual gifts and offices in the body of Christ written down in the Bible, that can be practiced by whom is willing. It is mostly written in 1Cor. 12; 13;14; Rom. 12; Eph. 4:11.

It is, as if certain gifts are isolated as an excuse, not to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, if the practitioner thereof fails or mislead people in it. The one who willingly mislead people, by practicing any gift or office, will give account to God. It doesn’t falsify the gift, but the person. One of those gifts is the speaking in tongues.

The gift of tongues, in essence, cannot be denied. If anyone does deny it, he should deny all gifts and therefore the whole Bible. Basically, the whole of 1Cor. 14 is devoted to the practicing of tongues and the meaning thereof; though other scriptures make mention of tongues as a gift, but doesn’t clarify it.    

1Cor. 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1Cor. 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1Cor. 12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1Cor. 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

1Cor. 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

According to many scholars and Christian believers, the gift of tongues refer to different earthly languages, as was the case in Acts, with the outpouring of the Spirit; it was a fulfillment of old testament prophesies. Whilst the disciples received the Spirit, they spoke in different earthly languages so that other nations and tongues could understand the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  

Later in the new testament, the gift of tongues is also described as an unknown, strange, and angelic tongue. By this, believers can speak mysteries unto God which man cannot understand, even the speaker himself.  

1Cor. 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1Cor. 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

The gift of tongues are therefore twofold: human tongues and angelic tongues. Both are written in the Bible. By denying the one or the other is denying a part of scripture; by denying one part is denying the complete scripture. Jesus said: “the scripture cannot be broken;” Joh. 10:35.

1Cor. 14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.

The purpose of this unknown tongue is mainly for the edification of the individual who receives and practice it. Therefore it is to be practiced in the closet (privacy), where no one else can interpret it by way of revelation. The only time when it can be practiced in church, is when you know that either you yourself or someone else can interpret it, by way of revelation like prophecy.

1Cor. 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Cor. 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1Cor. 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1Cor. 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1Cor. 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

1Cor. 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

The speaking of an unknown tongue is a spiritual language hence an angelic tongue, therefore it is unintelligible to the normal human understanding. The person that prays, sings, blesses or give thanks in an unknown tongue, does it with his spirit and in the spirit – it is a good gift, that is not to be rejected. Even so, it doesn’t edifies the church, unless it is interpreted.

1Cor. 14:12  Even so you, since you are zealots of spiritual things, seek to build up the church, in order that you may abound

1Cor. 14:13  So then he speaking in a language, let him pray that he may interpret.

1Cor. 14:14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

1Cor. 14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.

1Cor. 14:16  Else, if you bless in the spirit, he occupying the place of the unlearned, how will he say the amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say?

1Cor. 14:17  For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not built up.

1Cor. 14:18  I thank my God that I speak more languages than all of you;

1Cor. 14:19  yet in a church I desire to speak five words with my mind, so that I might also teach others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

     

We as humans have the ability to communicate because of language (tongues). The spiritual world, where God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and angels reside, also have a tongue that enables them to communicate with each other and with the forces of darkness – the entire spiritual world speaks one language unlike humans on earth.

Satanist and alike, also speak in angelic tongues, cause it is a tongue of the spiritual world, where he and his demons also reside. He convinced people that all angelic tongues as satanic. Little do Christians know, that they speak to God in an angelic tongue and satanist also speaks in an angelic tongue, but to satan in his demonic world. We do not understand the spiritual language, therefore we must be rooted in the truth and discern the spirit from which it comes.

The modern church is so rooted in the desires and lust of the world and own opinion, that there is no clear truth and discernment. Therefore, satan has convinced Christians to take the easy way out, by convincing them that tongues is only satanic, thus, depriving them from edification which weakens them spiritually.   

People who practice or interpret the gift of tongues in an ill manner, are nothing. The scripture doesn’t state that people who practice gifts without God (love), makes the gifts satanic or wrong. It states that the person, even if he is wrong, can still practice the gifts, but he himself is nothing in the eyes of God. Thus there is nothing wrong with the gifts, but man will give account to God, cause not only did he perverted te truth, but also hurt people; this is against the Law of Love (God).

1Cor. 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Rom. 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

The danger to falsify the gifts of the Spirit like tongues, is to come close to the point of blaspheme; or to quince the spirit; or to grieve the Spirit. Anything that is inspired by the Spirit that is denounced as done by the evil one, will yield such results. 

Eph. 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1Th. 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.    

Luk. 12:10  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.  

Christians that have been hurt by leaders whom have misinterpreted the truth, need to submit them under the powerful hand of God’s grace and forgiveness, so that they can be healed. If real healing doesn't occur, the wounded person will also continue in an unhealthy doctrine, that falsify the truth in another manner.