The Holy Spirit Part 8 Tongue Speaking

Acts 2:7-8,11 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? …we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God. Tongues were human languages

1 Corinthians 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? For communicating a message

1 Corinthians 14:7-9 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played…? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? Useless unless clear, understood

1 Corinthians 14:10-11 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me Useless without meaning

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. Must be interpreted to be understood

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 1. Unintelligible utterances vs. human languages And they were amazed and astonished, saying… [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? …we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:7-8, 11 ESV)

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 1. Unintelligible utterances vs. human languages If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? …[9] So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? … [10] There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, [11] but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:7-11 ESV)

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 1. Unintelligible utterances vs. human languages 2. Ecstatic utterances vs. controlled communication

1 Corinthians 14:30-32 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; Likewise tongue speakers, v If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. [28] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. (1 Cor. 14:27-28 ESV)

1 Timothy 2:11-12 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 1. Unintelligible utterances vs. human languages 2. Ecstatic utterances vs. controlled communication 3. Sign among believers vs. among unbelievers

1 Corinthians 14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

CHRISTIANITY TODAY, Harold Lindell  “No known case of missionaries receiving the gift of speaking the language of the group he sought to reach. Missionaries have always had to learn to speak the hard way.”

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 1. Unintelligible utterances vs. human languages 2. Ecstatic utterances vs. controlled communication 3. Sign among believers vs. among unbelievers 4. Preeminence of tongues vs. bottom of the biblical list

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. Based on the importance of “teaching” in 1 Cor.14:1ff tongues slide to the bottom of the list. Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. [2] For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, …[3] On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. [4] The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. [5] Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues… (1 Corinthians 14:1-5 ESV)

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 5. Sign of salvation vs. not even tied to salvation

1 Corinthians 12:30; 14:16 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks…

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 5. Sign of salvation vs. not even tied to salvation 6. Confusing sounds & emotionalism vs. orderly teaching

1 Corinthians 14:40, 33 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 5. Sign of salvation vs. not even tied to salvation 6. Confusing, sounds & emotionalism vs. orderly teaching 7. Often w/out interpretation vs. keep silent

1 Corinthians 14:28, 32 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. … and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 5. Sign of salvation vs. not even tied to salvation 6. Confusing, sounds & emotionalism vs. orderly teaching 7. Often w/out interpretation vs. keep silent 8. Received by request vs. the hands of the apostles.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 9. At least 10 NON-CHRISTIAN religions do the same thing.

The ecstatic utterances of modern day tongue-speakers are regularly manifested among Buddhists, Hindus, Mormons, Moslems, Shintoists, Spirit(ist)s, and voodoo devotees. Tongue-speaking has also been reported by those under the influence of LSD. The Pentecostal experience is not unique. It proves nothing except it is part of these other deceptions. Other religions claim to speak in tongues through spiritual influence. Maybe not all Pentecostals are just making it up. Maybe, in giving themselves over to spiritual influences they have help in their tongue speaking. Whatever spirit may be helping them, we must remember that the Holy Spirit caused men to speak in languages they had not studied. Wayne Wells, TONGUE SPEAKING

Hebrews 2:4 After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

10 Problems w/Todays Practice 9. At least 10 NON-CHRISTIAN religions do the same thing. 10. A learned experience vs. immediate ability

Tell him to open his mouth wide and breathe as deeply as possible, at the same time telling himself that he is receiving the Spirit now. J. E. Stiles, The Gift of the Holy Spirit, page 104 (Cited by Morton T. Kelsey, Tongues Speaking, Doubleday, 1964, page 80. In one of the worst cases I've seen, in Va. Beach, one group was offering a series of five lessons at $80 each to teach a person how to speak in tongues. Wayne Wells, TONGUE SPEAKING.

We attended many meetings where glossolalia both occurred and was interpreted and noted that the interpretations were usually of a very general nature. After a segment of tongue-speech, an interpreter commonly offered the explanation that the speaker had been thanking and praising God for many blessings. Another frequent theme was that the speaker was asking for strength and guidance for himself and for others. However, perhaps a third of the time, the interpreter offered specific interpretations of what glossolalists said. More rarely, an interpreter "translated" phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence. Continued…

In order to investigate the accuracy of these interpretations, we undertook to play a taped example of tongue-speech privately for several different interpreters of tongues. In no instance was there any similarity in the several interpretations. The following typifies our results: one interpreter said the tongue-speaker was praying for health of his children; another the same tongue-speech was an expression of gratitude to God for a recently successful church fund-raising effort. When confronted with the disparity between their interpretations, the interpreters offered the explanation that God gave to one person one interpretation of speech and to another person another interpretation. They showed no defensiveness about being cross-examined and generously upheld alternative interpretations as equally valid. Continued…

We know of a man who was raised in Africa, the son of missionary parents, who decided -- rather cynically perhaps -- to test the interpretation of tongues. At the appropriate moment he rose and spoke the Lord's Prayer in the African dialect he had learned in his youth. When he sat down, an interpreter of tongues at once offered the meaning of what he said. He interpreted it as a message about the imminent second coming of Christ. Dr. John Kildahl, The Psychology of Speaking in Tongues, (Harper & Row) 1972, pages

Many are Confused and Led Astray  Bible understanding will help us avoid doctrinal error.  Acts 20:32…. The Word can give us an inheritance!