Speaking in tongues Part II

There are a few more things I needed to include regarding speaking in tongues. Here they are:

Praying with the Spirit and the Understanding

In I Corinthians 14:15 Paul says, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with my understanding; I will also sing with the spirit and sing with the understanding also.”

There are those that believe this means we can pray and sing in “tongues” (i.e. gibberish), and in our native language. This is not what the text means. What Paul means here is when he prayed or sang, his spirit and mind were totally engaged in the process. He was not saying that he was praying or singing in tongues in private worship. In Paul’s time praying in the spirit could have meant in praying tongues, but I do not believe it applies to us today due to what I said in Part 1 of this article under the subtitle, Has tongues ceased?

Speaking in tongues as a means of spiritual warfare

There are also those in the Charismatic, Pentecostal movement…etc, that believe we can babble in tongues as a means of spiritual battle against principalities. Ephesians 6:18 is the primary passage for this. It reads, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplications for all saints.”

The passage is grossly misused to justify this practice. The writer was even caught up in this practice over twenty years ago. Prior to my Tuesday night bible study, we would have “prayer warrior classes”. In this class the youth pastor said our assignment was, “To bring down the principality that was presiding over the city of Santa Monica California”. You may be laughing right now but I’m very serious! In my ignorance, I was fully committed to what I now know to be a ridiculous and a unbiblical exercise. He later reported through the “prayers in the spirit” of all the prayer warriors, we had brought the “Prince of Santa Monica” down. You can see how tongues has been abused up until the present time. The man that coordinated these meetings was well intentioned but self deceived and deceived all of us. While it’s true we had these classes, the results weren’t real, it never occurred. It was a lie.

Tongues was never designed as a means to fight demonic spirits in heavenly places. This once again proves that those who are claiming to speak in tongues, are using a counterfeit. All Ephesians 6:18 is saying when we pray in the spirit, we’re praying by the Holy Spirit’s leading; that’s all.

The purpose of the gifts was to authenticate the speaker and his message. Jesus declared to the disciples before he ascended into heaven, “And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

Jesus himself authenticated his office with signs and wonders (John 4:48; John 10:25; John 14:12) as did the Apostles (Read at the least the first 16 chapters of Acts). You would do well to read the entire gospels.

Keep in mind that the church was a new revelation to all; particularly the Jews. The focus was now off of them and focused on the Gentiles; the nations surrounding them. This period was transitional and never happened before in history, the Lord had to show all that this was from and by him. He gave to some the supernatural ability to speak in tongues and perform other miraculous signs to prove he was truly among them. Tongues is only mentioned three times in the book of Acts and in three chapters in I Corinthians and only because there was chaos and disorder in regards to use of the gifts. Paul had to provide instruction so that all things would be decent and in order (I Corinthians 14:40) There’s not one mention of tongues in any of his other 12 books he wrote in the New Testament. Paul wrote I Corinthians in 55 A.D., one of his earlier books. The gift of tongues may have been used less frequently when he wrote his other epistles.

When it comes to the gift of tongues we do well to remember this wisdom: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

Speaking in tongues Part I

What this article will attempt to explain is what is the phenomenon of speaking in tongues according to the scripture. Who was tongues for; what was it’s purpose? Are there tongues for public and private prayer? Is what we’re hearing today the genuine gift of tongues? Does tongues verify one is filled with the Holy Spirit? This subject will always be one of huge debate amongst several denominations mainly Pentecostals, Charismatics and Apostolics.

The word tongues in the Greek is the word glōssa. The word simply means languages. Speaking in tongues was the supernatural ability to speak a foreign known language the speaker never learned yet understood by the hearers. That is why in Acts 2: 4-11 we read, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language

7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia. 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and strangers in Rome, Jews and Proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The event is Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. Hebrews from all over the known world came to Jerusalem to celebrate this Mosaic feast. All Hebrew men were required to attend this feast which occurred in May-June on our Gregorian calendar. The other places in scriptures were tongues are mentioned are Acts 10, Acts 19, I Corinthians 12-14. Our concentration will take place in the book of I Corinthians 12-14.

All do not speak with Tongues

We read in I Corinthians 12 a list of various spiritual gifts. They are: Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities or different kinds of tongues. Paul then asks his readers, are all Apostles? Are all teachers…do all speak with tongues? The obvious answer to these questions is no (I Corinthians 12:28-30).

The problem I’ve discovered in a lot of churches that I’ve either been a member of or have read about or listened to those who believe that all have the ability to “pray” in tongues but the text clearly tells us not all speak with tongues. So, what is it that we’re hearing people do today in church? Is it the genuine gift of tongues? Let see if we can determine this in scripture.

Speaking in tongues as a private prayer language

Many Charismatics and Pentecostals believe that there are two gifts of tongues or that tongues can be used two different ways; for corporate and private worship. In Corinthians 14 the apostle Paul is providing instructions on how the gift of tongues is to be administered in public worship. This he had to do because the Corinthians were abusing the gifts, especially the gift of tongues.

In I Corinthians 14:2 we read, he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God. For no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. The word unknown isn’t in the original text; the translators of scripture inserted it to help bring clarification. So it would actually read,” he that speaks in a unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God.” Some say that when the word tongue is used instead of tongue(s), it’s referring to some type of Corinthian ecstatic utterance; not the real gift of tongues. A counterfeit. While that may be plausible, the writer (of this article) doesn’t see that being the case. The word tongue is the same Greek word as tongues plural so how can one be legitimate and the other is not if the same Greek word is used? Either they’re both the real gift or they’re not [(tongue/tongue(s)].

What Paul’s argument is in this chapter is if anyone speaks in tongues in public worship, the speaker or someone with the gift of interpretation/translation should interpret what was said so that all will be edified (vs. 3,4,5,12,26,31) This is equal to prophecy which is what we ought to seek (vs.1). If the speaker speaks in a language that no one can understand unless it’s interpreted, no one is edified but the speaker. He would only be speaking to God who understands all languages. That’s not what the gifts of the Spirit are for; self edification. When the scripture says that he that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, that’s not a commendation, but rather a condemnation. For once again, the gifts are for the benefit of the body, not the one using the gift.

There is also a widely held belief that the gift of tongues can be used privately as a prayer language between the person and God to build one’s self up (i.e praying in the Spirit or praying in tongues which is a misinterpretation of I Corinthians 14:15; Jude 20). This is where the ecstatic speech or better yet gibberish comes in. This became popular at the beginning of the twentieth century particularly with the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, CA from 1906 – 1909 with William J. Seymour. If one listens carefully to those using this modern “tongues” speaking phenomenon, you’ll notice the syllables of this gibberish sounds the same all the time. There are three major problems with this practice:

1. The scripture clearly teaches that if anyone speaks in a tongue, either the speaker or someone in the assembly must interpret what was said so that all will be edified or the speaker is to remain silent. If you’re claiming to speak at home, that means no can interpret and no one is edified. This is an abuse and unnatural use of the gift. 

2. Gibberish CAN NOT be interpreted because gibberish isn’t a language, it’s unintelligible speech. Also, I discovered when I attended a charismatic church years ago that often the “translation” of the gibberish spoken is longer than the gibberish itself and this is supposed to be the genuine gift of interpretation; it is not. 

When you’re translating from one language to another, the length of the translation will be virtually the same. You’re using different words, but the length doesn’t change. That’s how you can tell that what is transpiring isn’t authentic.

3. Several false religions use ecstatic speech – “tongues” like Tibetan Monks and some African Tribes. These are cults which obviously do not have the Holy Spirit. The modern charismatic gibberish is a similar practice. So, therefore, modern tongues speaking is not proof that one is filled with the Spirit.

Who was Tongues for

The scriptures clearly tell us that tongues were a sign to unbelievers; not for believers (I Corinthians 14:22). Why was it a sign to the unsaved? The genuine gift of tongues was exhibited in the book Acts on the day of 

Pentecost. Hebrew men and women spoke supernaturally languages they never learned to arrest the attention of the unbelieving Jews who heard them speak in their native tongue. This they obviously could not ignore. This never happened before in human history. When Peter preached to them about Jesus Christ and how they were responsible for his crucifixion, they were condemned and about three thousand souls were saved (Acts 2:41). So we see here that the sign gift of tongues was a sign for unbelievers so that they could repent and be saved. The gift of tongues was also a confirming sign to the authenticity of the gospel message the Apostles taught. It also was the fulfillment of Isaiah 28:12, “With stammering lips and another tongue will I speak to this people (i.e. unbelieving, disobedient Israel); and yet for all of that, they will not hear me, says the Lord.”

Has Tongues ceased

I Corinthians 13:8 we read, Charity or love never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Prophecy and Knowledge will vanish away with the coming of the perfect or complete. I believe this to be the complete revelation of God’s word. The complete/perfect is the force that will eliminate the gifts of Prophecy and Knowledge. The word cease in I Corinthians 13:8 means a willing cessation, to come to an end. Tongues will stop by itself. No outside force will cause it to stop like Prophecy and Knowledge (i.e. direct revelation from God).

The million dollar question then is “When will tongues cease?” Tongues had to have the gifts of both knowledge and prophecy to authenticate its use. Biblical tongues could not work alone. Tongues were never to be used unless it was coupled with an interpretation in the form of Prophecy or Knowledge. It was an inferior gift. According to articles I have read regarding the early church fathers, they do not record any occurrence of the manifestation of tongues after the first century. This would serve as a strong indicator of its cessation. Again, tongues was a sign to unbelievers that God was supernaturally working through his messengers to authenticate their message. Once their message was complete, tongues ceased to operate. It’s function ended. Just remember, God is sovereign and could manifest the gift in anyone if he chooses at any time but I do not see the need for such a manifestation. The writer is convinced that what we hear today is not the biblical gift of tongues but a counterfeit. We hear preachers babble in tongues in the middle of messages because they get too “caught up” and we hear some gospel recording artists do it as well because the Spirit has captured them to the degree they have to babble in tongues. These are unbiblical practices. What it reveals is that some are allowing their experiences to supplant the clear teaching of scripture instead of using the scripture properly to validate their experience. This practice causes confusion and divides the body of Christ.

WHAT IS THE ANOINTING

We often hear in our worship services, “ Lord send us your anointing, or Lord we need a fresh anointing”, but what exactly is the anointing? What does it mean to be anointed? As always, the answers are in the scripture.

To Anoint means the custom of smearing or pouring oil on a person or object, in both secular and sacred contexts or situations.

The Hebrew word for Anoint is Māšah as a verb and Māšîah as a noun where we get the English word Messiah. The term appears around 70 times in the Old Testament. One of the Greek terms for anointed is Christós where we get the English word Christ. Jesus was/is God’s Anointed, his Messiah, his Christ set apart by the Father for a holy, consecrated purpose; to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

The first time the word anointed appears in scripture is Genesis 31:13 where God speaks to Jacob, I am the God of Bethel (means house of God) where you anointed a pillar where you made a vow to me (Genesis 28:18)…God is making reference to when Jacob left Canaan and was traveling to the land of his Mother Rebekah which was a place called Haran. Jacob poured oil on the rock that he used as a pillow when sleeping. Jacob recognized the visitation of the Lord and regarded the place as holy so he consecrated the stone.

Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil when they were ordained as priests (Exodus 29:7). Verse thirty six of the same chapter makes reference to anointing the altar to consecrate (set it apart) for holy use. The tabernacle and tent of meeting where also anointed (Exodus 30:26; 40:9-10).

Kings in the bible were anointed by God because they were set apart to perform their office. I Samuel 16:12-13 says, So he brought him in. Now he (David) was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance, and the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

David’s receiving the outpouring of the anointing oil was an outward symbol of what happens to believer’s inwardly when they’re born again by the Spirit of God. When we’re sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, we are set apart, made holy by God for a special purpose, to praise God forever and give him glory here on earth by a life of obedience (Ephesians 1:12-13).

David so respected King Saul who was trying to kill him and feared God so much that on two occasions where he had opportunity to kill Saul, he refused because Saul was the anointed of God (1 Samuel 24:6; I Samuel 26:9,11). Saul was chosen by God to serve as Israel first King but failed miserably so he was eventually replaced by David.

In Isaiah 45:1 we read that a pagan king named Cyrus the Persian was called God’s anointed. The amazing thing about this prophecy is that God revealed this through the Prophet Isaiah about 150 years before Cyrus was even born! He was the instrument God sovereignly chose to deliver national Israel from bondage (Ezra 1:1-4).

Cyrus was unaware of this distinction of being God’s anointed however. He made a decree to deliver Israel because the Lord stirred up his spirit (Ezra 1:1).

JESUS CHRIST THE ANOINTED OF GOD

In Luke’s Gospel chapter four vs. 18-19 Jesus stands in the Synagogue and reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he’s anointed me (i.e. the Spirit) to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set free those that are oppressed., To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

The anointed when making reference in this text is the word Chriō which means a specific sacred anointing. Jesus wasn’t just anointed of God he was the Anointed of God. Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1 which was prophesied about him nearly seven hundred years before his incarnation. Jesus’ anointing was evident by all the things he taught and the miracles he performed. Jesus’ anointing was the most powerful ever demonstrated, ever witnessed, or ever read about.

THE BELIEVER’S ANOINTING

In I John 2:20 the Apostle John says regarding believers, “You have an anointing from the Holy One and you know all things. The Greek word for anointing in this text is different - Chrisma . This anointing is from the Spirit of God that gives the believer I believe a supernatural intuition. It keeps him from error and guides him into all truth (John 14:26; John 16:13) and because we have the Holy Spirit, we’ll be kept from falling away from the Faith. Verse twenty is in direct opposition to verse I John 2:19 where it talks about false believers that did fall away from God; they were never genuine to begin with (i.e. Judas Iscariot and Demas).

Once again in I John 2:27 the Apostle speaks of the believer’s anointing so that we can avoid error and remain in the truth. The anointing is synonymous with Spirit of God which abides in the believer and teaches and guides them in all truth.

Think about this way, would God place his Spirit in anyone and allow them to be continually deceived and teach gross error? That’s not the Spirit of Truth at all; that would be the spirit of error which is a clear indicator that person does not have any anointing from God. Avoid them!

IN CONCLUSION

We see in the Old Testament the anointing of God was symbolized by the pouring of oil; outward sign of the person or thing being consecrated by God. In the New Testament era, every true Christian has the anointing from God, the indwelling Holy Spirit. This isn’t something we pray for or need a fresh dosage of. It’s the same Holy Spirit so no one has anymore than the other. While there are diverse gifts (anointings) in the body, they’re administered by the same Spirit (I Corinthians 12:4).

One last note, while unbelievers are benefactors of the anointing of God from Teachers of the gospel, they do not possess the anointing unless they confess their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and become saved.

The anointing or to be anointed is reserved for God’s chosen, the Church alone.

SALVATION IS ALL OF GOD

Salvation is a deliberate act of God Almighty. The Father God didn’t just send Jesus to make men savable, Jesus came to actually save man from every tribe, tongue and nation. What we’ve been led to believe is that once Jesus died on the cross, he did his part and the rest is solely up to us alone to activate the salvation that’s available through his blood sacrifice. No! If it were left up to us, we would have never gotten saved! God must save us! Jesus atonement was an actual one, not a potential one. The belief is also that we can reject this offer of salvation ultimately or trump God’s plan by our disobedience. For those that have been chosen before the foundation of the world, and at the precise moment and time the Father God decides to draw us to Christ, we will come with Godly repentance, respond in faith to the gospel and be saved. God’s plans are never thwarted and he will be glorified.

What I will prove from scripture is that those whom God chose before time began will be saved and they will never perish or lose their salvation and those who reject the offer of salvation by grace and die in their sins or those who were already condemned and doomed for destruction.

Now, let’s look at three things that God has to bestow on man that brings about his salvation.

Repentance is the first in the trio of blessings God bestows when dealing with salvation. Let’s see how it fits in.

2 Timothy 2:24-25: The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance. In verse twenty five we read that Godly repentance is a gift that God has to grant to the sinner. We will not repent on our own.

Acts 11:18: When they heard this they quieted down and glorified God saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.

Again we see that God is the one that sovereignly grants freely repentance to those whom he saves. God will not grant repentance to anyone that he will not save.

The next blessing is in this trio of salvation is Faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

Here we see that not only is salvation the ultimate gift of God, the faith to believe God for your salvation is also a gift. That’s why no man has the right to brag about the salvation he has. We can’t acquire it on our own. The bible says faith come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It’s the gospel message that produces repentance and faith to the chosen sinner so that he can/will become the child of God through Jesus Christ that the Father predestined him to be.

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid little flock for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom”(Luke 12:32).

And yet again we see Jesus declaring that God will give the Kingdom to whom he wishes because he delights in doing so. It’s a gift from above. Whomever God has given the kingdom to will become an eternal member of the kingdom not against their will, but in accordance to God’s sovereign will which always prevails (Proverbs 21:1). Some see this as an assault or violation of their free will but actually it’s a divine loving intervention where God activates your freedom to the degree that you lovingly submit your will to his. God performs heart surgery on those whom he saves; he gives them new heart and places his Spirit in them so that they long to obey him (Ezekiel 36:25-27). This verse was specifically talking about the restoration of national Israel, but it has spiritual application to the Church. I wrote on my flagship article on this blog, man’s will is corrupt and in bondage to sin. Man should thank God every time he interrupts our lives and inserts his sovereign will to do what he pleases because it’s always for our good.

Finally, the third blessing of this trio is Salvation.

Psalm 3:8-Salvation is of the Lord. Your blessing is upon thy people.

Job 13:15-16- Though he slay me yet will I trust him; but will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation, for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Isaiah 12:2 – Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Lamentations 3:26 – It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Jonah 2:9 …salvation is of the Lord

Zechariah 9:9 – Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy king cometh unto thee . (Messianic) He is just, and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.

As you can see, even in the Old Testament six different writers from different backgrounds and walks of life knew the Lord was the sole source of their salvation.

Luke 19:9-10- And Jesus said unto him, This day salvation has come to this house, forasmuch as he also a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.

Acts 4:12 – Neither is there is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men

Titus 3:4-5: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.

Hebrews 5:8-9: Though he were a Son, yet he learned he obedience by the things he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey.

John 6:37-40- All that the father gives to me shall come to me and he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the Father’s will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son and believes on him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 10:27-30- My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them unto me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

Matthew 1:21- And she shall bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 3:18- He that believes on him is not condemened, but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 6:44- No man come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

Man is impotent to even approach Jesus on his own. The reason is man is dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Dead is the inability to respond to any stimulus. We see here the word draw does not mean drag by force but to compel one to come by love.

John 15:16- You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you go and bear fruit.

Here we see Jesus informing his disciples that they were sovereignly chosen by him to be his followers and bear fruit (Galatians 5; Hebrews 13:15) not the other way around. We’re unable to follow Jesus unless he grants us the ability to choose him only after he selects us first. Many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14).

John 17:12… not one of them perished (Jesus making reference to the Apostles) except the son of perdition…

Ephesians 1:3-8- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he has chosen us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will; to the praise of glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.

Now, if one can’t see through the powerful testimony of the aforementioned scriptures that salvation is totally of God, you never will. God is the one that grants repentance, faith to believe and gladly grants salvation to all them that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank the Father for sending the Son to redeem lost man from every tribe, tongue and nation.