Speaking In Tongues

[nufcgoh]

Dear Sir,
My name is Joseph. I am a teenage Christian who is sincerely interested to know more about the truth of God. I firmly believe that when helping others, one should always go by the God’s word, the Bible. I did a little research on the topic of Speaking in Tongues and found it quite interesting. Please allow me to share it with you and hopefully you may aid me to a better understanding according and in line with the bible. Thanks for your help. Would really appreciate it. Enjoy reading.

Speaking in Tongues

It is the special ability given through holy spirit to some disciples in the early Christian Congregation that enables them to preach or glorify God in a language other than their own.

What is the PURPOSE?

Acts 2:1-4
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Joseph: Holy spirit poured out.

Acts 2:7-11
“And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Joseph: since the COMMON FOLKS of other races or languages could recognized that their language was spoken, clearly they could understand those who were speaking in tongues.

Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”

Joseph: Commission to preach.

Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Joseph: they used the ability to speak in tongues to be witnesses of God in all lands.

Joseph: During Paul’s time, bible truths were only limited or available to the Jews in the Greek language. So God gave the ability to speak in tongues to certain ones so that they were able to proclaim or preach the gospels to people of different language groups. The word “tongues” in the Chinese Bibles is written as “fang yan”, meaning Dialects.

Application Today

Today the bible is the most widely distributed book in the world. Besides that, it is available in hundreds of languages. So is it still necessary to speak in tongues today? Furthermore, the common folks understood those speaking in tongues in Paul’s day.

Does not Mark 16:17, 18 show that ability to speak in tongues would be a sign identifying believers?

Mark 16:17,18
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Joseph: These verses appear in certain Bible manuscripts and versions of the fifth and sixth centuries C.E. But they do not appear in the older Greek manuscripts, the Sinaiticus and Vatican MS. 1209 of the fourth century. Dr. B. F. Westcott, an authority on Bible manuscripts, said that “the verses . . . are no part of the original narrative but an appendage.” (An Introduction to the Study of the Gospels, London, 1881, p. 338) Bible translator Jerome, in the fifth century, said that “almost all the Greek codices [are] without this passage.” (The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel According to S. Mark, London, 1871, J. W. Burgon, p. 53) The New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967) says: “Its vocabulary and style differ so radically from the rest of the Gospel that it hardly seems possible Mark himself composed it [that is, verses 9-20].” (Vol. IX, p. 240) There is no record that early Christians either drank poison or handled serpents to prove they were believers.

1 Corinthians 13:8
“Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Joseph: When they had accomplished their purpose, those miraculous gifts would cease. But priceless qualities that are the fruitage of God’s spirit would still be manifest in the lives of true Christians.

So the ability to speak in tongues is no longer possible or needed today as the bible is available in so many languages. There isn't a need to speak in tongues for others to hear the kingdom message today. Anyway non-Christians understood those speaking in tongues in the 1st century since these common folks were able to identify that the apostles were speaking in their language. Today those speaking in tongues are actually blasphemers who give a sudden outburst of ecstatic noises with no one understanding it. They do not speak in tongues for the sake of the good news.


Matthew 7:22,23
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Can the ability to “speak in tongues” come from a source other than the true God?

1 John 4:1
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

Joseph: Among those ‘speaking in tongues’ today are Pentecostals and Baptists, also Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Jesus said that the holy spirit would ‘guide his disciples into all the truth.’ (John 16:13) Do the members of each of these religions believe that the others who also “speak in tongues” have been guided into “all the truth”? How could that be, since they are not all in agreement? What spirit is making it possible for them to “speak in tongues”?

2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.
“[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Joseph: So evidently since God no longer provides us with the ability to speak in tongues, definitely SATAN is behind this.

A joint statement by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council admitted: “We are also aware that a similar phenomenon can occur under occult/demonic influence.” (Gospel and Spirit, April 1977, published by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council, p. 12) The book Religious Movements in Contemporary America (edited by Irving I. Zaretsky and Mark P. Leone, quoting L. P. Gerlach) reports that in Haiti ‘speaking in tongues’ is characteristic of both Pentecostal and Voodoo religions.—(Princeton, N.J.; 1974), p. 693

Might the holy spirit be directing charismatics into practices that reach beyond what is found in the Scriptures?

Galatians 1:8
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

2 Timothy 3:16,17
“All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Joseph: If someone claims to have an inspired message that conflicts with revelations made by God’s spirit through Jesus and his apostles, could it possibly be from the same source?


The End


PS: The scriptures quoted are taken from the King James Version. I try my best to use the bible when possible to ensure that what I researched on is based on the bible and not my own ideas. I also typed in the references of books other than the bible to show that it came from a reliable source. Please enlighten me on this matter. Hope to hear from you soon.

Joseph

 

[Curt]

1 Cor 13:1
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.
(KJV)

1 Cor 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
(KJV)

1 Cor 14:39
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
(KJV)

 

[nufcgoh]

1 Corinthians 13:8
“Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Joseph: When they had accomplished their purpose, those miraculous gifts would cease. But priceless qualities that are the fruitage of God’s spirit would still be manifest in the lives of true Christians.

So the ability to speak in tongues is no longer possible or needed today as the bible is available in so many languages. There isn't a need to speak in tongues for others to hear the kingdom message today. Anyway non-Christians understood those speaking in tongues in the 1st century since these common folks were able to identify that the apostles were speaking in their language. Today those speaking in tongues are actually blasphemers who give a sudden outburst of ecstatic noises with no one understanding it. They do not speak in tongues for the sake of the good news.

Joseph: Among those ‘speaking in tongues’ today are Pentecostals and Baptists, also Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Jesus said that the holy spirit would ‘guide his disciples into all the truth.’ (John 16:13) Do the members of each of these religions believe that the others who also “speak in tongues” have been guided into “all the truth”? How could that be, since they are not all in agreement? What spirit is making it possible for them to “speak in tongues”?

2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.
“[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Joseph: So evidently since God no longer provides us with the ability to speak in tongues, definitely SATAN is behind this.

A joint statement by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council admitted: “We are also aware that a similar phenomenon can occur under occult/demonic influence.” (Gospel and Spirit, April 1977, published by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council, p. 12) The book Religious Movements in Contemporary America (edited by Irving I. Zaretsky and Mark P. Leone, quoting L. P. Gerlach) reports that in Haiti ‘speaking in tongues’ is characteristic of both Pentecostal and Voodoo religions.—(Princeton, N.J.; 1974), p. 693

 

[nufcgoh]

1 Corinthians 13:8
“Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Joseph: When they had accomplished their purpose, those miraculous gifts would cease. But priceless qualities that are the fruitage of God’s spirit would still be manifest in the lives of true Christians.

So the ability to speak in tongues is no longer possible or needed today as the bible is available in so many languages. There isn't a need to speak in tongues for others to hear the kingdom message today. Anyway non-Christians understood those speaking in tongues in the 1st century since these common folks were able to identify that the apostles were speaking in their language. Today those speaking in tongues are actually blasphemers who give a sudden outburst of ecstatic noises with no one understanding it. They do not speak in tongues for the sake of the good news.

Joseph: Among those ‘speaking in tongues’ today are Pentecostals and Baptists, also Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Jesus said that the holy spirit would ‘guide his disciples into all the truth.’ (John 16:13) Do the members of each of these religions believe that the others who also “speak in tongues” have been guided into “all the truth”? How could that be, since they are not all in agreement? What spirit is making it possible for them to “speak in tongues”?

2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.
“[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Joseph: So evidently since God no longer provides us with the ability to speak in tongues, definitely SATAN is behind this.

A joint statement by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council admitted: “We are also aware that a similar phenomenon can occur under occult/demonic influence.” (Gospel and Spirit, April 1977, published by the Fountain Trust and the Church of England Evangelical Council, p. 12) The book Religious Movements in Contemporary America (edited by Irving I. Zaretsky and Mark P. Leone, quoting L. P. Gerlach) reports that in Haiti ‘speaking in tongues’ is characteristic of both Pentecostal and Voodoo religions.—(Princeton, N.J.; 1974), p. 693

 

[nufcgoh]

duplicate

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

You quote 1 Cor 13:8 but you leave out 9 and 10, 10 states when that which is perfect is come that which in part will be done away with. That which is perfect has not come according to some. The arguments you present are not new and not agreed with even amongst apologists, they have been debated for a long time and will continue to be debated. Since Paul plainly states "do not forbid to speak in tongues" I think that teaching that is of the devil is dangerous, and in fact may well classify as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit according to one idea of what that might mean. You should be much more careful in your wording, you are very likely to offend our Charasmatic brothers and sisters.

You entire basis for your thesis is found in "where there are tongues they shall pass away", this is a common error in my opinion because you seem to overlook "where there is knowledge it will vanish away", knowledge has obviously not passed away so what would make you think that tongues has? Prophesy is obviously not going to pass until that which is perfect has come, and the only perfect we know in context of the passage is the perfect love described therein. The only way we will be capable of that love is after Christ's return. This one way of looking at it that uses the same scriptures you have quoted and disproves what you have stated. I am not claiming this to be fact or even proper exegetics but you have based your entire thesis on one verse taken out of context and you cannot do that. As a new Christian you will learn that you must use scripture to interpret scripture and that the Bible does not contradict itself. So if Paul says "do not forbid to speak in tongues" we can assume that we should not, and if we should not then the gift may well have not been removed. You need to consider all sides of the issue and not use one scripture to accuse fellow believers of being used for the work of satan.

 

[israelthebride]

Joseph, your definition of the "languages/tongues" of HIS HOLY SPIRIT is BIBLICAL.
People of foreign countries understood their own language.

I have heard satanists "babble" as they allow themselves to be possesed.
BEING POSSESED by YH'SHWH'S HOLY SPIRIT
produces HOLY SPIRIT "language/tongues"
as HIS WORD/LAW (Genesis to Revelation) states.

The TRUE sign of BEING POSSESED by HIS HOLY SPIRIT is:
LOVE,
JOY,
PEACE,
PATIENCE,
KINDNESS,
GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS,
GENTLENESS,
and
SELF-CONTROL.

Without these, WE are just "noise".

LOVE, RICOEL

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings nufcgoh,

So the ability to speak in tongues is no longer possible or needed today as the bible is available in so many languages. There isn't a need to speak in tongues for others to hear the kingdom message today. Anyway non-Christians understood those speaking in tongues in the 1st century since these common folks were able to identify that the apostles were speaking in their language. Today those speaking in tongues are actually blasphemers who give a sudden outburst of ecstatic noises with no one understanding it. They do not speak in tongues for the sake of the good news.

It appears that you are making assumptions that just can't be found in the text. Can you give me an estimate WHEN "knowledge" shall disappear?

So here is something to consider:

1 Cor 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. (KJV)

If you will recall, at the Tower of Babel, God "confused" the tongues. This is the only place in scripture that tells us where all the nations various languages came from. So what was the ONE language spoken before that time? May I suggest that it was the "tongues of angels"?

You may ask why I would assume that. Well let's look at some more verses:

Acts 2:6-11 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 marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 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 Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

There is nothing to verify that each of the disciples WERE SPEAKING in a tongue of a particular country. Instead, the onlookers HEARD them speaking. This is VERY important. Consider also this verse:

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Either we can HEAR with our ears, or we can HEAR with our SPIRIT. In attendance in Acts, were at least two groups. Those who HEARD the disciples speaking in their own language; and those who just heard BABBLING, as if the disciples were drunk.

So let me suggest that all the angels speak with ONE tongue, a heavenly tongue, but it is not the import of the speaking, but of the HEARING by those to whom the message is intended.

Let me tell you a short story that happened in a church several years ago. There was an American lady who went forward at altar call and as she knelt and prayed, she softly was speaking to God in tongues. There was also a Chinese lady present that evening and she too went forward at the leading of the Holy Spirit, for she had never known Christ. She knelt next to the lady that was praying. She could not help but HEAR the lady praying and the more she heard the more astonished she became. After the Amerian lady finished and stood up, the Chinese lady asked her how she knew Chinese. It seems she was praying (at least to the Chinese lady) in a Chinese dialect that was reserved for the high priests. What she HEARD was a very convicting Gospel message that addressed her specifically. The American lady had no idea. She said she was just praying in her NORMAL prayer language and that God hadn't revealed to her what she was saying. This amazed both of the ladies, and the Chinese lady gave her heart to the Lord right there and then.

So there are TONGUES OF MEN AND OF ANGELS! They will remain until we all SPEAK THE ONE LANGUAGE again.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[Boanerge]

“Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

They shall cease meaning, by the time you finish reading this message i posted, the message ceased. Unless you mean to tell me that we should speak forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever...... well you get the point.

But there is something that doesn't cease after you read or hear my words.

The love or emotion that i expressed through them, THAT continues on..

We are more likely to remember someone or what someone has said depending on the impact their words or actions have on us. And if that impact is Love and charity, that that lasts longer than anything else.

Plus, Love is the key to speaking in tongues. without it, you will most likely not be speaking in the name of God.

I know because i remember a time a girl spoke in tongues, but you didn't feel the love of God in her words, she was speaking things i never told anyone about. Thank God i knew two girls with the same name! or else i wouldn't have known if i should rebuke or obey her words.. I heard her speaking in tongues but at the same time i did not feel the number one language, the language of the soul, i felt fire and anger, but i also felt formlessness and void, i prayed to God and all of a sudden i heard myself rebuke. I KNOW that i said it in spanish (my native tongue) and the girl screamed and thanked God it was over. We were both in tears. Then she told me that she heard me speaking in tongues while i was praying. I said "Nooo i was just saying 'Halleluyah, lord help me do the right thing!'" And she said after that she felt something like fire touch her when i touched her and she fell back. And i said "nooo i kept my distance i didn't touch you". Well around that moment in my life i was telling God i didn't fel like a christian because i have never "spoken in tongues" and then God told me something and reminded me of something after all this. He said "Even your tears have a language of their own, which every heart can understand and some can interpret." And God reminded me about that verse where it says that you don't have to meditate on what to say because the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to speak.

This happened recently, in other words it was not some passing fad of the Pentacost.

If you want an account about words being spoken but only the person who those words are being spoken to understood, read about Pauls walk to Damascus.

Some people like to use this account to prove the bible wrong. That it contradicts because first Paul says his friends her a noise and then it says that they didn't here anything.

They didn't here anything because the Spirit was speaking to Paul not to the others. Since the Spirit communicates within our hearts, Paul's friends probably felt the presence but they didn't understand.

This encounter was only between God and that person, Paul for this instance. The people around Paul most likely saw Paul on the ground crying, they probably thought he had a few too many drinks last night. They probably heard him babbling, and other noises.

Anyway, even though that was then, we still speak in tongues now, as long as their are people who can not get their hands on a bible due to living conditions, and can not speak english, not even their native language properly, you better believe the Holy Spirit still speaks to those who need Him. The Spirit still moves, the Spirit is not a book.

I used to believe that speaking in tongues was the only way i can know i am saved. But after my encounter i understood that speaking in tongues is a special gift, for certain moments, and must be received in reverence to God. Its not something we throw around, it is for edification, clarification, understanding, and revealing whether someone is speaking in the name of God or not. Sometimes we have the ability to stop speaking when we are suppose too. Because when we speak we know when God says "thats it" and when we ignore Him and keep going. The thing about the Girl is that she was prophecising but then she lost focus of God and started demanding for more tongues, now, instead of recieving revelation from God she began recieving revelation from other spirits around. The only way i knew it was not God speaking through her by the time she got to me was because everyone was getting confused, and, since i knew two girls with the same names, she was promising something about a girl that in that moment i was not thinking about at all. Suddenly i understood the confusion and began to pray to God about it.

Therefore when I began to speak in tongues, it was not to "show off" or flatter people, it was to rebuke the confusion that plagued the room. Because the God that i worship is not a God of confusion.

The only thing now is that the girl isn't as connected to God as she used to be. Things like these leaves scars in people. But it was all because we took things about speaking in tongues "lightly" like some thing to throw around. I know that God will restore her some time soon, but the fear of it happening again is what diminishes our faith. I pray to God that we can start understanding this already.

All i can say is that the Love of God is the key, and never demand what you want, but demand what you need. Not for personal gain, but for the good of everyone around you. and For the Honor and Glory of God above all. Because it shall be Him working through you.

Or else you would just be babbling. Like clashing symbols without the harp..

God bless.

 

[ShetlandRose]

Soooooooo, do you believe if a Charismatic Christian speaks in Tongues it is from Satan? If you believe this, then how can a Christian receive something supernatural from Satan? (Not sure if I am articulating my question adequately here...). Would this, if from Satan, constitute a form of "possession" in the Christian or Satanic control over the Christian?

ShetlandRose

 

[ShetlandRose]

One more question please. I know a number of Charismatics (wonderful people, especially active in intercessory prayer). If they claim Tongues edifies the believer, and Tongues and Interpretation is present in their worship services that glorify Jesus Christ, what is bad about that? If it were from Satan wouldn't he be tearing down his own unified evil forces?

ShetlandRose

 

[rapha777]

The following is my experience of speaking in tongues:-


Tongues and interpretation of tongues from a Christian perspective.

-----------------------------------------------------

The main purpose the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost was to find, equip and adorn the bride of Christ - the Church and to escort her safely through this world and present her to Jesus - a pure and spotless bride (1).

In Genesis chapter 24 there is a beautiful illustration of how Abraham went about obtaining a bride for his son Isaac. The types in this account are as follows:-

Abraham - a type of God the Father

Isaac - a type of Son

Servant - a type of Holy Spirit

Rebecca - a type of Church

When the servant went to seek a bride for Isaac, he loaded ten camels to take with him. Included in these loads were precious gifts of jewellery.

In the New Testament, nine beautiful gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in 1 Cor. 12: 8- 10.

The rest of the article is at:-

http://www.angelfire.com/md3/pafn777/tongues2.html


Shalom,

Rapha

 

[Boanerge]

Would this, if from Satan, constitute a form of "possession" in the Christian or Satanic control over the Christian?

Oh it is in no way a literal possession of Satan where the christian does not have any control. Satan however is on the outside of a christian, and if the christian is not Focused on God, he or she will end up taking in the negative atmosphere. Satan is usually in control when we let our flesh, gain more control than the spirit.

So if it is not God speaking who is? The girl was i was speaking about was not rebuking demons, she was prophecising, making jokes and etc. See, before everything she was praying with her friend. Then, her friends relative passed by, the relative laughed and the girl laughed wit her. This is where it all started. Where the Reverence of the Lord was required, it was trampled down like a joke.

So at this point she continued to demand for tongues anyway.

Why do you think there were fortunetellers? Fortunetellers interpret what the spirits say, The difference between a fortuneteller and a servant of God is that the Holy Spirit will always tell the truth.

Satan will do whatever to keep himself hidden. Even if that means making his demons contradict themselves. Satan is all about confusion. His own house is divided, in the sense that they exalt people, and when they come in conflict they fight against each other. You would never know whos right, or if they are both wrong, without the Holy Spirit.

The whole point is to be humbled and under the guidance of the Lord, showing love and mercy, because these are the things that the enemy are afraid of. It is these fruits that show unity and this is what the enemy does not want. It is these fruits that help us stand strong and this is what the enemy fears. Fruits given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Christians do not get demon possessed in the sense that its all the devils fault and they can blame it all on him. No, the christian him or herself is also to blame, for not giving reverence to the Lord before His presence.

God is Holy and we can not treat the Holy Spirit like nothing.

the spirit is our Helper, lets not make the Spirit grieve. We give reverence by praising our Lord Jesus Christ, who the Holy Spirit will never speak against, nor will the spirit neglect to glorify the Lord.

 

[deg]

Joseph:

I truly hope that you take this matter to the Lord. Our Heavenly father has not stopped giving out His miraculous; it is a wonderful confirmation of His Presence, and a beautiful gift which is purposed for FAR more than just speaking to people of that language. You should read 1Cr 12-14, it gives the purposes of tongues which reach far beyond language barriers. It extends right into praying the very will of God.

1 Corinthians 13 is not saying that tongues have stopped dear brother. It says that when the perfect has come, the imperfect shall pass. Tongues are an imperfection, yes, but the perfect has not yet come. The perfect will have its day, and we all look forward to it, but we still dwell in the realm of imperfection. Knowledge shall pass away too, but we are not there yet.

I have spoken in tongues. When He saw fit to give me the gift, I worshipped God like I had never done before. It was the most pure and unadulterated worship of spirit to Spirit I have ever experienced. I fell into an immersion of absolute love and awe, I spoke with honesty and sincerity right from the depths of my being with the unutterable gushings of my heart. I was speaking to my God with nothing in the way. It was like the poetry of my soul, and I was reading it to my Father. Every syllable spoke Glory and beauty, as the Spirit fell upon me, and led me. I didn't struggle with words, I just poured out my spirit before God, and I have been brought into very close fellowship with Him since then. Tell me, why would Satan cause such a thing? A house divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were to be handing out gifts which intensify one's walk with God, I assure you, his end is closer than we think.

Joseph: our God is a God of miracles. He is. He has not stopped giving out His gifts at all. Yes, love is the most excellent way, and always shall be. It leaves an eternal impression which no tongue can. Have you ever considered that He still gives out tongues as a gift? Is it possible that These things haven't ceased? I dare you, Joseph, I dare you to believe God has this gift for you. I dare you to believe God wants to bestow a greater glory on you, because He does. My goodness, He wants you to prophesy too!

I asked Him for the gift of tongues for 3 weeks straight. I did not stop. He then sent me a dream, telling me it was coming, and the dream was followed by a fairly simple miracle to prove His Word to me. Nothing any human could tell me would convice me otherwise, for He has spoken these things to me. My doctrine is not of myself, nor of my earthly elders.

Joseph, I ask you only to believe that God is bigger than you may think you know Him. I know He is bigger than I know Him, and I yearn daily to know Him a little better, and to experience the vastness of His Presence. I pray you will follow Him, regardless of what I, or any other man may say.

In Christ's Love, and in Hope for my brother,
Deg

 

[ShetlandRose]

Thank you.

ShetlandRose

 

[gort]

I have spoken in tongues. When He saw fit to give me the gift, I worshipped God like I had never done before. It was the most pure and unadulterated worship of spirit to Spirit I have ever experienced. I fell into an immersion of absolute love and awe, I spoke with honesty and sincerity right from the depths of my being with the unutterable gushings of my heart. I was speaking to my God with nothing in the way. It was like the poetry of my soul, and I was reading it to my Father. Every syllable spoke Glory and beauty, as the Spirit fell upon me, and led me. I didn't struggle with words, I just poured out my spirit before God, and I have been brought into very close fellowship with Him since then. Tell me, why would Satan cause such a thing? A house divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were to be handing out gifts which intensify one's walk with God, I assure you, his end is closer than we think.

Hello,

Nice post. Yes ......it flows. Like living water. Yet one need not talk in tongues for this to happen. For me, it's the poetry of His very essence.

God Bless

<><

 

[stauron]

Joseph,

Good start. God is bigger than we think, but not contrary to His word. Seeking to know His word is seeking to know Him since He is the Word.

The time of the miraculous offices are done. They were for a time of the infancy of the church. But God still does miracles. They just are not bestowed as an office (no apostles for instance...)

Your last line is great, The traditions, the teaching and the revelation are always related to the revealed word. So no disorder or contrary ecstatic revelation...

Anyway, it will be interesting to see the fall out.

 

[deg]

Joseph,

Good start. God is bigger than we think, but not contrary to His word. Seeking to know His word is seeking to know Him since He is the Word.

The time of the miraculous offices are done. They were for a time of the infancy of the church. But God still does miracles. They just are not bestowed as an office (no apostles for instance...)

Yes, the Lord is the Word, but He is no book. The book testifies of Him. Ye think ye have life in the scriptures, but they are that which testify of ME! You look at these lines on a page, and you know they are truth. I tell you this, brother: The Truth is a Person, not a book. The Life does not reside in the words in the bible, but in the WORD HIMSELF; any athiest can tell you that they have read the bible and do not have life. It is not the scriptures which give life at all, it is the Word speaking to you, through the scriptures. He will often speak through an inner voice, sometimes through a friend, but when the quickening of the Holy Spirit falls, you will recognize it as Him. The Truth has an unmistakable aroma.

The infancy of the church? My goodness, they knew things we have no understanding of. They walked in a realm I wish we today could; there was a faith present in those days that is few and far between in these. The revelation of the early church extends deeper than modern evangelical Christianity ever has, and I daresay we've lost a lot of ground in 1900 years. If you want to talk about infancy, look at us! we are constantly in a state of infancy. We stop at salvation; there are so many more gifts to receive from our Glorious King, and that fact that we do not even recognize His Spirit when it falls testifies that we have lost our way. We live a dangerous life of Peter Pan, spreading our ability to drink gallons of milk, and forgetting the wonderful blessing of the meat. "Behold, I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them."

Hearing, never understanding. Seeing, yet never perceiving. Oh, ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

I say unto you; HARKEN! LISTEN! Do not sit in your corner any longer, carefully building your wall of spiritual innoculation any longer. Go to the Lord. Open Heart, open sincerity, no doctrinal barriers. Do not stop asking Him until He answers you. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (ISA 62:7) Ask Him about tongues, regardless of how it makes you feel. FORGET FEELINGS, GO TO GOD! He will respond to you, just as the judge will give favour to the widow, not because it pleases Him greatly, but becuase you ask. ASK HIM TO ANSWER, and do not cease!! DO NOT CEASE UNTIL HE COMES TO SPEAK TO YOU!! Or have you lost faith that He even speaks to us? In that case, you are lost in your own doctrine, and I pray the Lord will work to increase your understanding, and to enlighten the eyes of your heart. DO NOT LISTEN TO ME, BUT GO TO HIM!! FOR HE WILL SURELY ANSWER, IF YOU TRULY SEEK ONE. I TELL YOU, BEFORE GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARING WITNESS, MY DOCTRINE IS NOT OF MYSELF.

 

[deg]

I am sorry, dear brothers. I apologize for my stern words, they neither edify nor exhort as they should. We surely are brothers under one Father, and I spoke as if to an enemy. It is for that which I am greatly sorry, and ask you simply to forgive me.

It seems my spirit rises up when I see my brothers getting tangled. I desperately want to see you walk in a miraculous anointing, to walk ever closer with God, and to understand the greatness of his Power to usward, who believe. Brothers, I truly want you to come into these things. When we suddenly believe that God has stopped these things because we never see them at church is to base God's operations on our own environment. Please brothers, I want you to know that there is more.

Tongues are only one of the gifts He gives, and they are miraculous, and they are powerful, and (for me) they come as a bundled package with a love and devotion which I have not found elsewhere. I want to see my brothers raise the dead as brother Paul did. I want to see the healing anointing released on a large scale; how beautiful it is to see the captives set free. I desire strongly to see the possessed liberated, and the darkness to flee. Brothers, I want you to taste these things, because God has them for you. He only waits for a willing and earnest heart, and it is in love and hope that I come to you in the Name of Jesus Christ, asking you to listen.

I do not speak these things for pride, nor strife, but to say unto you "come up hither" that the Lord may expound "unto you a more perfect way." Oh how I long to see enlightenment flash across someone's eyes and heart! Please brothers, go to the Lord in honest humility and subjection. He is full of truth and grace to show you the path.

In the Name of Jesus,
Deg

If you wish me to relate my dream and miracle, I would be happy to so that your faith would rest on the Power of God, and not on the wisdom of men's words.