WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SPEAK IN TONGUES?
To speak in tongues simply means to say something intelligible in a language you don’t understand. The language could be a foreign human language that other humans in this world speak, or it could be a spiritual language that no human speaks or an evil spirit speaking falsely in the church.
Remember I was thinking about John 10:10. Jesus is explaining how His adversary, the devil, operates. Have you ever considered the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy? Well, it makes sense to me that a thief comes to steal, because the very nature of a thief is to take something from someone. There are many different kinds of thieves who have many reasons for stealing from others.Like an evil spirit speaking in tongues in the church.
Acts 2:1-11
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with 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 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.
To speak in tongues simply means to say something intelligible in a language you don’t understand. The language could be a foreign human language that other humans in this world speak, or it could be a spiritual language that no human speaks or an evil spirit speaking falsely in the church.
Remember I was thinking about John 10:10. Jesus is explaining how His adversary, the devil, operates. Have you ever considered the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy? Well, it makes sense to me that a thief comes to steal, because the very nature of a thief is to take something from someone. There are many different kinds of thieves who have many reasons for stealing from others.Like an evil spirit speaking in tongues in the church.
Acts 2:1-11
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with 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 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.
In the New Testament two lists of gifts appear in which the gift of tongues. They are said to be gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6 - "Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied."
1 Corinthians 12:10 - "He gives one person the power to perform ability to miracles,and another the ability to prophesy.. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages
while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said."
1 Corinthians 12:28-31 - "Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?
Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. Just ask God For Some Of These Gifts...If You Do Not Speak in Tongues...That Does Not Mean "You Are Not Saved."..
1 Corinthians 14: 2-5 - "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified."
1 Corinthians 14: 13-15 - "For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding."
WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF INTERPRETING TONGUES?
The spiritual gift of interpreting tongues means that the person with this gift will be able to translate the message coming from a person speaking in tongues. The purpose of interpretation is to be sure the body of Christ understands what is being spoken, as it is then a message for all.
Not all messages in tongues are translated. If the message is not interpreted, then it is believed by some that the words spoken in tongues are for the edification of the speaker only. It should also be noted that the person interpreting the message most often doesn't know the language being spoken, but instead gets the message to present to the body.
The spiritual gift of interpretation is often sought out and sometimes abused. It can be used to dupe believers into doing what the person wants verses what the message from God presents. Since this spiritual gift of interpreting tongues can not only be used to give an edifying message, but can also be used at times for prophecy, it is easy for people to abuse the belief that God is presenting a message for the future.
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified."
1 Corinthians 14: 13-15 - "For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding."
WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF INTERPRETING TONGUES?
The spiritual gift of interpreting tongues means that the person with this gift will be able to translate the message coming from a person speaking in tongues. The purpose of interpretation is to be sure the body of Christ understands what is being spoken, as it is then a message for all.
Not all messages in tongues are translated. If the message is not interpreted, then it is believed by some that the words spoken in tongues are for the edification of the speaker only. It should also be noted that the person interpreting the message most often doesn't know the language being spoken, but instead gets the message to present to the body.
The spiritual gift of interpretation is often sought out and sometimes abused. It can be used to dupe believers into doing what the person wants verses what the message from God presents. Since this spiritual gift of interpreting tongues can not only be used to give an edifying message, but can also be used at times for prophecy, it is easy for people to abuse the belief that God is presenting a message for the future.
speaking In Tongues Today
Is speaking in tongues we hear in the majority of Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, today, the true gift of Bible tongues? The Apostle Paul said “…God is NOT the author of confusion.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
It's seem to me ecstatic tongues really remain inside church buildings, and yet the Bible truth about speaking in tongues and the original purpose of the gift of tongues was for Christian missionaries to take the gospel message into lands where the people spoke different languages.
So if this speaking in ecstatic tongues is the true Bible gift of tongues, then why does it remain largely behind closed doors? Please think about these important points, as they help show us whether speaking in "ecstatic" tongues is truth or error, and of a good spirit or an evil spirit.
Not only that, but the majority of people who hear someone speaking in ecstatic tongues have no idea what they are saying, and God is not glorified through it. So what was the original purpose of it? We know that true Bible speaking in tongues had a purpose from God, as we will discover, but I just don't see any point or purpose to the ecstatic tongues that are heard throughout many churches, today.
Is the gift of tongues for today? Is there a need for the gift of tongues today? Can a gift of the Spirit be abused? Is everything that ministers are calling a "Move of the Spirit" today really just that? Would the Spirit cause someone to do something that is contrary to the fruit of the Spirit? Explore these questions....
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