| Modern Day Speaking In Tongues -
From God Or Not?
Gen 11:7 Come, let us go down and take away the sense of their language, so that they will not be able to make themselves clear to one another. [BBE]
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There are many people around the world who speak in what they refer to as "unknown tongues". Many people believe there will be an end time fulfillment of Joel's prophecy with a revival of speaking in tongues. How can we know for sure what is right and what is wrong in this matter?
One thing for sure, professing Christians are not the only ones who profess to have the gift of speaking in tongues. According to the online Wickipedia Encyclopedia speaking in tongues has been done by all sorts of people of religions other than Christianity. It has also been attributed to schizophrenia, hysteria, and stress. While one researcher says it actually reduces stress, even he admits that most people who speak in tongues have more crises in their lives. Also, some drugs are believed to produce "speaking in tongues". It is also believed that it can be self-taught. If you would like more info, go online and check the Wickipedia Encyclopedia article on glossolalia. That is the Greek word for speaking in tongues.
As Christians though, our main concern should be the Bible and what it teaches on the subject. The Bible shows that people can speak (1) By the Spirit of God (2) By the influence of Satan, and (3) By their own initiative.
Clearly on the Day of Pentecost, at Cornelius's home, and in conjunction with a group of disciples in Ephesus, the Bible shows that speaking in tongues came from God. In all three instances there were people present who understood what was being said, and in all instances the church was built up and grew.
However, Jesus in His ministry came into contact with many people possessed with evil spirits. And they would cry out in a loud voice and speak thru the person they inhabited. That was from Satan.
At John 7:18 Jesus said: He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory. In that scripture other versions translate of himself as (1) of his own authority (2) of his own initiative or (3) from himself. So clearly a person can speak of his own initiative.
How then do we know if modern-day speaking in tongues is from God, Satan, of Self. We must test it by the Word of God. There are a few basic rules given in 1 Corinthians 14 that let us know what is of God and what is not. No rules had been made at Pentecost, because speaking in tongues then was an entirely new thing. It was some 20 years later Paul wrote the Corinthians, because they were having problems in this area. His instructions to them were as follows: Verse 13---Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. Verse 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. Verse 28---But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church: and let him speak to himself, and to God. Verse 29-31---Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Verse 32---And the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
So whether it be singing, praying, or prophesying, anyone speaking in a foreign language out loud in the church, must be silent if they or someone else in the church can't interpret what is being said. They should pray to God to give them the interpretation, so that all in the church may benefit from what is being spoken in prayer, song, or prophecy. Only one person at a time is permitted to speak, and there can be no excuses allowed that a person can't control the operation of the Spirit upon them. IF IT'S NOT IN HARMONY WITH THAT, IT IS NOT FROM GOD!!!!!!!
The apostle said in 1 Cor. 24:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. Serious business indeed. If it's out of harmony with the above then the one speaking is actually breaking the commandments of God given through the Apostle Paul. At all instances of speaking in tongues in the scripture there was someone there who could understand what was being said.
AT PENTECOST EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE. Acts 2:6
AT CORNELIUS'S HOUSE THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES AND MAGNIFY GOD Acts 10:46 AT EPHESUS THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES AND PROPHESIED Acts 19:6 Prophecy was given so that all in the church could be upbuilt. 1st Cor. 14: 31 says: For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.
Also take another look at Joel's prophecy. Peter said this is the prophecy that was being fulfilled at Pentecost. Joel 2:28&29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. PLEASE NOTE THAT CAREFULLY: AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE DOING WHEN THEY SPOKE THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD AND THE MAGNIFICENT THINGS OF GOD IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES. THEY WERE PROPHESYING. THAT MEANS SPEAKING AN INSPIRED MESSAGE FROM GOD. It was just as Jesus had said at Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit 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.
Did these Christians use their newfound gift to spread the gospel and to be witnesses as Jesus predicted? It's good to note that most of the Christians who had received the gift of tongues remained in Jerusalem after Pentecost. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And verse 47 of Acts 2 says: And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Yes, they learned doctrine and they went to the temple and shared it with others daily so that there were thousands of converts. A lot of people who get involved in the tongues movement today give doctrine a back seat and seem to begin to think doctrine doesn't matter anymore.
But getting back to the subject: How did those early Jerusalem church members finally get out of Jerusalem, into Judaea and the uttermost parts of the earth? Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem: and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. NOTE THAT WELL!!! ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH WERE SCATTERED AFTER STEPHEN'S DEATH AND THE GREAT PERSECUTION. ONLY THE APOSTLES WERE LEFT IN JERUSALEM!!!Acts 8:4 continues: Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere PREACHING THE WORD!!!! Sure they prayed, sure they built themselves up in the faith, sure they learned the apostles doctrine, and surely they praised their Creator and Messiah. BUT THEY DID NOT FORGET THE IMPORTANT THING, BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCEFULLY REMINDED OF GOD THAT THEY MUST LEAVE JERUSALEM AND PREACH THE WORD TO ALL CREATION. AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID WHEREVER THEY WERE SCATTERED. AND NOTE ONCE AGAIN WHO WAS SCATTERED. ALL EXCEPT THE APOSTLES. We're talking about all the regular church members at Jerusalem other than the apostles. Those who had the gift of speaking in tongues no doubt used it to preach to others and fulfill the Great Commission.
So let's not condemn any who professes to have this gift, but let's measure it by the Scripture. The writer of this article was once a member of a Pentecostal church who spoke, prayed, and sang in tongues. After studying the Bible carefully, I saw that the gift as it was manifesting itself through me, was not scriptural, not from God. Everyone spoke at the same time, and there were no interpreters. I didn't have a demon, and neither do I think most members of the church I was attending did either. However, looking back now I believe it was due to peer pressure, the good feeling that it gave, and the attention it got from others in the church, and the fact that it was expected of all who had the Holy Spirit. Never was there any mention that Jesus, the greatest believer, and the most righteous one in history didn't speak in tongues.
So remember the tests. (1) First Corinthians 14 must be followed for it to be from God.
(2) If it is from Satan, eventually the person may harm themselves, or maybe even commit suicide. Remember when Jesus cast an evil spirit out of a person and let it enter the swine, they (the swine) killed themselves. Matt 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. A slightly expanded account appears at Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs: and no man could bind him, no not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him. HERE WAS A MAN POSSESSED WITH A DEMON. HE WORSHIPPED JESUS, AND HE HAD TREMENDOUS POWER, BUT HE HARMED HIMSELF AND THE BIBLE SAYS HE WAS AWAKE DAY AND NIGHT. We may never see a person this badly possessed, but it shows the power of Satan to harm, and to destroy. It also shows that demon-possessed people can pretend to be worshipers of God.
So in conclusion, while we should not be quick to conclude that everyone who speaks in tongues is demon-possessed, we must be careful to examine each situation by the commandments of God. If anyone passes the test, follows all the rules, and is using the gift to preach to others and to bring increase to God's church, then welcome them, and say, AT LAST JOEL'S PROPHECY IS BEING FULFILLED IN OUR DAYS!!!! We definitely should be careful not to speak against anything that is in harmony with the Scripture, and we should continue loving the person even if we feel after due consideration that it's not from God. It's the bad acts that people do we are not to love. We are responsible before God to love everyone.
Heed the advice of Jesus and watch, wait, and pray. By and by it will be made clear, if it's from God or not. There is nothing hidden that will not be brought to light eventually. In the words of Gamaliel, a doctor of the law and a Pharisee who had a good reputation in his day: And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:38,39 Wise words. The cause of truth is always on the side of those who wait.
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