|
Why Speak in Tongues? The
Manifestation of the Holy Spirit's Gift July 2012 Speaking in tongues was the norm in the first century church. Luke included five records of speaking in tongues in the book of Acts and Paul wrote extensively on speaking in tongues in his section on spiritual matters to the Corinthian church. Speaking in tongues continued to be prevalent in the early church until the fourth century according to some church fathers. From then, until the western Middle Ages, during the dearth of all historical records in what has been called the Dark Ages, records of speaking in tongues cease. From the Middle Ages onward sporadic revivals of the manifestation of the gift from the Holy Spirit occurred. In recent centuries the most noted, widespread and far-reaching was the charismatic renewal that occurred in the United States from the mid 1960's through the mid 1970's. Subsequently, Brazil, likewise, experienced a wave of charismatic renewal in the 1980's and 1990's. Currently, Nigeria and other Central African nations are experiencing a dynamic wave of charismatic renewal. Speaking in tongues is a simple matter of responsive faith. It then nurtures individual faith unto salvation. That is, it nurtures the soul for spiritual growth towards a mature understanding of the great mystery of Christ and the church, revealed, first and foremost, by the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, to the apostle Paul. It is a language of other men or of angels that was never learned by the individual who speaks it. By it an individual speaks divine mysteries and the wonderful works of God. It is the outward seal on the soul destined for salvation. ScripturesThe
Purpose: The apostle Paul
In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise Ephesians
1:13 Sent by
the Father, at the request of the Son, and given to the soul by and for
nurture and strengthening through the Holy Spirit.
But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, she shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you. John 14:26 Instructions
in His resurrected body
And
when he had said this, he breathed on them (disciples and apostles), and
saith unto them, Receive (lambano = into evidence) ye the Holy Spirit: John 20:22 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. And
when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:8,9 Day of
Pentecost
And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 Cretes
and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
God. Acts 2:11 Luke, further in Acts While Peter
yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of
the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they
heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46 Apostle
Paul on the subject
For
he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:
for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. I
Corinthians 14:2 He that
speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; I
Corinthians 14:4 For thou
verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my
God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: I
Corinthians 14:17,18 Wherefore,
brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. I
Corinthians 14:39 Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord; Giving
thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:19,20 Jude, Jesus'
natural earthly brother, on the subject
But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Spirit, Jude 1:20 A StudySome say that
the practice of speaking in tongues ceased in the first century with the deaths
of the apostles. Others, in similar manner, say that it ended with the
development of a mature church. Both employ I
Corinthians 13:11 within Paul's three chapters on spiritual matters to purpose
such. The apostle Paul wrote: When I was a child, I spake as a
child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man,
I put away childish things. In the
underlying Greek texts the word became
is in the 2nd perfect tense
and should be translated as have become.[1] A. E. Knoch's
ultraliteral English translation of the oldest standardized Geek texts
translates this Greek word properly as have
become rather than became. The Greek word
for man used here is aner. It, among
all Greek words for man, emphasizes a mature married man. This verse
appears within the context of Paul's specific discourse on spiritual matters.
(I Cor. 12:1) Spiritually, a saint like the apostle Paul does not become a
married man until the marriage supper of the lamb during the advent of the kingdom
of heaven on earth still yet future. The next verse
offers a confirmation of this. It reads: For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known. Face to face is an Eastern figurative expression
referring to the moment in the Eastern marriage ceremony when the bride's veil
is first lifted allowing the new husband and wife their first open gaze at one another. Another
section of verses that obstructionists use to deny that speaking in tongues is the
elemental sign of Christian faith is found in First Corinthians chapter twelve. 28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all
workers of miracles? 30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with
tongues? do all interpret? 31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I
unto you a more excellent way. It appears that Paul was questioning whether all of those that believe speak in tongues. However, when the context of the section is considered this is not the case. Paul was writing to a discordant church whose services were disruptive.(1 Cor. 14:26) All were speaking in tongues at the same time in their church services. In the next two chapters Paul admonished and instructed the church on the proper attitude and procedures for the utilization of the spiritual gifts in their services. So the
practice of manifesting the spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit by speaking in
tongues continues until the union of the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus. [1] The Analytical Greek Lexicon, p. 76, &
Sec. 25, #4 Bibliography Speaking In Tongues: A Scriptural Study, Mackay, Harold, Everyday Publications, 1977 Canada They Speak With Other Tongues, Sherrill,
John L., Baker Book House, 1964 Michigan USA So You Want To Speak in Tongues, Wade, Peter, The Word, 1979 Adelaide, AustraliaThe Gift of the Holy Spirit, Stiles, J.
E., USA 1970 A Handbook on Holy Spirit
Baptism,
Basham, D., Whitaker House,
Springdale, IL, USA 1969 LinksEarly Chirch History The Holy Spirit and the early Church: The experience of the Spirit
Some History of the 1960's Charismatic Renewal http://www.forwardministryonline.com/articlesnews/charismatics.htm
http://www.peterwade.com/tarry-or-act
Helpful
Hints on How To: Speaking in tongues is very simple. It is not necessary to
wait for a sign or a feeling. Bringing out the subjective reality of the gift
is a matter of faith and corresponding action. You can be alone or with
another or others of faith to pray with you or lay hands upon you. Simply
acknowledge your belief in the Lord Jesus as the Son of God who remitted your
sin by his blood sacrifice. Next, in prayer, thank God that He has given you
the ability by the gift from the Holy Spirit. Then speak or sing the words
and syllables given to you - not your language but the new language given to
you by the Holy Spirit. You use your own voice and form the words as they
come to you. God will not force you to speak. You can speak and stop at your
will. When you speak or sing one syllable or word, go on to a phrase and then
a sentence and then sentences. With some repetition it will begin to flow
from you without much forethought then soon without any. You now have the spiritual
means to contemplatively commune with the eternal divine. You are now
participating in what untold numbers have done since the day of Pentecost
about two thousand years ago and the faithful will do during the entry way into
to this earth's coming paradise. For More
Understanding Speaking in Tongues as the
Betrothal Gift |