~ The gift of Tongues ~

Today is Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005.

I am going to show in this message the truth of the Gift of Tongues. So many have missed this and almost everyone has taught this in error. Those who do not deny this wonderful gift altogether, do not understand it, even those who have it.

So this is a much-needed truth. If only people would learn to go exactly by how the Scripture is written, instead of listening to false teachers, all this delusion would not exist. Even many who exercise this gift and are blessed by it, still do not understand it and are confused when they are exercising the gift. This ought not so to be my beloved Christian friends.

Now, let’s look into the Word of God and see what is truly taught on this great gift.

1Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Cor 14:2 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.

First see that Paul said for us to desire spiritual gifts. So it is a thing we should do, is pray for and seek to have the gifts of the Spirit in our own lives. This is not just to help others with; it is also for the purpose of edifying ones own self.

Notice verse two. This is the first of the ‘misunderstandings�?of this gift. Most people assume that this gift of tongues is for the purpose of preaching the gospel to someone who speaks a different language than you do. But see this is not taught in the word of God. He said here that when you speak in an unknown tongue, this is not speaking unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him. See then that it is NOT an earthly language at all. It was not meant for anyone. The very fact that it said this is an UNKNOWN tongue tells us to begin with, that this tongue is not known by anyone on this earth. So it is NOT an earthly tongue. IT is a heavenly tongue, which no man understands. In the spirit he is speaking mysteries. Only God knows these mysteries.

Unbelievers and those unknowledgeable about this gift will tell us that only when one is speaking to someone of another earthly tongue should we use this gift. I just ask, where is even one Scripture saying this? Where was this gift ever used for this purpose? They all go to Acts 2, where Peter preached to that great crowd and use this to say that is what he was doing. But Peter was NOT speaking in an unknown tongue there. He was speaking in his own tongue. God fixed it so everyone there understood his speech in their own tongue. Surely you know that Peter was not speaking in more than one tongue?

Let me make it clear here at the beginning of this message, that I am not speaking of the tongues which comes when one is Baptized with the Holy Ghost. That is a total different working of God. It has not one thing to do with this gift of tongues. This gift of tongues comes only after one has the Holy Ghost, and it is not given to everyone. But the tongues which accompanies the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to everyone who receives the Holy Ghost. This is His means of proving he has come into your heart to live and abide. He gives this utterance, not the person. It is totally of God, not of man. The rules Paul laid down for the use of this gift of tongues in a church does not apply to the tongues which the Holy Ghost utters when one is filled with the Baptism. Compare this with Acts two and what happened in that upper room and you can clearly see this. All 120 people spoke in tongues. All 120 there spoke the same language. Not one word is said about any need for interpreting this tongue. See it was not the gift of tongues. It was the gift of the Holy Ghost being given. I have never heard even one Pentecostal preacher who understands this matter. Do they ever study the word? I really wonder.

1Cor 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Now see here that Paul is explaining the use for two gifts. He said prophesying is used to edify, exhort and comfort other people. He said that when one speaks in an unknown tongue he is edifying himself. Now is not that what I told you to begin with? The gift of tongues is given for your own edification. This is very needful for your own spiritual growth and joy. Use it as often as you can. Pray and worship and this gift will come. So did Paul say the gift of tongues is used for other men? Did he say it is for the purpose of teaching people of another language? NO. Did he say one word about the need to be �?U>fluent�?in this speaking? No. Not one word. It has not one thing to do with your own personal ability. That does not enter into it.

So do not allow false, unknowledgeable men to hinder you by making you think it is something you need to be ‘fluent�?in. It does not pertain to your earthly ability; it is a gift of the Spirit. He does it. Many times we are worshipping and praising Jesus and God with the same phrases of praise over and over. The unbelievers and ignorant use this to try and say it is false, for we are saying the same words over and over, therefore not speaking a message. It is not for speaking messages. It is for our own edification. It is our worship of God. I shall prove that in this message.

It is no different than when we say the same words over and over in our own tongue, praising him and loving Him. I do this quite often, in both English and in the unknown tongue. When I myself switch it back to English, it seems to lose the power and glory, so I then allow the Spirit to take back over.

1Cor 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Now the unknowledgeable use this verse to try and ‘down-grade�?the gift of tongues. But is this what is meant? No. Paul is showing here that in order for the church [other men- not you] to receive edification, the tongues must be interpreted. See that he had already laid out that tongues is for your own edification and prophecy is used to edify others. So does not this fit it exactly? Of course it does. I have written many messages on the tongues, which accompanies the Holy Ghost, but I do not remember actually taking this gift of tongues and explaining it fully. This is certainly needed by the church.

But see that he made it clear that he wants everyone to speak in tongues. I would that ye ALL spake with tongues. Now does that sound like Paul was against speaking in tongues? Of course he was not. It is right the opposite. Where are any churches, which have this attitude? They are few and far between. See also that when the tongues is interpreted it becomes just as important a tool to edify others as does prophecy? This interpretation places them on the same level, but when you are speaking in tongues alone, there is no real need for interpretation.

1Cor 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Now here is another verse they use to try and say speaking in tongues is not right or of no importance. But see that is not what is meant. Again it goes back to who is being edified, and which gift is being used. See Paul said, brethren if I come to you speaking in tongues what shall I profit you? See he is saying the tongues is not used to edify others, it is for your own personal edification. So in order to edify someone else, you must either speak by revelation [something God has revealed to you], or by knowledge, or by prophesying or by doctrine. See that the gift of prophecy was given to edify others with. This makes it so clear that the gift of tongues was never given to preach to men of other languages with. Again, it is not putting the gift of tongues down. Rather it is clearly explaining what the two gifts are to be used for. When you come to see this clearly, it will never be a problem again. You can then use the gift of tongues for your own personal worship and edification, and then speak to others by knowledge or prophecy or some other way he can understand. He does not understand your tongues, unless it is interpreted. You are glorifying God in worship, and it is joy to you, but the other person receives no real benefit from this.

Now I personally enjoy seeing others in the Spirit and it blesses me. So do not feel put down by tongues being for your own benefit. It does bless other Christians who enjoy this. It may not edify me, but I enjoy seeing the Spirit moving on anyone. Paul is not saying a person who prophesies is a greater person than the one who speaks in tongues; nor is he saying that the gift of prophecy is better than tongues. It is speaking here of the magnitude of how many is blessed or edified. More people means greater, it is speaking of how many are edified.

In verses 7- 11, Paul explains that when one person speaks in a tongue to someone else, who does not understand that tongue, then you are barbarians to each other. No understanding or edification is there.

1Cor 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

Now did Paul condemn this church for being zealous of spiritual gifts? Of course he did not. So then why are most preachers today so much against this? But Paul said seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. He wanted them to seek to use their gifts to edify the church, and not just themselves. So he said if you speak in an unknown tongue pray that you may interpret it. The interpretation then edifies others as well as your own self. So where does all of this leave the majority of church folks who do not believe in any of these gifts being for us today? Where is any Scripture saying that this was only for folks back then? Why would God tell us all about this kind of glory, and then say now it is not for you? My God did not do such a thing to me, I can grant you.

1Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1cor 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1Co 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

1Co 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Now don’t you see that he said you can pray in an unknown tongue and not understand yourself what is being said? He said this is praying with the spirit. Then he said I will sing with the spirit [in tongues], and I will sing with the understanding also. So here he is saying I sing in tongues, then interpret it and sing it in my own language. My, what glory! And just think almost all churches today deny this to their people! Thank God for setting me free from them.

Verse 17 says that one is giving thanks well, in tongues, but the other is not edified. See again proving that the tongues is not for the edification of others, unless it is interpreted. But see that he called it well. Why are so many against this today? And they call it evil and not well?

1Cor 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1Cor 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Now I know that many preachers and church folks use verse 19 to try to downgrade this gift of tongues. Again it is not what is meant here. Why would Paul say I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than all of you, if he thinks it is not good? No this is not what he means. He is only saying that when I am in church with others, I would rather teach them then, than to edify myself with tongues that they will not understand or get any edification from. He is not condemning speaking in tongues at all. He is merely saying in the places where you are with others, try to teach them.

See Paul made it clear that he spoke in tongues lots of times, more than any of them. He is certainly not putting this gift down in any kind of way. But he makes it clear that he would rather teach others when with them than to edify himself.