This study is most easily understood if you substitute "language" for "tongues".
No reference to tongues in the TaNaK. Some say that tongues is referenced as prophesy in:
Yeshayah
(Isaiah) 28:1-12 Woe to that
wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower,
his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley--to that city, the
pride of those laid low by wine! See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.
Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain
and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. That
wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot. That
fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will
be like a fig ripe before harvest--as soon as
someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it. In that day the HaShem Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful
wreath for the remnant of his people. He will be a spirit of justice to him who
sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the
gate. And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are
befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions. All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth. "Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to
those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on
rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there." Very well then, with
foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, To whom he
said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and,
"This is the place of repose"--but they would not listen.
This is quoted in:
I
Corinthians 14:21-22 In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and
through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they
will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,
however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Paul uses this reference to indicate that this is a sign for
unbelievers. This is clearly a foreign language as the Assyrians are the ones
that conquered
There are five actual cases of tongues in the Nazarean Codicil:
II
Luqas (Acts) 1:15 - 2:13 In those
days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and
twenty) And said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the
Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who
served as guide for those who arrested Yeshua-- He
was one of our number and shared in this ministry." (With the reward he
got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there
he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his
intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard
about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is,
Field of Blood.) "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book
of Psalms, "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in
it,' and, "'May another take his place of leadership.' Therefore it is
necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the
Lord Yeshua went in and out among us, Beginning from
John's baptism to the time
when Yeshua was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with
us of his resurrection." So they proposed two
men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us
which of these two you have chosen To take over this
apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they
cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. When the day of Pentecost
came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of
a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All
of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem
God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each
one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked:
"Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that
each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites;
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (Both
Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we
hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and
perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some,
however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."
The foreign language occurred in the presence of the Apostles and was heard by unbelieving Jews.
II
Luqas (Acts) 8:5-19 Philip went
down to a city in
The half-breed Samaritans received the Holy Spirit by the Apostles.
II
Luqas (Acts) 10:44-48 While Peter
was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the
message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that
the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and
praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit
just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Yeshua Mashiach. Then they
asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
The Gentiles spoke in a foreign language in the presence of the Apostles.
II
Luqas (Acts) 19:1-7 While Apollos
was at
The first Corinthians spoke in tongues in the presence of the Apostle Paul.
Local church tongues: Corinthians
Most Pentecostals believe that the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is usually subsequent to salvation and is ALWAYS evidenced by tongues. The tongues of II Luqas (Acts) 2 - that is, foreign languages.
1. Linguists ALL agree that unknown languages are not real languages.
2. The proof of II Luqas (Acts) 2:6-8. There was a real foreign language.
3. The proof of II Luqas (Acts) 2:4. "Other of a different kind".
2087 heteros, het'-er-os; of uncert. affin.; (an-, the) other or different:- altered, else, next (day), one, (an-) other, some, strange.
4. The usage of the Greek word for tongue. Language is the consistent use of scripture. "unknown" is KJV only. (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,13,14,19,27
5. The proof of Marqos (Mark) 16:17. "New" in quality not from the standpoint of time.
2537 kainos, kahee-nos'; of uncert. affin.; new (espec. in freshness; while 3501 is prop. so with respect to age):-new.
------------------- Dictionary Trace -------------------
3501 neos, neh'-os; includ. the comp. neoteros, neh-o'-ter-os; a prim. word; "new", i.e. (of persons) youthful, or (of things) fresh; fig. regenerate:-new young.
6. The proof of 1 Corinthinans 12:10-11. Family of language.
1
Corinthians 12:10 To another the
working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to
another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1100 glossa, gloce-sah'; of uncert. affin.; the tongue; by impl. a language (spec. one naturally unacquired):-tongue.
7. The proof of 1 Corinthians 12:10. "Interpretation". 1 Corinthians 14:26,28. Interpretation / hermeneutics - the science of interpretation. In Luqas (Luke) 24:27 - exposition. Primarily it refers to translation: Yochanan (John) 1:39,43 Yochanan (John) 9:7, Bereans (Hebrews) 7:2.
8. Proof of Yeshayah (Isaiah) 28:11-12. Assyrians to conquer Israel. 1 Corinthians 14:21-22. 1 Corinthians 14:7-11.
* * *
The scriptural use of the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Matityahu
(Matthew) 3:11-12 "I baptize
you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful
than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his
hand, and he will clear his threshing floor,
gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable
fire."
Q. What is the time frame for this baptism?
Q. Is it possible to separate the fire and the Holy Spirit?
Marqos
(Mark) 1:4-13 And so John came,
baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the
Q. Was this the first time that the Holy Spirit descended on Him?
Q. Was this an example of Yeshua being baptized by the Holy Spirit?
Yochanan
(John) 1:29-33 The next day John
saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes
after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him,
but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to
Q. Why didn't Yochanan (John) "say" that Yeshua was baptized by the Holy Spirit?
II
Luqas (Acts) 2:1-4 When the day
of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and
filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be
tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them
were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the
Spirit enabled them.
Q. What does "filled" with the Holy Spirit mean?
Q. Why doesn't the verse say that they were baptized with the Holy spirit?
Luqas
(Luke) 1:8-17 Once when
Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest
before God, He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to
go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense
came, all the assembled worshipers were praying
outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side
of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was
gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid,
Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and
many will rejoice because of his birth, For he will be great in the sight of
the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he
will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the
hearts of the fathers to their children and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for
the Lord."
Q. Did Yochanan (John) use an unknown language while he was in the womb?
Q. Do we ever have a biblical example of Yochanan (John) using an unknown language?
Luqas
(Luke) 1:39-42 At that time Mary
got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, Where she entered
Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When
Q. Did
Q. Why does the scripture NOT say that she was baptized with the Holy Spirit?
Luqas
(Luke) 1:67-68 His father
Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to
the Lord, the God of
Q. What did Zechariah do when he was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did Zechariah use an unknown language?
Shemot
(Exodus) 31:1-5 Then the HaShem said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel
son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, And I have filled him with
the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--
To make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, To cut and set
stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
Q. What did Bezalel do when he was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did Bezalel use an unknown language?
Micah
3:5-8 This is what the HaShem
says: "As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them,
they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him.
Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without
divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for
them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover
their faces because there is no answer from God." But as for me, I am
filled with power, with the Spirit of the HaShem, and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression, to
Q. What did Micah do when he was filled with the Spirit?
Q. Did Micah use an unknown language?
II
Luqas (Acts) 2:1-11 When the day
of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and
filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be
tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each
of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from
every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in
bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly
amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near
Cyrene; visitors from Rome (Both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them
declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Q. What did the disciples do when they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did the disciples use an unknown language?
Q. Were Apostles present?
II
Luqas (Acts) 4:8-12 Then Peter,
filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the
people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to
a cripple and are asked how he was healed, Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Yeshua Mashiach of Nazareth,
whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands
before you healed. He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has
become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given
to men by which we must be saved."
Q. What did Peter do when he was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did Peter use an unknown language?
Q. Were Apostles present?
II
Luqas (Acts) 4:27-35 Indeed Herod
and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles
and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant
Yeshua, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided
beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your
servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal
and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the
name of your holy servant Yeshua." After they prayed, the place where they
were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No
one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything
they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection
of the Lord Yeshua, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy
persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold
them, brought the money from the sales And put it at the apostles' feet, and it
was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Q. What did the believers do when they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did the believers use an unknown language?
Q. Were Apostles present?
II
Luqas (Acts) 9:8-20 Saul got up
from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led
him by the hand into
Q. What did Paul do when he was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did Paul use an unknown language?
II
Luqas (Acts) 13:9-12 Then Saul,
who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at
Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything
that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never
stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against
you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the
light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he
groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw
what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the
Lord.
Q. What did Saul / Paul do when he was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did Saul / Paul use an unknown language?
II
Luqas (Acts) 13:44-52 On the next
Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the
word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they
were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of
God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for
the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the
ends of the earth.'" When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and
honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life
believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jews
incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.
They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their
region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went
to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Q. What did the disciples do when they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did the disciples use an unknown language?
Ephesians
5:15-20 Be very careful, then,
how you live--not as unwise but as wise, Making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the
Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach.
Q. What are believers to do when they are filled with the Holy Spirit?
Q. Did the believers use an unknown language?
These are ALL of the non-duplicating scriptures that indicate "filled with the Holy Spirit".
Some Pentecostals say that everyone should have "tongues" (unknown language):
Marqos
(Mark) 16:14-20 Later Yeshua appeared to the Eleven
as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn
refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany
those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink
deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on
sick people, and they will get well." After the Lord Yeshua had spoken to
them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the
right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the
Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs
that accompanied it.
The audience is the eleven Apostles.
Snakes, poison, and healings would join with foreign language to "confirm his word".
ALL are baptized by one Spirit, but, ALL do not speak in tongues. The tongues of 1 Corinthians 12 are NOT for all.
I
Corinthians 12:13 For we were all
baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given
the one Spirit to drink.
I
Corinthians 12:30 Do all have
gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
* * *
Paul indicates that it was expected that one would receive the Holy Spirit WHEN the believed.
"when" is in the eres tense.
* * *
The view: Edification of believers:
I
Corinthians 14:1-2 Follow the way
of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no
one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
I
Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in
a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
I
Corinthians 14:11-17 If then I do
not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the
speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to
have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. For this
reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he
says. 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 mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing
with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds
himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your
thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving
thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
I
Corinthians 14:27-28 If anyone
speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must
interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the
church and speak to himself and God.
Unknown language:
I
Corinthians 14:2 For anyone who
speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands
him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
* * *
Prayer language is available to all believers. You are speaking to HaShem.
The gift that not everyone has is the gift that ministers to the body of believers.
This unknown tongue is called a prayer language.
II
Luqas (Acts) 2:38 Peter replied,
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua Mashiach for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
1co 14:2 - Prayer language
1co 12:28-30 - Ministry gift of tongue.
Yoel (Joel) 2 - Talks about prophesy. On Israelites only. During the tribulation.
I. Authentication of
the Apostles and their work.
Bereans
(Hebrews) 2:3-4 How shall we
escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This
salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those
who heard him.
The time element is interesting. To confirm the spoken word.
Marqos
(Mark) 16:17-20 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they
will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; They will pick up snakes
with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at
all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
After the Lord Yeshua had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he
sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached
everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs
that accompanied it.
To confirm the spoken word. It is now scripture, so it does not need to be confirmed.
II
Luqas (Acts) 14:1-3 At Iconium
Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so
effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe
stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul
and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who
confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and
wonders.
Signs and wonders confirmed the message!
I
Corinthians 1:1-8 Paul, called to
be an apostle of Mashiach Yeshua by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified
in Mashiach Yeshua and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere
who call on the name of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach--their Lord and ours: Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua Mashiach. I always
thank God for you because of his grace given you in Mashiach Yeshua. For in him
you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- Because our testimony about Mashiach was
confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly
wait for our Lord Yeshua Mashiach to be revealed. He will keep you strong to
the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Yeshua Mashiach.
Their spiritual gifts confirmed the Apostolic testimony.
Revelation
22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears
the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God
will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words
away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city,
which are described in this book.
Don't add or take away from HaShem's word. To continue to confirm is to add to the Word.
* * *
I
Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never
fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues,
they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it
will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, But when
perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a
child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I
put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love.
Define terms: Tongues in verse 8 - The gift of tongues did cease.
Knowledge " " - The gift of knowledge did cease.
Cease - "rendered inoperative" - for knowledge and prophesy.
"abrupt stop" - for tongues.
All the early church fathers agree that foreign language "tongues" stopped in the first century.
II. Private ministry
of tongues:
A. Context - Spiritual gifts:
I
Corinthians 12:1 Now about
spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
B. Every believer has a gift to edify the body:
I Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
C. Not all believers are to speak in tongues: 1 Cor. 12:29-30
I
Corinthians 12:29-30 Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have
gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
D. Every believer
in
I Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized
by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks,
slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
E. Tongues is the LEAST important gift:
I
Corinthians 12:28 And in the
church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having
gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
F. Certain gifts are temporary:
III. The most important thing is edification. - To build up!
A. Tongues w/o interpretation has no benefit to the congregation.
I
Corinthians 14:1-5 Follow the way
of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no
one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who
prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He
who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in
tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater
than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be
edified.
Edification is never for private benefit. Edify in terms of confirmation of HaShem's word.
B. Tongues w/o clear teaching has no value:
I
Corinthians 14:6 Now, brothers,
if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I
bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy
or word of instruction?
C. Those who speak need to pray that there is an interpretation:
I
Corinthians 14:13-14 For this
reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he
says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but
my mind is unfruitful.
"Another" should interpret:
I
Corinthians 14:27-28 If anyone
speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must
interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the
church and speak to himself and God.
D. Tongues were meant to be understood:
I
Corinthians 14:14-15 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 mind; I will sing
with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
We desperately need UNDERSTANDING.
E. W/O interpretation, someone who does not understand the language has no way to appreciate what is said:
I
Corinthians 14:16 If you are
praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do
not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not
know what you are saying?
F. Speaking in a language you understand is 2,000 times better than speaking in tongues:
I
Corinthians 14:19 But in the church
I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten
thousand words in a tongue.
G. The purpose of tongues:
I
Corinthians 14:20-25 Brothers,
stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking
be adults. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and
through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they
will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for
believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for
unbelievers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in
tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they
not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or someone who does
not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by
all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, And the secrets of his heart
will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God
is really among you!"
1. Tongues are for a "sign".
2. Tongues are for the unbelievers. The people will NOT listen. To condemn them.
3. Tongues are not used to convert unbelievers.
Prerequisites for public use:
I
Corinthians 14:27 If anyone
speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time,
and someone must interpret.
There is one interpreter for two or three tongue speakers.
I
Corinthians 14:28 If there is no
interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church
and speak to himself and God.
I
Corinthians 14:29-31 Two or three
prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And
if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should
stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and
encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For
God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the
saints,
One at a time. This is a controllable gift.
I
Corinthians 14:39-40 Therefore,
my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But
everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Good in it's historical context, ie. to confirm the word of the Apostles. This was true during the time when Corinthians was written.
* * *
I
Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in
the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding
gong or a clanging cymbal.
Q. What language to angels speak? (all biblically recorded conversations were obviously Hebrew.)
Jude
1:20 But you, dear friends, build
yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Pray in the Holy Spirit? What does this mean?
We pray and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
Romans
8:22-27 We know that the whole creation
has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who
hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we
wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We
do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the
mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance
with God's will.
I
Corinthians 2:9-16 However, as it
is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what
God has prepared for those who love him"-- But God has revealed it to us
by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For
who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him?
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We
have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that
we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in
words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept
the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him,
and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The
spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject
to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may
instruct him?" But we have the mind of Mashiach.
Praying in the Spirit must me something that we can do all of the time!
Ephesians
6:14-20 Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness
in place, And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert
and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever
I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the
mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may
declare it fearlessly, as I should.
II
Tzefet (Peter) 1:19 - 2:3 And we
have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay
attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and
the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no
prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For
prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as
they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets
among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who
bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their
shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed
these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their
condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not
been sleeping.
Folks who are carried along by the Spirit spoke logically and intelligibly.
When the Holy Spirit speaks it is intelligible:
Marqos
(Mark) 13:9-11 "You must be
on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the
synagogues. On account of me you will stand before
governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached
to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry
beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for
it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
* * *
Yeshayah
(Isaiah) 63:7-14 I will tell of
the kindnesses of the HaShem, the deeds for which he
is to be praised, according to all the HaShem has done for us--yes, the many
good things he has done for the house of
* * *
CONCLUSIONS:
The biblical gift of tongues (language) was one of the ways that the word of the Apostles were confirmed. It is a known language used in the presence of the Apostles. Not everyone has it, and those who have it must use it in an orderly fashion. The scriptures clearly indicate that ALL believers have been filled with the Holy Spirit when we were baptized by the Holy Spirit at conversion. The biblical gifts are a foretaste of future glory. We will one day all speak the same language, probably Hebrew, on that future Shavuot.
The Satanic counterfeit of tongues is a "babling" language. It is not the language of angels as they all spoke Hebrew in every recorded instance. It is NOT how we pray in the Spirit, else we would be "babling" all the time. It is not a "groan", it is NOT a known language. The largest investigation of this "babling" has demonstrated that it has none of the distinctives of language. The interpretations, during the study, were consistently too long or too short relative to the "babling", and can therefore be considered false as all interpretation is merely translation. This counterfeit is used by nearly every major and minor religious group in the world. Since most of these groups know nothing of the biblical God, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit is not doing this, Satan is.
Since the Holy Spirit will not share his dwelling with the Satan, I do not believe that "bablers" are necessarily demon possessed. They are certainly influenced by demons. Most believers that practice "babling" are not familiar with HaShem's word, and have not diligently compared their "experience" with the bible. I pray that they would all develop a hunger for HaShem's word, and compare all their experiences to that Word.
HEALING
The first scriptural healing, by HaShem, is found in:
Bereshit
(Genesis) 20:10-18 And Abimelech
asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" Abraham
replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place,
and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides, she really is my sister,
the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when
God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you
can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my
brother."'" Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and
female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like."
To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver.
This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are
completely vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to
God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have
children again, For the HaShem had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
The healing was complete, ie. they were able to bear children.
Matityahu
(Matthew) 4:23-24 Yeshua went throughout
All these healings were complete.
When time and healing are mentioned together, the healing is instantaneous.
Matityahu
(Matthew) 8:2-4 A man with
leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you
can make me clean." Yeshua reached out his hand and touched the man.
"I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was
cured of his leprosy. Then Yeshua said to him, "See that you don't tell
anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded,
as a testimony to them."
Matityahu
(Matthew) 8:8-13 The centurion replied,
"Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the
word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one,
'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do
this,' and he does it." When Yeshua heard this, he was astonished and said
to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in
Matityahu
(Matthew) 9:21-22 She said to
herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Yeshua turned
and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has
healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
Matityahu
(Matthew) 15:22-28 A Canaanite
woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
Yeshua did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him,
"Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of
Matityahu
(Matthew) 17:14-18 When they came
to the crowd, a man approached Yeshua and knelt before him. "Lord, have
mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly.
He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your
disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse
generation," Yeshua replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How
long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Yeshua rebuked
the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
Matityahu
(Matthew) 20:30-34 Two blind men
were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Yeshua was going by,
they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd
rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder,
"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Yeshua
stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he
asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Yeshua
had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their
sight and followed him.
Marqos
(Mark) 1:40-42 A man with leprosy
came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make
me clean." Filled with compassion, Yeshua reached out his hand and touched
the man. "I am willing,"; he said. "Be clean!" Immediately
the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Marqos
(Mark) 5:25-29 And a woman was
there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve
years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had
spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard
about Yeshua, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
Because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."
Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body
that she was freed from her suffering.
Marqos
(Mark) 10:46-51 Then they came to
Luqas
(Luke) 5:12-14 While Yeshua was
in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw
Yeshua, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you
are willing, you can make me clean." Yeshua reached out his hand and
touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And
immediately the leprosy left him. Then Yeshua ordered him, "Don't tell
anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and
offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to
them."
Luqas
(Luke) 5:17-25 One day as he was
teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of
Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting
there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men
came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay
him before Yeshua. When they could not find a way to do this because of the
crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles
into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Yeshua. When Yeshua saw their
faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." The Pharisees and
the teachers of the law began
thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can
forgive sins but God alone?" Yeshua knew what they were thinking and
asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier:
to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But that you
may know that the Son of Man has authority on
earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you,
get up, take your mat and go home." Immediately he stood up in front of
them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Luqas
(Luke) 8:49-56 While Yeshua was still speaking, someone came from the house
of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter
is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher
any more." Hearing this, Yeshua said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid;
just believe, and she will be healed." When he arrived at the house of
Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and
the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and
mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Yeshua
said. "She is not dead but asleep." They
laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and
said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood
up. Then Yeshua told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were
astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Yochanan
(John) 5:5-9 One who was there had
been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Yeshua saw him lying there and
learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him,
"Do you want to get well?" "Sir," the invalid replied,
"I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I
am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Yeshua said
to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was
cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,
II
Luqas (Acts) 9:17-18 Then Ananias
went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,
"Brother Saul, the Lord--Yeshua, who appeared to you on the road as you
were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the
Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes,
and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
II
Luqas (Acts) 14:8-10 In Lystra
there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never
walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him,
saw that he had faith to be healed And called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
Here we have someone being raised from the dead with some 'apparent' time:
I
Melakim (Kings) 17:18-24 She said
to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to
remind me of my sin and kill my son?" "Give me your son," Elijah
replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was
staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the HaShem, "HaShem
my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by
causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three
times and cried to the HaShem, "HaShem my God,
let this boy's life return to him!" The HaShem heard Elijah's cry, and the
boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and
carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and
said, "Look, your son is alive!" Then the woman said to Elijah,
"Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the HaShem from
your mouth is the truth."
How much glory does HaShem get for an incomplete healing that takes a while?
This study was written by Hillel ben David
(Greg Killian).
Comments may be submitted to:
Greg Killian
1101 Surrey Trace SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Internet address: gkilli@aol.com
Web page:
http://www.betemunah.org/
(360) 584-9352
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