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Speaking in Tongues: A Sign for Nonbelievers

O

ozell

Member
What advantage would one gain if a word is spoken and no one understood what was being said? The word spoken would not benefit anyone, correct? Some individuals in the church community believe unidentifiable speech is a sign from God, even saying that it is a requirement for salvation. Yet, I Corinthians the 14th chapter in the 33rd verse it states, “God is not the author of confusion.†What is the opposite of confusion?

Something that is clear or easy to understand. After reading through this study, one will see that there is no confusion in the Bible on the above topic. But, those that do not read the Bible and tell others that they must speak in an unknown tongue to receive salvation; they are in the state of confusion.

Let’s begin this study in Acts the 2nd chapter, at the first verse and see if we can get a clear understanding of what happened on the day of Pentecost.
 
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2: 1-2)

Here the apostles are observing the Day of Pentecost, and suddenly a rushing mighty wind came in to the house. So, what exactly is this rushing mighty wind? It has to be some type of note worthy information or it would not be in the verse. Let’s see if we can find an example in the Word of God, of a “rushing mighty wind.â€

In the next set of scriptures David inquires of God, asking, should he go out to war against the Philistines? Take note of what takes place after the Lord informs David what he should do.

And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. (1 Chronicles 14: 13-15)

Note what’s being stated, “When thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle.†In other words, when you hear a rushing mighty wind in the top of the mulberry trees go out against them. Let’s take a look at another example before we find out who, or what this wind is. Take note!

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3: 8)
 
Jesus gives an excellent example as usual. Everyone that is born of the spirit is like the wind, we can hear the sound of the wind, but we cannot tell where it came from or where it’s going. In other words we cannot see the wind nor can we see a spirit, unless they want to be seen. But, Acts the second chapter tells us exactly where the rushing mighty wind came from and that was Heaven. So, we have just learned something, meaning a spirit is like the wind. Now, let’s look at the third verse in Acts 2.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)

So, once the wind came in, there appeared unto them cloven tongues of fire and it sat by each one of them. Cloven tongues like as of fire? What could that possibly be? Let’s cut to the chase and find out exactly what this is. Take note.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (Psalms 104: 1-4)
 
In my opinion, speaking in tongues serves no purpose unless someone is there who understands what is being said. I don’t think the Lord, therefore, has people speak in tongues unless someone understands what is being said. If no one understands what is being said, then the person is simply speaking gibberish.
 
The Gifts

All right – tongues – easy if you take the Bible as it stands and understand how God deals with Israel as a nation. Most make issue of prayer languages, interpreter or not and never cover what tongues are really for. Let’s get down to the basics. Remember, God deals with Israel as a nation differently than he deals with the body of Christ today.

According to the Bible tongues are for a sign (1 Cor 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign,…). The verse didn’t say tongues were for your personal edification, prayer time, public worship service, etc. Tongues are for a sign. Now, who require signs in the Bible? The Jews require a sign (1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign,….). Why did the Jews require a sign? It was a part of their history. When God and Moses had their conversation at the burning bush Moses said (and I paraphrase), “They are not going to believe me.†The Lord said, “I will give you some signs to authenticate your ministry.†Moses went to them and did signs and wonders and they believed. When the Lord came to Israel in the gospels he came with signs to authenticate his ministry and some believed. In fact the Pharisees came seeking a sign - Mat 12:38 “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.†After Christ arose he gave the apostles the signs to authenticate their ministries they went about doing signs and wonders.

Next, tongues were not for believers but for unbelievers – “not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: - I Cor. 14:22. This is the clincher. Moses went to Jews who were unbelievers of his ministry. Jesus went to an unbelieving Israel with signs. Paul went to unbelieving Israel with signs. Also, the Jews were “unbelievers†in the sense that they did not believe that God would not bless the Gentiles. In Acts 2 where the signs and wonders took place Peter preached to thousands of “unbelieving Jews†and they believed after the message with signs and wonders (Acts 2:43).

Today tongues are used in churches for believers – in other words done for the edification of the speaker or hearer, which is contrary to I Cor. 1:22 and 14:22 (note both verses are 22 – can’t beat the book!)

Now, when you use your “tongues†in your church service are there any unbelieving Jews there? Maybe and maybe not but most likely not. When you are using “tongues†in your private prayer closet are there any unbelieving Jews there?

Let’s wrap it up – When God deals with Israel as a nation he uses signs and wonders as authentication. God is not dealing with Israel as a nation today – God is dealing with individuals. Tongues are for a sign and to unbelievers, not believers. Tongues are a sign of judgment to the unbelieving Jews. Also, unbelievers are “believing “ Jews in Acts who were didn’t believe the Gentiles could get in on the blessings.

Tongue speakers are not following this today one bit. I really don’t care about how good tongues feel to you and how excited you get when you utter your “tonguesâ€. When you pray and speak in tongues are you doing it as a sign to unbelieving Jews? I don’t care if you saw millions at once speaking in tongues. What you saw were millions of deceived people led by an unclean spirit. They may be nice, polite, Bible-quoting people but they were deceived while they were nice, polite and quoting scripture.

I know you have a lot of verses you get from I Cor 14 but remember Paul is rebuking a carnal church of a misuse of a doctrine to the point where he calls them children in malice. Why you think you can find anything positive there to support your tongues beats the fire out of me.

Don’t judge tongues by your experience – judge your experience by the Bible. Anybody can think they speak in tongues. I’ve even seen people “practicing†their tongues so they wouldn’t lose them! Please, people! The great men of God of old wouldn’t and didn’t mess with that stuff for a minute and God used any one of them more then 10,000 tongue speakers today.

But you say, “Yes, but I still know what I know and I speak in tongues and others do so that proves it!†Fine, base your doctrine on feelings and experience and ignore the plain teaching of scripture.

Again, one last time with feeling – UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT GOD DEALS WITH ISRAEL AS A NATION DIFFERENTLY THAN HE DOES WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY THEN YOU CAN FORGET UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS!

May God bless
 
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
 
awaken said:
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
Click to expand...
Did you not read my post closely - I covered this - Signs of these believers were meant for the unbelieving Jews as a sign of judgment for their not believing that Jesus was their messiah.
 
AVBunyan said:
awaken said:
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
Click to expand...
Did you not read my post closely - I covered this - Signs of these believers were meant for the unbelieving Jews as a sign of judgment for their not believing that Jesus was their messiah.
Click to expand...

IT says these signs will follow those that believe...those that believe will speak in new tongues. How am I reading this wrong?
 
awaken said:
AVBunyan said:
awaken said:
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
Click to expand...
Did you not read my post closely - I covered this - Signs of these believers were meant for the unbelieving Jews as a sign of judgment for their not believing that Jesus was their messiah.
Click to expand...

IT says these signs will follow those that believe...those that believe will speak in new tongues. How am I reading this wrong?
Click to expand...

The signs did follow those that believed as they witnessed to the Jews who required a sign.
 
1 Corinthians 14:21-25
"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 Corinthians 14:21-25)



Paul seems to contradict himself in this passage. First he says that tongues are a "sign" for unbelievers, but then he says that if unbelievers see people speaking in tongues, the unbelievers will think that the believers are out of their minds.

It turns out that "uninterpreted tongues" have been used in Israel's history as a sign to the unbelieving Israelites that God's judgment had come upon them. Paul was quoting a prophecy from Isaiah 28:11-12:
"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." (Isaiah 28:11-12)

Could it be.... that this prophecy was fulfilled when the Assyrian army swooped down upon Israel speaking a foreign language (an uninterpreted tongue), carrying Israel off into captivity. Paul used an example from Israel's history to show that uninterpreted tongues are sometimes used as a "sign" for unbelievers that judgment has come upon them.

Then Paul pointed out that if an unbeliever enters a church where Christians seem to have lost their minds, the unbeliever would not see this as a sign of impending judgment. This is why Paul said that prophecy is much more beneficial during a church service.
 
AVBunyan said:
The Gifts


Today tongues are used in churches for believers – in other words done for the edification of the speaker or hearer, which is contrary to I Cor. 1:22 and 14:22 (note both verses are 22 – can’t beat the book!)

Now, when you use your “tongues†in your church service are there any unbelieving Jews there? Maybe and maybe not but most likely not. When you are using “tongues†in your private prayer closet are there any unbelieving Jews there?


May God bless
Click to expand...

1 Corinthians 14:4
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church." (1 Corinthians 14:4)

Paul said that speaking in tongues edifies the speaker (encourages him, benefits him, builds him up in his faith) but Paul implied that tongues by itself does not edify a church congregation in the way that prophesying does. Therefore, the speaking in tongues in this verse refers to the private form of tongues (because the public form of tongues is the one which is meant to edify the congregation).


The word "edifies" is a translation of the Greek word oikodomeo, which means "to build up in the faith, to edify". Paul said in this verse that speaking in tongues "edifies" a person (it builds up his faith), and Jude said that we should build up our faith, praying in the Holy Spirit:

"But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith - make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher - praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 1:20, AMP)

Jude said that praying in the Holy Spirit builds us up and edifies us. Paul said that speaking in tongues builds us up and edifies us.

sounds like praying in tongues and praying in the spirit are the same....
 
elijah23 said:
In my opinion, speaking in tongues serves no purpose unless someone is there who understands what is being said. I don’t think the Lord, therefore, has people speak in tongues unless someone understands what is being said. If no one understands what is being said, then the person is simply speaking gibberish.
Click to expand...

your opinion is correct, yeet your understanding is from God! :)
 
awaken said:
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
Click to expand...

different languages

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
 
What advantage would one gain if a word is spoken and no one understood what was being said? The word spoken would not benefit anyone, correct?
 
Remember, Jesus states in St. John the third chapter in the 8th verse, “The wind bloweth, thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh: so is every one that is born of the Spirit". In Acts chapter 2 in the 3rd verse it states, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire.

The 104th Psalms states, “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire". Therefore, the rushing mighty wind and the tongues of fire, were simply a large number of angels coming into the house.

Now, let’s return to the 2nd chapter of Acts and pick up where we left off.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2: 4)

They were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues.

Here is the key, “the spirit gave them utterance".

Remember the angels are the spirits that arrived in the house in the form of fiery tongues.

So, it was the angels that gave them the act of speaking.

Note this in the above verse, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.†Does this mean something entered their bodies? No!

Here is an example of a spirit (or angel) giving an individual utterance.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4: 31)
 
Note what the verse states,

“they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.â€

Once they were filled with the Holy Ghost, what did they do?

They spake the word of God with boldness!

Therefore in the case of Acts 2:4, the “Holy Ghost is the Word of God. Let’s return to Acts chapter 2, pick up where we left off.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitudes came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (Acts 2: 5-6)

Note what the verses states,

“Every man heard them speak in his own language.â€

Here is more note worthy information in the above verses.

There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. In other words, there were “Jews†only in this assembly from every nation under heaven. Now, read the next two verses carefully and see the tongue or language that was spoken was understood perfectly.
 
ozell said:
awaken said:
Mark 16:17-18
"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." (Mark 16:17-18)

Can you explain this?
Click to expand...

different languages

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Click to expand...

Are these learned languages, or supernatural?
 
ozell said:
What advantage would one gain if a word is spoken and no one understood what was being said? The word spoken would not benefit anyone, correct?
Click to expand...

I agree..it would only edify the one speaking..
 
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