They Shall Speak With New Tongues
These words came from Jesus Christ Himself, the Lord of the Church. And, for almost two thousand years it has been fulfilled. The Early Church Fathers have documented this great truth all the way into the Fourth Century. (Please save judgment for this article until you read it carefully. I beg all of you to write a comment after you read this article regardless of your belief system. This could be a marvelous study after everyone has posted.) Before we list different quotes from noted men and historians, we should first read what the Lord Himself said so clearly, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:16-17). Isaiah, the statesman prophet, had prophesied about this same promise. The Book of Acts and Apostle Paul’s first letter to Corinth also makes this truth unquestionable.
Speaking in unknown languages by the utterance of the Spirit has been a mighty force for spiritual progress throughout church history. At the same time, this great truth has probably been abused more than any other Bible subject. Satan and his dark minions have both fought this mystery and produced their own imitation. There have been more outright violations of this manifestation than all other Biblical mysteries. No error in Satan’s design is executed against errors themselves. Satan fights truth and this is one truth he hates profoundly and he has often confused both believers and the Church World.
This powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit keeps returning every time an awakening of spiritual life is revived. The prophesied “Latter Rain” will likely be the next major explosion of anointed languages by the Holy Ghost. “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand” spoke the servant of the prophet Elijah and I declare the words of Elijah, “I, hear (by the Holy Spirit) the sound of an abundance of rain” (II Kings 8:44).
The Church Fathers’ spoke proudly of this phenomenon in their midst. Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165) wrote, “For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to this present time.” (Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 82.)
Irenaeus (A.D. 130-202) wrote, “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect, terming those persons ‘perfect’ who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all languages . . . and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God.” (Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 6, Section 1.)
Tertullian (A.D. 155-230) was reproving a false teacher named Marcion and challenged him with the following, “Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer — only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him.” (Tertullian Against Marcion, Book 5, Chapter 8.) Then he boasted, “Now all these signs (of spiritual gifts) are forthcoming from my side without any difficulty.” (Ibid.)
A theologian, scholar and writer named Novatian (A.D. 258) proudly defended the gifts of the Spirit, “This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed.” (Treatise Concerning the Trinity, Chapter 29.)
Another noted bishop of the Fourth Century, Ambrose (A.D. 340-397), was fully supportive of Spiritual gifts in the church. He declared, “The Holy Spirit gave divers kinds of tongues.” (Of the Holy Spirit 8, 149-151.)
Then, as the Fourth Century ended, the church world had become indifferent to the manifestation of the gifts. A well-known bishop of that period named John Chrysostom (A.D. 347-407) wrote despairingly of the growing poverty of spiritual life. As he explained his concerns, he stated, “This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by their cessation (speaking of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost), being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place . . . Well: what did happen then? Whoever was baptized he straightway spake with tongues and not with tongues only, but many also prophesied, and some also performed many other wonderful works . . . they [the Corinthians] at once on their baptism received the Spirit . . . And one straightway spake in the Persian, another in the Roman, another in the Indian, another in some other tongue: and this made manifest to them that were without that it is the Spirit in the very person speaking . . . For as the Apostles themselves had received this sign first, also the faithful went on receiving it, I mean, the gift of tongues.” (Saint Chrysostom: Homily on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, Phillip Schaff, 1889, Volume 12, Homily 35 NPNF 211.)
Chrysostom went further to describe the sorrowful state of the church without the manifestation of the Spirit, “What now can be more awful than these things? For in truth the Church was a heaven then, the Spirit governing all things, and moving each one of the rulers and making him inspired. But now we retain only the symbols of those gifts . . . they thus used to speak, not of their own wisdom, but moved by the Spirit. But not so now: (I speak of mine own case so far.) But the present Church is like a woman who hath fallen from her former prosperous days, and in many respects retains the symbols only of that ancient prosperity; displaying indeed the repositories and caskets of her golden ornaments, but bereft of her wealth: such an one doth the present Church resemble. And I say not this in respect of gifts: for it were nothing marvelous if it were this only: but in respect also of life and virtue.” (Saint Chrysostom: Homily on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians,” Phillp Schaff, 1889. Homily 36, NPNF 219-220.) What a marvelous longing for the return of Pentecostal powers!
The last of the early church fathers that I shall quote is the noted teacher and scholar, Augustine (A.D. 354-430). He joined Chrysostom in sorrowing over the state of the church. He declared, “For who expects in these days that those on whom hands are laid that they may receive the Holy Spirit should forthwith begin to speak with tongues?” (Augustine, On Baptism, Against the Donatists, Section 3, Chapter 16, NPNF 443.)
The majority of our present church world should weep with Chrysostom and Augustine over the loss of the awesome gifts of the Holy Spirit! But, the church will not continue in this broken condition. Dead churches are slowly going out of business or joining the “Emergent Church” of apostasy and deception.
The Deep Biblical Truth of Unknown Languages
Isaiah was the first prophet to receive the truth of how the Holy Ghost would affect the New Testament church. He clearly knew that something miraculous was in the making. Writing by the Spirit he declared, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12). Apostle Paul quoted a portion of this prophecy by Isaiah in his great exposé on the gifts of the Spirit and left no doubt as to what God’s prophet was trying to show the future church. The ministry of languages was clearly planned to give divine breath to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
As Jesus was reaching the apex of His life He began preparing His disciples for His departure. The Words of God that were quoted at the beginning of this article were a perfect insight of what was to occur. They had a spiritual language and spiritual power to continue His miraculous life and ministry. Speaking in tongues or unknown languages were to be the language of the spiritual life they were to experience. They were to speak to the church with tongues and an interpretation; and be able to speak directly to God where no one could understand them but God Himself.
There are several terms that describe the ministry of languages. Isaiah said they would have “stammering lips” and speak in “another tongue.” Jesus said they would speak with “new tongues.” On the Day of Pentecost it was said, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4). Apostle Paul spoke about “tongues of men and of Angels.” Then, Apostle Paul spoke of “unknown tongues” in his discourse to the Corinthians. It’s impossible to receive such clear statements and not take it seriously.
On the Day of Pentecost all one hundred and twenty disciples, followers of Christ and the women present, spoke in languages other than the one they knew. The writer stated that “all” of Christ’s disciples in the upper room were filled and that “all” began to speak in “other tongues.” These were languages understood by the many nations represented at this great Jewish feast. All the happy believers were Galileans, but they spoke capably to the visitors and the crowd was overwhelmed with these supernatural signs and wonders. There were three thousand converted to Christ that same day. We will show you a little later that tongues are a sign to unbelievers as they proved to us on this historic day.
The early church continued to see this wonder as they went forth preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Cornelius was an Italian, a Roman centurion. He was unconverted but devout and a lover of the Jews. After the message to him from an angel, he sent for Peter. God had to arrest Peter with a vision, but then Peter obeyed and went to Cornelius’ house. He preached Jesus with power and anointing. The Holy Ghost saved and filled Cornelius and his household. “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 Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46) The pattern of Pentecost was clearly established.
Prayer is the life of every believer and the source of supernatural power in the church. But, this prayer life must be more than unemotional words spoken by unspiritual people. Apostle Paul takes the idea of Holy Ghost languages to a level of supernatural praying. He put this in his “Romans Road” letter to the church at Rome. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
He reminds the church of our weaknesses in this clay pot in which we dwell. So often we do not know what to pray. Do we give up or do we submit ourselves before His awesome Spirit He sent to abide in us? Quickly understanding why He sent His Holy Ghost and why He told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until this promise came, we must find a place to wait on God. The language of the Holy Ghost becomes God’s manifestation in our prayer closet.
He knows everything about you and about your circumstance and He knows the answer. The Holy Ghost with the language of the spiritual world will continue His great ministry in us. We are partners in this activity because He uses our lips and our spirit but goes straight to the Lord and His Father. The devil cannot listen in to plan his defense. It’s a straight line from the Third Person of the Trinity to the Throne Room in Heavenly Jerusalem. No wonder the early church was guilty of “turning the world upside down.”
Apostle Paul knew this powerful prayer life and is a testimony to its mighty victory. Paul taught this truth for all of us, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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. 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? 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 14:14-18). Such praying will turn your life into a spiritual dynamo and drive the devil back in defeat.
When a person is saved they are a babe in Christ and the road to maturity is loaded with side steps. Building a spiritual life requires living in the Spirit. The Spirit is the third member of the Godhead and He is a person just like the Father and the Son. He speaks the language of Heaven and that language will make a spiritual saint out of you. Listen again to Apostle Paul, “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. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church” (I Corinthians 14:2&4). This is spiritual edification that occurs in a believer when they allow the Holy Spirit to build up the spirit-man in them.
The half brother of Jesus Christ joined Paul in reminding us of our need to become spiritual believers. With unmistakable words, he said, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). This is not cheap human manipulated jargon, but it is the person of the Spirit that lives in our temple anointing us to speak Heaven’s languages. The devils have a language and God’s angels have a language – may be the same as our spiritual language — and it’s unthinkable that we cannot be a part of the Spirit world. The demon possessed man or woman is part of Satan’s language world and often has been heard speaking his garbage. Persons that think they can speak in tongues at their own will should beware of the possibility of false spirits giving them their dark tongues.
It’s very important that we understand that true spiritual languages have been given to the church to bring conviction on the ungodly or unsaved. Apostle Paul made a very plain statement in this regard and stated that Isaiah intended the same truth. Here are Paul’s words, “In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (I Corinthians 14:21-22). When the House of God is full of the Holy Ghost and His saints are worshipping and singing in the Spirit, conviction will fall on the unsaved. It happened at Pentecost when three thousand were converted. Most sinners will know the difference between a church full of confusion and a church full of the Spirit. Paul was careful to teach a Biblical order and to state that preaching or teaching is not to be done in tongues but with understanding.
Here are Paul’s beautiful words by the Spirit about order in a church full of the Spirit. “How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 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. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (I Corinthian 14:26-28). Confusion and wild insanity in Pentecostal churches has caused much distaste for those of us who take these truths literally.
The person of the Holy Spirit is very God just as the Father and the Son are very God. He can be “quenched” (I Thessalonians 5:19), “grieved” (Ephesians 4:3), “resisted” (Acts 7:51), “lied to” (Acts 5:3); and, finally, when all hope is gone “blasphemed.” His rightful place in the church and the Saints is supernatural and utterly life-changing. The church without the presence of the Holy Spirit is nothing but dead letter. I love one of Apostle Paul’s greatest revelations, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (11 Corinthians 4:7).
The writer of Proverbs spoke about our tongues and languages. He declared by the Spirit, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21). Again, he said, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). He then adds, “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:20-21).
No wonder our Father chose the tongues of His saints to become a great instrument of His Spirit’s activity among us. If you claim to be filled with the Spirit, then surrender to Him to manifest Him in you. When you understand that our tongue is the last stronghold of the carnal man, you will appreciate that God made it His place of victory where the Holy Ghost would manifest His mastery in your life.
Please share your comments about this article. I delight in knowing your response and interest. As a classical Pentecostal I want the world to know what we believe concerning this important subject.
(Quotes from Church Fathers were taken from this website: http://brothermel.com/tonguesthroughoutchurchhistory.aspx .)
Bill Scudder
Brother:
I agree with all you say about tongues except that it is not a “unknown” tongue. The word unknown is not in the greek and was added. For an explanation please read the following.
http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200501/200501_Glossolalia_7.cfm
Christopher
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39)
It’s that simple; why can’t people just believe God and His Word? God doesn’t give gifts to those who don’t want them.
The parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30) tells us that there will be false prophets unto the end, but God, by His wonderful grace, also gives us a spirit of discernment. I’ve heard tongues used to glorify men, but in my heart I knew it was wrongly used. God has given us the gift of life on this creation, but He doesn’t stop giving the gift of life just because some people reject Him and abuse it. It’s the same for tongues, He gives the gift but if some people abuse then that will be judged of them.
Mike Doti
Another great article. First let me say that I have spoken in tounges. What people need to understand is that the direction of your speach has to be by the unction of the Holy Spirit. You cannot go to a classroom as some will tell and learn how to do it. You cannot go to a class and learn to be a prophet. All of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are just that, they are gifts. Gifts given according to what the Holy Spirit knows we can do for the glory of God’s Heavenly kingdom.When an entire church body is babbeling all ay once. it is out of God’s order and deserves the question of what is directing it. This is why the word says to test every spirit. If someone is telling you that testing the spirit is wrong or a form of blaspheme get away from for good. It is biblical to test and with the evil movements of today is very needed. Tounges do still exist God does not take away what he has already given us. That would make him a respector of person’s which the Scriptures say he is not.
ARTHUR
IN MY STUDIES OF GODS WORD IT IS EVIDENT THAT HE IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION AND WOULD NOT HAVE US IGNORANT. HIS WORD IS CLEAR AND PLAIN. ON THIS BASIS THE ORIGINAL INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES IS RELATED TO LANGUAGES THAT RACES SPEAK OR NATIONALITIES SPEAK. PENTECOST WAS A CLEAR CUT MESAGE that those other language speaking people around the apostleS well undertood in their own language the message of Jeaus Christ such that the Word may be spread. Have been to meetings where babbling and glassolalia persited an there was confusion, no one understood and neither did the babblers. This is not the character of our Lord. I speak spanish, some french and German but those who speak those languages well understand and those not knowledgeable do not understand..The Greek translation is languages, not tongues….Paul the Apostle spoke of the tongues of angels which is not understandable to humans. Why would our Lord speak to us in some language unknown to our understanding and why do we need interpreters in other languages? For understanding. I think our Lord is clear on this subject.
Jim
Dear Pastor Chambers,
I am not Pentecostal in that I do not speak in tongues. I believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have not ceased. I have asked the Lord for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and so far it has not occurred. I have in the past responded to altar calls to receive this Baptism and was told by the minister to just surrender my tohgue and begin speaking in a tongue I did not understand. I refused to do so as I believe the Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit initiates this not the receiver. So my question to you is do I keep on waiting with expectation for it to eventually happen?
Brother Jim,
God bless you for not playing the dangerous game of just saying something that you did not understand. How under common sense could that cause you to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Spend meaningful time in the Words and seek the perfect life of Christ. A hungry person after Christ will be filled. Believe it!!!!!
Pastor Chambers
Jim
Dear Pastor Chambers,
Thank you for your response. I will do as you say.
Jim
Mike de Fleuriot
Of course, you know that when you personally talk in tongues, you are just making up these noises, and trying to impress your flock aka sheep. No matter how much you claim to really be doing this, you know that you are lying. But then you also run a church, so that is to be expected.
By the way, these messages will continue until you come to your senses and stop these lies or remove me from your mailing list. But I have other accounts to beat on you with, and some of them I have sounded like a real believer.
Have fun babbling
Mike
Jean Hynes
Peter speaks of “the unlearned and the unstable,” wrestling the Scriptures to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:16: “As also in all his (speaking of Paul) epistles, speaking in them of these
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrestie; as they do also
the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
Rev David Moran
Paul says in Philippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me DO: and the God of peace shall be with you”. If we take that with your quote of, I Corinthians 14:18 “I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than ye all”, and the rest of the scriptures you have cited, I think we must conclude that the gift of tongues is of God. My own personal experience was an awesome overpowering, a spiritual fire that engulfed me as I worshiped the one true God, then came the heavenly language loud and clear. Oh. bless God Forever! And His dear Son, Jesus!
Sheree D. Price
Until It Happens To You
I love the Lord with all my heart
To Him I pray each day
I’m eternally so grateful
That He showed me the Way
I remember when He touched me
This earth grew dim for me
And all I saw was heaven
As I glimpsed eternity
I saw the Cross so clearly
That Jesus, in my place
Took every sin upon Himself
And all mine were erased
And as I tried to thank Him
Repenting from my soul
Oh Jesus, You mean more to me
Than houses, friends, or gold
I saw His arms outstretched to me
And I ran to hold Him near
He surrounded me in awesome love
And all to me was clear
I couldn’t help but praise Him
That’s all that I could do
My earthly tongue ran out of words
My language was brand new!!
Oh the wonder, glory, ecstasy
The joy, the peace, the bliss
I never knew a mortal soul
Could ever feel like this…
You say it’s not to happen?
That this cannot be true?
You’re wrong my friend, but you won’t know
UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU!!!
Sheree D. Price
Thank you Pastor Chambers for your powerful
article. The Lord gave me this thought that I
wanted to share. Bless the glorious, holy, wonderful
name of our awesome Savior Jesus!! Hallelujah!!!!!
Sheree,
Your Poem is absolutely breathtaking. WOW!!!
As they said on the farm where I came from,
Bless Your cotton-picking heart!!!!!!
Joseph Chambers
Mike
Thank you Pastor Chambers another outstanding, scholarly article. I wholeheartly agree. The church needs to be pentecostal in experience and not in name only. Emergent Theology seems to be all the rage in pentecostal circles. How grevious it must be to the Holy Ghost that man relies on his own inventions to play church and entertain the masses. Charles Spurgeon message entitled “Feeding sheep or amusing goats” comes to mind. The church has become a recreational center for the spiritually challenged. Relevency has become the cry of the church and the world. The statement is true “the more one becomes relevent to the world, the more inrelevent that become to God.”
Mia
Praise the Lord Yeshua the Messiah(Jesus Christ to those who don’t know) Let God be true and every man a liar. I believe that speaking in a laguage not native to the indivdual speaker is proof of the promised fulfillment of the Comforter. The proof of the fulfillment is also the life lived. Just being nice or giving of one’s self to show how good you have become in the eyes of men. What sets us apart from the religions of the world is that we are filled with the Spirit of our Creator. Our Creator has promised to be in us. How do we know that He dwells in us? “He that BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED. You Must believe and obey. there are a lot out ther that claim to believe but are not willing, for what ever reason, to obey. Some say, “that was for that day”, “it does not matter we just have to believe”, “that is of the devil”, “that is just babbling”, etc. I have heard just about every excuse there could be. If you look at the posts for this and the one previous, you will see how the enemy tries his same old trick that he used on Eve in the garden. People when you post you arguments against what the Bible says think about Eve. Read the word in the presence of the Lord and ask Him for understanding. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, are languages that people seem to have a lot of comments on claiming to understand the meanings behind what the righters are saying. I submit that it is the WORD OF GOD and if you want to understand the prophecies, testimonies, promises, actions, faith, etc., you must go to God. Let the Bible interpret itself when you do you will have no trouble beilieving what God has done and continues to to in the lives of believers all over the world. The individuals who are not living a holy life will have to answer to the God of all creation for their lack of obedience. I think that is why so many are turned from church, and those in church have trouble believing and obeying the word; THE DISOBEDIENT PERSONS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE THE HOLY GHOST YET LIVE ABOMINABLE LIVES. Stop the molestations of the people ( you ministers, deacons, lay persons,). Stop making merchandise of the people (you pastors, evangelists, ministers, priests), stop the backbiting, lying, going to the clubs, stealing, fornicating, bullying, deceiving, slandering, being doubleminded, fighting God and each other, gossiping, (you man, woman, child who claim to be Christians.) STOP BEING SELFRIGHTEOUS. THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT GOD!
Thank you Brother Chambers Hang in there
Maranatha
Mia
Bill
In my experience I have found that all too often those promoting “tongues” exclude the rest of 1st Cor 14, dancing around the application portion that Paul was moved to include in this discourse…
“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. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
(1 Corinthians 14:19-20)”
I believe in the gift, and at times have experienced it during deep private prayer. I do not, and will never accept the public confusion that the babbling of some causes. The power of God is the Word of God, manifested by the fruit of the spirit, and exhibited by the nature of one’s charactor, not the wagging of one’s tongue. I have no doubt that if our Lord ever decides I need to speak in another language to convey His message to someone who does not speak english, He will make it happen, not i.
Brother, I am glad you wrote such a thoughtful, and thought provoking article. However, I am saddened that you skipped over the two verses I quoted above. I believe they clearly demonstrate the lack of emphasis that Paul (the Apostle to the Gentiles) places on this gift.
In private, it is a gift that “helps” us commune with God when our words fail us. In public, it is a gift to be yeilded to in communicating with those who otherwise would not understand our native language. Outside of those uses it’s all too often simply showmanship. Paul clearly calls such behavior childish. IMHO
Grace and peace to you all
Bill
Brother Bill,
Read my article again. I did not guato the verse, but I was careful to reference that truth that preaching the Word must be done properly. Here is my statement, “Paul was careful to teach a Biblical order and to state that preaching or teaching is not to be done in tongues but with understanding.” Thanks for a good responce to the article.
Pastor Chambers
Jan
Thank you, Dr Chambers, for sharing this!
I have been a believer from my earliest days–since about age 4, and even studied in seminary, for a time. I had never been taught about speaking in tongues, so didn’t give it much thought….
I was, I think, much like Catherine Marshall(the author of “A Man Called Peter”) was—a Christian who considered her belief system complete….
UNTIL she–and I–learned to our great joy that there was “Something More” (another of her book titles! :))
In 1976 I received a new gift–and wrapped up in it a new, deeper love for–and JOY in–our Lord, and a hunger for reading His Word. I received new power for ministry, and when I didn’t know how to pray in a certain situation, or wearied in intercession, the Holy Spirit–Who knows all things—took over!
I think that this is perhaps the greatest use of this gift: our “prayer language” (as we term our private use) is edifying us(building us up), spiritually, and enables us to pray as we ought, and to even more effectively minister His Love to others….
I thank my Lord for graciously giving me this precious gift!
God bless! Jan in AZ
Bill Andrews
Dear Pastor Chambers,
I enjoyed the article but unfortunately the hyper penecostal charasmatic movement has ruined the gift of tongues for me. Anytime I see and/or hear someone speaking in tongues its just an instant turn off. Though I may be wrong, I just don’t see a use for it now as it was long ago. Too many false ministers have destroyed its reputation. What a farce these men are. Especially speaking in a tongue at their own will. I hope before Christ returns that I can change my mind somewhat about tongues because I do believe its a true (but misused) gift in the body of Christ. Thanks again !
God bless, Bill
Brother Bill,
I understand your concerns. Remember, the devil would not produce such a farce if there was not a real. Also, why let that crowd making such a show cheat you from something so powerful. Holy Ghost anointed praying is going to bring REVIVAL.
Brother Chambers
Renee
Brother Jim, I’m praying, waiting, and expecting to receive the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit too. Just wanted you to know that others are waiting to receive the Promise of the Father also. 🙂
Mike de Fleuriot, I’m praying for you and will continue to do so, my friend. 🙂
Brother Chambers, excellent teaching and thank you for including the link to where you found all those quotes. I love reading old quotes like those.
Shankar
Dear Brother,
I am in the Lord for almost 11 years. 5 years back I had the experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I started speaking in (bible calls as)”angelic tongue”). i continued for some time and stopped it. again it was stirred in my heart and started again. little by little. but my question is “it is not a language” spoken but more or like a babble. I dont know the meaning. but i just keep on saying for sometime. Please shed your scholarly thoughts on this and advise. Thanks and God bless you – Shankar
Patty Canter
Brother Chambers,
I agree with many of your teachings but disagree in this area. Taking a look at Acts 2:7-8, these Jews were amazed because of the miracle of Galilieans speaking in foreign languages (Mark 14:70). They wondered how Galileans could be speaking in their native tongue. The word translated “tongue” is again the word “language.” The Galilean disciples were speaking in the native languages of these Jews who had come from all over the known world. God’s new program was for the gospel to go to all of these regions. God’s message must be proclaimed to every nation and tongue under Heaven. Even on this day when the Church was born, God’s message was made known to representatives of every nation under Heaven, as if God were giving the Jews a preliminary indication of His worldwide intent.
{the above quoted from God’s Gift of Tongues by George Zeller, can be ordered through middletownbiblechurch.org) I would encourage anyone looking into this to read the other side of the explanation. Christ did not die on the Cross for me to talk in “gibberish” with Him but to be in relationship with Him, being stedfast in reading His Words in the Bible. It is part of a relationship to pray and know what I’m saying and then for God to answer it. I have come to know God in various ways in how He has answered prayers of which I knowingly have prayed. If a husband and wife spoke in a language they do not know to each other, what kind of relationship would that be and how are they going to enjoy their relationship!
Also, I do not agree with the reasoning given in the article when it says “When you understand that our tongue is the last stronghold of the carnal man (I agree the tongue is a problem with humans), you will appreciate that God made it His place of victory where the Holy Ghost would manifest His mastery in your life (speaking of the Pentecostal interpretation of “tongues). I do not agree with that assessment because if that reasoning is carried on out it would mean that the Holy Ghost has more mastery in those Christian lives that talk in “gibberish” than in others who do not.
Kara
Ditto: I agree with Bill Andrews and Jim.
David Altin
dear brother Chambers,
many years ago in my church, they were some teachers coming and preaching in the Bible school and also in the bible course, where I was a member of it; they were teaching about the baptism with the Holy Spirit and also I read a book from one of them about this teaching; and I went sincerely before God knowing the importance of this teaching and I prayed to God in my house, to baptise me with the Holly Spirit. as I finished praying about it, nothing happened and then as they wrote in the book, I started to speak things that I did not understand, because of the fact that they told us to speak; so that we have to speak and not to wait about something pushing us to do that;
this was the way how I started to speak in tongues; I also noticed that in a way, we spoke like the same things with each-other; I do accept the fact that was helping and building me up, but in my church as we spoke in the sermon, only one time was there an interpretation, most of the time were not and also the fact that we were all speaking together at the same time and not in order as the bible says;
long time ago i stopped talking in tongues, because I heard someone saying that talking in tongues is not from God and I got so much afraid; I repented of that and did not talk anymore;
but I feel that something is missing to me, I feel powerless and I want to come back to this precious gift;
do I have to get baptised with the Holy Spirit again?
how do I know that is the Holy Spirit doing this or it is my own efforts?
I listened your sermon of the midnight cry, and since then, there is a hunger in my heart to be more near to God and to His Holy Spirit;
do I have to speak by my own or I have to wait unto God when the right moment will come?
I heard from brother Donald C. Stamps in his bible study commentary, that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is only one time in the life of the believer.
Is this true? if yes, do I have to ask the Lord to refill me again?
and how about me, how wold you call my situation? Am I not annointed anymore?
I would be very greatfull about your insight;
thank you in advance, and God bless you.
P.S. sorry, brother where can I wait for your response?
maybe in my e-mail or where? please, brother let me know…