Tongue speaking
1)
If we had been a teacher in first century times, we
probably would have been interested in spiritual gifts.
2)
Spiritual (supernatural) gifts allowed people to do the
things we now do with a completed Bible.
3)
Those who had the gift of prophecy were able to be a
spokesperson for God.
4)
Other Christians had teaching gifts called “the word of
wisdom” and the “word of knowledge.”
5)
There was also the gift of tongues and this gift would
have been useful to many teachers.
6)
Tonight we want to look at the gift of tongues. What was this gift? Why was it given?
7)
When studying the subject of tongue speaking an
important to consider is the importance
of this gift.
a)
In the New Testament we find two books that deal with
tongue speaking: Acts and 1 Cor.
b)
There are 27 New Testament books, but only 2 of these
27 books refer to tongue speaking.
c)
In these 2 books there is a limited amount of
information on tongue speaking.
8)
In our world there are many people who have a lot to
say about tongue speaking.
a)
Members of the Pentecostal movement act as if tongue
speaking is in nearly every Bible book.
b)
Denominational teaching leaves one with the impression
that the Bible is filled with tongue speaking.
c)
If we open up God’s word, we find that tongue speaking
is not all that common.
9)
A careful study of the scriptures shows us some other
things as well.
10) In
1 Cor. 14:26 we find a purpose for tongue speaking: it was to “edify” others.
11) I
have spoken with people who claim to speak in tongues.
12) A
fairly common view of modern tongue speaking is that it “makes people feel
good.”
13) I
do not doubt that this statement is true.
a)
This is not what the tongue speaking in the Bible was
designed to do.
b)
God said divine tongue speaking was designed to “edify”
(build up/exhort) others (not self).
c)
1 Cor. 14:26 tells us something else.
d)
What people now call tongue speaking has been analyzed
by a variety of experts.
e)
Language specialists have concluded that the sounds
people make are not known languages.
f)
Modern “tongue speaking” is in the realm of gibberish.
g)
It is also, at least in some circumstances, done to
“show off” to others.
h)
When
we combine all these things together, we find that they are the very opposite of
w/the Bible says.
i)
God said His gift of tongue speaking was done to edify
others; modern claims elevate the individual.
j)
Comparing modern claims with Bible tongues shows that
we are not dealing with the same thing.
k)
Modern claims are something different than what we read
about in God’s word.
14) Consider
the information we have in Acts 8:4-18.
15) Acts
8:4 says Christians were “scattered” and they went out to “preach.”
16) “Miracles
and signs” were done” by at least one man who had to leave his home (Acts
8:13).
17) Notice
the connection between “miracles” (supernatural signs) and Bible teaching.
18) Luke
joins these two things together.
19) This
is exactly what Jesus had promised in Mk. 16.
20) He said the gospel was to be
“preached” (there was to be teaching) and it was to be “confirmed with signs.”
21) One
of the signs mentioned in Mk. 16 is described as “tongues.”
22) From
these verses we find that “tongues confirmed the word” (the truth).
23) Today
people claim to speak in tongues, but they also teach religious error.
24) Their
so-called miracle of tongues is associated with some type of false teaching.
a)
A lot of people overlook this fact, but we do not want
to miss this point.
b)
God is a God of truth.
God will not give people miraculous power to validate error.
c)
When people teach error and claim God is confirming it,
they are wrong—dead wrong.
25) People may have an
experience or make strange sounds, but that experience or ability is not
necessarily from God.
26) When
we hear claims about tongue speaking this “gift” is often regarded as the
greatest gift.
27) People
who claim to speak in tongues almost “boast” about what they think God has
given them.
28) When
we hear people claim to speak in tongues, consider what is not being said.
1)
How many people have laid claim to the gift of
prophesy? How many claim to take up
serpents?
2)
How many claim to raise the dead or heal the sick? Very few people make these latter claims.
3)
Most claim to have the ability to speak in tongues and
they act as if this is really a great thing.
4)
I would like for you to turn in your Bible to 1 Cor.
12:28.
a)
This passage is important because it prioritizes some
things.
b)
In other words, Paul speaks of something as being
“first, second, third.”
c)
This is not just a list, but it is a list based on the
importance of certain items.
d)
This may be a passage where you want to have a marginal
note.
e)
1 Cor. 12:28 – READ
5)
Are tongues first on this list or last? They are dead last.
6)
In our world tongues are usually put at the top of the
list—this is what people are told to seek.
7)
God put the gift of tongues at the bottom of His list.
8)
When we compare the claims of Pentecostalism with the
Bible, things to do not match.
9)
Time and time again we find that the scripture
contradict the common modern claims.
10) Two
chapters later Paul makes another important point about tongues.
11) In
1 Cor. 14:22 Paul said tongues were a “sign to unbelievers.”
a)
This was certainly true. Imagine being a Christian in the first
century.
b)
We meet someone from a different city or country and we
do not know their language.
c)
Yet, even though this language is foreign to use, we
can speak to them without difficulty.
d)
As we begin to converse with this foreigner, this other
person is shocked.
e)
It is clear by our accent and maybe our physical
features that we should not know that language.
f)
The other person asks us how we can speak his
language. He is very curious.
g)
We tell that person, “I serve a God who has given me
the ability to speak in other languages.”
h)
Can we imagine how this would shock the person who
heard this type of response?
i)
Most people would say, “Tell me more about your
God.” This would be the start of a Bible
study.
j)
Tongues were truly a sign to unbelievers.
k)
Compare this point to modern society.
12) Today,
with the modern claims, tongues are not a sign to unbelievers; they are a sign
to “believers.”
13) People
tell me and other Bible believing people they can speak in tongues – this is
the wrong crowd.
14) Someone
might say that someone like me is “not a believer in their gift.”
15) This
statement would be true, but this is not what Paul meant in 1 Cor. 12.
16) Earlier
in this chapter - 1 Cor. 12:4-6 - Paul said the gift of tongues was given by
God.
17) Do
we know where the “tongues” that many now claim to speak in come from?
18) In
many cases modern tongues are induced by another person.
19) Members
of the charismatic movement often “teach” (coach) others to speak in tongues.
a)
People are given certain sounds to mimic.
b)
After people “try for a while” they can finally “speak
in tongues.”
c)
This is not the Bible gift of tongues; it is religious
deceit that makes a mockery of God and His power.
20) Our
world tosses around the word “fraud” at various times.
21) People
need to know that there is also religious fraud in the world.
22) One
leading example of fraud is the idea that tongue speaking is still available;
this claim is false.
23) When
people claim to speak in tongues the environment this occurs in is often
chaotic.
24) People
claim the Holy Spirit has “taken hold of them” and they cannot control
themselves.
25) Wild
and crazy things attributed to the Holy Spirit and His power.
Consider
the following words which were supposedly given to someone by:
If
you feel too serious and kind of blue, I've got a suggestion, just the thing
for you! It's a little unconventional, but so much fun, That you won't even
mind when people think you're dumb!
Just come to the party God is throwing right now, We can all lighten up and
show the pagans how
Christians have more fun and keep everyone guessing, Since the Holy Ghost sent
us the Toronto Blessing! I used to think life was serious stuff I wouldn't dare
cry, and I acted kind of tough
Until God's Spirit put laughter in my soul, Now the Holy Ghost's got me, and
I'm out of control!
Now I'm just a party animal grazing at God's trough, I'm a Jesus Junkie and I
can't get enough!
I'm an alcoholic for that great New Wine, 'Cause the Holy Ghost is pouring, and
I'm drinking all the time! I just laugh like an idiot and bark like a dog, If I
don't sober up, I'll likely hop like a frog!
I'll crow like a rooster at the break of day, 'Cause the Holy Ghost is moving,
and I can't stay away!
I'll roar like a lioness who's on the prowl, I'll laugh and shake, maybe hoot
like an owl! Since God's holy river
started bubbling in me, It spills outside, and now it's setting me free! So,
I'll crunch and I'll dip and I'll dance round and round, The pew was fine, but
it's more fun on the ground! So I'll jump like a pogo stick, then fall to the
floor, 'Cause the Holy Ghost is moving, and I just want MORE!"
1)
This is the type of thing that is often claimed in the
world, but it does not square well with the Bible.
2)
Tongue speaking and other gifts could be controlled (1
Cor. 14:29-31).
3)
With the Pentecostal movement, the less control the
better. A loss of control is
“super-spiritual.”
4)
Tongue speaking for women in a mixed assembly was
wrong, 1 Cor. 14:34.
5)
Today this rule is seldom mentioned by people.
6)
Jesus said we are to judge things by God’s word (Jn.
12:48).
7)
Tongue speaking is typically evaluated on experience.
8)
If people can make some strange sounds, people think
they have received a spiritual gift.
a)
Modern religion claims involving the supernatural are a
very sad tragedy.
b)
A gift that God designed to help people teach the
gospel has been twisted in the worst possible way.
c)
This reminds me a bit of 2 Pet. 3:16.
d)
Peter said Paul had written some things that are “hard
to be understood.”
e)
Tongue speaking is not one of those things.
f)
The rest of Peter’s thought can be related to this
subject.
g)
This apostle said there are those who “twist” the
scriptures to their own destruction.
h)
This is precisely what takes place with the modern
miraculous claims.
9)
The further people move away from the Bible, the more
folks will believe false claims.
10) There
have already been examples of Lutherans, Baptists and Catholics claiming to
speak in tongues.
11) Even Eskimos in
12) We
are going to have a difficult time convincing people that their experience is
not from God.
a)
This experience is so intense people will rarely accept
the fact that it is not from God.
b)
People like this ability so much, what the Bible about
tongue speaking does not matter to them.
c)
Tongue speaking is like a drug; an addict usually wants
his addiction over truth and/or reason.
d)
In the New Testament tongues were known languages.
e)
People could speak in languages they had not learned to
take the gospel to other nations.
f)
This gift has passed away, but there is still a need to
teach people.
g)
We want to offer religious instruction to people in
many different areas.
13) By
this summer we want to be actively involved in a BCC program.
14) We
want to start with all of our house to house contacts – about 3,000 people.
15) We
want to initially offer a free BCC to more than 3,000 households.
16) We
will need some help with lesson mailing, grading, etc.
17) We
also want to try to teach others using every other possible method.
18) Some
are willing to learn, and we have the truth and that is what needs to be
taught.
19) Tonight
if we know that truth, are we obeying it?