THE GIFT OF TONGUES
This article is merely a brief summary on this topic, for more in-depth study on this topic, please see our list of resources.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
– 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (KJV)
The Gift of Tongues is an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit, which empowered a person that was gifted with such the ability to miraculously speak to other people in their own language, to proclaim God’s Word.
On the Day of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, began many signs and wonders – including the gifting of people to be able to speak in Tongues [Acts chapters 2 & 10]. God used this in mighty ways to establish and build His church, and helped spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ out from Jerusalem, Israel and beyond.
Next, we should also examine and respond to the claims among those who claim to be able to prophesy…
When someone has claimed that they or someone possesses and has used such gift, we must ask:
1) Is it a known intelligible language (instead of incoherent babbling)?
2) What message are you communicating (what is being said, can it be interpreted)?
3) Who are you speaking to (who is the intended recipient(s) of such message)?
Warning: When you begin to try to ask questions like the above (even doing so politely), you may likely be met with fierce opposition, pushback, or avoidance of answering the question.
In the beginnings of the Charismatic movement, there was the expectation/hope that missionaries could be sent to foreign lands and be able to minister and share the Gospel to people by being able to be gifted with the ability to supernaturally speak in their language by the Spirit and without prior trainings. These efforts failed, and the Charismatic movement instead shifted their understanding of Tongues by the practice of uttering in what was claimed to be an unknown “Spiritual” or an “Angelic” language, but what is really a collection of meaningless syllables. Some claim the act can at times be a “Prayer” language, only to be spoken to and understood by God.
We, as Cessationists, earnestly contend that we have a high (and the highest possible view) of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that God is faithful and true to His Word, and that we as Christians have everything that we need from the Holy Spirit today – we are not lacking anything from the Holy Spirit.
It is our hope and prayer that this online article will be helpful to you, in your further studying on this topic. We encourage you to study the Holy Scriptures and to prayerfully seek guidance and illumination from God the Holy Spirit, in order to know God and His Word – and to know Him rightly and apply His Word rightly.
We also encourage all people to be filled with and show grace, as we consider and contend for these subjects. We recognize that there are genuine Christians who simply come to a different conclusion than ours on this matter; however, we strongly rebuke those who distort/twist the Gospel and spiritually abuse others.
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