Tongues 3

Tongues is unique to the New testament.
It's a sign that Christ rose from the Dead.
It's a proof that He has been exalted.The First Time men
spoke with tongues was Acts2:1-4.
Peter addressed an amazed crowd and gave this account.
Acts2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy
Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Its a sign that He sits at the Fathers right hand.Hence He gave
us things to "SEE AND HEAR"
A major issue is the nature of tongues.What are tongues for?
How does it sound?
We have sometimes thought when we speak with tongues,its
someones language someone where or someplace.E.G If i
speak with tongues in Ososa(my hometown),its someelse
lingua,likely igbo,hausa or chinese.Since its a language i
should not understand it has to be another persons language.
Again lets examine the scriptures.
This confusion likely emanated from the Acts2 narration.
Lets read.
Acts2:1- And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The expressions of onlookers has fueled the thinking alluded
to ealier.
Vs-5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men,
out of every nation under heaven.
6 -Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came
together, and were confounded, because that every man heard
them speak in his own language.
7- And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to
another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8- And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we
were born?
9- Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in
Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and
Asia,
10- Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
We have assumed it was a "United Nations' gathering.Different
nations from Under the heaven came to jerusalem.TO DO
WHAT?
We have ignored verse 5-the assembly constituted JEWS,who
came from everynation under the earth.Jews from diaspora.
The feast was for Jews.So they usually will come from their
different locations to celebrate the feast of pentecost.
Paul travelled the same way once.
Acts20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus,
because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if
it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of
Pentecost.
Paul lived in Asia,but came to Jerusalem at pentecost.This
exemplifies the men from every nation above.Jews who lived
in different nations.
Haven said this,where they different languages spoken on this
day?
Welll,the response on the hearers doesnt say so.VS8-every
man in OUR OWN tongue where in we were born.
Proselytes are converts to the jewish nation.They will learn the
language in this conversion.They were the strangers who
sought to nationalise.
Haven sorted the audience dilemma,we proceed to the
tongues spoken.
From Isaiahs prophecy,Jesus statements and Pauls teaching
we can infer from the adjectives used for these tongues.
Isaiah28:11- For with stammering lips and another tongue will
he speak to this people.
Stammering means unitelligible,Another is strange and
different.
Mark16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues;
New tongues mean NEW.Yet to have been spoken by anyone.A
different kind.
Acts2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.
Different here implies a strange and another kind of means of
communication.
NO ACCOUNT ever refers to tongues as some other language
belonging to another culture different from the speaker!
Paul settles this with a well laid out explanation.
1Corinthians14:2 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.
Take note of the following.
1)Tongues are NOT and NEVER addressed to men.
Hence the need that it must to be understood by the hearer is
unfounded.
2)Tongues are addressed to God
3)NO MAN understands tongues.NO MAN.
4)Tongues are spoken out mysteries in THE SPIRIT.
The ONLY way what is said in tongues can EVER be
understood by hearers is via the GIFT OF THE SPIRIT CALLED
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.
This gift is not the skill for liguistics as its by the
Spirit-1Cor12:4,7,8-11.
1Cor14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that
ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that
speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church
may receive edifying.
1Cor14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown
tongue pray that he may interpret.
14- For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but
my understanding is unfruitful.
15- 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.
16- 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?
17 -For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not
edified.
Tongues DO NOT edify the hearer ONLY because its not
understood.
Prophecy edifies because prophecy is Tongues plus
interpretation.
Interpretation is to by the Spirit know and express what was
said in togues in the language of the listener.This is a gift of
The Spirit.
However tongues will edify(build up) the speaker and not the
hearer.
1Cor14:4-He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth
himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Hence paul gives orderliness to the use of tongues in
assemblies.It cant be used to minister except with
interpretation.
Why?
The assembly involves others.
1Cor14:27 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.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the
church; and let him speak to himself, and to God
This is in Church.
U dont need interpretation if spoken privately to God.But if
others are there it must be interpreted.
However we have often misinterpreted this verse by
saying,Keep quiet if u have no interpretation.
Pauls instruction here is relative.
Verse28-Keep silent and SPEAK!
Speak and be silent?Yes.
TONGUES ARE DEVOTIONAL.So direct it God and in doing this
u edify urself!
Where is this?Church.
Pray and praise in Tongues in Church.But dont lead prayer and
praise in Church in tongues without interpreting it!Simple.
Now back to Acts2.
From the above NO one understands tongues.Not even the
speakers mind(1cor14:14-15) until it is interpreted by the Spirit
of God within us.
So since in Acts2 the audience heard them and understood
what they said.The event must have been TONGUES+INTERPR
ETATION=PROPHECY.
The speakers of tongues must have first spoken in tongues
and later interpretation.
They started at 6am(when the day of pentecost was fully
come)and Peters response came at 9am(3rd hour of the
day,Acts2:15).The Jewish day starts by 6am.
They spoke for 3 hours
Lukes narrative captured the beggining(acts2;1-4),the
audience captured the later events.
Acts2:11 - we do hear them speak in our tongues the
wonderful works of God.
They heard them praise God!They could only have heard the
interpretation.Then they understood what they seemed to have
said earlier in gibberish(to their minds)!
Notice,the interpreter of tongues is NEVER the listener but the
speaker.He interpretes by the Same Spirit.via the Gift of
interpretation of tongues.
Peters sermon and immediate reference explains the event.
Acts2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new
wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,
and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at
Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but
the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out
in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
His explanation was PROPHECY.Tongues plus interpretation.
Other occurences corroborate this.
Acts10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
fell on all them which heard the word.
45 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.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
They heard the tongues but got the meaning-the SPEAKERS
praised GOD!
How did the hearers know?via interpretation-prophecy
Another narration
Acts19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the
Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and
prophesied.
Tongues always came with interpretation in these accounts.
Tongues are foreign to man.
Known to God but made known to man via interpretaion of
tongues.
The sound of tongues are gibberish to mans understanding but
prophecy via interpretation of tongues gives man an
understanding.
Henceforth if anyman speaks in tongues near u(except he is
addressing u) dont complain dat u cant understand,he is not
talking to u!
Though tongues also are used to give a message to be
interpreted to the audience(we shalll see this later).Tongues
go to God!
So next time u speak with tongues and it sounds somehow,lift
ur hands and be glad u are communicating divine secrets to
God.
Pauls loud acclaim is encouraging.
1Cor14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye
all:
He must have spoken in tongues while driving,in btw
meals,taken stolls in tongues,gone to bed in tongues and
woken up the same way!
We continue from here tommorow.
Blessed?am grateful for tongues,i communicate with the
Father and am edified!