Crazy Talk
Foundations Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsThe gift of tongues is for us today
Notes
Transcript
Picture this: It’s 1906. You’re in downtown Toronto, on Queen Street. You’re surrounded by storefronts selling different things. Usually the buildings are two or three stories high, the upper two floors accounting for living space for store owners, or rented out spaces.
People bustle by you in bowler hats and dresses, the tram clangs by, and the sound of early motor cars and the clopping of horses hooves blend together around you. You’re standing in front of a three story brick building. On the front it read “East End Mission.”
You have heard about this place. You are hungry for more of God - you want to experience what it means to know God personally. Someone told you about this little place, so here you are. As you step inside, you realize quickly that there is something different about this place. People are doing different things: some are praying, others appear to be worshipping. There’s a sense of joy and expectancy about the place that immediately catches your attention. Someone is speaking. Not to you or anyone else, but they seem to be in prayer and worship. Whatever they are saying makes no sense to you, but hey, whatever floats their boat. As you begin to seek God, a woman comes over to you and begins to pray for you. You haven’t been here long, but you feel excited, and nervous, like God wants to do something. You silently tell God that you are waiting on Him, and that you want to know Him better. Then, as you pray, you begin also to pray in a language you don’t understand. At this point, the woman praying with you switches to begin thanking God. You realize what is happening. “I am speaking in tongues.” Your heart begins to fill with joy, because you realize that God is moving through you, literally using your mouth as you allow Him. This amazing gift has been given to you, and it draws you closer to God.
This is a fictional story, but it describes what was happening at the turn of the last century at the Hebden mission in downtown Toronto. It was here that people - as they waited and eagerly anticipated God to move - began to experience fresh, amazing encounter with the Spirit of God. They spoke in tongues, and were empowered to be witnesses to the good news. Revival in Canada started here, and the entire Canadian Pentecostal movement points back to that time as a testimony to how God moved with power.
We’re continuing our series on foundations this week. Thinking of God moving in power, last week we discussed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We desire God’s Spirit to move today as He did in Acts. To fall on us in a fresh way, like He did in the New Testament. This week, we are going to explore part of that empowering, and look at the gift of tongues.
What is this gift of tongues? What does it mean for us today? Why does it matter? This is what we will explore today. I’ve entitled this message “Crazy Talk” because it can sometimes be seen that way! But in reality, this is a great gift that allows God’s children to draw near to Him, and be built up and encouraged in their walk with Jesus.
Essential Truths: PAOC SOET Commentary (Spirit Baptism)
The sign of speaking in tongues indicates that believers have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and signifies the nature of Spirit baptism as empowering our communication, to be his witnesses with speech and action as we continue to pray in the Spirit.
What does the gift of tongues mean for us today?
The gift of tongues is for us today
The gift of tongues is for us today. If we desire - as we explored last week - for the Holy Spirit to move as He did in the New Testament, then tongues is a very real part of our experience as believers, just as it was in the NT. We are going to explore both what this gift is, and how it fits in with our experience as believers this morning. But ultimately as we said last week, in these weeks together we are pressing into the Spirit of God, asking for fresh encounters and that He would move in our lives. With this in mind, we are going to spend our time in two places today: We are going to look at what this gift of tongues is. From there, we will understand its significance is our lives, and what it means for us today.
From the SOET: The sign of speaking in tongues indicates that believers have been baptized with the Holy Spirit
Let’s unpack this, going to God’s Word to understand this gift. First, what is tongues? The reality is that in the church, there can be many schools of thought from “oh, it’s some heavenly language,” to “other languages,” to just crazy talk, or outright demon possession. We need to go back to God’s Word and explore what it says about tongues.
We have read passages like Acts 2:4, where, as the Holy Spirit came on believers they spoke in tongues. Acts 8:17, or Acts 19 6 are other examples of the Holy Spirit coming upon people. As He does, believers begin to speak in tongues.
These accounts show us that tongues was part of the normative experience of believers - speaking in a language not their own. We need to understand that tongues is a gift from God.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
So this means we should expect this gift - like any others - to be alive and well today. Given by the same Spirit that enables prophecy, or miracles, or discernment.
Sometimes we get a little funny about these gifts. We are sort of comfortable with prophecy, but we don’t know what we think about tongues. Yet discernment is a normal part of our lives. Now, you may not necessarily be so gifted in discernment or tongues, but may have a true gift of healing, or may get a word of knowledge or wisdom for someone else. The reality is that all of these gifts are available for us today. So we need not be uncomfortable, but realize their function and purpose as good in the body of Christ and the life of the individual believer.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14, and particularly in chapter 14, Paul gives substantial teaching on tongues. This again shows that within the context of the broader church, tongues was a normal part of the experience for believers. Unfortunately, for these first-century Christians tongues was too normal in their assembly. It had gotten to a place where the exercise of this gift and others was uncontrolled, and creating disruption in the worship service. They had also begun to use this one gift as a benchmark for two-class Christianity, making those who spoke in tongues better than those who did not. The same problems can sometimes arise especially in Pentecostal churches. There are one or more people who are constantly speaking loudly in tongues, or giving a message in tongues. Rather than furthering worship and building up the church, this becomes a hinderance, and disrupts public worship. People eventually reject this gift, or even the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a whole by virtue of their negative experiences with a disruptive and chaotic worship service. It becomes embarrassing, especially when newcomers may have no clue what is happening and there is improper handling of this gift and others. Again, we should not be embarrassed about the working of God. Yet as Paul reminds the believers in 1 Corinthians 14 33
1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Further to this, as we saw last week there is no room for a caste system in the body of Christ. Today, we still experience many of the same problems they did in Corinth. This is why we must turn to God’s Word and explore it for a right understanding and handling of this and any other gifts from the Spirit.
Our statement is largely based on the Acts accounts of tongues speech. In Acts 2, we find that the believers as they are given the Holy Spirit speak in languages not their own. However, these are still languages clearly distinguishable by human ear. This is know as Xenolalia. However, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul says:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Clearly there is also the reality that Christians might speak in a heavenly language not understood by human ears, know as Glossolalia. In Acts 10:46 and Acts 19:6 these were most likely angelic. This again is not something that is strange or weird, but normal.
So, what is tongues?
Speaking in tongues is prayer or praise spoken in syllables not understood by the speaker. - Wayne Grudem
This definition helps understand a core characteristic of this gift: it is for the edification - or building up - of the individual believer.
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
Now, the gifts given by the Spirit of God are not about selfish gain, or to puff oneself up. With tongues specifically though, it is primarily to build up the individual believer. Not with pride, but to further their faith. It is not wrong for us to build our faith!
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Tongues is a gift that connects you and God. As Paul shows us, it is between you and God. This is what Paul says at the beginning of chapter 14. Paul doesn’t discourage tongues! In fact he says
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
So tongues was VERY normal for Paul. Yet he sees the need to set healthy parameters around it. This is why primarily in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is speaking about tongues in the public worship gathering. If you are praying and talking to God alone, and pray in tongues, that is between you and God. But if you are going to exercise this gift in the public assembly, it must be done in an orderly fashion, with interpretation.
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
Here what Paul tells us is not to fill our service up with tongues, speaking in different languages to the exclusion of all else. This is confusing, and disruptive. Rather, should God give you a word in tongues for the assembly, there must be an interpretation. Otherwise, the message will never do the hearers any good!
So then the gift of tongues itself is for you personally, so that your faith may continue to be built up. Tongues is for you - between you and God. Think back to the book of Acts. As believers are baptized in the Spirit they speak in tongues, and begin to praise God.
For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
This is only one example, but the reality is that when we have a beautiful encounter with the Spirit of God, we begin to praise Him. It is the normative response of the believer to praise God as the Spirit is poured out. So tongues is a gift given to us so that we might praise and pray to God, and ultimately point to our God.
How does this fit in with the baptism of the Spirit? Remember that last week we discussed the baptism of the Holy Spirit, seeing how it was a specific empowerment for witness. We further noted that this could be something that happens after the initial salvation event and indwelling of the Spirit. But at the same time, it could also happen at the same time. Our statement notes that the gift of tongues signifies that believers have received this baptism. Often, throughout Scripture when God is present or acting in some way, there is a sign to demonstrate that.
In Ex 13 21 God appeared to His people as a pillar of fire by night, and cloud by day. This was a sign to them that God’s presence was with them. Likewise in John 20:30-31 we read
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Jesus performed miracles and signs to show that the Kingdom of God had come. He tells the disciples in John 14 12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
God often gives signs when He is at work and doing something.
In this case, the general way in which one can know that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit seems to be the accompaniment of the gift of tongues. This seems to be the general way in which we see the baptism functioning in the New Testament. However, I am grateful that our statement leaves some room in its wording for this not to be the total case. For our sakes, we can say that tongues is a sign, but perhaps not the only sign. Regardless, when this gift is given is it exciting, and…
From the SOET: signifies the nature of Spirit baptism as empowering our communication, to be his witnesses with speech and action as we continue to pray in the Spirit.
Again we come back to this place of understanding that Spirit baptism is about empowering our communication - so that in speech and action we might be lights and witnesses to the world around us.
Think for a moment about the story of the believers in Acts 4, when Peter and John are released from prison. They return to the house, and begin to pray and seek God.
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
This shows us both that being empowered by the Spirit of God is not a once and done thing, but rather we must continually be encountering God Spirit, drawing closer. But notice that as they are being filled, they receive boldness to continue proclaiming the goods news about Jesus.
The gift of tongues itself is between us and God primarily. We use it to praise God and to pray, and it really helps us to build our faith. Because in these moments we are choosing to let the Spirit of God control our communication and flow through us.
Yet what it signifies is that we are empowered by God’s Spirit to proclaim through our speech and through signs like healings as the disciple performed in Acts the good news.
The purpose of the gift of tongues itself is to build up your faith. Yet what it signifies is that God can and does use our mouths and empowers us to witness to this world.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The gift of tongues is for us today
So, what are we to do with everything we have covered from Scripture today?
First, there is a note of warning for us. We have been given a gift. For each one of us, we can and should ask God to empower our speech, and to desire the gift of tongues. But Paul makes it clear that this is not the be-all, end-all gift. Rather, it is one gift among many that the Spirit gives to the church.
What Paul also shows is that we should not be disorderly, or use this gift to both confuse people or dominate over them. This gift is between you and God. While tongues is a great gift, it should be exercised in a way that glorifies God, and helps build our faith or that of the entire church through an interpreter.
Tongues is an important part of our faith. Not everyone here has spoken in tongues, and some may never. This doesn’t make you less than those who have. But this gift is available to all, as one of the many gifts that the Spirit of God gives the church. It is for us, that we might be built up in our faith. When handled properly, it can be uplifting to the church as God gives the interpretation to a message that He has for His people. It is a sign that demonstrates that God is powerfully moving in the life of a believer, empowering their speech and action for Him.
So, where does this leave us today?
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, He longs to have that kind of relationship with you. What we have talked about today shows us just how much our God cares for us. Repenting and turning to Jesus opens the door for you and God to be right again, and for God’s very presence to live in you. This brings joy, fulfillment, and empowerment for living in a healthy way. If want to know about what it means to repent of sin and give your life to Jesus, I would be happy to talk with you! After the service, or you can phone, text, or email the church office. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus today, it doesn’t take some special formula. Just pray, and tell God where you are at: that you want to turn away from sin, and live for Him. Give Jesus your life - because whether you are young or old, God values each one, and wants to give you new life and hope in Jesus too.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, don’t be afraid to let God work through you and in you. The gift of tongues, along with prophecy, discernment, and other gifts are a normal part of our experience as Christians. We should want to draw closer to God, to have amazing experiences where we let God use our mouth or work through us.
So, we’re going to open it up once again, and give space for you and God to draw close. Revival starts when we repent of our sin, and give God control. So, open yourself to Him, and let Him draw close. Ask God for a fresh encounter. If you have not spoken in tongues, don’t be afraid to ask! Remember the disciples in Acts 2. They were all together praying. They sought God, and earnestly desired Him to move. We serve the same God today that poured out His Spirit upon the disciples in Acts. He hasn’t changed, and He will pour out His Spirit on you in a fresh way if you wait on Him. We’re going to begin that process of waiting right now. But realize we’re going to take this process of waiting for God to move into these next few weeks. So in this week, earnestly seek God for a fresh encounter with Him. Allow Him, in His perfect timing, to pour out the Spirit on you in a fresh way. And wait with excitement for what God will do.