Tongues
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning! Welcome to Church Online!
Hey - before we get started, can I ask you to partner with us in prayer?
Today, our leadership team is meeting to make some reopening decisions for Phase 2 here in CT. We’re hoping to have an in-person worship service in the near future and would appreciate prayers for wisdom!
That being said, we believe God has a purpose for this COVID season. One purpose He’s revealed is the importance of Church Online.
Over the past couple months, we’ve had more people join our worship service - both locally and abroad - than ever before. And we believe God planned that!
So, although we’re resuming in-person services soon, we are not leaving Church Online behind. We will continue investing into this ministry as a resource for all who need it.
Speaking of people who joined us from afar - my friend Lisa has been watching in San Diego. And she’s asked if our church could pray for her family. So please be praying for Lisa!
We are jumping back into our “What’s Included” series, discussing the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit gives Christians to further God’s Kingdom. And we’re jumping back in with a splash! This morning we are discussing the “gift of tongues.”
Now this would be a gift in the miraculous category, meaning there is a high level of mystery to it. It’s expressively supernatural, which can be controversial, and also easily abused - as was the case in the Corinthian church.
So, what exactly is the “gift of tongues?” Let’s start with this...
1) Tongues is wonderful, not weird:
1) Tongues is wonderful, not weird:
I know the name of the gifts sounds really weird, right-off-the-bat. And maybe some of you have personal experience with this gift being weird. But it’s not meant to be!
In this context, the Greek word for “tongues” simply means “language.” It’s really the gift of “languages.” See, that’s not weird! And by definition, the gift of tongues/languages is:
the Spirit-inspired gift allowing a person to speak a language they do not personally understand.
We see this happen in Acts 2...
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples spoke languages they didn’t personally know!
Now, I want to point out a few things:
Some believe this gift is no longer in use today. That it ceased. It served only a temporary purpose for the early church.
Obviously, this is not my position; plus, it’d make the sermon really short...
But, as I mentioned before, if you are part of TRC and you do believe it’s ceased, I am cool with that, as long you can support that position Scripturally and with love.
This is not a foundational issue. It isn’t divisive. We can have fellowship in the church and disagree on this issue.
Next, there are some who limit this gift to known human language - like seen in Acts 2.
I heard of a pastor hosting a Bible study. At the end, they were having a time of worship and a lady began to sing. However, she wasn’t singing in English. When the time of worship was over, a visitor approached the pastor and said, “That lady was singing in the most beautiful French! I lived in Paris for 5 years.” The pastor replied, “Would you believe she doesn’t know a lick of French?”
She was singing using the gift of tongues - using a known human language she did not personally know.
However, Paul also says in 1 Cor. 13, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels...” making it possible that the gift of tongues could include angelic - or non-human languages. Some think that’s weird. I think that’s pretty wonderful!
Finally, here in Acts 2, something weird DOES HAPPEN. It says, “tongues of fire appeared and rested on them...” What the heck? Wait, I thought tongues wasn’t weird! It’s not. Let me share two wonderful possible explanations:
Fire represents God’s presence (think burning bush). And what we see here is similar.
Fire also communicates purity - like a refiners fire. And tongues of fire resting on those speaking in tongues possibly represents God purifying all languages for His gospel purposes! Notice the resutl… people cried out, “We hear them telling in our own tongues the MIGHTY WORKS OF GOD!”
So, the gift of tongues is the Spirit-powered ability to speak a language not personally known. It’s not meant to be weird, it’s meant to be wonderful and glorify God!
Furthermore...
2) Tongues grows your faith:
2) Tongues grows your faith:
Speaking to the Corinthians, Paul made this clear. He said:
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” (v. 18) The context shows Paul found this gift a blessing! Actually, in verse 4, he also says, “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself!” Those with the gift of tongues and use it, grow in their faith!
Paul added, “Now I want you all to speak in tongues...” What you should realize is when Paul writes this, he’s writing to a church that abused the gift. I’ll talk more about that in a second. But you’d think he’d “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Like, “If you can’t use this right, you can use it all.”
But Paul believed the gift of tongues had such great personal benefit, he still encouraged its use, even when it was controversial and abused.
Actually, he emphatically says, “… do not forbid speaking in tongues.” (v. 39). And also includes this gift when he tells the church, “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts!”
There is great spiritual benefit from the gift of tongues. But, like I just mentioned, the reason Paul is discussing this gift with the Corinthians is because they abused it.
One thing they didn’t understand was the purpose of tongues. Paul says...
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.
He also says...
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
Kinda confusing verses. But, here’s something we can learn:
One of the primary functions of this spiritual gift is private prayer and praise.
When one speaks in tongues, they are talking directly to God. It is not necessarily meant to be a spiritually encrypted prophesy (or spontaneous revelation from God) that’s directed to others, who then try and decipher its meaning...
The question becomes, “What’s the point in that? Why not just sing and pray in a language we understand?”
Well, I’m going to suggest two things...
First, God’s ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). His ways are perfect, even if we don’t understand. So, it is very likely that although mysterious, God uses the spiritual gift of tongues to grow our spirit and accomplish things in the spiritual realm. And our full understanding isn’t necessary. Only our faith.
So, when moved by the Holy Spirit, we use the gift of tongues to praise and pray, understanding by faith - that God is accomplishing things in the spiritual realm and growing our faith!
Second, there are times when our human mind and words fall short. This happens for many reasons, but let me remind you of what Paul wrote to the Romans...
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
It’s possible that when we pray and praise in tongues, God is supernaturally helping us. He’s helping us pray in our weakness. Or, He’s helping us praise in a greater way. A way we can’t accomplish in our own strength.
And so, the gift of tongues is a Spirit-inspired ability to speak an unknown language that primarily grows our faith through private prayer and praise.
So, am I saying that this gift shouldn’t be used publicly? Absolutely not. After all, one of the main purposes of spiritual gifts is to build up the church and allow others to experience God’s love.
But... there is a biblical way to use the gift publicly, which brings me to my final thought...
Tongues builds the Kingdom, not tears it down:
Tongues builds the Kingdom, not tears it down:
This was the big problem in Corinth. They were a highly gifted church. They were passionate about their gifts. But they weren’t properly using their gifts - specifically, the gift of tongues.
This was happening in two ways:
They were being prideful about the gift of tongues. It seems pretty easy to do. After all, it is a visibly miraculous gift! And what was happening was those with the gift of tongues were acting like they were super-Christians. “Look at what gift God gave me! Look what I can do!”
Additionally, they used it inappropriately. Publicly showing off. Making it more important than it was! And for attention, they would burst out in tongues during church. And it resulted in chaos, instead of people being pointed to Christ.
So Paul, being a huge fan of this gift, teaches them the right way to publicly use it.
First, he makes it clear… tongues is not the superior gift. If you look at all the lists of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, you’ll find tongues at the back. Not because it was the lowest, but strategically placed there to combat pride.
Second, he gives instructions to keep order in the church...
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
What Paul is doing is giving permission for this primarily private gift, to be used in public. But for that to happen, there must be order, not chaos. Why? Because we - the church - need to keep the main thing, the main thing!
And what’s the main thing… Paul told them in chapter 2:
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
If the gift of tongues is keeping people from growing in their faith or hearing the gospel(about salvation found in Christ Jesus and what He did on the cross), it’s better to keep your gift to yourself. Just stop! It’s not about you!
Now, some of you may have noticed Paul mentions the public use of tongues is acceptable when someone can interpret. This interpretation can come from either someone who knows the language/tongue… or it can come through someone with the… dun-dun-dun… the spiritual gift of interpretation - which as you guessed it...
is the Spirit-inspired ability to understand a language not personally known.
Crazy stuff, right?
Let me share two Scriptural reasons why interpretation is important when tongues is used publicly:
First, praise and joy is contagious. When you walk into church and people are singing their hearts out, it’s contagious. It makes you want to sing! When people are joyful - like at Christmas time - it’s infectious! It makes you joyful too!
So, when prayer and praise is miraculously offered to God through the gift of tongues, interpretation allows others to understand the praise, and worship and joy overflows to others. And the church is built up!
Notice how the crowd in Acts 2 received the overflow! They said, “they are declaring the wonderful things God has done! And they stood there amazed!” (Acts 2:11-12).
But the second reason is more important. When Paul is giving pubic instructions, he uses a mysterious verse out of Isaiah...
In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
Then, he says....
Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
This is pretty confusing, so I’m going to try my best to explain this...
When the prophet Isaiah wrote this, he was talking to the rebellious people of Israel. They were God’s people, but didn’t listen to Him. And God was now going to discipline them using the nation of Assyria (who spoke a language/tongue they didn’t know).
And the spiritual lesson is this: When you encounter a foreign tongue from God, it’s a sign of judgment, which is why Paul applies it towards tongues.
In a way, when unbelievers walk into church and people uncontrollably burst out in tongues, they say, “What the heck is this? I don’t understand anything. These people are crazy!” It’s a sign of judgment. They don’t understand what’s going on because they are in rebellion to God.
And initially, to some of us veteran Christians, that almost sounds acceptable. But it’s not.
What Paul desires is, “If people walk into church or a bible study, I’d rather they hear and understand the gospel (how much God loves them and salvation offered through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - who took God’s judgment upon Himself on the Cross), then them leave in rebellion because they didn’t understand.
And that’s what happens when tongues is used inappropriately. It tears down the Kingdom, instead of building it up, because while it personally benefits the speaker, it creates confusion or chaos for everyone else.
Earlier, I told the story about the woman singing in tongues. The other part of the story was this:
As the singing happened, the pastor’s wife started using the gift of interpretation. Also not knowing a word of French. And interpreting French to English, she allowed others to understand the supernatural praise pouring out of the woman singing in tongues. And this is where the story gets good...
The lady who was visiting the bible study - the one who had lived in France - was there because she was having serious problems and needed to talk with a pastor. But after personally experiencing the public use of tongues AND interpretation, she decided to give her life to Jesus that night.
When tongues is used in an ordered way, it becomes a positive sign, and becomes prophetic, and accomplishes what Paul said in ...
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
When tongues is used properly, it supercharges our gospel work. It will builds up the Kingdom and not tears it down...
Response:
Response:
As we close, let me summarize this miraculous and wonderful gift:
The gift of tongues is the Spirit-inspired ability to speak a language not personally known.
It is a wonderful gift primarily exercised through private prayer and praise, resulting in personal spiritual growth.
However, there is also a prophetic public aspect that allows others to grow in their faith, when used in love, order, and with interpretation.
And as the worship team comes up, let me encourage us on why we should desire and use this gift and not forbid it...
Although it is mysterious, marvelous things are happening. After all, it’s a GIFT from the Holy Spirit!!!!
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
What if part of this supernatural revelation process involves the active use of tongues? I don’t want to miss out on that!
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
What if part of this glorious process of understanding involves the active use of tongues? I don’t want to miss out on that!
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
When people have permission to use the gift of tongues properly, I believe miracles happen. I believe God’s Kingdom grows. I believe unbelievers won’t receive judgment, but be amazed as we miraculously declare the “wonderful works of God” and they too will desire the salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ!
Here’s the point I want to close with, whether we have the gift or not:
God loves us so much that He will go to great lengths - He will do miracles - He will supernaturally enable people to speak in languages they don’t know - so we can grow in our faith or hear the gospel!
So we can KNOW Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
To know if we put our faith in Him, He will forgive our sins, give us His powerful Spirit to live with purpose, and give us new life - eternal life.
Will you surrender your life to Him today?
Let’s pray...
Father, I thank you for the gift of tongues. I pray many in our church would receive it and be personally built up. But I also pray we would have the faith and freedom to use it in public so others could experience your love and glory. Holy Spirit - we give you permission to move however you desire to in our church. And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.