The Holy Spirit was giving to us as a comforter and a vehicle to equip mankind for ministry, and living a Holy life. Not for giving one evidence of salvation by tongue speaking.

No one in the Bible was ever coached or taught how to speak in tongues.
People back then who spoke in tongues didnt have to be told of the tongues phenomona. Today there isnt record of a person speaking in tongues who wasnt told of it beforehand.

Their is not even a hint of a woman speaking in tongues in the bible.

No one in the N.T. was able to, or empowered to, impart gifts other than the
original apostles. So with the death of the original apostles who was left
to bestow the sign-gifts to anyone?
Someone claiming to speak in tongues and heal, should also be able to drink deadly poison, be unaffected by the bites of poisonous snakes, and heal with 100% success. They should.....tongue speakers of Mark 16 are in the SAME verse that serpent holders are !!!
If tongues are so centrally important, why is the gift of tongues not again mentioned after Acts 19:6 and the book of first Corinthians?


1Tm:6:20: O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
I'd say the point is the astonishing fact that these Gentiles demonstrated the same working of the Spirit that had previously been demonstrated by the apostles on the day of Pentecost. That is, after all, what Peter says in Acts 11:17, and the conclusion to be inferred was that "to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). So then the purpose of the speaking in tongues was to function as a sign, but in this instance it was exceptional in that it functioned as a sign to people who already believed and it served to verify not the message being preached by the tongue speakers but the willingness of God to accept them. That's essentially what Peter says about it in Acts 15:8.

If its your own spirit praying in tongues to edify yourself, why dont tongue speakers ever SING in tongues?

Philip could not convey the power to speak in tongues because they were signs only of apostolic authority.
In practice, no person ever spoke in tongues outside of the actual presence and arm's reach of one of the apostles. Only the apostles exercised some of the other gifts promised in connection with Mark 16

Biblical tongues were understood languages - modern tongues are not.
2. Biblical tongues were a sign to unbelievers - modern tongues are spoken in the congregation, most of them believers already.
3. Biblical tongues ceased in 70 AD - the modern tongues movement did not begin until 1900.
4. Biblical tongues were a supernatural gift that came upon people unexpectedly - modern tongues are often a learned behavior. Even unbelievers can learn to do it.
5. In the past, Biblical tongues were found only within the Christian church - Today, modern day tongues are also found in pagan religions, cults, and the occult.

only those who received the laying on of the apostles' hands possessed this miraculous gift , no biblical scripture indicates that a non apostle bestowed tongue speaking abilities on anyone else.
Apostalic gifts of healing happend immediately . Today healing is not immediate.
Tongue speakers who claim tongues are only a heavenly prayer language; still insist praying out loud where someone can hear them.

7 The popular manifestation of ecstatic utterances as charasmatics claim to have, are nowhere found in the Bible, except in demon-possessed men Isaiah 8:19
8. Paul tells us that tongues are the least important of all gifts so why would people so desire the least of a free gift?
Now note this carefully, there is not one instance in the entire "New Testament" where an individual believer in Christ ever prayed that he or she might be baptized with or might receive the Holy Spirit. Acting in the very stead of Christ, with their apostolic power and authority, the apostles did thus pray for and lay hands upon Jewish and Samaritan believers but never upon Gentile believers.
All Gentile believers are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit at the same time. - Acts 10:44-47; 11:15-18; 15:7-11; Gal. 3:1-9; 4:6; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19-20; 12:13; Rom. 5:6; 8:9 14-16; Eph. 4:30.

Even if tongues where an initial sign or evidence of the Holy Ghost, than why do tongue speakers speak in tongues over and over and again and again?
Mt:16:4 says A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.-- Tongues werent only a sign in the 1st century church , but they were a tool to be used to propigate the gospel. Today they are only used as a sign.
All the way back In Genesis 10:5 we see that the word "tongue" is not referring to the instrument that is in the mouth, or any type of unstructured gibberish, but it is referring to the language of that instrument. See also Isaiah 66:18, Daniel 1:4, & Acts 2:8-11

Just ask yourself, "is God still giving revelation today that should be added as Scripture to the Holy Bible or Is the Word of God complete? Of course it is complete. We have ALL of the revelation of God! AMEN! We are not receiving NEW revelation to be added to God’s Word. Prophecies have ended, Tongues have ceased, supernatural revealing of knowledge has vanished . The Word of God is Perfectly COMPLETE!

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Sinless perfection. Some Charasmatic groups conceive of "sanctification" as an instantaneous act of the Holy Spirit directly upon the heart of an individual which occurs sometime after his conversion and which renders him perfect and unable to sin. This is sometimes called the "second blessing" or "second work of grace." "Sanctification" is "a setting apart," and there are two types mentioned in the Scriptures: positional, in which one is brought from a position in the world to a position in Christ (I Cor. 1:1,2), and progressive, in which there is a gradual growth in holiness (II Cor. 7:1; II Thess. 5:23). The first type is simultaneous with justification (I Cor. 1:2,30; 6:11), and the second type occurs continuously following conversion. Sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through faith in the word (Jn. 17:17,19; II Thess. 2:13). Furthermore, the Scriptures teach that one can never reach a state of being incapable of sin (I Cor. 10:12; I Jn. 1:8).
Charasmatics teach that Holy Spirit baptism is essential to salvation. However, Holy Spirit baptism was promised only to the apostles to enable them to function as apostles (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Acts 1:1-5). It was neither promised nor given to others. There is only one baptism required of men (Eph. 4:5), and that is water baptism (Acts 8:36; 10:47).
C. Continuance of miracles. Pentecostals teach that miracles are still worked today, but God gave miraculous powers to early Christians to attest to the veracity of their teachings (Acts 14:3; Heb. 2:4). When they served that purpose, they ceased (I Cor. 13:8-10).
God's Word plainly tells believers that those who preach another gospel are "accursed" (Galatians 1:6, 9) and that those who fellowship with false teachers are partakers of their evil deeds (2 John 10, 11).

The truth is that ONLY APOSTLES COULD TRANSMIT the gifts through laying on of apostles hands! See Acts 8:14.
Sometimes proponents of current charismatic activity claim that having spiritual gifts is a mark of Christian maturity. Nothing could be further from the truth. The church in Corinth had more in the way of spiritual gifts than any other as far as we have record. Yet it was a church plagued by factions, law-suits, fornication, skepticism and abuse of the Lord’s table! Paul said they were not spiritual but carnal (1 Cor 3:1) and told them to quit being "children in mind" (14:20), a condition aggravated by their in-ordinate use of tongue-speaking!
Paul’s illustration is to point out that just as he left behind childish ways when he grew from infancy to manhood, so also the infant church would no longer have spiritual gifts when revelation is complete. Jesus "gave gifts unto men" so that the word might be correctly set forth through the apostles and other divinely aided teachers (v. 11) to build up the body (v. 12) until it arrived at "the unity" (wholeness) of "the faith" (the New Testament content) and the wholeness of the (full) "knowledge" (epignosis) of the Son of God "unto a full-grown [teleios] man" (v. 13). Thus, when the revelation became "perfect" (teleion-1 Cor 13:10), the body of Christ also became "full-grown" because Christians were protected from doctrinal "error" (Eph. 4:14) and were able to speak "the truth" (v. 15). When the full revelation was given, the church could then "grow up" (v. 15) and reach the status of "man" (v. 13). Being "no longer children" (v. 14), the body of Christ put away "the things of the child" (literal reading of l Cor. 13:11). The formerly infant church was finished with miraculous gifts

Speaking gibberish and being slain in the Spirit are not even found in the Bible but are a learned, programmed action that only occurs after someone sees it happen to someone else! Such unbiblical events are then taught as the norm then people expect the same to happen to them!
Experience" and observation, is the most powerful argument against 20th century tongues. We have attended MANY Pentecostal meetings: "signs and wonders revivals", "healing meetings" etc and see people twitching, shaking, falling down, rolling around on the floor screaming and making fools of themselves (and blaming it on the Holy Spirit) BUT WE NEVER SEE ANYTHING SUPERNATURAL. People claim to be prophesying, claim to be healed, but it is all by faith! We don’t actually see supernatural events, just claims of such! Being "slain in the spirit", for example is claimed to be the result of the Holy Spirit, yet some one falling down is absolutely NOT supernatural.
If miracles have ceased why would be pray?
Because God told us to! See James 5:14-15. If gifts of the Holy Spirit are required to pray, then why would an ungifted man pray? Answered Prayer and miracles are two very different things. God always has and always will answer prayer and providentially work behind the scenes with his people. Praying to God for safe travel or employment is answered by God directly intervening in our lives, but ALWAYS WITHIN NATURAL LAWS. If you pray for a job, then a man phones you up one hour later and offers you a job, God is behind it, but it IS NOT A MIRACLE. The Bible definition of a miracle is an event man witnesses that transcends the laws of nature, supernatural! Childbirth and snowflakes are not miracles, but 100% natural processes fully explainable by science! Science can never explain a miracle

In 1965 the U.S. Federal gvt. financed a scientific study into speaking in tongues at the Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York by Dr.'s John Kildahl and Paul A. Qualben. After taking Glossolalia on tape, they called in neo-Pentecostal so called interpreters from different locations. The report said: "There was no similarity in the interpretations. One interpreter said the tongue speaker was praying for the health of his children; the other would report the same speech to be an expression of gratitude to God for a recent successful church fund-raising effort.
This has to be Satan the wolf in sheep clothing. God here apparently did not allow the fallen foe to interfere and synchronize the two interpreters. Praise the Lord!!!
The burning question remains, why doesn't our gvt. protect its people from these delusions? But God says that this delusion is only for certain people, see 2.Thess2:9 and is directly linked to 1.Timothy 4:1-4--monks, nuns, priests, bishops, cardinals and popes are not permitted to marry and have to abstain from meat on Fridays.
If speaking in an unknown tongue means that you have the spirit then John the Baptist missed the boat because he did not speak in tongues. Neither did he raise the dead or heal the sick, which are all signs that Christians look for to determine whether or not one has the spirit! However, the scripture states that John was filled with the spirit from his mother’s womb although he did not perform these acts! Are we missing something?
Luke 1:15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

1Corinthians 14:15-17 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. 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say, "so be it," at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Paul says in verse 16 and 17 “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? 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified”. Self-explanatory isn’t it? Paul is simply reiterating what he has been saying all along. If one prays in tongues (another language), how can one say he agrees seeing that he does not understand the tongue or language you have just spoken? If you speak English and someone asks to pray over the food you are about to eat and he prays in Latin and says “Father Satan bless this food that we are about to receive and give me the strength to assist you in damming mankind through the doctrine that you have created for your servants to spread over the world… amen”. Why would you say amen to this prayer when you do not know what he said.
We once visited another assembly and went to break bread with them and we all bowed our heads to bless the food, and the Elder of the assembly commenced to bless the food in another language (tongue), we immediately held our heads back up until he finished. Why? Because we did not know the tongue, so we could not say amen to that prayer. He may have been edified but we were not! This is exactly what Paul is talking about. Paul is continuing to speak about a foreign language that is understood by them who speaks the language. Again, what we find in Christendom is the total opposite of what the scriptures are saying. But let’s continue.
Since Acts 2:4-11 teaches that when men spoke in tongues (i.e., "as the Spirit gave the utterance"), they spoke actual, understandable human languages, why believe that any other cases of tongue speaking were in languages which could not be understood (e.g., Acts 10:46, 19:6, 1 Cor. 12-14)?

Eph. 4:4-6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called
in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Here, the Apostle Paul gave a list of seven ones. Note Paul’s usage “There is...one baptism.” In an attempt to answer those that oppose Holy Spirit Baptism in effect for us today, many have countered by trying to put both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism into Paul’s one baptism. The argument for such goes like this:
“In the beginning early years of the Church
there was Holy Spirit baptism and water baptism.
This makes two baptisms. By the year AD 60 Paul wrote
in Ephesians 4:5 “There is one baptism.”
Reasoning leaves us then to conclude that one of
these baptisms have ceased: that was Holy Spirit baptism.
Paul said that now there is only one baptism,
the Pentecostals have two.
Who are you going to believe, God,
who says there’s one, or man who says there’s two?”

Ok ********, I wrote alot. I have so much more to send but maybe you are exhausted at this. First let me write a verse I came across while at church last night. We were studying on the "truth" when down below what reading I saw a verse..
2 Timothy 10: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11: Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13: But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I continue to find scripture that upholds that the "PERFECT" has come
I hope you still have my chapter on " That which is perfect comes ". It has alot to do with the word ( perfect).
I love this stuff. 2 Tim 10 ------------- Thou hast fully known my doctrine.
Now take in account 1 Cor 13:10-12: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Now 2 Timothy 10:17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
**********, AGAIN after Paul writes to the church of Corinth about tongues ceasing when the perfect comes, he writes to Timothy about being FULLY furnished unto all good works so that HE MAY BE PERFECT. Here is the MORE EXCELLANT WAY that man may be perfect !!!! By being thoroghly furnished. By being fully furnished.............when? HOW? By being giving the complete and throughly furnished Word of God. Ephesians 4:14: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Now look **********... in Eph 4:15 Here we are told that with our Word of God ( completed ) that we may have all that we need to fight the craftiness of mankind and his doctrines to decieve us so that what *******........ So that we may GROW UP in Christian maturity. Where does it speak of Christian maturity?..... 1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
If we didnt have the complete bible, then we wouldnt be throughly furnished to fight mans doctrines and we would remain inmature in Christ.
Now I dont know how much more simpler in can be made. Mankind has a better way to grow toward Christian maturity 1Cor 12:30-31 THAN TONGUE SPEAKING. If you want to deny scripture, than thats your business. If you want to make up stuff like "Mary spoke in tongues so I will too" than so be it. You are doing it to your own demise. Regardless, you still have yet to tell me which kind of tongues you want to adhere to and affectly Im left trying to figure out which rules about tongues you adhere to. Do you believe in tongues that propigate the gospel , or those tongues that are mysterious heavenly languages that man prays to God. Do you do both?
Remember when I asked you to study on "ANOTHER COMFORTER". It was the Holy Ghost, it was the power of the Holy Ghost giving only to the apostles. You will be suprised at what you can find in the bible that gives indications that apostalic gifts were not for everyone BEYOND the clear scripture giving to us ( 1Cor:12:30) . I also asked you if you were going to cling to the tongues for propigating the bible verses or the prayers in a mysterious tongue verse. Ive seen you defend your tongue speaking beliefs by jumping from one type of tongue to the other. Either its one, the other or both. I dont blame you for getting things out of wack. I can honestly see why so many have misinterpretted the tongues age. But thats ok. If your "knowing" that tongues has drawn you closer to God and you see "profit" for withal by doing it ... then fire away. Whatever you do in your course of learning anything about the bible, never attach preconcieved ideas, beliefs, training or church doctrine with what you read or hear. And one biggy that is of major rule in understanding scripture... Let the simple verses shed light on the hard to understand verses and never the other way around.
If you read over 1 Corinths 12,13,14 you will see that church had abused a gift set for that time. This is exactly what is going on today. There is a more excellant way. Wow, even with all these amazing gifts that were being used and misused; Paul said there is a more excellant way.
1 Corinth 12.28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30: Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31: But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Covet the best gifts ( not tongues ) and YET THERE IS STILL A MORE EXCELLANT WAY.
This is a little something from a pastor friend of many years whom I correspond with online.
He lives in Forest Hill NC.
The Holy Spirit was promised to the Apostles... Nowhere is the Comforter promised to anyone else.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
The Comforter was to abide with them forever. Them being the apostles... This was not promised to Christians in general.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Comforter was to teach them all things... What ever was needed for man's salvation and the church would be revealed by the Comforter to the apostles... who in turn taught others.
The Comforter would cause them to remember everything that Jesus taught. This one is the clincher for proving that no one today has received the Holy Spirit in the same way the apostles did. No one today remembers everything Jesus taught.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Comforter would testify of Jesus... Today those who claim to have the Holy Spirit testify of the Spirit, not Jesus.
After His resurrection, Jesus told the apostles to go to Jerusalem and wait to receive the Holy Ghost or "power from on high.

Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
God Bless,
This happened In Acts 2:1-4.
Only the 12 apostles received this power from on high.
From this time on, the apostles imparted spiritual gifts by the laying on of their hands. The first time is in Acts 6.

Acts 6:6-8, 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 ¶ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
The next time it is in Samaria.
Acts 8:14, 14 ¶ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
And that is enough to establish the pattern. Paul laid hands on folks everywhere he went. Why? Since they didn't yet have a written Bible, they needed other spiritual guidance and help.----------------- end
You wrote "Yes, I believe tongues is not used as it should be. " Tell me please how you think tongues should be used. If you want to continue we will go from there. And should you ever once write again if anything, please tell me how tongues have edified your or the body of believers. I have yet to hear one example in my studies so far.
I would also like to know ( if you continue to share ) if you think the offices of the prophet are still open. Do you believe mankind is still revealing prophecy from God. Why I ask... because most who believe in tongues today, believe that prophecy and supernatural revealed knowledge is still being released by God even though the bible clearly states that prophecy has ceased and the bible is finished. These are all CHARASMATIC gifts that come in ONE box that charasmatics believe they have. There all spoken of in a group in ( here it comes again.....1 Corinth 13:8
When you claim tongues, your doing more than just claiming tongues for today. Your setting yourself back 1900 years in the past.
Blessings
Holland

just some more work on tongues...

Tongues Have Ceased - The Scriptural Proof
By Lucien J. Le Sage, Jr.
“Whether there be tongues, they shall cease…” (1Cor 13:8). It is my belief that the Bible teaches that the Biblical gift of tongues has ceased for our present day, and I will attempt to show that the present day tongues movement is not the tongues of the 1st century Church.
It is remarkable to me that people can read 1st Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 and come away and say that Paul was encouraging the use of tongues rather than trying to wean the infant church of the Apostolic age away from the use of tongues and prepare them for the time that they would cease.
The Purpose of Signs and Wonders We need to start by first establishing the Biblical basis for signs and wonders. The Jews had been under the Mosaic system of worship for some time and had long waited for the promised Messiah. So, when Christ came on the scene and the Apostles preached Jesus to be the Son of God, some proof was necessary so that men, especially the Jews, would have no excuse to reject the Gospel message. The Jews were zealous of signs for proof of anything. You may remember that the scribes and Pharisees wanted a sign from Jesus (Matt 12:38). Jesus’ answer to them was “an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matt 12:39). It is one thing for God to grant signs, but another to seek after signs in order to believe. The fact that the Jews were zealous of signs is made evident by Paul’s words in 1Cor 1:22 where he states, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.”
The Bible tells us that the apostles authenticated what they were preaching with signs and wonders. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Heb 2:3-4). Notice the writer says “them” and not “us.” In the days that Christ’s apostles preached they only had the Old Testament and were preaching that the Old Testament ceremonial system had been replaced. They were preaching that Messiah had come and fulfilled all that the Old Economy’s system of worship had pointed to. That was a thing that needed to be backed up by signs and wonders. Now, how do we back up what we are preaching to be true? By the Bible, and nothing else! As Paul said, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Rom 3:4) Jesus tells us that His “word is truth” (John 17:17).
Concerning the purpose of signs during the time immediately following Christ’s resurrection and ascension we read in Mark’s gospel, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mk 16:20). It should be pointed out at this point that tongues were for a sign, not to them that believe but to them that believe not (1Cor 14:22).
Biblical Tongues were a Language The second thing that needs to be pointed out is that the tongues of the New Testament church were a language and not as one writer put it, "Shung da la mee ah" over and over. In the Acts of the Apostles we see that on the day of Pentecost that the disciples spoke in the native languages of men from other regions who had come to Jerusalem to worship as Jews. These devout Jewish men from various nations heard the disciples speak the wonderful works of God in their native tongue. “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Act 2:7-8). (See Acts 2:8-11 for the languages that they spoke.) The disciples spoke these languages without ever having learned them. I have heard it said that after a very young age if a man learns another language, he speaks that language with an accent. Yet these men were amazed that the disciples, who were all Galileans, spoke their native languages as though they were the disciple’s own language. “Are not all these which speak Galilaeans?” they asked. This was truly a sign and a wonder from God. Now, if no one could have understood the language, then it would have been no sign at all. The fact that Biblical tongues was a human language that could be learned is evident in 1st Corinthians 14:16, 23-24 where the word “unlearned” is used for those who had not learned the tongue. It has also been pointed out by other writers on this subject, that expert linguists have examined recordings of modern tongues and say they are not languages of any kind. These same language scholars say that no more than two vowel sounds and very few syllable clusters are present, and that the sounds they make are related to their native language and not to another language and bear none of the marks of any possible language.
What about Unknown Tongues? In the King James Version the term “unknown tongue” is used several times in the translation of Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. However if you will notice, the word “unknown” is in italics which means the word is supplied by the translators and was not in the original Greek. The word is put there for clarification, yet it has led to confusion. The tongue was indeed “unknown” to the person speaking it, but was a known language to someone in the world. As we have already shown Biblical tongues were languages used by or known to ethnic groups in the world. They are not some unknown language or gibberish.
When did Biblical Tongues Cease?
I can remember in my early years of being a Christian that a young man, who was a song leader in the Baptist church I attended, made the statement that tongues had ceased when the Bible was completed, and I responded in a rebuking sort of way, “Where did you get that?” He couldn’t give me a good answer, other than it was what he was taught. He had only heard that, and he couldn’t give me a Biblical reason. I had hoped he could have, for I would have believed him. It was a few years later, under sound teaching in a sovereign grace Baptist church, that I learned that the young man was indeed right.
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1Cor 13:8-13).
Before we go any farther let us point out that there will be a time when only the three gifts of faith, hope and charity will abide. In 1Co 13:13 we read, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Concerning “charity” Paul had already said, “Charity never faileth” (1Co 13:8). The word “abideth” means to “remain” or “continue.” When Paul said that prophecies would “fail” and special knowledge by revelation would “vanish away,” he used a Greek word that meant to be “abolished” or “cease.” He did not mean that the prophecies would fail to come to pass or be true, but that the gift of prophecy would cease in the church.
The fact that charity (love of God) is the only gift that will never fail, tells us that there will be a time in which all of the gifts are in existence. There will be another time when the three; faith, hope and charity are in existence. Then finally when charity by itself will be in existence. The Charismatics that I have spoken with tell me that all the gifts are still in existence until Jesus returns, but there is a problem with that position, for when is the time of faith, hope and charity? When Jesus returns for me I will not need faith and hope. This is proven by the definitions that the Bible gives concerning both of these gifts. Concerning faith, we read in the book of Hebrews, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). When Jesus comes, I will see him for myself and will no longer need to see Him through the eyes of faith. I realize that it may be argued that the disciples had faith when they were with Christ at His first coming; but at that time he came as a humble servant and many, especially the religious leaders of Israel, rejected Him as the Messiah. When He comes in glory there will be no question as to who He is. When God’s people are glorified with Him the need for faith will have come to an end. Concerning hope we read, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom 8:24-25). The second coming of Jesus is that blessed hope. When Christ comes for me my hope will be realized and brought to fruition. At that time, when I see Him and I am with Him, I will only need the love of God for all eternity. These verses tell us that the time of faith, hope and charity in the church age must be before the Lord returns for His people. This means that tongues, prophecy and special knowledge will be done away with before the return of Christ. Now, when is that time? Paul is telling us in his epistle to the Corinthians when that point in time will be. It is when “that which is perfect is come” (1Co 13:10). No wonder Paul said, “Now abideth, faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
I know many interpret “that which is perfect” to be the coming of Jesus Christ and His millennial kingdom; but as we have just pointed out, the three gifts of faith, hope and charity must exist by themselves before His coming. And not only that, but also the word “that” suggests a thing and not a person. Why don’t we let the Bible itself tell us what is the meaning of “that which is perfect.” According to the lexicon, the word perfect in the King James Version comes from a Greek word meaning: “brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness; full grown, adult, of full age, mature.” Now ask yourself, what was completed in this age before the Lord’s return? Well, again, why don’t we let the Bible tell us. In 1 Corinthians 13:11 we read, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” This verse is immediately after the verse that mentions, “that which is perfect” which shows us that Paul means exactly what the lexicon says concerning the word “perfect.” And what were the childish things that Paul had in mind that would be put away when that which is perfect or complete had come? Well, it should be obvious to any reader that he was speaking of the early gifts of tongues, prophecy and special revelation knowledge given to the members of the infant church during the apostolic age. But, lets go on. If we look closely in the book of James we will see a sort of parallel to what Paul is writing about in chapter 13 so that we may clearly see what Paul meant by the words, “that which is perfect.”
The Mirror of God’s Word In James chapter one we read, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (Jam 1:23-25). Here we see that the word of God is called the “perfect law of liberty.” The Greek word used for “perfect” in James is the exact same word that Paul used for “perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13. We also see from James that the “perfect law of liberty” is something that a man looks into as he would a “looking glass” or mirror. The word for “glass” in the book of James has the meaning of “mirror” according to the lexicon and is the same Greek word translated “glass” in 1Cor 13:12. When a man looks into a mirror he sees himself. He comes “face to face” with himself. James says, “For he beholdeth himself.” Who else do you see when you look into a mirror? The word of God is what reveals to us that we are depraved sinners and in desperate need of a savior. We would never come to that realization without looking into the mirror of God’s word and we would go on thinking that old lie, “we’re not such a bad person.” The Bible tells us that “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). So, we see from James, that the word of God is called “the perfect law of liberty” and is compared to a mirror or glass that someone would look into and behold his own self. Now if we take this understanding given in James and apply it to 1 Corinthians 13, then we will have a better understanding of what Paul is speaking of in his epistle to the Corinthians. Notice in 1Cor 13:9-12 that they only had revelation knowledge and prophecy in part or portion. They had only pieces of it and not the whole completed revelation. Paul said that they looked through a glass darkly at that time. Again, glass has the meaning of a mirror and the word “through” has not the idea of looking through it as it being transparent, but looking by means of it, or a channel. If you take a lexicon, you will see that is exactly what the meaning of “through” is here. Also, the word “darkly” in the King James version means “obscured.” Now, if they at that time only had parts of God’s revelation, then would not their vision be obscured? How can you look into a mirror that is only in pieces or parts and get a clear picture? When the mirror is complete, which James says is the word of God, we get an un-obscured view of ourselves. Then I can perceive myself even as I am perceived through the mirror of God’s completed word. Notice that Paul says “face to face” in 1 Corinthians 13:12, but then says we shall “know,” and the word “know” means to perceive, even as I am known. In other words, I will perceive myself even as I am perceived. When you look into a mirror you see yourself as others see you. You are “face to face” with yourself. So, when we look into the mirror of God’s completed word (if we have been given eyes to see through the quickening of the Holy Spirit) we see ourselves as God sees us. Then we lose all self-righteousness and are compelled to flee to Christ.
Is the Word of God Complete and is it Enough? In the Book of Revelation we read, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:” (Rev 22:18). Some will say that what is meant here is adding to the Book of Revelation and not to the Bible. Despite that argument, no one dares to add modern day “revelations” to the Bible. I guess false teachers will only take their “revelations” so far and dare not add their “words of prophecy” to the Bible. If God really has given men a word or a prophecy, then why don’t we add it to the book? They won’t dare do that, will they? Paul in his second letter to Timothy writes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Tim 3:16-17). Paul says that all of the scripture was enough to make the man of God perfect, or fully mature and thoroughly furnished. Sounds like the scripture is enough for the man of God. It may not be enough for the carnal man and the sign seekers, but it is enough for the man of God. I know the Bible may not be enough for people that have to see something, or someone who needs to feel the carnal sensation of “warm honey flowing down [his] body from the tip of [his] head to the bottom of [his] feet,” as one young man told me of his experience when he spoke in tongues, but the Bible is enough for the man of God. When that which is perfect or complete is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Some may argue that the gift of tongues was not “that which is in part.” This is true since the Bible said “we know in part and prophecy in part,” but the gift of tongues was to cease along with prophecy and special knowledge. How does a person speak a tongue in part anyway? Yet prophecy could be a piece of the whole as also knowledge, and notice, tongues is sandwiched between knowledge and prophecy and is said to cease with them. If tongues is still in existence then so is the gift of prophecy and special revelation knowledge. Some will argue that prophecy is simply speaking God’s word, so that when we speak the Bible we are prophets in that sense. While this may be true, it does not appear that would apply here in Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. Are we to assume that when faith, hope and charity exist by themselves that we are not to speak God’s word? So then the word “prophecy” can not mean simply speaking God’s written word as it is used in 1 Corinthians 13. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deut 18:22). It appears that one of the tests of false prophets was whether the thing came to pass. The foretelling of the future along with edification is the sense of Paul’s discourse on prophecy in his epistle to the Corinthian church. I have read that Benny Hin had made a prophecy that Castro would die in the 1990’s, yet Castro is still alive. He also prophesied that the homo-sexual community in America would be destroyed by fire in the 1990’s, yet that did not happen either. Do not be afraid of Benny, he’s just another false prophet with millions of followers. The lexicon says concerning the word translated prophecy in 1 Corinthians 13, “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events.” How do we declare God’s purposes today? Do we receive direct revelation from God, as some claim; or do we simply go to God’s word, the Bible, to speak the mind of God? Is it “Sola Scriptura” or something more? Concerning the gift of prophecy, some will probably make the argument that the two witnesses that are mention in the Book of Revelation will “prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (Rev 11:3). . I believe the two witnesses that will prophesy in the book of Revelation are Old Testament prophets of Israel brought back to earth. The church will be gone at that time and God will be dealing with Israel again. The church age will be ended and it will be the time of Daniel’s 70th week. The Jews reject the New Testament, and these two witnesses shall fulfill and complete the last book of the New Testament. They will not be adding to, but fulfilling what has been written in the Book of Revelation given by Jesus Christ to John. They will not be part of the church age. The church has the New Testament.
Full Gospel or Another Gospel? Most Charismatic churches call themselves “Full Gospel “ to distinguish themselves from those who believe that tongues have ceased or at least do not practice it in their churches. Now, does that mean that churches that do not speak in tongues only have part of the gospel? A person cannot be saved apart from hearing and believing the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul tells us what the gospel is. It is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that this death was according to the scriptures (the Old Testament scriptures which indicated a substitutionary and vicarious death); that he was buried and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. Should I trust in anything more? Is there another message in which I need to place my faith? Is the object of our faith anything more than the atoning work of Jesus Christ? Is the object of our faith in something we have done or some feeling or experience? If it is, then I am afraid we have missed Christ!
The Sovereign Bestowal of these Gifts When all of the gifts were in existence, did all have the gift of tongues? Was it God’s will that every member in the early Church speak in tongues? The Biblical answer is a resounding NO! Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 said there were differences in the operations of God, but the same Lord, and he went on to say, “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” (1Cor 12:8-11). Paul then made an analogy of the church to the human body. The human body has many members and they all serve the body in a particular function. The whole body could not be an eye, else, where would be the hearing? And if the whole body were an ear, where would be the smelling? Paul then went on to list the order and importance of the gifts when he said, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1Cor 12:28). Isn’t it interesting that the gift which seems most important to some is listed last? Notice Paul said, “God hath set some” (emphasis added), not all, with certain gifts. He asks the question in the very next two verses, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Well the obvious answer is no. I remember reading these verses to a young Charismatic man and when I read, “do all speak with tongues,” he immediately said “yes.” A man would have to be either ignorant or in complete rebellion to what Paul is writing about to answer “yes” to any one of those questions. The questions that Paul is putting forth are rhetorical questions in which no answer is expected, but are asked to make a point because the answer is so obvious to even the most casual reader. It would be like asking the question, “Is every citizen of the United States the President?” No one would answer “yes,” would they? Now, for a man to answer “yes” to Paul’s rhetorical question, “do all speak with tongues?” can only indicate that he is so carried away with his experience that even the word of God won’t bring him in line. When we get to that state we are in serious trouble. The fact that the gifts were bestowed in a sovereign manner and that not all members in the early church had the gift of tongues should forever silence those who teach that unless a man or woman speaks in tongues he or she is not saved. Such a teaching leads men to trust in an experience and not in the person and work of Christ. What would a handicapped person who cannot speak, think of such doctrine? It should also silence those who teach that every Christian can speak in tongues. Tongues have ceased!
Pentecostals and Tongues Several years ago, I heard a Pentecostal preacher on the radio quote John 3:3 the following way: “Except a man be born again, and speak in tongues as the spirit gifeth him utterance, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Is a not this a very dishonest use of God’s word? What the Bible does say is “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” I realize that most Charismatics do not take speaking in tongues to that extreme and I am not sure all Pentecostals do either. This kind of interpretation is a direct contradiction to the teaching of scripture. As Paul plainly teaches in his epistle to the Corinthians, even during the apostolic age not all believers had all of the gifts, but they were bestowed in a sovereign manner to believers in the church or local assembly.
A More Excellent Way If tongues, prophecy and special knowledge were not to cease then why would Paul say, “and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1Cor 12:31) than the extraordinary gifts? If tongues were to continue, then why would Paul make the statements, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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” (1Cor 14:14-15). “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1Cor 14:18-19). In our day we have the “more excellent way” of expounding the completed scriptures.
Why do Charismatics Not Follow Paul’s Commands?
In the fourteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul laid out some specific rules for the exercise of the spiritual gifts that were still in existence in the early Church. There were only suppose to be two or three at the most that should speak in tongues; it had to be done one at a time and there must be an interpreter. If there was no interpreter then they were to remain silent. Listen to Paul’s words, “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. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1Cor 14:27-28). Even if what Paul meant was two or three sentences at the most the same rule applied about an interpreter. Then there is the other rule that Paul laid out: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1Cor 14:34-35). What is truly amazing is that not only do women speak in tongues in Charismatic Churches, they even preach. That is a long way from what Paul commanded. Paul then went on to say at the end of that chapter, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1Cor 14:37-38). Tongues have ceased!
Why Not Poison and Snakes? “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18). Those that use these scripture to try to prove that tongues are for all believers in all ages must also take the other things mentioned in these two verses. Some have tried to handle poisonous snakes and when bitten have become ill or died. It is one thing to handle a poisonous snake and another to be bitten and shake it off as if nothing had happened. This is exactly what happened to the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts. “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6). Now that’s a real fulfillment of Mark 16, not the snake handling that goes on in some of these churches. Where is the raising of the dead that was wrought at the hands of the Apostles to prove what they were preaching? Paul and Peter raised the dead. If this scripture teaches that tongues are for all believers in all ages then it also teaches that those who do not speak in tongues are not believers. We know from other scripture that this is certainly not the case. They were the signs of the early church in general but not a mark of every believer, nor the mark of every age. As Paul said, “Whether there be tongues, they shall cease.”
Tongues Cross All Denominational Lines If the modern day tongues movement is of God, then why do the same tongues appear in many denominations that teach different doctrines? If the Bible teaches the eternal security of the believer, which it certainly does, then why do most churches that speak in tongues teach that a man can loose his salvation and then regain it again later? How can the same Holy Spirit that is suppose to be still giving out this gift lead in so many directions when it comes to doctrine? Does the Holy Spirit lead one man to believe one thing and another man something so different, especially when it comes to the doctrine of salvation? The thing that separates denominations is their understanding of scripture. Thus the modern day tongues movement tends toward non-denominationalism. The fact that they boast of this is incriminating if anything. What they really mean is that doctrine is not that important. We, as Baptist, believe that the church is a local visible assembly with our only head being the Lord Jesus Christ and not some board or earthly man in some city. Our only rule of practice and doctrine is to be the completed word of God, the Bible.
How Do We Try the Spirits?
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1Joh 4:1). In the early church, if there was no interpretation of a tongue, then how could the spirits be tried? And what do we try the spirits against? The word “try,” according to the lexicon, means to “test, examine, or prove.” The only way we can do this is to compare what is being said to the scripture. Now if there was no interpretation of a tongue and proof that the interpretation was accurate and not made up, then there was no way to try the spirits. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he said, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Cor 12:1-3). Evidently someone had spoken in a tongue in the Corinthian church and had actually cursed Jesus Christ and did not realize it. Evidently someone knew the language in which he spoke and realized that the person was cursing Christ, and this event must have been reported to Paul. The context of what Paul is dealing with must be tongues because he goes on to say “that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” Now we know that many call Jesus Lord in their own tongue but that is not necessarily by the Holy Spirit. In fact Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (emphasis added): depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mat 7:22-23). Now these men say that Jesus is Lord, yet Jesus professes unto them that He never knew them. It was not that He knew them at one time and then they lost their salvation, but rather at no time did he ever know them. So then, they never said that Jesus was Lord by the Holy Spirit. This, along with the context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, leads us to believe that Paul is dealing with an incident in which a man called Jesus accursed in another tongue or language. So, this spirit was tried or tested by someone who understood the tongue or language that was spoken in which Jesus was cursed. Should this not make a person cautious about speaking in an unknown tongue in which there is no positive interpretation? The spirits could not be tried without a real interpretation of the tongue. Concerning the modern day tongues movement, when it comes to interpretation, we should point out that other writers on this subject have shown that interpretations seem to differ in length greatly from the tongue that was spoken. Language being what it is and the fact that words can only carry so much meaning, there should be a basic parallel between the length of an interpretation and the tongue. This leads one to believe that their interpretations have nothing to do with what is spoken in an unknown tongue and are probably “made up.” As an example of how interpretations are “made up,” I read of a story in which a man got up and quoted one of the Psalms in Hebrew and then someone else got up and gave an interpretation that had nothing to do with the Psalm. These interpretations are not the work of the Holy Spirit but are the works of men.
The Work of the Holy Spirit From what I have read, many tongues leaders say that the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit in a man is the gift of tongues. They say you can be saved and yet receive the Holy Spirit later. If the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues then how could it be said that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb (Luk 1:15), and yet John the Baptist never spoke in tongues? How can tongues be the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit when it is clear that even during the Apostolic age not all members of the local church had the gift of tongues?
It is evident from the teaching of the scriptures that every true believer has the Holy Spirit residing in him. If he does not, then he has not been saved. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he said, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom 8:8-9). Paul says that every believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit until the very end. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph 1:13). “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30).
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince men of sin (John 16:8). It is the Holy Spirit that takes a depraved sinner and quickens him to life, whereby he sees his lost condition and is then given faith to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work for a place of safety. Paul told the Ephesians that they had been quickened after being dead in trespasses and sins (see Eph 2:1-5). Jesus told His disciples that it is the “Spirit that quickeneth” (Joh 6:63).
The Holy Spirit Does Not Speak of Himself It seems that the Holy Spirit is glorified and spoken of more than the Lord Jesus Christ in most Charismatic/Pentecostal churches. Yet we see from the very words of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself but would focus men’s attention on Christ Himself. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (Joh 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit glorifies the work and person of Christ. His work is to quicken sinners to life and convict them of their sins, showing them through God’s Word that they are indeed wretched and that their only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood. It is the Holy Spirit that shuts a man or woman up to the completed work of Jesus Christ in their behalf and so He points them to Christ rather and not to Himself. It is the Holy Spirit that strips a man of all self-righteousness and brings him to a place where there is nowhere to turn, but to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that takes the Gospel message and makes it real to the sinner. It is the Holy Spirit that makes a man understand that Christ is the “end of the law for righteousness.”
God Told Me I was watching a religious television show recently in which a Charismatic preacher said that he was taken to heaven and was shown all the wonders of heaven. He proceeded to describe these wonders and how that God spoke with him. He then revealed to his audience what God had told him. If such a thing were really true, we should add it to the back of our Bibles. I find it interesting that this man could describe heaven in such detail and relate all that he had heard, and yet the Apostle Paul said that he knew a man that was caught up into paradise where he heard things which were not lawful to be uttered (see 2Cor 12:4). It is a very dangerous thing to say, “God told me” and mean that God spoke to you by any other means than His Word, the Bible. I realize that the Holy Spirit may impress on our hearts certain things and then use God’s word to speak to us, but it is quite another thing to say that God spoke to us in an audible voice. God’s word is complete and it is all that we need “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Diabolical experiences A very close preacher friend recently related to me a story about an experience that was related to him by two men who had “got the holy ghost.” They told him that when they “got the holy ghost” they had sexual orgasms. Both men said this happened to them. They told my preacher friend that it was the greatest thing they had ever experienced. If a man believes this is the work of the Holy Spirit then God help him. A young man related to me that when he “got the holy ghost” that he felt warm honey flow from the top of his head down to his feet. When I tried to talk with him about Christ and sin he was not even interested. He was obsessed with “honey flowing from the top of his head down to his feet.” That was his salvation experience. This is not the work of the Holy Spirit. I recently read of a man who was in this movement in which he witnesses a man “slain in the spirit” and lay on the floor stiff as a board all through services. After services were over they carried him out and put him in a vehicle where he remained stiff until about midnight. When he recovered he said that he wanted to move but could not. He said that he had no control over the situation. The Holy Spirit does not take over men’s bodies in this manner.
Paganism at Corinth Paganism had existed in the city of Corinth long before Paul had preached the Gospel there and a church was established. The “mystery religions” had spread all over the Gentile world and Corinth was by far no exception. I have read that on the towering hill of Acropolis stood the great temple of Aphrodite who was the goddess of love. To that temple were attached one thousand sacred prostitutes. It is no wonder Paul had to deal with immorality in his letter to the Corinthians. Among the pagans it was believed that ecstatic experiences was evidence that a god had entered their body. The temple prostitutes practiced "glossolalia" (tongues) before Pentecost. As you can see, the diabolical experiences mentioned above are very similar to the experiences of paganism that was going on in Corinth.
Prostitutes, pagans, witches and heretics speak in the same type of tongues as the modern tongue movement (uttering of unintelligible sounds and babblings).
If Tongues have Ceased then What is Going On? John MacArthur, Jr., in his book Charismatic Chaos, believes modern tongues falls into one of three categories. First, they may be satanic or demonic. He points out that some who are against the tongues movement want to put all tongues speaking into this category. This is probably not the case in all tongues speaking, but I believe Satan is probably behind the movement in general. In his book he quotes former tongues speaker Ben Byrd who believed that some of his extraordinary abilities were “psychic and possibly satanic.” MacArthur pointed out that the Encyclopedia Britannica contains articles on “glossolalia” (tongues) among pagans in their worship rites. There are reports that in Africa demon possessed persons can speak fluently in Swahili or English, although under normal circumstances they would not understand either language. Evidently Satan can give people the power to speak in tongues. There are incidents of tongue speaking among those who practice the occult. We need to remember that Satan has ministers that appear as ministers of righteousness. In fact this was something that Paul warned the Corinthian church about when he said, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2Cor 11:13-15).
Secondly, MacArthur points out that tongues speaking may be a learned behavior. He thinks that most tongues speaking falls into this category. MacArthur points out that there are seminars held that instruct people on how to receive this gift. They encourage people to speak funny little sounds. Moody Adams in his book Jesus Never Spoke in Tongues, tells of “pump-priming” people to get them to speak in tongues. I recently read an a article by a former Charismatic who said that he was being encouraged to speak in tongues, so he just started to “jibber jabber” and then the pastor told him, "That's it, keep speaking, that's the tongue you have received. You must now cultivate the language by speaking it as much as possible." People are just being deceived by this method. As MacArthur said, “Why a person would have to learn how to receive a gift from the Holy Spirit is baffling.” Many probably like the attention that it brings and that it makes them look spiritual to others. Well, if you are so spiritual, then acknowledge that the things that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church are the commands of the Lord.
Thirdly, MacArthur thinks that tongues can be psychologically induced. He says “the condition in which most people sense the euphoria of the tongues experience seems to be closely related to the hypnotic state.” He says that after an extensive study of tongues-speakers by Kildahl and Qualben; they concluded that people who were submissive, suggestible, and dependent on a leader were those most likely to speak in tongues. MacArthur points out that would be tongues-speakers are often instructed to enter into “passive renunciation of willful control.”
In Conclusion One of the most dangerous things a person can do is to seek after spiritual experiences that are not in God’s word. To seek after something that God says has ceased and then experience something that does not really resemble the original is a frightful situation. If you are seeking something that you have seen others, who may have seemed very spiritual, have and want to have it also, then I admonish you to stop, think, and examine God’s word. Follow His word rather than the teachings of men. Please do not trust in what you see or feel, rather trust God’s word. “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” If you are involved in such a movement, then my suggestion would be to come out of it immediately, and find a church that teaches salvation by God’s sovereign grace and holds the Bible as its only source of doctrine and practice. Tongues have ceased!