Salvation of the Soul of Man, continued
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
continued
CRITICISMS
The Baptism of the Holy
Spirit and speaking in other tongues used to be found only in a few
denominational churches, but now can be found among members of all sects and
denominations that are truly Christian.
And many people who have come into this experience do not really know
what they have, because most churches have had little or no experience with it
and are unable to teach its members.
There are probably several reasons why the churches do not teach the
full Gospel:
·
The first organized
church (after the persecution of the Christians) did not want the populace to
have power that could not be controlled by the church;
·
Until the invention of
the printing press, there were not enough people who had access to a copy of
the Bible nor knew how to read it for themselves to learn the truth;
·
Charismatic or Full
Gospel churches were ridiculed as less than respectable by traditional
church-goers;
·
Most people are too busy
with the affairs of just plain living to seek the truth;
·
Many churches in modern
times have taught that speaking in other tongues was experienced only by the
early apostles, and that the purpose was so they could more easily reach new
believers in other countries where they went as missionaries.
·
Most churches teach that
speaking in other tongues ceased after “Apostolic Times.”
·
Many people erroneously
believe or are taught that they are filled with the Holy Spirit automatically
at the new birth and that they do not have to speak in tongues.
·
It is necessary to have
a revelation from God to know the truth;
Have Tongues Been Done
Away With?
How do we know that speaking
in tongues in this modern Charismatic Renewal is really of God? There has been abundant criticism about
speaking in tongues. Few seem to
balk at a Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but when the subject of tongues comes up,
many people get upset. One of the
scriptures that has been quoted to try to “prove” that speaking in
tongues nowadays is not of God is:
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophesies
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.
I Corinthians 13:8.
Immediately people jump on
the statement that “tongues, they shall cease” without including
the rest of the scripture passage.
We still need knowledge and prophecy, so why not tongues? And notice that “when that which
is perfect is come,” meaning the Second Coming of Jesus, then we shall
not need any of these things. But
until then, we need everything God has to offer us.
The
Truth or a Cult?
Some people have accused
those who speak in tongues of belonging to a cult (a dominion of Satan). Something that Jesus Himself said is
applicable to this criticism.
Praying in tongues is evidenced when people are praying to God for themselves and others or while laying on of hands
in praying for another person, in healing and casting out demons.
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This
fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them,
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city
or house divided against itself shall not stand:
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against
himself: how shall then his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:24-26.
Now, Satan’s kingdom is
doomed to destruction, but not just because of mistakes made by Satan, but by
the power that God has over him.
Speaking in tongues by Christians is of God.
Private Prayer versus
Praying in a Church Gathering
The fourteenth chapter of I
Corinthians has been used as ammunition against speaking in tongues. For instance, look at verse 5 and verse
19:
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather
that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh
with tongues, except that he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with
my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand
words in an unknown tongue. I
Corinthians 14:5, 19.
Note that in this entire
chapter, Paul is instructing them about praying in church (that is, in a gathering). He is saying in effect, what good would it do, if I were to
get up to preach and speak ten thousand words in an unknown tongue unless there
were interpretation for the edification of the church? Here he is talking about the Gift of
Tongues in the church, which is different from the prayer language of speaking
in other tongues - the evidence of
having received the Holy Spirit.
PURPOSE
OF TONGUES
Message
from God to the Church
Speaking in tongues (The Gift
of Tongues) with the Gift of Interpretation can also be a message from God to a
church gathering for edification (I Corinthians chapter 14). Gifts have been given to the Church for
revelation of God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
Intercession
Romans 8:26-27 gives us
understanding of fervent intercession (prayer for an individual or situation).
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for
we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the
mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to
the will of God. Romans 8:26-27.
The word
“infirmities” not only means sicknesses, but also weaknesses and
incapabilities. All of us have
weaknesses and incapabilities, so we need someone to pray for us, because we do
not have enough knowledge concerning the thing needing prayer. Many times all we can say in our own
language is, “Oh, God, help me,” over and over. Of course, God hears us, no matter what
language we pray in, but the Holy Spirit making intercession for us is the perfect
prayer. The Holy Spirit of God, knowing how to search hearts, and
also, knowing the mind of the Father, will pray through us the perfect prayer
according to His plans and purposes.
The expression “groanings which cannot be uttered” in some
modern Bible translations is interpreted as “sighs too deep for
words.” The Holy Spirit is
God, and can do anything, and if God is speaking, there is no lack of
expressions.
“Groanings” in the original Greek in this scripture means
sighs, and when a person is praying in the Spirit, there is likely to be an
expression of all kinds of sounds.
Our human reasoning often has no expression for the deepest things of
the soul, and in our own language, there are feelings that cannot be expressed
in words.
Spiritual
Warfare
Besides receiving
intercession from God on our behalf to solve our problems within our own
selves, there is another purpose to praying in tongues:
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after
the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
Casting down imaginations and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ.
II Corinthians. 10:3-5.
We need help from God to
fight the evil around us and the “old man” within us. Praying in tongues is called praying in
the Spirit, and is a weapon that flesh cannot fight, and Satan is powerless
against it. It also is not subject
to our fleshly minds, because, unless there is the Gift of Interpretation,
praying in tongues cannot be understood by men or by Satan. There are rare instances when the
prayer language is understood as one of the modern foreign languages, but then
this is the purpose of God also.
Why pray in a language that I cannot understand? Because my mind will interfere if I do
understand. And besides, I trust
the Holy Spirit to do the best for me.
It is part of the “casting down of the imaginations and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” Praying in tongues brings us into
subjection to God, and into His perfect, divine plan.
Strength
and Edification
Speaking in tongues will
strengthen and enlighten a believer.
Paul and Jude advise:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit... Ephesians 6:18.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Ghost. (emphasis mine) Jude 20.
The only way a person can
pray in the Holy Ghost is in tongues.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself...(emphasis mine) I Corinthians. 14:4.
The word “edify”
means to “instruct, enlighten, encourage, and build up.” (American
Heritage Dictionary). This means
that when a person prays in tongues, that person receives these things in his
or her human spirit. These things
find their way into the mind and will of the individual, released as wisdom,
knowledge, and understanding of God’s word and ways.
Much
Prayer
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all. I Corinthians. 14:18.
Why would Paul make such a
statement? Take a look at his
ministry for clues. Paul was
probably the most edified apostle of Christ that the world has ever known. When God speaks through a person, in
whatever language, known or unknown, that person’s spirit will be edified
with the knowledge and wisdom of God.
Be prepared to answer the
following questions:
1. What scripture do people use to try to prove that speaking
in tongues has been done away with?
Why is it an incorrect application of scripture?
2. What is the difference between praying in tongues privately
and in the church gathering?
3. Name as many purposes and benefits of speaking in tongues as
you can.
4. What does the word “edify” mean?
5. How does speaking in tongues edify the mind?
6. How did the Apostle Paul receive so much edification? Is it available to us?