Well…many of us have been to churches or encountered being around groups of people that have so called spoke in tongues. We might have seen people on TV speaking in tongues. We might have at one point of time have spoke in tongues or thought we have spoke in tongues. About 11 yrs ago I had went out for breakfast with my friend, and one of his friends, which was a Pastor, joined us. Okay we’re sitting down eating, and talking. While in the midst of our conversation, the Pastor asked me a question concerning speaking in tongues, he said, “Have you spoke in tongues and received the spirit.” I said, “Naw, I haven’t spoke in tongues,” then he went off into the importance of speaking in tongues. You know, pushing how that speaking in tongues shows that you are connected to God. Keep in mind, I had been attending, “The Israel of God Bible Study Class, www.theisraelofgod,” for about 3yrs prior to us meeting that day for the first time. I was already informed with knowledge and understand about that already. I listened to him until he finished. Once he finished, I asked him a question. I asked him, “So…are you saying that I have to speak in tongues to get salvation.” SILENCE….he looked at me smiling, he didn’t give me an answer, he eventually started another conversation about something else. If he would have said yes, I would have asked him to show me in the scripture. Maybe a month or two later my friend asked me to come visit the church that his friend(the pastor) pastored at. So…I went. Okay, service started, he did his sermon, and put on his show, and within his preaching, he mentioned that, “A person don’t have to speak in tongues to get salvation.” He knew I was sitting in the congregation. So…he came forth with a correct answer; was he going to continue to promote that, I don’t know, God knows. He did it so quick and smooth, it flew past the congregation like someone shooting a pistol with a silencencer on it, and I only had the ears keen, sharp, and sensitive enough to hear it like a dog hearing a dog whistle. Okay let’s look into this speaking in tongues topic some. This book of Acts is used quite often to legitimize speaking in tongues as a necessity.
Acts 2:1-18
1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
((This is Peter, and the other Jews(Israelites) keeping the Feast of Weeks(Pentecost)
Is this something new? Did this day of Pentecost start in the new testament after Jesus death and resurrection or was it something old? Let’s continue.
Deuteronomy 16:16
16. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
((It’s was commanded by the Lord to keep these Feasts: The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of weeks(Pentecost), and the Tabernacles, even unto today after his death and resurrection. Let’s continue at Acts 2: 2.))
Act 2: 2-18
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
((That rushing might wind coming from heaven was nothing but an Holy Angel showing up, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost(Holy Word of God), not some spiritual being entering into their body overtaking them making them jump around, and/or run up and down the church as many suppose. These men began to speak with tongues(another language other than the country they came from) as the Spirit(Holy Angel) gave them utterance. This Holy Angel was uttering(translating) for these Hebrew Israelites so that they understood one another.))
5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
((There was Jews(Israelites) that travelled from out every nation(country) under heaven to Jerusalem to keep this Feast. Let’s continue.))
6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
((Basically saying, we all are the same people, yet we’re speaking different languages.))
8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
((So…there were Hebrew Israelites who have already been scattered into all these countries coming back unto Jerusalem out of all these countries to keep the Feast of Pentecost)).
12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
((Let’s take a look at Joel speaking of this before it happened here in the new testament.))
Joel 2:28-29
28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
((What is this spirit? Is it some spiritual being entering into the body of people making them prophesy? Let’s find out.
Proverbs 1:23
23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
((When his spirit is poured out unto us, it’s his word being giving unto us. Let’s take a look into the Book of John see if God operate the same from the Old unto the New Testament.))
John 6:63
63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
((His word is known as the spirit, and they are life. Okay, let’s look into the book of 1 Corinthians 14, which goes into dept about speaking in tongues.))
1 Corinthians 14: 1-24, 27-28
1. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
((Okay, follow after charity, desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. Gifts are cool, yet we should look more towards prophesying. Let’s continue. ))
2. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
((So…basically, those who speak in an unknown tongue, speak unto God, not men. Those who prophesy speak unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. It looks like man can profit much quicker from someone speaking the language that they understand, even be comforted. Let’s continue.))
5. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
((Paul says speaking with tongues is legit, yet prophesying is greater than speaking with tongues except he interpret, that the church may receive edification. So…the main objective is that the church receive edification, because if we don’t understand God’s word, how can we please him.))
6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
((We will profit in no way, if there are tongues spoken without an interpreter, interpreters reveal.))
7. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
((Basically saying that instruments even have a distinct sound to signify its presents.))
8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
((If a trumpet give an uncertain sound: How can we be warned to prepare to battle? In this case, if a language is being spoken at church that we don’t understand, what good is that to the congregation. We come to be edified and to be warned about what God dislikes and likes. How can we battle sin, if we don’t know and understanding what sin is?))
9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
((This is what happened in the beginning when God confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel when all people had the same language, yet didn’t want to migrate and replenish the whole earth. God created more languages, and gave these people this language, and those people that language, and them other people this language. Basically saying, “Since you don’t want to migrate and populate the whole earth, I’ll give certain people different tongues(languages) so that many will not understand one another, but those who understood one another will have no choice but to come together separating from those who spoke other languages spreading out forming communities all over the world, ref Gen 11: 1-8))
12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
((Verse 12 is saying that many people are greatly enthused about spiritual gifts, yet be more enthused about edifying the church.))
13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
((If there’s no interpreter, the tongues are unfruitful(useless).
15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
I once saw this so called famous preacher from down south who had thousands sitting before him while he was reading in 1 Corinthians 14 and right before he read verse 16 he stopped and immediately went into so-called speaking in tongues. Keep in mind that most of the people were looking at their bible when he was reading, but as soon as he stopped reading and went into his tongue speaking(shul-la-la-lum-lum-lum), whatever he was doing, everybody stop looking at their bible, and starting looking at him. He went for awhile, the people got all stirred up. Other people going off into their tamptrom. What he did was, distract them from reading verse sixteen because those who would have read and understood that verse would have discovered that he was in error about speaking in tongues according to scripture. Before he got to verse 16 earlier in his sermon, he went off into speaking in an unknown tongue and said Amen right after, and ask the congregation saying, “Can I get a amen?” The congregation said, “Amen,” and their was no interpretation. Amen means, “So be it.” So the congregation agreed to something they didn’t understand. Let’s read verse 16 again.
16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
((So…this cat(preacher), quickly preread verse 16 in his head, and knew not to read it out loud, because they would have discovered him.))
17. For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
((Paul spoke numerous languages, and these languages could be understood, for instance, Hebrew, Greek, ref. Acts 21: 36))
19. 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.
((What’s more important: speaking five words that can be understood or 10,000 words in an unknown tongue. Five words, because these five words can direct us unto eternal life, yet 10,000 in an unknown tongue can do us no good.))
20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
((Basically, the Lord is saying he’s gonna show himself(his word) unto Israel by other languages, and they’re gonna still be stiff neck and hard-head and will not hear him.))
22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
((Basically saying something dramatic has to happen or be seen for people to believe, “Show me a sign or else I want believe.” This is what many people are stressing. The strait up word of God and easy to be understood is not enough. “I want to be dramatized,” is what people are saying. Tongues are for non-believers, prophesying is not enough. Prophesying is for the believers, plain and easy to be understood scriptures. Let’s look at what else the Lord called those who seek a sign.))
Matthew 12:38-40
38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
((I’m gonna project you into the future, These Pharisees can be referred to now as your Modern Day preachers we see now. They were the leaders and ministers back in the day. Isn’t this what many preachers are pushing in our time, saying, “Seek a sign, if you haven’t spoke in tongues, you haven’t really connected to God yet?” They got people stressing, feeling bad, because they haven’t been able to speak in tongues. They even have people hemmed up in closets and rooms with the lights on or lights off, saying, “repeat jesus over and over again, say Hallelujah over and over again.” The Lord spoke against that too, ref. Matthew 6:7 says, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” The Lord says that those who seek a sign are an evil and adulterous generation. He gave them one sign, and they’ve screwed that up, and got millions if not billions of people believing it. He gave them the sign of the prophet Jonas: in verse 40, it says, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Can we get 3 days and 3 nights(72 hours) from Good Friday(sundown) to Easter Sunday Morning. NO! It’s all a lie. Click on this link
Easter: A pagen Holiday, not Christian , a text lesson from “The Israel of God Bible Study Class” to get the whole meaning behind Easter.
Okay back to 1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 14: 23-28, 40
23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
((This is kind of what happened to me about 10 yrs ago, yet I knew of the truth. I visited this Pentecostal church with one of my friends who was a member of this church and half way into the service, that boom, boom, boom, so called Holy Ghost Dance music was kicked off, them drums banging, banging, banging, about 80% of whole church got off into shaking, dancing, and running up and down the isles, individuals were forming circles around certain individuals to keep them from falling. You know dancing within the circle. It was this one lady who’s glasses fell off her face and she stopped shaking and stooped down and pick them up and put them back on her face and started jirating again. I was done, stick a fork in me. I was looking around trying to see which exit I’ll be able to get to, I felt kind of stuck until it was over, because they just about had all isles blocked off, people shaking all over the place. I did not see and hear any interpreters. So…how useful was that to me or anyone else in the church? Let’s continue.))
24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
((Basically, if all within the church are speaking the same language as I, whether unlearned or learned, I can get something out of showing up at this place.))
skip to 27
27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
((So…there need to be at least two or three present when tongues are spoken, and let one interpret. Mind you, if there isn’t any interpreter, there shouldn’t be any speaking in tongues done in church. If you insist on speaking in tongues without an interpreter, it’s written, “Be quiet.” I’ve heard many people speak in tongues, I guess, and never heard anyone interpret. Have you?
40. Let all things be done decently and in order.