Unless you already attend such a church, at some point in your life, you may have wandered into a church where people exercise the gift of "Speaking in Tongues".

Either that or someone may have wandered into your church. If you're human, (and I suspect you are) you had one of two first impressions.

Interesting Fact: "Did you know, according to scripture, there is no evidence that Jesus ever once spoke in tongues?"

~ TRAINING THE HOLY SPIRIT? ~

Isn't it curious that most of the folks who speak in (so called) tongues, only do it on certain days, between certain hours, and then, only within the walls of the Church? Isn't it curious that these same people do not babble on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday? But only on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings?

Have they actually trained the Holy Spirit to only move on them at 11:05 Sunday morning? It would appear so, but, before you think I'm being a little too cynical, I actually do have a point. My point is, according to scripture, it should be just the opposite. Speaking in tongues should be going on "outside" of the Church, not inside!

1 Corinthians 14:22 - So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:22, tongues are a sign for Unbelievers, "not" believers. It is unlikely that you are going to find many unbelievers in your favorite church Sunday morning. However, you will find many unbelievers at your work place, at the grocery store, in your own neighborhood, and just about every place else.

So, if a person is not doing it out of vanity, or for the recognition of the other members of a congregation, shouldn't he or she be speaking in tongues out in public? At the school? At the bank? In the Mall?

1 Corinthians 14:23 - Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

Those of you who agree with this are probably picturing in your mind, just how well that would be received at the work place or super market. (am I right?) People would absolutely think that you are a nut case!

So, did the Holy Spirit bungle it when he gave the gift of tongues? Did he mess up by giving us a gift as a sign for non believers, that sounds so ridicules that it only turns them off to God? Or is what you hear in the Church today, not really tongues? Is the gibberish that you hear today, the same tongues Paul talked about?

1 Corinthians 14:9 - So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

Tongues, like so many other gifts of the Holy Spirit, have been reduced to a carnival side show display, by people seeking to glorify themselves. You can not "practice" until you are able to speak in tongues, like certain denominations tell you. You can't "learn" a gift, and you can't "earn" a gift. The Holy Spirit either gives you his gifts, or he does not! PERIOD!

1 Corinthians  12:11 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  

Do you understand this scripture? It means, the Holy Spirit gives and distributes his gifts, as "he" wills, not as "you" will, or "your pastor" wills, or some self proclaimed guru wills! For more information on "Gifts of the Holy Spirit", read my article / webpage http://powerofaith.com/holyspirit.htm

~ WHAT IS SPEAKING IN TONGUES ~

It's a safe bet that tongues are "not" the repetitive incoherent gibberish that you have heard spoken in the modern day Church. It's also a safe bet that if you spoke in tongues today, it would still be the same today, as it was 2000 years ago, and that is: "another language". To be more specific, another "Spoken" language!

Acts 2:6 - And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. (If you would like this to be more clear, read: Acts 2:4 thru 2:8.)

Act 2:11 - Cretans and Arabs--we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."

To be strait and to the point, speaking in tongues means to speak in another language. If you were to truly speak in tongues, you would be led by the holy spirit (and no one else) to speak in Russian, French, Arabic or any other language that you have never studied or learned.

If tongues are meant to be a sign to unbelievers, wouldn't this make more sense than babbling in repetitive gibberish? Anyone can babble in gibberish if they practice for a few minutes, but no one can fake speaking in another spoken language, that they never learned. Especially if there is an interpreter there.

I believe Paul was very clear about this, and there is very little evidence that anyone in those days were just babbling a bunch of repetitive nonsense.

1 Corinthians 14:10 - There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:11 - If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.

IS SPEAKING IN TONGUES FOR REAL?

YES IT IS! But the problem is, what you have been subjected and exposed to has not been the real thing. At least not if you have only been hearing gibberish, at precise times during the week. If the Holy Spirit wants to give a sign to the cashier at the grocery store, you may find yourself speaking Dutch to her.

She then may reply: "Oh, I didn't know that you spoke Dutch?" You would then reply: "Neither did I?" Then you would have a chance to witness to her by what you've just done! (Do you get it yet?)

Acts 2:6 - And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

I've said this many times, but I'll say it again. If you are seeking the gift, chances are you will not be blessed with it. Seek the giver of the gift! Then you'll see wonderful and awesome things open up to you.

If I Don't Speak in Tongues, Do I Still Have the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12:30 - All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

According to Paul, not everyone speaks in tongues. When he said this, he was speaking to the Church. So, fear not, the Holy Spirit is in you.

DO I HAVE TO SPEAK IN TONGUES TO BE SAVED?

I think it goes without saying, you just call on him using your "own" language. So, what are you waiting for? CALL NOW!!

God Bless You

Dan Douglass (I have spoken)

~ GIVE ONLY WHAT YOU CAN COMFORTABLY AFFORD ~

Make checks or money orders payable to:
Dan Douglass
P.O. Box 320611
Flint, Michigan
48532

Last Updated 06/07/2010

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