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M
G'day Resurrection33,
that is a rather common situation, some not even seeing value in it where an interpretation is given. I have been involved with Pentacostal churches for over 20 years now and have to admit that even their teaching on the subject is often light at best. (To be honest, during my time I have witnessed a terrible decline in the standard of teaching in the Pentacostal movement in Australia and am keen to see a renewed interest in the Scriptures, not to mention God, in our congregations.) Back to topic.
Speaking in tongues has a tremendous value. "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied..." 1 Cor 14:4-5. The first benefit is that of edification of the speaker. Tongues is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God within a man. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Act 2:4 Since the source of the language is the Spirit of God, my spirit speaks mysteries to God without the limitations that my mind would put on my communication with God. I do not control what is said. I have to open my mouth and allow the Holy Spirit to give me words, but He determines the words and that means that I will always be speaking the right thing, as I am submitting to Him. The effects of this are difficult to explain, but I know when I am speaking in the spirit (1 Cor 14:2) that I am being built up in my inner man and I can (for want of a better word) feel that happening. Not talking about an emotional thing here; spiritual, not soulish. Am I not better able to encourage, strengthen and minister to others when I myself am being edified by speaking in tongues?
Another use of the gift is in prayer when I do not know what to pray. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom 8:26 There has been many a situation where I have not known what I should pray. I am limited by my human knowledge and understanding. The Spirit of God knows no such limitation. Speaking in tongues allows Him to intercede through me with "groans that cannot be uttered"; that is, intercession for which I have no words of english. Often in these situations I will pray in the Spirit and ask Him to give me an interpretation of what I pray that my mind may be fruitful. I relate the following story to demonstrate the purpose of the gift and give glory to God, who is a revealer of mysteries.
I was involved in youth minstry some years ago and saw God use the gifts of the Spirit to bless many young people. One night, as we were gather for prayer and study, a young man who had been away from the group for some time cried out and collapsed in terrible pain. Enquiries where made as to the nature of his complaint and a fellow minister who was studying nursing concluded that he had acute appendicitis. The group began to pray. Although the symptoms fit the diagnosis, I knew there was something else going on. While the others prayed I stood back and began to speak in tongues, asking God to show me what He would have me do. Within a minute or so, with him still doubled over in pain, it was revealed to me that this was a demonic issue. Stepping through the group, I followed the example of Jesus and cast the demon out of him. The pain instantly stopped. The gifts of the Spirit often work in conjunction with each other and this is an example of tongues, interpretation of tongues and discerning of spirits all functioning to see a young man set free.
"I wish you all spoke with tongues..." (1 Cor 14:5) Tongues is not the be all and end all of spiritual life, but it is clear from Scripture that it is an important gift to the church for its edification in Christ.
I hope this has been of some benefit and encourage you to seek the gifts in your own service of the Master.
that is a rather common situation, some not even seeing value in it where an interpretation is given. I have been involved with Pentacostal churches for over 20 years now and have to admit that even their teaching on the subject is often light at best. (To be honest, during my time I have witnessed a terrible decline in the standard of teaching in the Pentacostal movement in Australia and am keen to see a renewed interest in the Scriptures, not to mention God, in our congregations.) Back to topic.
Speaking in tongues has a tremendous value. "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied..." 1 Cor 14:4-5. The first benefit is that of edification of the speaker. Tongues is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God within a man. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Act 2:4 Since the source of the language is the Spirit of God, my spirit speaks mysteries to God without the limitations that my mind would put on my communication with God. I do not control what is said. I have to open my mouth and allow the Holy Spirit to give me words, but He determines the words and that means that I will always be speaking the right thing, as I am submitting to Him. The effects of this are difficult to explain, but I know when I am speaking in the spirit (1 Cor 14:2) that I am being built up in my inner man and I can (for want of a better word) feel that happening. Not talking about an emotional thing here; spiritual, not soulish. Am I not better able to encourage, strengthen and minister to others when I myself am being edified by speaking in tongues?
Another use of the gift is in prayer when I do not know what to pray. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom 8:26 There has been many a situation where I have not known what I should pray. I am limited by my human knowledge and understanding. The Spirit of God knows no such limitation. Speaking in tongues allows Him to intercede through me with "groans that cannot be uttered"; that is, intercession for which I have no words of english. Often in these situations I will pray in the Spirit and ask Him to give me an interpretation of what I pray that my mind may be fruitful. I relate the following story to demonstrate the purpose of the gift and give glory to God, who is a revealer of mysteries.
I was involved in youth minstry some years ago and saw God use the gifts of the Spirit to bless many young people. One night, as we were gather for prayer and study, a young man who had been away from the group for some time cried out and collapsed in terrible pain. Enquiries where made as to the nature of his complaint and a fellow minister who was studying nursing concluded that he had acute appendicitis. The group began to pray. Although the symptoms fit the diagnosis, I knew there was something else going on. While the others prayed I stood back and began to speak in tongues, asking God to show me what He would have me do. Within a minute or so, with him still doubled over in pain, it was revealed to me that this was a demonic issue. Stepping through the group, I followed the example of Jesus and cast the demon out of him. The pain instantly stopped. The gifts of the Spirit often work in conjunction with each other and this is an example of tongues, interpretation of tongues and discerning of spirits all functioning to see a young man set free.
"I wish you all spoke with tongues..." (1 Cor 14:5) Tongues is not the be all and end all of spiritual life, but it is clear from Scripture that it is an important gift to the church for its edification in Christ.
I hope this has been of some benefit and encourage you to seek the gifts in your own service of the Master.
Acts 2:4 (Amplified Bible)
4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit [a]kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
4And they were all filled
He told me to look at the word all. They were ALL filled not some not those over there. They were all filled. Who was this verse talking about? It was talking about Christians. They were ALL filled. They all spoke in tongues not some All.
I would say if you don't speak then study. It is God praying through your surrendered body. Your surrendered mouth. Don't let mans teachings steal from you. If God said All he said it for a reason. Yes the teaching you have to speak in tongues to be saved is wrong. But if tongues was put into the bible then it is very important. If it is mentioned more than once it is very very important. God bless you ALL!
4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit [a]kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
4And they were all filled
He told me to look at the word all. They were ALL filled not some not those over there. They were all filled. Who was this verse talking about? It was talking about Christians. They were ALL filled. They all spoke in tongues not some All.
I would say if you don't speak then study. It is God praying through your surrendered body. Your surrendered mouth. Don't let mans teachings steal from you. If God said All he said it for a reason. Yes the teaching you have to speak in tongues to be saved is wrong. But if tongues was put into the bible then it is very important. If it is mentioned more than once it is very very important. God bless you ALL!
B
Just because you don't speak in tounges doesn't mean youre not saved. Speaking in tongues is another decision you can make in your christian walk. Speaking in tongues is a way of telling God you want ALL that he has to offer and having the holy spirit in speaking in tongues helps you withstand many attacks, and it also strenthens you... The reason it is encouraged in AOG churches, is not to be judgemental or to say someone isn't saved, but it is encouraged so that you may be able to have more things of what God has to offer. 
H
Speaking in tongues is just one of 9 spiritual gifts..and they are not necessarily listed in any particular order. We must remember, any gift is useless without LOVE...and...there are also several "TONGUES" to deal with. Pentacostal tongues was a known language spoken by someone who normally would not know or speak that particular language. Private prayer tongues is when the Holy SPIRIT steps in as we seek to get our prayers to GOD's throne room, sometimes not knowing how or what to say. HE takes our moanings and groanings and puts them into a beautiful way of presenting our requests to the FATHER...as to protect our privacy and confuse satan at the same time! Prophetic tongues needs Interpretation..another free gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. Without an interpretation, how would the church be edified or brought into another higher spiritual level at that moment? A true child of GOD can use all 9 gifts, or just a few, depending on the circumstances. GOD does not retake back what HE gives out..that is why we are to stir up the gifts within us! I think the confusion comes when we don't activate those gifts. Seeking those gifts is so cool....because GOD honors that freely. Do we need to brag about our spiritual gifts? NO! All gifts glorify GOD, not the vessel it comes from. Denominations tend to emphasize some gifts over others..NOT TRUE...all gifts are important.
10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear(Isaiah 28:10-12).
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues(Mark 16:17).
It seems like the Bible is saying that the saints in general will speak in tongues,and not only a gift to a few,although one might say it is not the initial evidence of speaking in tongues,but if it is in general,then when a person receives the Spirit they will speak in tongues.
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear(Isaiah 28:10-12).
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues(Mark 16:17).
It seems like the Bible is saying that the saints in general will speak in tongues,and not only a gift to a few,although one might say it is not the initial evidence of speaking in tongues,but if it is in general,then when a person receives the Spirit they will speak in tongues.
C
I think in that moment (Pentecostal day) was an evidence of the Holly Spirit. and also was usefull to share the gospel with other people who didnt speak the same language, i think Speaking tongues is a great gift but is only necessary when God needs to give us an special message.
Anyway the most important gift is THE LOVE. Without love we are nothing.
Sorry for my english LOL. God Bless you
Anyway the most important gift is THE LOVE. Without love we are nothing.
Sorry for my english LOL. God Bless you
R
Hebrews12,
I belong to an AOG church. I was not raised in one, though, so going there when I was 18 was a new experience for me. I had heard about tongues, but didn't know much about it yet. Only after study did I come to accept it as awesome! But first I must address..
You said they say that tongues is the initial evidence of being "blessed with the Holy Spirit." I have to clarify. We believe that when a person gets saved, the Holy Spirit resides inside them. The BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit is a different experience (refer to the red below). This from the AOG fundamental truths:
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." AOG teaches it as a cool gift. Some churches may push it more than others. I've seen the abuse some pastors cause with pushing it. I experienced that at a pastor's conference, when I didn't have the gift and wanted it, and wasn't receiving it. I was literally jumped. And that hurt me for a while, until I received it on my own, without anyone around. It lifted my spirit.
My AOG church is biblicaly sound. I have been to others that were NOT! It all falls on leadership. I hope this helps to clarify.
Sources for quotes straight from the organization's official websites:
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_full.cfm#8
http://www.upci.org/doctrine/holyGhost.asp
I belong to an AOG church. I was not raised in one, though, so going there when I was 18 was a new experience for me. I had heard about tongues, but didn't know much about it yet. Only after study did I come to accept it as awesome! But first I must address..
You said they say that tongues is the initial evidence of being "blessed with the Holy Spirit." I have to clarify. We believe that when a person gets saved, the Holy Spirit resides inside them. The BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit is a different experience (refer to the red below). This from the AOG fundamental truths:
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
If an AOG church teaches anything differently, then they are deviating and that will make them lose their AOG affiliation. The United Pentecostal Church International teaches that tongues is necessary for salvation:All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
- an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39 [KJV/NIV], Acts 4:8 [KJV/NIV]
- a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43 [KJV/NIV], Hebrews 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
- an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]
- and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20 [KJV/NIV]
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
The Holy Spirit is God. "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24). "There is . . . one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4). To become a subject in the kingdom of God, Jesus said a person must be "born again," or "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5). The birth of the Spirit and the baptism of the Spirit are synonymous terms. The Apostle Peter understood this truth as he spoke. to the multitude in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). This experience was received by the Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Samaritans (Acts 8:15-17), and the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48), plainly indicating that it was meant for all people, regardless of race, creed, color, or station in life. The new birth, consisting of water and Spirit, was never set forth as being optional or unessential. "Ye must be born again" are the words of Jesus in John 3:7. Until a person is born of the Spirit, he cannot be called a "son" of God.
The Privilege
But why concentrate only on the absoluteness of the command? It is a blessed privilege to experience a release of spirit, finding freedom of soul and expression in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is no other experience similar to it. "Incomparable" is the only adequate description of this filling. The transition is to an entirely new realm and way of life. A complete transformation takes place. The soul has an empty place "in the shape of God" that nothing else will fit or satisfy. The baptism of the Spirit completely satisfies every longing of the soul. In this experience is fulfillment.
The AOG does not teach it to be necessary for salvation. I don't believe the interpretation this church uses of those verses. I believe Romans 10:9"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." AOG teaches it as a cool gift. Some churches may push it more than others. I've seen the abuse some pastors cause with pushing it. I experienced that at a pastor's conference, when I didn't have the gift and wanted it, and wasn't receiving it. I was literally jumped. And that hurt me for a while, until I received it on my own, without anyone around. It lifted my spirit.
My AOG church is biblicaly sound. I have been to others that were NOT! It all falls on leadership. I hope this helps to clarify.
Sources for quotes straight from the organization's official websites:
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_full.cfm#8
http://www.upci.org/doctrine/holyGhost.asp
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S
The epistle of James says we need to be careful what we say. I think that should be said.
I spoke in supposed tongues for years, but it didn't keep me from also saying some very
bad things. So I think maybe it's a gift of maybe the Holy Spirit, but there are more
important things than speaking in tongues. One can be filled with the Holy Spirit without
"tongues" as the alleged "initial physical evidence" (SIC). That's an aberration of the
Assemblies of God denomination, I believe. I'm ex-Assemblies of God now, and I no
longer trust the Assemblies of God group to interpret the NT and the Bible for me.
Confession of sins, repentance, and baptism in water and the Spirit (in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Matt. 28:19) are more important
than speaking in tongues. The holy eucharist is more important, too. Take care.
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington
I spoke in supposed tongues for years, but it didn't keep me from also saying some very
bad things. So I think maybe it's a gift of maybe the Holy Spirit, but there are more
important things than speaking in tongues. One can be filled with the Holy Spirit without
"tongues" as the alleged "initial physical evidence" (SIC). That's an aberration of the
Assemblies of God denomination, I believe. I'm ex-Assemblies of God now, and I no
longer trust the Assemblies of God group to interpret the NT and the Bible for me.
Confession of sins, repentance, and baptism in water and the Spirit (in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Matt. 28:19) are more important
than speaking in tongues. The holy eucharist is more important, too. Take care.
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington
demon casting as well my friend, they like to play games, and
pretend. they are laughing their heads of,but i am not saying
that casting of demons does not exist, you can cast out demons just with a prayer, and commanding them. they must obey:no holy water and crosses, or candles. this is all just for the eye to see.(show)
''wakeup''.
just to clarify a few things:
jesus spoke of born of water: this was interpreted as babtism?
jesus was not speaking of babtism at all; he was speaking about
the birth of the flesh; coming out of the womb. in other words ,one
must be human. and born of the spirit is when one is resurected.
you are born of water, you are flesh.
you are born of the spirit, you are spirit.
regarding gifts as signs: all you need is read mat.7:22.23.
''wakeup''.