It's one thing to say the gift of tongues isn't for you. It's quite another to say the gift of tongues isn't for anyone.
I didn't believe I would speak in the gift of tongues. But I didn't say people who did were deceived and I didn't harden my heart towards them. Then one day, the Spirit of the Lord came on me and I spoke in tongues. And I felt liquid love pour through me. I was wrong about never speaking in tongues. I do now.
It's so crazy to me that people who have not had these experiences think they are experts on this topic.
When I first spoke in tongues, I came back and did some research about it. And I read all this fear based teaching how it was demonic etc. It freaked me out, so I read every Scripture I could find on it. I think I have most of 1 Co 14 memorized.
I am happy to report that most people don't have a clue what they are talking about. To them it's simply theology, but not experience or reality. Tongues are real. I have a recording of a Polish girl who was found speaking in English tongues. And she doesn't know a lick of English.
The audacity of some people to come against the gifts of the Holy Spirit astounds me.
Paul is clear:
1. He desires all would speak in tongues, but even more would prophesy.
2. Tongues is an unknown language.
3. Tongues is speaking to no one, but to God. That's why you need an interpreter when you're among others.
4. Even the speaker's mind doesn't even understand what is being spoken.
5. The Scripture Paul references:
It is written in the Law: "By
strange tongues and
foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
Isaiah 28:11 You will no longer see a fierce people,
A people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends, Of a stammering tongue which no one understands.
What about Pentecost? Pentecost was a miracle. It was to the Jews first off. What we call Pentecost happened on the Feast of Weeks. Holy Spirit being poured out was a pivotal moment in Jewish history foretold in all Scripture. Another significant thing about this Feast is Jews were required to come from all over to Jerusalem. God knew what He was doing all the way back in Leviticus.
Snippet from GotQuestions.com:
"Described in
Leviticus 23, The Feast of Weeks is the second of the three “solemn feasts” that all Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem to attend (
Exodus 23:14–17;
34:22–23;
Deuteronomy 16:16). This important feast gets its name from the fact that it starts seven full weeks, or exactly 50 days, after the Feast of Firstfruits. Since it takes place exactly 50 days after the previous feast, this feast is also known as “Pentecost” (
Acts 2:1), which means “fifty.”
Each of three “solemn feasts”—Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles—
required that all able-bodied Jewish males travel to Jerusalem to attend the feast and offer sacrifices."/End SnippetThis was a significant time in Jewish history when the Holy Spirit fell on this day. And when He spoke through His people, they thought they were drunk, but they were not drunk as carnal men suppose.
But even more interesting to me is the fact, they could discern any language at all. If we put 100 people all in a room "shouting and praising" << notice they are not speaking to anyone, but to God?
And they all speak in a different language, will you be able to make out anything they are saying? Maybe, but it's going to be super difficult. But Scripture records
EVERY MAN heard in his own language. This was the 2nd miracle of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks).
I'm not telling anyone they have to speak in tongues, that's between them and God. But going so far as to say NO ONE can speak in tongues? Grow up. Especially when Paul said he desires ALL to speak in tongues and NO ONE to forbid speaking in tongues.
If we have to tell another brother or sister they don't understand Scripture like us in order to prove our point. We are desiring our point being made over the fellowship of a brother/sister. You can always spot fear (and its control) by the absence of love, peace, gentleness, unity, acceptance, and kindness... But! Fear has no authority among us. And it needs to go now.