Hello and welcome back. “What does the Bible say about speaking
in tongues, and how does it apply to us today?” It’s time to UNLEARN the lies. There has been a lot of confusion and debate
about the gift of speaking in tongues, but you might be surprised at what the Bible actually
teaches on this subject. Our world is full of different languages and
dialects. Most of us have experienced difficulty in
communicating with someone of another language at some point in our life. It can even be very frustrating to try to
communicate with someone who speaks a different dialect of the same language. Have you ever thought it would be so much
easier if everyone would just speak the same language? Well, the Bible says there was a time when
everyone on earth spoke the same language. “Now the whole earth had one language and
one speech.” - Genesis 11:1 The Bible also explains the origins of all
of the languages on the earth. It says that people began to gather in Shinar
to build a city with a tower that would reach up to heaven, and God decided to confuse their
language to prevent them from finishing the tower. “Come, let Us go down and there confuse
their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there
over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because
there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered
them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:7-9 Josephus explains that the construction of
the tower was an act of defiance against God that was ordered by Nimrod, who was leading
people away from God. As a result of these events, God took action
to confuse the languages of the people. He also explains that the confusion of languages
was a punishment for their sin. “When God saw that they acted so madly,
he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction
of the former sinners [in the Flood]; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing
in them diverse languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages,
they should not be able to understand one another.” - Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews These various languages were given for the
express purpose of causing confusion and separation among the people. The confusion of languages was the result
of pride and sin, and this confusion is referred to as “Babel”. The dictionary defines babel as “a confusion
of sounds or voices, a scene of noise or confusion.” Now, with that in mind, consider what God
did in Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other tongues
so that everyone who was present could understand them in their own language. “And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude
came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying
to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own
language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling
in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and
the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans
and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:4-11 This event in Acts was a complete reversal
of what happened at the Tower of Babel. All of the people who were present spoke different
languages, but the Holy Spirit caused them all to understand what was being said in their
own native tongue. The disciples were able to preach the message
without the hindrance of language barriers, and the confusion caused by Babel was no longer
a problem for the Gospel. This is what Paul was trying to explain when
he said, “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to
those who believe but to unbelievers…” 1 Corinthians 14:22 Why are tongues a sign to unbelievers? Because it removes the confusion of languages,
and allows them to hear the truth unhindered. This is important, because Yeshua had recently
commissioned the disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. How could they teach other nations about God
if they did not speak the language of the people they were teaching? This realization makes the gift of tongues
vital to the Gospel message, because without it, the disciples would not have been able
to reach as many people as they did. I believe that modern Christianity has undervalued
the gift of tongues, while Charismatic Churches have completely misunderstood its purpose. I am speaking from experience, because I have
been a member of both pentecostal and non-pentecostal churches, and I have had to UNLEARN a lot
of things that I was taught in both of those backgrounds. Most pentecostal churches place a lot of emphasis
on speaking in unknown tongues, while non-pentecostal churches ignore and often oppose the gift
of tongues altogether. A common belief among Pentecostal/Charismatic
Christians is that speaking in tongues is “the evidence” of the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. However, if speaking in tongues is the evidence
of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then everyone who is baptized with the Holy Spirit will
speak in tongues, but that is not what the Bible says. After describing the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
Paul makes a series of rhetorical questions which show us that not everyone will speak
in tongues. ”Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 The answer to all of these questions is an
obvious and resounding “no”. We are not all apostles, prophets, teachers,
miracle workers, and we do not all speak in tongues or interpret. Paul also explained that gifts are given individually
as they are needed. ”for to one is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another
different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these
things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 Notice that Paul does not say everyone receives
the gift of tongues. He says, “to one is given the word of wisdom…
to another different kinds of tongues” He also explains that the gifts are given individually
as the Spirit wills. Therefore, you cannot claim that everyone
receives the gift of tongues, when the Bible clearly says otherwise. There is not a single gift that everyone receives. They are all distributed individually as the
Spirit sees use for them. Therefore, if a gift is not needed, it will
not be given. Modern Pentecostal Christians have been led
to believe that the gift of speaking in tongues has to do with speaking an unknown language,
however, the Bible portrays it as the supernatural ability to speak in known languages that can
be interpreted and understood by others for the purpose of spreading the Gospel to all
nations. This gift goes hand-in-hand with the gift
of interpretation. ”If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there
be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep
silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God… For God is not the author of confusion but
of peace, as in all the churches of the saints… Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:27,28,33,40 When the gift of tongues is used there must
always be an interpretation, or else the message is lost. Paul also cautions that only two or three
people at most should be allowed to take turns speaking in tongues. These verses are often ignored by most Pentecostal
churches today when multiple people speak in tongues all at once, and without any interpretation
given. This type of misuse has created confusion
and frustration for many sincere believers. I would argue that much of what has been labeled
as “speaking in tongues” is actually just babel, because babel causes confusion. The gift of tongues was given for the purpose
of making the message easier to understand, not harder. Many people have also claimed that when they
speak in tongues, they are not in control, but the spirit takes over their mouth and
speaks for them. However, the Bible says that we should be
“self-controlled”. The Holy Spirit does not possess us like some
devil. The only Biblical examples we have of someone
losing control of their own mouth is when a demon possesses the person. that is why we are told “do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” (1 John 4:1) Many people also like to refer to speaking
in tongues as their “spiritual language”, which is a phrase the Bible never uses, and
sounds more like what is spoken of in New Age spirituality. Every example we have in the Bible of speaking
in tongues is someone speaking in a known language that can be understood or interpreted
by others present. There is not one example of someone speaking
in unknown tongues that cannot be understood or interpreted. The Bible clearly explains that tongues must
be understood or interpreted, or else it is useless. ”So likewise you, unless you utter by the
tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages
in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of
the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner
to me… Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray
that he may interpret… Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how
will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since
he does not understand what you say?… Therefore if the whole church comes together
in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed
or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” 1 Corinthians 14:9-11,13,16,23 Tongues without interpretation is useless
babel. It serves no purpose. The purpose of speaking in tongues is so the
Gospel can be spread to all nations without the hinderance of language barriers. This gift would be extremely valuable to a
missionary living in a foreign land. The gifts of the Spirit are given for the
expansion of the kingdom, and we should all desire that the Holy Spirit would empower
us with the gifts that we need to spread the Gospel. If you are not spreading the Gospel in your
native language, why should the Holy Spirit give you another language? Many people speak in tongues as a way to feel
or appear more spiritual. They see it as a way to build themselves up,
and to make a name for themselves spiritually. But this is the same attitude the people at
the tower of Babel had, they wanted to make a name for themselves, so God confused their
language, and called it Babel. The Bible says the gifts are given to build
up the Church, not the individual. If you have a spiritual gift, you should be
using it to bring glory to God and expand His kingdom. If you are using the gifts for any other purpose,
you are wasting your gifts. We should all desire that the Holy Spirit
would empower us with the gifts we need to spread the Gospel, not to make ourselves feel
more spiritual. If you have any questions about this teaching,
or if there is a topic you would like me to talk about, please post it in the comments
below. As always, Thank you for watching this video. If you like this teaching, click the like
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