Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Speaking in tongues...this gift of the Spirit, and its relative, interpretation, have been the cause of much controversy in some parts of the Body, and totally ignored in others. I have seen churches that look down upon those that do not, and have seen churches that look down upon those that do.
And yet...
And yet this gift is given.
We will take a few days to look at this topic. I feel the need to reflect on the 2nd chapter of Acts (v.1-12) to begin, in order to define what 'speaking in tongues' is, and what it is not.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Look at these phrases specifically:
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...
...God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven...heard them speaking in his own language...
...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Most often, when we hear about, or talk about speaking in tongues, the idea seems to be some sort of speech that sounds like gibberish to most people listening. And we most often refer to this passage. Yet what we plainly see here is that, at least in this circumstance, this language was used so that everyone listening could hear about the wonders of God."
Amen.
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Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on 'speaking in tongues'?
2. Have you ever experienced it, personally or second-handed?
3. How does the passage from Acts 2 compare to your notion of 'speaking in tongues'?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak with anger."
John Chrysostom
"An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence;
a vain man, in order that it may."
William Hazlitt
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"Speak when you are angry and you will
make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
"God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word."
A.W. Tozer
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