ListenDaily - 25 February 2009; What we know so far...
AN INVITATION!
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The next mention of tongues comes in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. A lot has happened between these passages, including Saul/Paul's conversion. Interestingly, he brought 'new languages' into the preaching of the Gospel, from his own prior education. Paul was a Hebrew, a Roman citizen, and spoke Greek as well.
"Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:4-7 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an interesting passage, that looks a bit different from earlier ones, and yet reflects some similarities as well. Here are twelve, or 'about twelve' men, hearing and accepting Jesus. They are touched by the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak "in tongues and prophesy". Again, there is no clear definition of the tongues, and what they looked or sounded like. The main difference here is the laying on of hands prior to the speaking in tongues Now, this was not the first use of 'laying hands'. Jesus sometimes touched people when healing, and Acts 8 gives an account that contains the statement: " the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands".
Now we have a new question: did the Spirit come during the "laying on of hands" or because of it?
But I digress.
Friends, I am being true to what I stated at the beginning; I am not consulting outside sources, just reading what the Word says, concerning tongues, and will refer to commentaries and such later. What I see thus far is:
- The tongues in Acts 2 seem to be different, they were about human understanding.
- The Book of Acts does not define any other 'speaking in tongues'; mentions it, but without definition.
- The speaking in tongues in the Book of Acts, after Pentecost, is always preceded by; 1) a believer sharing the Gospel, 2) a non-believer hearing and accepting, 3) the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Thus far, tongues are not promised nor sought.
Please reread that list, I think these are significant statements.
Next, we will move into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which has the greatest number of tongues references.
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Questions:
1. What does this say to you?
2. What do you think of these findings?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
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