SPEAKING IN TONGUES: TRUTH OR LIE?
1 Kings
Introduction: To determine the relevance of modern day
tongue-speaking, we need to take a brief look at the co called “Charismatic
Movement.”
A. The
movement involves an experience that is better felt than told. 1 Kings 18:25-40
illustrates this very kind of experience. Also we see the “better felt than
told” approach in contrast with an approach that has as it’s
basis truth in the revelation of God.
B. In this
lesson, we will consider two models in order to contrast modern day tongues
with those of the first century.
C. We will
look at the overall purpose of tongues
D. We will
conclude with why miraculous tongue speaking does not happen today
I. Modern
day Pentecostalism versus paganism of old: What is the difference?
A. Contrast
the Pentecostalism of today with the Pentecostal model of Acts 2
1. In acts
chapter 2 we find the following attributes of the events of Pentecost:
a. In the
account, what takes place is audible (sound of rushing wind)
b. There
was something visible (cloven tongues of fire sat upon the twelve disciples)
c. There
was something miraculous (untrained Galileans speaking in the languages of
nations represented)
2. Only
one other time did this phenomena take place
(Acts 10)
a. In Acts
10:47, Peter says the Gentiles received it just as they did (there were other
conversions in between those on the Day of Pentecost and Cornelius, but
Pentecost is the only reference of such an incident
b. Such
was in accordance with the Pentecostal model of Acts 2
c. When
the Gentiles spoke in tongues, Peter and the men with him heard them magnify
God—they had to understand what they said in order to know that they magnified
God
3. In Acts
2 the tongues were languages that were known at that that time
a. Notice
Acts 2:6-12
b. Modern
day tongue-speaking does not fit this model
B. Compare
today’s Pentecostalism with the Pagan model of 1 Kings 18:25-40
1. In this
account there is a contrast between the rational and the irrational
2. As the
prophets called upon Baal, they did so by leaping, shouting and cutting
themselves (Irrational)
3. When
Elijah called upon God, it was not with the kind of sensationalism that
characterized the pagans; Elijah represented the biblical form of worship while
the prophets of Baal represented the pagan form
4. Modern
day Pentecostalism is closer to the pagan model
C. Consider
the problems with tongues in
1. Paul
reminds them from whence they came because they were allowing their former
selves to pervert their worship
2. He
reminded them of the time when they were under control of the idols and how
that caused them to act
3. The
phrase “carried away” means “possessed by the gods.”
4. Jesus
also gave a warning of His own concerning the temptation to follow the ways of
paganism (Matt. 6:7-8); the NIV translates this passage, “Do not keep babbling like the pagans . . .”
5. The
word translated “babble” is from the Greek word BATTOLOGEO and literally means
“to stammer; to repeat the same things over and over; to use many idle words or
utter nonsense syllables” (Some full gospel churches offer seminars on how to
speak in tongues)
6. Both
Jesus and Paul warns against this type of thing, yet people today think it is
alright and even spiritually expedient to do
D. Charismatics believe that once the Spirit
gets a hold of you, you cannot resist its power
1. That
the Spirit can be resisted is certain (Acts
2. That
one who possessed the miraculous power of the Spirit was not under its control
but vice versa is also certain (1 Cor.
The spirit of the prophets is the divine influence
that gave the prophet the ability to prophesy. Paul is teaching that the coming
of the Holy Spirit upon the prophet did not cause the prophet to go into an
uncontrolled frenzy. The manner in which the prophet of God was able to control
his divine impulse was one of the things that distinguished him from the
heathen . . . Any person who was not able to control his spirit was not under
the influence of the Holy Spirit . . .
3. Base
static tongue-speaking upon 1 Corinthians 13:1 (What angels do you know spoke
gibberish in the Bible?
II. What
was the purpose of tongues?
A. The
were for the expressed purpose of confirmation or approval
1. They
were a sign to the unbeliever (1 Cor
2. They
were used to help to confirm the veracity of God’s word (Mark
B. Consider
those cases where people spoke in tongues
1. Acts
2:1-4 – the twelve were confirmed as ambassadors and apostles of Christ
2. Acts
3. Acts
19:1-7 – Confirmed and approved baptism in the name of Jesus as valid and right
C. Consider
the fact that the Bible does not state one word concerning the purpose of
tongues as viewed by modern day Charismatics
1. Tongues
were never given to save the individual (Acts
2. Such
could only be given by the laying on of the apostles hands
3. To
speak in tongues doesn’t make one spiritual or mature (1 Cor. 3:1-3)
4. Tongues
were not the best gift nor the most effective gift to have 1 Cor. 12:31;
14:6-12, 3)
5. Not
everyone was given the gift (1 Cor.
6. If
tongues were so important more would be said about them
III. The
miracle of tongues are no more (1 Cor. 13)
A. When
the perfect came tongues were no more
1. Spiritual
gifts were temporary (v. 8)
a. prophecies
would fail (put out of use)
b. tongues
will cease (stop)
c. knowledge
will vanish away (remove from the sphere of activity)
2. Contrasts
with faith, hope and love (v. 13)
a. These
abide where the spiritual gifts do not
b. Is the
more excellent way (
c. Love is
a much better gift to have than tongues (v. 13:1)
3. Spiritual
gifts were in part (v. 9-10)
a. God
revealed knowledge, knowledge was proclaimed (prophesied); tongue speaker
needed and interpreter
b. God
revealed his will in piece meal – when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.
Yet, he did not know that God approved of the Gentiles. That knowledge came
later, just as the knowledge of circumcision no longer binding was revealed
even later
c. What
the Spirit revealed to Luke was a part, and to Paul was a part, to John was a
part, and to Peter was a part, etc.
B. What is
the perfect?
1. It is
not Christ in this context
a. In the
Greek, all adjectives must agree in gender, number and case (perfect thing, not
perfect one)
b. If it
is Christ, then wide does faith and hope abide? (Rom.
2. It is
the total Revelation of God’s will
a. What
ever the part is tell me what the whole is – prophecy was the forth-telling of
God’s will; tongue speaking was the communication of God’s will; knowledge was
the revelation of God’s will (If a part of a pie is sweet potato; the whole
must be a sweet potato pie)
b. Paul
said he “knows in part” but the day will come when he can know just as he is
known (1 Cor.
c. Only
that which is perfect (complete) can make complete (1 Cor.
(1) 2
Timothy 3:16-17
(2) The
complete revelation of God’s will rendered tongues obsolete; now grown must put
away childish things
Conclusion: There is no doubt that the miraculous gift of
speaking in tongues today is a modern day lie and hoax. Such serves no purpose,
has been rendered obsolete, and certainly does not compare to anything we learn
about miraculous tongues of the Bible. If anything, such is a page right out of
the handbook on paganism.