Not All Speak With Tongues – Part 2

[Study Aired May 3, 2026]

You ask:

“So [you believe] there’s no need for what Paul did [when he laid] hands on believers that they’d be filled with the Holy Ghost?”

The account of Paul laying his hands on 12 men who then received the holy spirit is found in:

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

This story taken alone could indeed indicate the need for laying on of hands before one could receive the holy spirit. However, this is not the only account of how the holy spirit was given, and we must always consider “the sum of Thy Word” while we establish our doctrine:

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

Peter ‘laid hands’ on no one at Cornelius’ house. Yet they were given the Holy Ghost:

Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

Just because Paul laid hands on these twelve men before they were given the holy spirit does not make the laying on of hands is a requirement for receiving the holy spirit.

Christ entered the home of Jarius, ‘a ruler of the synagogue’, and ‘laid His hand’… “took her by the hand”, and raised her from the dead:

Luk 8:54  And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

Again when a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus offered to go to his house and heal the servant. The centurion told Jesus he knew that if Jesus indeed had the power to heal, then Jesus did not need to physically lay His hands on anyone:

Luk 7:2  And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
Luk 7:3  And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Luk 7:4  And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
Luk 7:5  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
Luk 7:6  Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
Luk 7:7  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
Luk 7:8  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Luk 7:9  When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luk 7:10  And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Receiving the gift of the holy spirit is no different than receiving the gift of being healed as the story of the Gentiles in the home of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, demonstrates. There are three accounts of the giving of the holy spirit in the book of Acts. The first was on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when the gift of the holy spirit was first given. The second was at the home of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, in Acts 10. There was no laying  on of hands at either of these events.

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

As Paul’s ministry matured, he was brought by God’s Spirit to see that many things he once did were simply no longer necessary.

There was a time when Paul also baptized with water. Later he tells us:

1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:

Then he tells us:

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify [the church] and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

It was to Paul that God first revealed that the ritual of circumcision was totally unnecessary. There was a period where anointed cloths were sent out from Paul’s presence for the healing of others. God honored these actions because they were done in faith, as they still are by some. As Paul matured, he became aware that sometimes our faith is “tried.” Not all our prayers are answered in the way we might desire, anointed cloths or not, hands laid on or not.

He tells Timothy, who apparently suffered digestive issues, to drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities (1Ti 5:23).

Again we are told:

2Ti 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Again Paul’s faith was tested:

Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Why didn’t Paul just send Timothy an anointed cloth or lay hands on him and pray for his healing? I feel sure that Paul had prayed fervently for Timothy’s “often infirmities.” Does anyone doubt that Paul prayed for either Trophimus or Epaphroditus? Of course Paul prayed for them all, but their immediate healing was not in God’s will at that time. That did not shake his faith because Paul’s faith did not depend on outward signs. Likewise our own faith must be based on more than outward displays. If not, the fiery trial of our faith will shake anything that can be shaken.

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

To answer your question directly, circumcision, water baptism, foot washing, the Lord’s supper, anointed cloths and the laying on of hands, are all outward displays of one’s faith. They are not a sin any more than “another who is weak in the faith eats herbs.”

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

So it is with those who must have these displays of their faith. I lay my hands on a person when I pray for them if I can and if that is what they want, but I do not for one minute believe that this ritual is a requirement for an answered prayer. You cannot do physical things to become spiritual.

Tongues are no exception to that truth. When we take the spiritual truths of the new covenant and turn them into physical requirements, like water baptism and ‘unknown tongues’ and laying on of hands, we are not manipulating God at all. He will grant our request only if it is according to His will:

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask [“according to His will”], we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

“I have never heard of anyone without the baptism of the Spirit that has healed anyone, had a word of knowledge, prophecy, etc? Have you?”

If you are asking me if I know anyone who healed the sick, had a word of knowledge, or prophesied without speaking in unknown tongues the answer is… Indeed I do! Christ healed the sick, had all knowledge and prophesied. Yet He never once spoke in an unknown tongue. The same is true of every one of the apostles. As a matter of fact they did all these things before they were even converted. Yes, they did!

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying,

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Luk 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

The 12 and the 70 performed miracles before they were even converted.

Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Yet years later, the night of His apprehension by the Jews, Christ tells Peter:

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,  strengthen thy brethren.

Spiritual gifts are not a Biblical equivalent to the fruit of the Spirit. They are not even in the same league. I cannot over-emphasize this. Paul tells the Corinthian church:

1Co 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;
1Co 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Do you see that? The church at Corinth “came behind in NO GIFT.” Yet in the next breath Paul tells them:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

So do not measure a man by the gifts he possesses. Measure him only by the fruit he produces. How does he react to being mistreated? Is he even capable of “loving his enemies?” That is a far better measure of a man’s spiritual condition than whether he can pray for the sick and experience healings, and it is far superior to whether he speaks in ‘unknown tongues.’

“So when believers sincerely ask to receive the Holy Ghost and begin to speak in tongues, God is giving them a counterfeit gift? Is that what you’re telling me? I’m curious, I thought Jesus said if you ask your father for a fish will he give you a stone?”

If you insist on equating ‘unknown tongues’ with the real languages spoken by those who were given the gift of the holy spirit on three occasions in the book of Acts (Pentecost, Cornelius’ house, and the Ephesian converts), then you alone must decide, “Am I asking sincerely, wanting only to know the truth of the word of God on this subject, or do I have a personal ‘idol of the heart?” which insists that ‘speaking in unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the holy spirit.’ I cannot answer that question for you. I can tell you on the authority of God’s Word that ‘unknown’ tongues have no basis in the scriptures. Known languages? Sure! However, the word ‘unknown’ is not in the Bible regarding the gift of tongues. God will not give you a stone for asking for a fish, and He will not give you a counterfeit gift of tongues if you ask Him for the gift of His spirit with a sincere and open heart. If you come to His word with your mind already made up that ‘the gift of unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the holy spirit’, and then self-righteously twist His word to fit into your heart’s idol, then yes, God Himself will answer you according to the multitude of the idols of your heart, and He will deceive you. Here are His own words:

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
Eze 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

“Again I’m not trying to argue with you, just want to understand what God’s word teaches us in this regard.”

Keep this attitude. Ask God not to deceive you but to give you a love of the Truth.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

If you have not yet read the article entitled Strong Delusion. be sure to do so. When the Lord says, “If the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet”, the Lord’s deception is not just a delusion, rather it is “strong delusion”:

2Th 2:8  And then [When we come to see the man of sin, our own carnal mind, sitting in the temple of God, “which temple we are”, (1Co 3:13-15)], shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming [the coming of His Truth]:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The doctrine of unknown tongues is not “the Truth” of the scriptures, and anyone who believes they are is under the Lord’s “strong delusion.” That is The Truth of scripture.

YbiChrist,
Mike

Not All Receive the Gift of Tongues

Posted March 11, 2004, updated April 2026 

Introduction

This study was originally published 22 years ago in response to several questions from a brother who believed that unknown tongues was a Biblical doctrine. At that time I had not yet written anything on this subject and I told Sandi that when she posted this that we would probably lose as much as 50% of our readership. I knew that many, if not most, of the people attending our conferences back then believed that unknown tongues were the sign that you had received the gift of the holy spirit.

This study was done in response to questions from a reader who seemed to be sincere. They were questions I had myself at one time, and I was excited to share what I had learned with this reader, but I knew very well how tenacious this particular false doctrine is to those who have spoken in unknown tongues, and I was right about losing many readers when I let everyone know that I considered the doctrine that “Speaking in unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost” is a false doctrine. Yet that statement is an article of faith among many Pentecostal and Charismatic congregants. The acceptance of this false doctrine has continued to grow in popularity in virtually every Christian denomination, both Catholic and Protestant. They read these verses and because they have no ability to discern spirits, they fall for that lie:

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Hi Mike!

Thanks for your response. I do want to discuss this subject of speaking in tongues. I just wanted to explain how I’ve believed this. I had a few thoughts about your statement that not everyone who has the Holy Ghost receives the gift of tongues.

Thanks, M____

Hi M____,

Yes, Paul makes it very clear that not all who receive the Holy Ghost receive the gift of tongues when he lists all the gifts and offices and then poses seven questions. The obvious answer to every one of those seven questions is an emphatic, No! His point being that each member of the body has a different function. No one sincerely seeking to know the mind of God on this subject can read the twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians and conclude that everyone who has the Holy Ghost must speak with tongues. Read that chapter. After each question Paul poses, ask yourself, “Does this person have to speak with tongues to have the Holy Spirit?” The only verses where the answer is yes will be the verses which deal with the gift of tongues. Yet Paul assert that they all have the “selfsame Spirit”.

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Tongues are mentioned only three times in the book of Acts:

1. When they were first given on the day of Pentecost in Act 2, as a sign to the Jews from all over the world, followed by Peter’s witness to all those Jews.
2. At Cornelius’ house, in Acts 10, as a sign that the gospel was to go to the Gentiles, again followed by Peter’s witness to both the Gentiles present and as a sign to Peter himself and the Jews that were with him that the gospel had, indeed, been given to the Gentiles.
3. To the 12 men at Ephesus, again as a sign, to the very “Jews of Asia,” who were later to be so instrumental in attempting to stop Paul’s ministry as “the apostle of the Gentiles” ( “Tongues are for a sign to unbelievers.” That is the only scriptural purpose given for this gift. Tongues, in scripture, are always real languages.

Let’s just let the scriptures speak for themselves. I will embolden a few words for emphasis:

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. [There; if you have Christ, you have the Spirit]
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The many members with many gifts and functions have only one “Holy Ghost”- verse 3. The “more excellent way” is the way of ‘agape,’ love. The love of God is totally ignored by many who actually teach that “Speaking with unknown tongues it the initial evidence of the gift of the holy spirit.” To these immature and deceived brothers speaking with ‘unknown tongues’ is by far a more reliable sign of how close one is to God in the mind of many than the “more excellent way” revealed in ‘the love chapter’ of 1 Corinthians 13.

I know this is true, because I was just such a person as a teenage Pentecostal. I remember clearly how shocked I was  when it was pointed out to me that Paul said that he would rather speak five words which could be understood than ten thousand words in a tongue no one understood:

1Co 14:19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

These gifts here in 1 Corinthians 12 are listed in descending order of importance. Tongues are always the last gift mentioned. Paul concludes with the admonition to “covet earnestly the best gifts.” Notice how Paul characterizes those who prefer to edify themselves by displaying their gift of tongues instead of edifying the church:

1Co 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Why then is it that the emphasis today is the exact opposite as the so-called ‘gift of unknown tongues’ is becoming more and more mainstream in so many churches?

Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments are all around, but they can’t hold a candle to the popularity of ‘unknown tongues.’ Why is that? Could it be that a healing is a bit harder to perform? Well, in truth, that is certainly not the case for God, but that is the case for the Adversary. Yet it seems that the only gift being sought so diligently by most Christians is ‘unknown tongues.’

Again, the obvious answer to every question Paul poses concerning whether all possess all of the gifts is an emphatic NO! Not every one who receives the Holy Ghost, talks with tongues, and NO one speaking in the true spirit of God speaks in ‘unknown tongues’ because such a doctrine is not even mentioned in scripture.

The “Holy Ghost,” is “Christ in you.” That is why He said, “The Father will take of mine and give to you.” That is why Christ said, “I will not leave you Comfortless. I will come to you.”

That is why we are told that ‘the parakletos’ is “the comforter which IS the holy ghost…”:

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos’], which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Notice where this verse appears and what Christ had just said:

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. [The ‘we’, and the ‘our’ refer to Christ and His Father]

Christ’s teaching is that He and His Father will come and make their abode within us. There is no mention of a “third person” because we are told that this “parakletos, which is the holy ghost”, is Jesus Christ:

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [G3875: ‘parakletos’] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Our ‘advocate”, our “comforter” is our “parakletos”… Jesus Christ the righteous” That is what Christ meant when He told us the Father had given everything to Christ. When He said that, He was referring specifically to the holy spirit, which Christ said He would send to us:

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come [“The Comforter”, (Joh 15:26)], he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine [Including the Father’s spirit]: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Christ had already told us that “the spirit of Truth” is the same as “the comforter.”

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

[Be sure to read Is God a Trinity? on the web page.]

In Act 2, it says that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues. Okay, here we have them all speaking in other tongues. There seems to be an indication that, when a person is filled with the holy spirit he ‘begins to speak’ .

Of all the conversions mentioned in the book of Acts, from the 3000 on the day of Pentecost to the Ethiopian eunuch, to all the people Paul and Barnabas brought to Christ, to Paul’s and Silas’ jailer, etc., tongues are mentioned only three times. 1 Corinthians 12 explains why. Not every part of “the body,” needs the same gift. Besides that, the only tongues mentioned in Acts 2, or anywhere else in scripture, are real languages, spoken clearly by people who weren’t even able to interpret what they were saying. They were of no value to the person speaking, as far as being edified by what was coming out of their own mouth. However, those words were very edifying to “unbelievers,” and that is why tongues were given to those to whom they were given in the New Testament.

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem [unbelieving] Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

These as yet unbelieving Jews knew that these men were all uneducated “Galileans.”

Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

The languages spoken by those given the gift of tongues are enumerated, and not one of the languages is referred to as being an “unknown tongue”:

Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? [This was a “sign to these unbelievers”]

I have never denied that on the day of Pentecost, “they all spoke in other tongues [languages].” This is a bonafide gift of God. This is the real thing. If the Spirit is moving in this way, as is claimed, why have we not one modern case of such an event. Television  and news magazines have from time to time been forced to admit to a Bonafide healing. Personally, I have yet to see or hear of any such event as was witnessed by thousands on the day of Pentecost. I want to experience such a miracle, but I want it to be as real as it was that day when “speaking with tongues … profit [ed] you, …[by] speak[ing] to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine” (1Co 14:6). This is what happened with real languages on the day of Pentecost, and every time tongues are mentioned in scripture. Again, there is no mention in scripture of ‘unknown tongues.’

We know this is so because Paul goes on to tell us that the tongues he is discussing in 1 Corinthians 14 are so real he makes this statement:

1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds [Distinction means that it has significance to someone in the room], how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1Co 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound [how in the world can anyone be certain about a language that is not mentioned in scripture and is understood by no one on earth?], who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood [does this sound like Paul is talking about ‘unknown,’ tongues], how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Co 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

That last verse is in contrast to: He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue [when there is no one there who needs that particular tongue] edifieth himself [hey, look at me, I’ve got my gift]; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1Co 14:4). The “edifieth himself” of this verse is not talking about spiritual edification, because the man himself does not understand what he is saying in the language he is speaking. Nevertheless, it is a real language under discussion, as real as the languages on the day of Pentecost, or Paul would never have made the statements we have just quoted or the statement that follows that:

1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

An ‘unknown’ tongue would serve no purpose whatsoever. It is a false ‘sign’ because no one can possibly know whether it was being properly interpreted, because it isn’t even a language. That is why Paul poses the question, “How shall it be known what is spoken?” (verse 9). Paul is not even talking about ‘unknown tongues.’ He asks that question in the context of having no one around who would be benefited by the real foreign language being spoken. ‘Unknown tongues’ as that phrase has come to be understood, are not even part of the discussion in 1 Corinthians 14, or anywhere else in scripture.

You ask:

“In Luke it says wait until you’re endued with power from on high. Do you believe that at salvation you receive the Holy Ghost as well?” (End Quote)

The phrase “at salvation” is not in the scriptures. I am not intending to offend you, but the way you have framed this question, demonstrates that you are not aware that ‘salvation’ is a continual, “dying daily” (1Co 15:31) process. Of course you receive the Holy Ghost when you receive Christ. The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit which God the Father gave to Christ who then gives His Father’s spirit to us.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth [“The Comforter”, (Joh 15:26)], is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine [Including the holy spirit]: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost [Which is “the Spirit of Truth”, (Joh 15:26)], whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Here is Christ telling us the comforter and the spirit of truth are the holy ghost which the Father has given to Christ. That is how Christ can say “He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you”.

Both English words ‘ghost’ and spirit’ are translated from the same single Greek word ‘pneuma‘. The Greek for ‘holy ghost’ is Hagios Pneuma. The translators have done us a very great disservice by not giving this Greek phrase a consistent translation.

Ephesian 4:30 tells us not to grieve the holy spirt of God:

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Why did they not translate that verse as… “And grieve not the holy ghost of God…” Could it be that doing so would indicate that the spirit of God is not a person but that of which God consists… His all powerful, ever present, everywhere present spirit.

Getting back to your use of the phrase… “at salvation”, the apostle Paul demonstrates the fallacy of that phrase when he speaks of our salvation in this way:

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

How does “salvation nearer” square with the concept of “at salvation?” Again he says:

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [Why not ‘Holy Ghost of promise?’]

Then he also reveals this:

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

These verses reveal that ‘salvation’ is a continual “working out” process. We receive the ‘Holy Spirit [Ghost] of promise immediately “after ye believed.” Just because the twelve men at Ephesus had never even heard of the Holy Spirit does not mean that one must wait for a so called “separate work of the Spirit.” Those twelve men were still under “the baptism of John” and were completely unaware that Christ, through His Father’s spirit could come and dwell within them:

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

John’s baptism was to repentance, but it did not include the conversion that comes with the gift of the holy spirit. As Christ told Peter, His own apostle the night of His apprehension by the Jews. This was after Peter spending three and a half years as Christ’s apostle:

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luk 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Like Peter before his conversion, the twelve men at Ephesus were not yet converted because they had not yet received the holy spirit. Even then we still must “endure to the end” to receive our salvation:

Christ is always the final word on any subject and the statement that ‘we must endure to the end to receive our salvation’ is Christ’s own words:

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

This Truth is repeated by Christ in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many [who believe in Christ] shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

So, to answer your question as to what I believe, based on these and many other like scriptures, I do believe that you receive the Holy Spirit immediately upon conversion, but I do not believe that you are mature in the Spirit at the moment you become aware of your need for a Savior, and the fact that a Savior has been provided. Salvation is an ongoing process. Though you have been given God’s Spirit, right from the beginning, God’s Spirit does not make you mature and complete right from the beginning. The steps involved in our maturing process are outlined for us in Israel’s experience and history. Paul tells us that this is so in:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

I am sending you another email on this subject of salvation. It is entitled The Seven Steps To Salvation.

We will pause this study at this point and continue with this brother’s questions in our next study.

Act 19:1-20  Jesus I Know, and Paul I Know, but Who are You?

[Study Aired July 9, 2023]

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.
Act 19:8  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Act 19:9  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Act 19:10  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Act 19:11  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Act 19:17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Act 19:18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
Act 19:19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The last words about Paul in the previous chapter tell us that he had ended his second missionary journey by going up to the church in Jerusalem, saluting the brothers there and returning to Antioch. He began his third journey when he left Antioch:

Act 18:22  And when he had [sailed from Ephesus he] landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church [at Jerusalem], he went down to Antioch.
Act 18:23  And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

Phrygia and Galatia are where Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch are located. In Lystra they met Timothy and took him with them on their journey.

Chapter 18 ended with our introduction to Apollos and his interactions with Aquilla and Priscilla and the church at Ephesus. From Ephesus, Apollos went to water the church Paul had established in Corinth:

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Here is a map of this third journey which helps us to see that in this journey the holy spirit does not forbid Paul from preaching the gospel in Asia, so he goes straight from Antioch in Pisidia to Ephesus:

Timelines of Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

“The upper coasts” certainly included “all the countries of Galatia and Phrygia” mention in Acts 18:23. On this third journey, Paul goes straight from Antioch in Pisidia and returned to Ephesus, as he had promised he would if the Lord permitted it to be so:

Act 18:19  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there [Aquilla and Priscilla]: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
Act 18:20  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
Act 18:21  But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

These “certain disciples” whom Paul met at Ephesus were like Apollos before he was instructed by Aquilla and Priscilla. They also knew only “the baptism of John.” What that means is that they knew John had proclaimed Christ to be the Messiah, but they were not familiar with the giving of the holy ghost on the day of Pentecost.

Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul did not baptize them “in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy ghost”. He baptized them “in the name of Jesus” as the apostles had done on the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit was first given:

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that the formula of baptizing “in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy ghost” was added by the Catholic church and was not in the original Greek manuscripts. For any who are not familiar with this fact, be sure to read Is God A Trinity at this link:

Is God a Trinity?

Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

This is the third time the gift of speaking in other languages is mentioned in relation to receiving the holy spirit. This first occurred on the day of Pentecost when the spirit was given to the 120 people in the upper room. It next occurred at the home of Cornelius, the Roman centurion when Peter was the first apostle to take the gospel to the Gentiles, and it happened the third time here at Ephesus with these 12 disciples who are also given the gift of languages when they receive the holy spirit.

In the recounting of those three events were we told anywhere that the gift of tongues is always given to those who receive the holy spirit??? Were we told that if you do not speak with other languages, then you have not yet been given the gift of the holy spirit?

No, of course not! Nevertheless, that doctrine is taught to many “carnal… babes in Christ” (1Co 3”1-4), whose “zeal for godliness, but not according to knowledge” has led them to accept a very poor counterfeit for the real languages which were spoken, “every man in his own tongue” in Acts 2.

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

These verses demonstrate the very purpose for the gift of speaking in their own language… “every man in our own tongue wherein we were born.”

Here is the purpose for which this gift of languages is given:

1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

There were people present of the day of Pentecost who were “them that believe not”, and this miraculous gift was a very powerful witness to them of the Truth of the gospel. Based upon the purpose for the gift of languages, it is not adding to the Word to say there were unbelievers present when these 12 men were also given the gift of languages at the same time they were given the gift of the holy spirit.

That is the exact opposite of the doctrinal statement of several Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations of men which state “the gift of unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the receiving of the holy ghost.” I, for one, agree with the inspired Word of God that the gift of languages is not given to prove the gift to other believers who have the holy spirit. Rather, the gift of the holy spirit is given to all who know the voice of the True Shepherd:

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The apostle Paul addresses this idea, that the holy spirit is not given unless one speaks in tongues, directly when he poses this series of questions:

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [and last of all] diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The answer to every one of those questions is a resounding, No! Not everyone is an apostle… not everyone has the gift of healing, and not everyone speaks with tongues. In many modern-day Pentecostal and Charismatic churches the “workers of miracles [and] gifts of healing” are far more important than being an apostle, prophet, or teacher.

The word ‘unknown’ is not in the Greek and was never intended to be understood as the unintelligible syllables which pass for ‘the gift of tongues’ in many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches today.

Concerning those “best gifts” Paul specifically contrasts the gift of speaking in languages with the much greater gift of prophesying in a language which everyone present understands:

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

That is the holy spirit telling us that “he that speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort” is greater that “he that speaks with tongues.” If  the doctrine that ‘speaking with tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the holy spirit’ were true, and ‘if we have not the spirit of Christ then we are none of His’, then anyone speaking to men to edification, and exhortation and comfort, would have to have the gift of tongues before he could prophesy and speak to men to edification and  exhortation and comfort, and yet Paul tells us that those who have these various gifts do not necessarily have the gift of tongues or languages. Let’s read those verses in 1 Corinthians 12 again:

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [and last of all] diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

The answer to every question in those verses is an obvious and emphatic, “No!” The inference is that each member of “the body of Christ” has a different function, and it is obvious that not all possess all the gifts of the spirit, and yet they all do possess the gift of the holy spirit if anyone is Christ’s.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

For a more in-depth treatment of the false doctrine of speaking in unknown tongues read this article:

Speaking in Unknown Tongues

Paul spent a year and six months ministering in Corinth during his second journey:

Act 18:11  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

He spent even more time ministering in Ephesus on His third journey beginning with three months preaching in the synagogue.

Act 19:8  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

This “space of three months… [going] into the synagogue disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God” was just the beginning of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. When different men “were hardened, and believed not”, Paul stopped preaching in the synagogue and started preaching daily “in the school of one Tyrannus”:

Act 19:9  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Act 19:10  And this [disputing daily in the school of… Tyrannus] continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia [including “the seven churches of Asia” (Rev 1:4)] heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Besides the three months spent preaching in the synagogue, he spent “the space of two years” preaching there “daily in the school of one Tyrannus.”

In the next chapter, Paul informs us that in total he spent “three years… [in the area of Ephesus, Act 20:17] warning everyone night and day with tears” of a coming apostasy from the Truth of the gospel:

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Act 19:11  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Inwardly and spiritually “special miracles” are still taking place as they were physically and outwardly here in this case with the apostle Paul. No one performed more ‘special miracles, healed more sick people or cast out more devils than Christ:

Joh 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Yet Christ Himself revealed that not even His own apostles were converted while He was still here on earth in a body of flesh. Therefore, while Christ performed so many physical miracles and healings, He did not convert one single soul during His entire earthly ministry. Not even His own apostles. This is what He told Peter on the night He was apprehended by the Jews to be crucified:

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luk 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Christ performed so many miracles and healings that the world could not contain the books if they were all recorded for us to read, yet He had not converted one single soul at that time. The fact that He did not convert one single soul, and yet we do convert sinners from the errors of their ways (Jas 5:20), is what He meant when He told us this:

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The “greater things” that we perform is the “saving of souls”:

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

The only thing any of the apostles did which was “greater works than” Jesus did was and still is the conversion of the souls of mankind. Physical miracles are wonderful, but they are temporal. Spiritual conversion brings “life eternal”, and that is defined by Christ Himself as you and I making Christ and His Father known to a dying world:

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou [the Father] hast given him [Christ] power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Every time the Lord uses any of His saints to open the eyes and ears of another person, He is spiritually healing that person of their spiritual afflictions and spiritual diseases while also casting out the “evil spirits” which “many false prophets” have brought into the unsuspecting lives of “carnal… babes in Christ” who are not yet capable of “trying the spirits [to see] whether they are of God”:

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit [every doctrine], but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Job chapters one and two demonstrate that the devil’s ‘hand’ is nothing less than the Lord’s hand:

Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Job 2:5  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

According to Job, the works of Satan are “the hand” of the Lord. It was the Lord Himself whose hand “formed the crooked serpent” for the very purpose of serving the Lord as His adversary. As such a tool in the Lord’s hand, that “crooked serpent” does nothing more or less than what the Lord sends him to perform… ‘take all he has “only upon himself put not forth thine hand… he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Job 26:13  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Here now is a story which demonstrates How the Lord uses ‘His hand’, the adversary, to make manifest who is His true servant and who are not His true servants:

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

The Greek word translated as ‘vagabond’ is:

G4022
περιέρχομαι
perierchomai
per-ee-er’-khom-ahee

From G4012 and G2064 (including its alternate); to come all around, that is, stroll, vacillate, veer: – fetch a compass, vagabond, wandering about.

This Greek word appears in the New Testament with both a positive and a negative application. This 13^th verse of Acts 19 is one example of its negative application. Another example of its negative application is:

1Ti 5:13  And withal they [young widows (1Ti 5:11)] learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house [G4022: perierchomai, stroll, to go about]; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

It is used in its positive application in ‘the faith chapter’, Hebrews 11, to refer to those who travel about serving the Lord and preaching the gospel, as the apostle Paul and those who traveled with him did:

Heb 11:36  And others [of faith] had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about [G4022: perierchomai] in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

These seven son of Sceva were traveling Jews, the sons of the “chief of the priests” who made a show of their exorcisms before those who followed them. There are those who do the same to this day glorifying themselves instead of the Lord.

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

According to James Strong, the name ‘Sceva’ means ‘left-handed’. No offense is meant toward those whom the Lord has caused to be left-handed, my wife being one such person, but the negative, spiritual Biblical symbolism is to be on the wrong side of God in this age:

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

The positive spiritual symbolism of being left-handed is spot on accuracy in battling the enemies of God with His slings and arrows:

Jdg 20:15  And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
Jdg 20:16  Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

The symbolism of seven sons of a Jew who is “chief of the priests” signifies the complement, the completed apostasy, of the religious leaders who oppose Christ and His doctrine in this age.

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

The question posed by this evil spirit is, “Who are we when we are still in Babylon, to think we can teach all the false doctrines of Babylon and still have the power of Christ and His Christ over the powers and principalities of this age?” Here is another way of asking this same question. This verse reveals the personal application of, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?”

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

This is a perfect description of what the Lord does to us while we continue to live as a part of Babylon in this world while claiming His name and His power. Like these seven sons of a Jewish chief of the priests, our arrows, our words, are cut in pieces and work against us:

Psa 58:7  Let them [the wicked] melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

That is what happens to all of us when we claim the Lord’s name and His power, but we refuse to do the things He tells us to do:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Using the Lord’s name while refusing to eat His bread and wear His apparel will place us with the seven sons of Sceva and the seven women of Isaiah 4 – on the Lord’s ‘left hand’.

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Contrast this story of the seven sons of Sceva with the stories of Paul casting the spirit of divination out of the damsel in Philippi, or calling blindness down on Elymas, another Jewish false prophet, in Paphos…

Act 13:6  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: [Greek: son of Jesus “another Jesus” (2Co 11:4)]
Act 13:7  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10  And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12  Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

…with the damsel at Philippi on Paul’s second journey:

Act 16:16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Act 16:17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
Act 16:18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit [of devination], I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

This evil spirit knew who Jesus was, and it knew who Paul was, but it was not at all subject to the false spirit in the seven sons of Sceva, and this event, like the blindness of Elymas, also made everyone who heard what happened to “be astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

Act 19:17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Paul and his company gave all the credit for what was done to the Lord to whom all credit belongs.

Act 19:18  And [as a consequence of the 12 men being given the ability to speak in languages and as a consequence of this one demon possessed man overpowering the seven sons of Sceva, after acknowledging that it knew Jesus and Paul] many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Confessing and showing their deeds are two ways of saying the same thing. They confessed their sins and demonstrated their repentance:

Mat 3:5  Then went out to him [John] Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Mat 3:6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Act 19:19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The word ‘pieces’ you will notice is in italics, signifying that it is not in the Greek. All the scholars agree that this verse refers to the most common silver coin in the Roman empire at that time, which was a ‘dinarius’. A ‘piece of silver’ was called a dinari, which was a day’s wages for a common laborer. The ‘penny’ given the laborers in the Lord’s vineyard was a dinari:

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny [G1220: denarion] a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Several commentaries agree that “fifty thousand” day’s wages in today’s money would be 5.5 million U.S. dollars. That book burning in Ephesus had to have been one of the most expensive deliberate book burnings of all time.

Spiritually it signifies the burning out of all the false doctrines in our heavens as we are given to repent of believing those lies while they are being burned out by the fiery words of God:

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The sooner the better!

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

[Study Aired April 21, 2020]

Luk 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Luk 17:6  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Luk 17:7  But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luk 17:8  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luk 17:9  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not (I think not).
Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 

Looking at verses 7-10 first, we see that this process of casting the trees into the sea is not of ourselves. We are only doing what was commanded by the Lord because our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Pro 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Our faith must only be small as a mustard seed to accomplish much. But faith alone is not enough to endure until the end. We also need much prayer and fasting, no doubts, belief, forgiveness, and love. 

Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 

Mat 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Mat 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 

Mar 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mar 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [G26 Agape, love] 

As we mature our faith grows. 

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 

What is the faith that gives us the ability to cast mountains and trees into the sea?

Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Jesus Christ is our faith and he is the one casting the trees and the mountains into the sea. 

Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 

Pro 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 

Deu 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Deu 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
Deu 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

Back to our parable. 

Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 

What do the trees, the sea and mountains represent? 

Mar 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. Mar 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 

Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit.
Luk 6:44 For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 

Gen 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Gen 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 

Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 

Psa 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. 

Isa 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 

Trees, the sea and mountains in this parable represent our old man and the doctrines of our father the devil. 

The faith of Christ in us gives us the ability to cast out our old man and the doctrines of the world. Christ is working this out in the elect in this age. He is casting out all these nations within us. Christ does this by judging us. He has given us commandments to follow, and until He begins to work in us, we cannot follow these commandments. When He does begin, however, He will finish His work. Here is the promise of our Lord. 

Deu 6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
Deu 6:2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Deu 6:3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deu 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deu 6:10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
Deu 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Deu 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Deu 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
Deu 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
Deu 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
Deu 6:18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
Deu 6:19 To cast out all thine enemies (the trees and mountains) from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

I know you are very busy. But it is such a relief to FINALLY have someone who has been shown the same things I have! Thank you Jesus!

I am stealing time here and there to read more of your entries, I have not yet found an answer: Do you believe it is necessary to speak in tongues?

Also, I have not yet read your info on it, I was simply thrilled to find that you believe all are saved as God recently showed me, but, could you direct me to your view on what happens in the times to come, when we are separated the sheep from the goats what happens?

Thanks

C____

Hi C____

Please go to the tongues section of the web page and read those letters. I believe this is the most in depth treatment of this subject that is to be found. Languages need translators. Unknown babbling needs no translation, because there is nothing to translate. If you try the spirits, you must try them against the Word. The Word calls for “languages.” It does not call for “Unknown tongues.”

You also asked about separating the sheep from the goats. This has nothing to do with Christ’s next coming. Physical Israel will be converted “when Sodom and Samaria [ are converted] then will you [ physical Israel and Jerusalem] be restored to your former estate [ find favor with God].” This will not happen “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” In other words “When Sodom…” comes to God, “ then you [ physical Jerusalem and physical Israel] will be restored to your former estate.”

Eze 16:48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Eze 16:51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.
Eze 16:52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
Eze 16:53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then [ will I bring again] the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:
Eze 16:54 That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
Eze 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

Jerusalem here symbolizes both physical Israel, which has rejected her Messiah, but it also symbolizes “those who say they are [ spiritual- Christian] Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.” This chapter of Ezekiel is a prophecy of those who will be cast into God’s purifying ‘lake of fire.’

When will this occur?

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

In other words Israel will be brought back to God “ when Sodom comes in…” Until that time the truth concerning physical Israel is:

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Why has this knowledge and grace been given to the “election?” The answer is right here in this same chapter. In spite of what orthodox Christianity teaches, there is a “fall harvest.” There will yet be a “feast of ingathering, at the end of the year.”

Here is the reason for an elect firstfruits:

Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them [ physical Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [ The second resurrection of all the dead of all time. “When Sodom is restored…”]
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit [ the elect] be holy [ all mankind], the lump is also holy [“God is love”]: and if the root [ Christ] be holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief [ now and at the second resurrection], shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, unti l the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [ Until “thy sister Sodom is restored…”]
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

It is ” through this mercy of yours that they also obtain mercy.” But even though they will be raised as spiritual bodies, they must yet endure the ‘lake of fire… in the presence of the lamb.”

That the elect administer this lake of fire is proven in Isaiah.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

So who is this “devouring fire?” Who is this “everlasting burnings?” Who “dwells with… Our God… a consuming fire?” Is it Satan and his angels? Is it the wicked? No, it is not:

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously [ the firstfruit elect], and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

These are those who are at home in the spiritual fire in the presence of the lamb. These are those who “will not be hurt of the second death… which is the ‘lake of fire.”

Exactly what this symbolic fire is is symbolized by the torment of Joseph’s brothers in Joseph’s presence when he spoke to them by an interpreter. Joseph could easily has said ‘Hey, boys it’s me, Joseph. I’m going to save you and all the known world.” But that is not what he did. He literally tormented his brothers to bring them to see what they were and what they had done. Even after revealing himself to them and assuring them that he was their salvation, they were still tormented another 17 years by their own unconverted minds. They truly believed that as soon as their father Jacob died that Joseph would then kill them all for what they had done to him in his youth. They were yet, even while in this ‘lake of fire,’ still carnal minded, and that carnality has to be burned out of us all. This is all only in type and shadow. The ‘lake of fire’ is Genesis hidden in Revelation. It is also Revelation revealed in Genesis.

I hope this answers your questions.

Mike

Mike,

You said in one of your FAQs concerning tongues: “That last verse is in contrast to: He that speaketh in an [ foreign] tongue [ when there is no one there who needs that particular tongue] edifieth himself [ hey, look at me, I’ve got my gift]; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1Co 14:4). The “edifieth himself,” of this verse is not talking about spiritual edification, because the man himself does not understand what he is saying in the language he is speaking.”
This part is confusing because if it’s not spiritual edification, then what edification is it? If he doesn’t understand what he is saying, how is he edified?

J____

Hi J____,
You ask how a person speaking in a tongue which he does not understand edifies himself?

… if it’s not spiritual edification then what edification is it? If he doesn’t understand what he is saying how is he edified?

The answer is, he edifies himself just as a child who is loud and unruly just naturally seeks to draw attention to himself and to edify his own selfish flesh. That is a spirit which preys upon many sincere but deceived people such as me for the first few years of my own spiritual experience. Speaking in English to an English speaking church makes a lot of sense. Speaking in gibberish and faking a translation is demonic, and that is the spirit behind the modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements which actually, in some cases, teach classes on how to get the so called ‘gift of unknown tongues’.
Paul tells us to speak the Truth in the language of the congregation, not in some other language which is neither understood nor needed. If you have the gift of speaking in Spanish, but there is no one in the room who understands Spanish, why in the world would you show off your Spanish in front of a room full of people who speak only English? Anyone who did such a thing would only be edifying his own flesh… “edifying himself”.

Here it is as the spirit inspired it.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth [ speaks in the language of his congregation] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an [ unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

The brackets are there to let us know that the word unknown was added, and is not in the Greek. Christ in us is not into edifying oneself. It is rather intent upon “edifying the church.”

1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

In this chapter Paul is dealing with a real gift which was being abused by babes in Christ who are “yet carnal”.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [ to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [ there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [ am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

That was the state of this church in Corinth. It was not a pleasant thing for Paul to have to say these things to this congregation. But it is even more needed today where a counterfeit gift of tongues has replaced the true gift of being supernaturally granted the ability to speak in various foreign languages without the benefit of formal training to do so. Even if the gift is real, it is not given for the purpose of edifying the individual. It is given only for the purpose of being a sign to an unbeliever and for the purpose of edifying the church by watching as the unbelieving foreigner in their midst is being convicted and convinced by the miracle that is taking place in the speaking of the wonderful works of God from the mouth of a person who is not educated in that language.
If there is no such person in the congregation, then there is no need for such a display of the flesh.

1Co 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

It is good to be “desirous of spiritual gifts”. But it is not good to desire those gifts for any personal edification of oneself. Our desire ought always to be to “seek to edify the church”, and not to be “barbarians” who cannot understand each other.

1Co 14:13  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [ unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Co 14:14  For if I pray in an [ unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

These two verses do not contradict this verse.

1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [ serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

“Tongues are for a sign… to them that believe not… not to them that believe“. In spite of that plainly stated Truth, one of the statements of belief of the Pentecostals is “We believe that the gift of speaking in unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” So the “carnal babes in Christ” who are sincerely “zealous for spiritual gifts” are ignorant of this verse, or else they have an “idol of the heart” which comes before the Word of God, and they are bowing down to that idol instead of bowing their hearts to the Word and will of God.
I hope this all helps you to see that we are to seek to edify the church and not try to impress each other with a false, counterfeit, “the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost”, by displaying our fake gift before other “carnal babes in Christ”.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,
Please comment on these scriptures for me.

Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid [ his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues (G1100), and prophesied.
Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues (G1100), and magnify God….
1Co 14:18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues (G1100).

Guess I am still hung up on this “tongues” subject. It sounds to me like there was still a prayer language, not to be spoken in the church without an interpreter, etc. At Cornelius’s home, they possibly all spoke the same language. Would you straighten me out? Do you think Paul was saying that he spoke many more languages than the rest of them?

Thank you for your time, when you get it.
YSITC,
F____

Hi F____,

I understand this struggle because I have endured it myself. I hope this is of some help in your understanding of what happened on the day of Pentecost. What happened then was, according to Peter, the very same thing that happened at Cornelius’s house, and there is no reason to think that it was not the same in every instance.
As I point out in this e- mail, there simply is not one scripture as a Biblical basis for speaking in unknown tongues. The fact that Paul says “my understanding is unfruitful” and “in the spirit I speak mysteries” in no way proves that Paul or anyone with the gift of tongues had an ‘unknown angels tongue’. What it does prove is that the people who spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost did not understand the language they were speaking. But that does not make it any less a language. We are told that those speaking were speaking “in our own language”.

Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

As you can see in the verses you have sent me, the number for the word ‘tongues’ is G1100, and the word is glossa, and it means a language. You cannot interpret a nonexistent language. There is no need for a nonexistent language because there would be no way of “interpreting” that language. The tongues of scripture are intended to be “spoken clearly… for a sign to the unbelievers,” and then they were to be “interpreted” for the benefit of the believers also. We are even told that it is incumbent upon the person with the gift of tongues to seek out an interpreter before he speaks in that language as a sign to an unbeliever, and if there is no interpreter available, then the person with the gift is told not to speak in that language at all.

1Co 14:27  If any man speak in an [ unknown] tongue, [ let it be] by two, or at the most [ by] three, and [ that] by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

We are not told to speak first and then find out if there is an interpreter, instead we are told “If there be no interpreter let him keep silence” Do any of those who practice this doctrine follow these instructions?
Yes, the holy ghost did cause people to speak in other tongues, and I certainly would never “forbid anyone to speak in tongues”; known or unknown. But I always demonstrate with the scriptures, that there is no scriptural basis for speaking in something that is not a tongue, and is instead a counterfeit of what happened on the day of Pentecost in Act 2. Yes, the holy ghost was given after believing and being baptized in many instances, like at Samaria in Act 8 and Ephesus in Act 19. But that just demonstrates that newborn babes are still carnal. It does not demonstrate that anyone spoke in unintelligible syllables, and there is no reason to believe that the language of prayer is any different than the languages of Pentecost.
I hope this helps you to understand this subject. If not please let me know what is still unclear.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Posted March 11, 2004

Hi Mike!

Thanks for your response. I do want to discuss this, I just wanted to explain how I’ve believed this. I had a few thoughts, you mentioned that not everyone receives the gift of tongues.

Thanks, M____

Hi M____,

Yes, Paul makes it very clear that all who receive the Holy Ghost do not receive the gift of tongues when he lists all the gifts and offices and then poses seven questions. The obvious answer to every one of those seven questions is an emphatic, no! His point being that each member of the body has a different function. No one sincerely seeking to know the mind of God on this subject, can read the twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians and conclude that everyone who has the Holy Ghost has to speak with tongues. Read that chapter. After each verse ask yourself, “Does this person have to speak with tongues to have the Holy Spirit?” The only verses where the answer is yes will be the verses which deal with the gift of tongues. Yet they all have the “selfsame Spirit.”

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Tongues are mentioned only three times in the book of Acts:

1. When they were first given on the day of Pentecost in Act 2, as a sign to the Jews from all over the world, followed by Peter’s witness to all those Jews.
2. At Cornelius’ house, as a sign that the gospel was to go to the Gentiles, again followed by Peter’s witness to both the Gentiles present and to Peter and the Jews that were with him that the gospel had, indeed, been given to the Gentiles.
3. To the 12 men at Ephesus, again as a sign, to the very “Jews of Asia,” who were later to be so instrumental in attempting to stop Paul’s ministry. “Tongues are for a sign to unbelievers.” That is the only scriptural purpose given for this gift. Tongues, in scripture, are always real languages.

Let’s just let the scriptures speak for themselves. I will embolden a few words for emphasis:

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. [There; if you have Christ, you have the Spirit]
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [ we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The many members with many gifts and functions have only one “Holy Ghost”- verse 3. The “more excellent way” is the way of ‘agape,’ love, that seems to be totally ignored when seeking to know one’s spiritual condition. Speaking with ‘unknown tongues’ is by far a more reliable sign of how close one is to God in the mind of many than the “more excellent way” revealed in ‘the love chapter’ of 1 Corinthians 13.

These gifts here in 1 Corinthians 12 are listed in descending order of importance. Tongues are always last. Paul concludes with the admonition to “covet earnestly the best gifts.” Why then is it that the emphasis today is the exact opposite? Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments are all around, but they can’t hold a candle to the popularity of ‘unknown tongues.’ Why is that? Could it be that a healing is a bit harder to perform? Well, in truth, that is certainly not the case for God, but that is the case for the Adversary. And yet it seems that the only gift being sought so diligently by most Christians is ‘unknown tongues.’

Again, the obvious answer to every question Paul poses is NO! Not every one who receives the Holy Ghost, talks with tongues, and NO one talks in ‘ unknown tongues’ because they are not even mentioned in scripture.

The “Holy Ghost,” is “Christ in you.” That is why He said, “The Father will take of mine and give to you.” That is why Christ said, “I will not leave you Comfortless. I will come to you.” [Be sure to read Is God A Trinity? on the web page.]

In Act 2, it says that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues. Okay, here we have them all speaking in other tongues. There seems to be an indication that, when a person is filled, he begins to speak .

Of all the conversions mentioned in the book of Acts, from the 3000 on the day of Pentecost to the Ethiopian eunuch, to all the people Paul and Barnabas brought to Christ, to Paul and Silas’ jailer, etc., tongues are mentioned only three times. 1 Corinthians 12 explains why. Not every part of “the body,” needs the same gift. Besides that, the only tongues mentioned in Acts 2, or anywhere else in scripture, are real languages, spoken clearly by people who weren’t even able to interpret what they were saying. They were of no value to the person speaking, as far as being edified by what was coming out of their own mouth. However, those words were very edifying to “unbelievers.”

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem [unbelieving] Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

These as yet unbelieving Jews knew that these men were all uneducated “Galileans.”

Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

The languages spoken by those given the gift of tongues are enumerated:

Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? [This was a “sign to unbelievers”]

I have never denied that on the day of Pentecost, that “they all spoke in other tongues [languages].” But this is a bonafide gift of God. This is the real thing. If the Spirit is moving in this way as is claimed, why have we not one modern case of such an event. Television news magazines have from time to time been forced to admit to a bonafide healing. Ppersonally, I have yet to see or hear of any such event as was witnessed by thousands on the day of Pentecost. I want to experience such a miracle, but I want it to be as real as it was that day when “speaking with tongues … profit [ed] you, …[by] speak[ing] to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine” (1Co 14:6). This is what happened with real languages on the day of Pentecost, and every time tongues are mentioned in scripture. Again, there is no mention in scripture of ‘unknown tongues.’

We know this is so because Paul goes on to tell us that the tongues he is discussing in 1 Corinthians 14 are so real he makes this statement:

1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds [Distinction means that it has significance to someone in the room], how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1Co 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound [how in the world can anyone be certain about a language that is not mentioned in scripture and is understood by no one on earth?], who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood [does this sound like Paul is talking about ‘unknown,’ tongues], how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Co 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

That last verse is in contrast to: He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue [when there is no one there who needs that particular tongue] edifieth himself [hey, look at me, I’ve got my gift]; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1Co 14:4). The “edifieth himself” of this verse is not talking about spiritual edification, because the man himself does not understand what he is saying in the language he is speaking. Nevertheless, it is a real language under discussion, as real as the languages on the day of Pentecost, or Paul would never have made the statements we have just quoted or the statement that follows that: “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (1Co 14:5).

An ‘unknown’ tongue would serve no purpose whatsoever. It is a false ‘sign’ because none can possibly know whether it was being properly interpreted, because it isn’t even a language. That is why Paul poses the question, “How shall it be known what is spoken?” (verse 9). Paul is not even talking about ‘unknown tongues.’ He asks that question in the context of having no one around who would be benefited by the real foreign language being spoken. ‘Unknown tongues’ as that phrase has come to be understood, are not even part of the discussion in 1 Corinthians 14, or anywhere else in scripture.

In Luke it says wait until you’re endued with power from on high. Do you believe that at salvation you receive the Holy Ghost as well?

The phrase “at salvation” is not in the scriptures. I am not intending to offend you, but the way you have framed this question, demonstrates that you are not aware that ‘salvation’ is a continual process. Of course you receive the Holy Ghost when you receive Christ. The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit. Both English words ‘ghost’ and spirit’ are translated from the same single Greek word ‘pneuma‘. The Greek is Hagios Pneuma. The translators have done us a very great disservice by not giving this Greek phrase a consistent translation.

Getting back to the subject of ‘salvation,’ Paul says:

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

How does “salvation nearer” square with the concept of “at salvation?” And again he says:

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [Why not ‘Holy Ghost?’]

Then he also reveals this:

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

These verses reveal that ‘salvation’ is a continual “working out” process. We receive the ‘Holy Spirit [Ghost] of promise immediately “after ye believed.” Just because the twelve men at Ephesus had never even heard of the Holy Spirit does not mean that one must wait for a “separate work of the Spirit.”

‘Work, works, working or workings of the Spirit’ – none of these are scriptural phrases. Nevertheless, “there is one Spirit” is a scriptural phrase.

So, to answer your question as to what I believe, based on these and many other like scriptures, I do believe that you receive the Holy Spirit immediately upon conversion, but I do not believe that you are mature in the Spirit at the moment you become aware of your need for a Savior, and the fact that a Savior has been provided. Salvation is an ongoing process. Though you have been given God’s Spirit, right from the beginning, God’s Spirit does not yet have you complete right from the beginning. The steps involved in our maturing process are outlined for us in Israel’s experience and history. Paul tells us so in 1 Corinthians 10:11.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

I am sending you another email on this subject of The Seven Steps To Salvation.

So there’s no need for what Paul did was to lay hands on believers that they’d be filled with the Holy Ghost?

Peter ‘laid hands’ on no one at Cornelius’ house. Yet they were given the Holy Ghost:

Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

As Paul’s ministry matured, he was brought by God’s Spirit to see that many things he once did were simply no longer necessary for him

There was a time when Paul baptized. Later he tells us:

1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:

And then he tells us:

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

It was to Paul that God first revealed that the ritual of circumcision was totally uneccessary. There was a period where anointed cloths were sent out from Paul’s presence for the healing of others. God honored these actions because they were done in faith, as they still are by some. But as Paul matured, he became aware that sometimes our faith is “tried.” Not all our prayers are answered, anointed cloths or not, hands laid on or not.

He tells Timothy, who apparently suffered digestive issues, to drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities (1Ti 5:23).

Again we are told:

2Ti 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Again Paul’s faith was tested:

Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Why didn’t Paul just send Timothy an anointed cloth or lay hands on him and pray for his healing? I feel sure that Paul had prayed fervently for Timothy’s “often infirmities.” Does anyone doubt that Paul prayed for either Trophimus or Epaphroditus? Of course Paul prayed for them all. Their healing was not in God’s will at that time, but Paul’s faith did not depend on outward signs. Likewise our Faith must be based on more than outward displays. If not, the fiery trial of our faith will shake anything that can be shaken.

To answer your question directly, circumcision, water baptism, foot washing, the Lord’s supper, anointed cloths and the laying on of hands, are all outward displays of one’s faith. They are not a sin any more than “another who is weak in the faith eats herbs.”

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

So it is with those who must have these displays of their faith. I believe in laying my hands on a person when I pray for them, but I do not for one minute believe that this ritual is a requirement for an answered prayer. You cannot do physical things to become spiritual.

Tongues are no exception to that truth. When we take the spiritual truth of the new covenant and turn them into physical requirements like water baptism and ‘unknown tongues’ we are not fooling God at all. He still will have our heart.

I have never heard of anyone without the baptism of the Spirit that has healed anyone, had a word of knowledge, prophecy, etc? Have you?

No, I haven’t. Christ healed the sick, had all knowledge and prophesied. Yet He never once spoke in an unknown tongue. The same is true of every one of the apostles. As a matter of fact they did all these things before they were even converted. Yes, they did!

Luk 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying,

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

The 12 and the 70 performed miracles before they were even converted.

Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord,even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Years later, the night of His apprehension by the Jews, Christ tells Peter:

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Spiritual gifts are not a Biblical equivalent to the fruit of the Spirit. They are not even in the same league. I cannot over-emphasize this. Paul tells the Corinthian church:

1Co 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;
1Co 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Do you see that? The Corinthians “came behind in NO GIFT. Yet in the next breath Paul tells them:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

So do not measure a man by the gifts he possesses. Measure him only by the fruit he produces. How does he react to being mistreated? Is he even capable of “loving his enemies?” That is a far better measure of a man’s spiritual condition then whether he can pray for the sick and experience healings. It is far superior to ‘unknown tongues’.

And so when beleivers sincerely ask to receive the Holy Ghost and begin to speak in tongues, God is giving them a counterfeit gift? Is that what you’re telling me? I’m curious, I thought Jesus said if you ask your father for a fish will he give you a stone?

If you insist on equating ‘unknown tongues’ with the Holy Spirit, with no other reason than the fact that on three occasions in the book of Acts (Pentecost, Cornelius’ house, and the Ephesian converts) people spoke in a new language, then you alone must decide, “Am I asking sincerely, wanting only to know the truth of the word of God on this subject, or am I attached to a personal ‘idol of the heart?'” I cannot answer that question for you. I can tell you that ‘unknown’ tongues have no basis in the scriptures. Known languages? Sure! However, the word ‘unknown’ is not in the Bible regarding tongues. God will not give you a stone for asking for a fish, but if you come to His word with your mind already made up, and then try to make His word fit into your heart’s idol, then yes, God will answer you according to the multitude of your idols of your heart.

Again I’m not trying to argue with you, just want to understand what God’s word teaches us in this regard.

Keep this attitude. Ask God not to deceive you but to give you a love of the Truth.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Maybe you already have read Strong Delusion. If not, please be sure to do so.

Posted March 11, 2004

Hi Mike!

I was reading some of your comments in “You asked” regarding the function of the spiritual gifts and specifically on speaking in tongues.

Although, I can see your point that prophecy is preferred to tongues, I believe that you are missing it that we should not be speaking in tongues.

I have never said ‘we should not be speaking in tongues.’ Here is what I did say:

There! That is my commentary on the tongues part of 1 Corinthians 14 – ‘The Tongues Chapter.’ I believe it is true to the scriptures. I simply cannot vouch for something God has given me no experience in. When I witness a true Acts 2 tongues experience, I will immediately share it with my reading audience. Just because I have never experienced something does not mean that others haven’t.

You cannot show me where I have ever said that the gift of tongues has passed from the scene. It is true that I believe that as one matures gifts become less and less of a factor in one’s faith. I have gone on the record as saying that any gifts we possess should rest upon our faith and not vice versa. In other words, our faith should not depend upon the number of gifts we possess and the number of prayers we have answered. This would lead to nothing less than immaturity and a whole church full of spoiled rotten spiritual “babes in Christ.” I welcome anyone, who has never spoken in French, being able to communicate the gospel to someone who does not know English but only French. That is the true Acts 2 experience. Anything less is a sign to no one and is without scriptural basis.

What is your understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Do you believe in this second experience which parallels the feast of pentecost?

There were no ‘unknown,’ tongues on Pentecost, at the home of Cornelius, or at any of the cities where Paul met believers who had been ‘baptized into John’s baptism.’ The word ‘unknown’ is never used in conjunction with tongues. All the tongues spoken at Pentecost are enumerated in Acts two:

Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Crees and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Incoherent ‘unknown tongues’ would never have produced such questions and such astonishment. Rather they would have produced just what Paul tells us they produce when virtually no one can understand what is being said:

1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

If this is true of a real tongue, how much truer is it of a non-existent, ‘unknown’ tongue? My personal ‘experience’ has demonstrated the truth of that statement on several occasions when I was a believer in ‘unknown tongues.’ I do not despise what I once was. I thank God for that experience. If I had not been there, I would not be able to write this email with any sense of conviction. However, I have asked God to help me to rid myself of any ‘idol of the heart.’ This ‘I-have-the-baptism-of-the-Holy-Ghost-and-you-don’t’ doctrine was one of the first ‘idols of the heart’ I had to give up. It was no easier for me than it will be for you. As long as you come to the word of God with your “experience” ahead of scripture, you are exactly where Ezekiel says the elders of Israel were when they came to “enquire of the Lord:”

Eze 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Their ‘experience’ had led them to preconceived conclusions, and they wanted God to now put His stamp of approval upon their ways.

Eze 14:4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
Eze 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
Eze 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Eze 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet [comes to God’s Word and adds ‘unknown’ where the Lord simply said ‘tongue’ or language] to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

God answers us according to the multitude of [our] idols;

Eze 14:10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

“I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols,” means that if you have your mind made up about this, or any subject, before you go to the scriptures, if you are not sincere in seeking only the mind of God, then God will use your own deception to deceive you. For example:

Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, [This is a false doctrine] reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

The Lord did not even bother to show this man how wrong he was. He answered him “according to the idol of his heart.”

Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

David puts it this way:

Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

Now, with these stern warnings against allowing anything other than the word and mind of God to be our guide, let’s go two chapters earlier, to where Paul poses this question:

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

These gifts are all listed in order of importance, ‘First … secondarily … thirdly…’ etc. The answer to every question asked here is emphatically, No! Yet according to what I understand you to be saying, your answer to this question would be, “No, except for the gift of unknown tongues, because if you don’t have that gift then you cannot be ‘built up in your faith’ to be a prophet, teacher or a worker of miracles, etc. Without the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which equates to speaking in unknown tongues, you cannot build up your faith.”

Am I wrong about what you are saying? I know that is exactly what I used to think in my puffed up immature spirit. The Truth revealed in these questions, however, is that God does not give any one of these gifts to everyone. Neither does He give all of these gifts to any one person.

The “fruit of the Spirit,” is not ‘unknown tongues.’

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Verse 26 is speaking directly to those who believe that their physical “experience,” has somehow given them a spiritual edge over those who merely bear the “fruit of the Spirit.”

I have had acquaintances of mine who have discussed my page and my teachings with their Charismatic friends. Inevitably the first question out of the mouth of the charismatic is not, “Does Mike Vinson have love, joy, peace, etc.? Has he crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts?” No, the first question from charismatics is invariably, “Does he speak in tongues?” The word ‘unknown’ is understood. It is strange to me that with all the tongues all around that the only ones spoken on the day of Pentecost (I mean known languages that serve as a useful ‘sign to unbelievers’) are not to be found anywhere here in Georgia. I have heard a lot of ‘tongues’ spoken here in Georgia.

First of all, I agree that prophecy is better IN the church. If you read 1Co 14:5, you’ll see that Paul refers to tongues that are interpreted EQUALLING prophecy, thereby the church is edified.

Certainly, a true Pentecostal experience would be very edifying. A language is being spoken by a person with no training in that language, and it is being understood by people who know that the person speaking that language doesn’t have training in the language he is speaking. This is a miracle. Faking this experience and telling your followers that this is just as good as what happened at Pentecost, edifies no one but the person who falls prey to this doctrine. He can now feel spiritually superior to his fellow Christians who haven’t yet been able to have this “experience.” Why would God speak to anyone in a language that exists nowhere on earth and then “interpret” it? The word “interpret” means that it is a known language, and yes, when a person speaks fluently in a known language in which he has no formal training, this is the exact same thing as prophesying. Furthermore it becomes, under those true Pentecostal conditions, a powerful “sign, not to them that believe but unto them which believe not.” None of this is true for what is passed off as a language spoken nowhere on earth.

1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him, howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Yes, there is, and that ‘tongue that no man understands howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries’ is an earthly language that is uninterpreted. It clearly tells us that it is “speaking mysteries” – not speaking incoherently.

You didn’t really comment on this verse in your responses. There is a tongue that by a believer is speaking to God, and speaking mysteries! In verse 4 it says he is edified, or built up. Your comment was this was not a compliment from Paul.

The ‘no man understandeth him’ is merely a statement of fact when you have someone speaking French when there is no one around who understands French. Paul is having to tell these overzealous and immature Corinthian ‘carnal… babes in Christ’ that they ought not be abusing their gifts to simply show off or “edify himself.”

I am going to cut and paste my comment to this verse:

1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown – this mistaken insertion is quoted as if it were scripture] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Since “no man understands him,” Paul says, “He edifies himself.” This is not a compliment, nor is it advice. It is a reprimand, and is contrasted with “edifying the church” (vs 4).

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. [This is the preferred gift of this chapter.]
1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [unknown – leave this word out. It was not in the original texts.] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Here is one of the least quoted verses of this chapter, and it is the heart of this chapter.

1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues [I wish all my children could receive the gift of languages, not mumblings], but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

This is the required product of both prophesying and tongues. I, too, would rather that my children prophesy than speak in languages.

1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Paul is telling us, with this verse that the gift of languages should be used for the purpose of edifying the church, not to demonstrate for the whole congregation that this brother has ‘received his gift.’

I don’t believe tongues are just for a sign, but they are to build up believers. See Jude 20, we’re exhorted to build ourselves up PRAYING in the holy ghost.

What you are saying to me, and to all those without what you consider to be ‘the baptism of the Holy Ghost’ is that we cannot be ‘built up’ without speaking in an unknown tongue because we don’t know what we should ask for, and therefore if the Holy Ghost does not ask for the things we need in a language that cannot be understood then we (those of us without this gift) are at a disadvantage, and will never have the things we need presented to the Father because we don’t have the gift of unknown tongues.

So I believe that you speak in tongues unto God mysteries and then pray to interpret which in turn edifies the body with a revelation, etc.

If I take your statement: “a man with a theory is at the mercy of a man with an experience” and live by it, then I must confess that my “experience” has been that God did not begin to open my eyes to all the truths of His Word, for which you have expressed your gratitude, until I matured to the point that I did not consider my ‘gift of tongues’ and my ‘gift of interpretation of tongues’ to make me any closer to God than those without such gifts. Eventually I was brought, through the scriptures, to see the truth about ‘unknown tongues.’ At that point I saw that I had to choose between a doctrine that I had stood up for for all my life, and the truth about that doctrine which I was beginning to see in the scriptures. Any revelation I have received has come to me since I have seen through the false doctrine of ‘unknown,’ (a word not found in the original in 1 Corinthians 14) tongues. The only thing better than having an experience is seeing through an experience. If King Saul could have seen through his experience at Endor, he would never have fallen in battle. God had told Adam that he would return to the dust. The serpent had told Adam that he would not surely die. Saul’s “experience” lined up with the serpent’s lie, and Saul went with his ‘experience’ and against the scripture. So in the final analysis a man with an experience had better be at the mercy of the scriptures, because the scriptures are dictated to by neither ‘experience’ nor ‘theory.’

Verse 17-19 Paul says speaking in tongues gives thanks WELL [in the spirit] but then you must then speak in english so others are edified.

That is not what Paul says at all. Here is what he does say:

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

I left ‘unknown’ out, because it was added to the Word of God.

1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1Co 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?[Does that sound like Paul was speaking of a secret prayer language?]
1Co 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.1Co 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Read and reread that last verse. Don’t overlook the whole point of this chapter. Paul favors and encourages “understanding.” Yes, he does say not to forbid to speak with other languages, with the understanding that you seek out an interpreter first and do it for a sign to unbelievers and do it in order and not all at one time. ‘Unknown tongues’ is an unscriptural phrase found nowhere in this or any other chapter in scripture.

You apparently want me to believe that if I pray with the understanding that I am not ‘praying in the Spirit.’ I don’t think you realize what you are implying. You are saying that if Paul (or I) were to pray with the understanding, then we would not be praying in the Spirit. You go as far as to quote Jdg 20 as proof that we are to pray in unknown tongues. Here is Jude 20:

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Do you see now how you are equating ‘unknown tongues’ to the words ‘Holy Ghost’ here in Jude 1:20. You point to that scripture and ask me if I can’t see that we are to pray in unknown tongues. The plain scriptural answer is I do not see the words ‘unknown tongues’ anywhere in the book of Jude or anywhere else in scripture. The kind of tongues being spoken of here are revealed in verse 21. We need not speculate:

1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

There it is. Paul makes it clear that what he is talking about throughout this chapter are the “tongues… and … lips [of] other… men.” This is a reference to Isaiah 28:11-12, where Isaiah is prophesying the impending fall of the northern kingdom of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. The ‘men of other tongues’ referred to there are men of the Assyrian tongue.

Paul says he speaks in tongues more then them ALL [Greek: all of them put together]. Should we not see that Paul himself who said to imitate him, encourages us to speak in tongues??

We know from the book of Acts that Paul was at least bi-lingual. Nowhere are we told that Paul had the gift of tongues. Paul is not making that claim here. You have to read that into the text.

1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Does that sound like Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to speak in ‘unknown tongues?’

1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1Co 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Co 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Does one single verse of this section of this chapter sound like Paul is encouraging you to pray in an unknown tongue? I appreciate your zeal. It seems that many people who come to my site are charismatics who are serious and zealous to serve God. I repeat Paul’s advice:

1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

That is what Paul is encouraging these zealous but “childish” (Chapter 13), and “carnal” (chapter 3), Corinthians to do in this chapter. There is not one word about praying in an ‘unknown tongue here or anywhere else in the Bible.

Also, notice vs 19: yet IN the church [inferring that he speaks in tongues not JUST in church] but when he comes to church is to edify and teach others.

That is the exact opposite of what Paul is saying. Here is the proof:

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my [clearly understood English] voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Every time you see that word ‘understanding’ Paul is contrasting it with the much abused gift of languages that these zealous but mislead and ‘carnal’ ‘babes in Christ’ wished to posess. Paul is right up front with these people. He first tells them:

1Co 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;
1Co 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Then only two verses later he tells them:

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Then in the next breath he is telling us this of this congregation:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

But they “came behind in no gift,” and they were especially proud of their gift of languages.

We use tongues to speak to God mysteries from our spirit to His. We prophecy to edify the body of Christ.

I know, I did, too.

Let me close with vs 39: Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophecy, and FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES.

I welcome a true Pentecostal experience with the true gift of true “men of other tongues and of other lips.” I see through the zeal that has led me and millions of other sincere ‘babes in Christ’ to fall for a very poor counterfeit of what actually happened on the day of Pentecost.

I’ve had this experience and recieved ‘tongues’ not by making something up but by the Sprit. I believe the saying that a man with a theory is at the mercy of a man with an experience. I cannot deny this baptism in the Spirit.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Again, I have been encouraged and blessed by your writings; it’s just on this point that I felt I needed to share this with you.

I appreciate you sharing this with me. I hope that “a man with a theory is at the mercy of a man with an experience. I cannot deny this baptism in the Spirit” does not mean that you and I can no longer discuss this subject. I believe that a man with an experience should “try the spirits” just as diligently as a man with a theory. The Truth of the scripture is determined by neither ‘experience’ nor ‘theory.’

I have the same concern for you and for your spiritual welfare. Let’s both pray that God will remove any idol of our heart and reveal His Truth to us. That is truly and honestly all I want.

God bless!

God bless you as you seek to know the mind of Christ.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Mike

December 27, 2003

Part 1

C____ wrote:

Dear Brother Mike,

I just read a good bit of your discourses on your site. I must say that I am very grateful to the Holy Spirit for the insight you have. What I have read thus far, I believe to be the truth. I too, have come out of a Pentecostal Church. I have also seen the things that I believe you refer to as counterfeit “tongues.” I have also seen someone filled with the Spirit and praising God in perfect English and later when I went to speak to them they could not speak but a few words and needed an interpreter to speak to me.

I know “tongues” are real in that case just as you yourself probably have seen that also. My question however, comes from the point that you believe that tongues are no more when we become mature. I agree in spirit with what you say, because I also do not speak in tongues often. But sometimes, in my Secret Place, I do. Paul later ended his teaching with I speak in tongues more than you all. He then said I will pray with the understanding and I will pray in the spirit. Of which I am sure he meant “without understanding,” meaning he spoke in a language that he did not understand, but it did “edify” or build up his faith. As the word itself states.

Where is the scripture for this belief? Paul asks ‘Do all speak with tongues?’ This teaching would have you believe that if you don’t, then you cannot ‘build up your faith.’ That is simply not so. God never intended to give anyone all the gifts, and He certainly never intended to give everyone the least important of the gifts, that is the gift of tongues.

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [and eighth and last] diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: [‘rather that ye may prophesy’] and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

I know and am assured that much of which is passed off as tongues is indeed not the “spirit.” I do know that we have the Spirit and can speak to God in it and it is at times not just a language but also groaning and moaning that can not be uttered. So I guess my question is this, do you believe that all tongues have ceased. And if so, why not prophecy and the other gifts of the Spirit. Which we know if one has passed then prophecy is also passed because Paul stated this also would go away. And if it has gone away, then why has the church not been “perfected” yet as Paul said it would be when all these things ceased!

I do not believe that any of the gifts are ‘passed’ any more than I believe that the law is ‘passed’ or ‘done away’ for those still coming to Christ. The law is necessary to bring us to Christ, but after that faith is come we are no longer under the schoolmaster (Gal 3:19-23). So it is with gifts. They are necessary to lead us to Christ, but eventually (1Co 3:13) every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. Every man’s work will be tried by fire. Our prayers will not always be answered, and our gifts will sometimes force us to “leave Trophimus sick at Miletum” (2Ti 4:20). This is in spite of promises like: (Jas 5:15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. All this simply because our Creator has decided that we should count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience (Jas 1:2-3).

I know that I have written a long letter, but I have come out of “darkness” and cannot just take anyone’s opinion on the matter; it has to be established by the word of God without any contradictions for me to believe.

I could not agree more. I only hope that you realize that I am in that same boat.

Not that I am saying that you have contradicted yourself, but maybe just did not explain it as well as I needed. Thanks, Brother. C____

Thanks for reading my discourses and thank you for your kind words about our ‘insight.

As I said, I was reared a Pentecostal, and I have heard thousands speak in ‘unknown’ tongues over the years.

You say:

I have also seen someone filled with the Spirit and praising God in perfect English and later when I went to speak to them they could not speak but a few word and needed an interpreter to speak to me. I know “tongues” are real in that case just as you yourself probably have seen that also.

No, I have never had such an experience. I have never witnessed anything resembling an Acts 2 experience. Please don’t take that fact to mean that I do not believe that God cannot give someone today the ability to speak in a language (‘tongue’) that they have never spoken in before. I know good and well that God can do that, but I have never witnessed it. All I have ever seen were unscriptural ‘unknown tongues.’

Why do I call them unscriptural? Simply because there is not one time in the scriptures where anyone is ever said to have spoken in an ‘unknown’ tongue. As I am sure you are aware, every time you see the word ‘unknown’ in the KJV, it is in italics. The italics were used by the translators to let us know which words they added to the text to ‘help make the meaning clearer.’ Since Anglicans (King James was an Anglican) are not generally tongues speakers, I seriously doubt that they meant ‘unknown’ in the sense that today’s Pentecostals mean it. It is undeniable that the person speaking ‘in tongues’ on the day of Pentecost did not understand what they were saying as they spoke was heard “every man in his own language” (Act 2:6). Nevertheless, what they were speaking was not a non-existent tongue but “every man in his own language.” It was the same at Cornelius’ house, because Peter said it was:

Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

All languages mentioned in scripture are known languages. They are not the incoherent syllables run together and passed off as the experience of Pentecost. This is obvious delusion. Here is what Paul had to say about the tongues he was discussing: I have adopted this as my own understanding of this particular gift:

1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. [Through out this chapter Paul contrasts the gift of ‘prophecy,’ (he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort vs 3) with the gift of tongues.]
1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown – this mistaken insertion is quoted as if it were scripture] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [ him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. [Since “no man understands him,” Paul says “he edifies himself.” This is not a compliment, nor is it advice. It is a reprimand, and is contrasted with “edifying the church” (vs 4).]
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. [This is the preferred gift of this chapter]
1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [unknown – leave this word out] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. [Here is one of the least quoted verses of this chapter, and it is the heart of this chapter.]
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues [I wish all my children could receive the gift of languages, not mumblings], but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. [This is the required product of both prophesying and tongues. I, too, would rather that my children prophesy than speak in languages]
1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? [Paul is telling us, with this verse that the gift of languages should be used for the purpose of edifying the church, not to demonstrate for the whole congregation that this brother has ‘received his gift.’]
1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? [If this verse is not the death knell of the doctrine of ‘unknown tongues,’ then I do not know what Paul’s point is. Please enlighten me.]
1Co 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain [‘unknown’] sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. [Paul is talking about real languages!]
1Co 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices [actual languages] in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice [this real language], I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. [This is Paul’s assessment of a language that no one understands]
1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. [I really admire the zeal of unknown tongues talking Pentecostals. But just as Paul (who was not even dealing with counterfeit tongues, but with abuse of a real gift), I, too, would rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues…]
1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown – foreign] tongue pray that he may interpret. [What profit are ‘unknown tongues?’ They are ‘a sign’ to no one. There is nothing to ‘interpret.’]
1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an [unknown – foreign] tongue [when there is no one there who would understand that tongue and therefore no one for whom this tongue would ‘be a sign’], my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. [Again, this is an admonition not to abuse God’s gifts just to draw attention to one’s self.]
1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit [only if it is “a sign to unbelievers,” and therefore “edifies the church”], and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit [only if it is a “sign” and “edifies”], and I will sing with the understanding also.
1Co 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1Co 14:17 For thou verily givest thanks [in a real language] well, but the other is not edified.
1Co 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: [We have no record of Paul ever having a Pentecostal experience and speaking in a language he did not understand. “Praying in the spirit” is not synonymous with, nor exclusive to, praying in a foreign language. “Praying with the spirit” is not to be understood as something we should desire to do without understanding what we are saying. That is the exact opposite of the tenor of this whole chapter. It is certainly not to be understood as “the spirit praying for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” If it were to be taken that way, then those who did not have this least desirable gift, would not have such a mediator. What Paul is saying is “I will [always] pray with the understanding also.” Paul considered himself to be just as unedified by speaking in a language he didn’t understand as the church would be unedified if it could not understand what was being said. This chapter is an admonition against abusing a real gift with a real purpose to it. That purpose was most certainly not to edify the one with the gift. Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. They, therefore, are certainly not “the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”]
1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue. [Some day God will open the eyes of Oral Roberts, Gloria and Kenneth Copeland, Billie Byrne and all others who have this false doctrine of ‘unknown tongues,’ to see the truth of this verse. Mind you, Paul is speaking of a real language, not a counterfeit, when he makes this statement.]
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: [Don’t abuse this real gift, just to draw attention to yourself.] howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding [this word is the theme of this chapter] be men.
1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. [This verse is quoted from Isaiah 28 and is a prophecy of the invading Assyrian armies.]

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [This verse alone should give the lie to the false doctrine of ‘unknown tongues.’ The Assyrian ‘tongue’ may not have been understood by Israel, but it was certainly a real language.]

1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. [This is THE purpose for tongues! The exact opposite of the doctrine that tongues are ‘proof of the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost’.]
1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? [As well they should, even if the languages are real, much less when people by the hundreds of thousands are falling for a very poor counterfeit.]
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, [speak clearly in plain English which he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort] and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1Co 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. [Because he could understand what was being said.]
1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue [to be used as a sign to an unbeliever and to edify the church, not for self edification], hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an [unknown – foreign] tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. [This verse proves that it is incumbent upon the person with the gift of languages to seek out an interpreter prior to the service, before he begins to speak in a language that most of the audience may not understand. If there is not an interpreter, “let him hold his peace.” It does not say. ‘Let him speak first and hope that there is someone there who can fake an interpretation of a non- existent language’]
1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30 If [anything] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. [This verse was flagrantly violated by Gloria Copeland and her friend Billie Byrne, on TBN just last night, as they demonstrated how we were to “pray together in unknown tongues.” “Not doing this is what is holding the church back from maturing and becoming a more effective witness for Christ,” they falsely affirmed. This is pathetic, unscriptural nonsense!]
1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. [What group of ‘unknown tongues’ talkers practices this verse.]
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. [They teach just the opposite; ‘You can’t control the Spirit.’]
1Co 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. [This verse amounts to nothing less than ‘Quenching the Spirit,’ to some ‘unknown tongues’ practitioners.]

There! That is my commentary on the tongues part of 1 Corinthians 14, ‘The Tongues Chapter.’ I believe it is true to the scriptures. I simply cannot vouch for something God has given me no experience in. When I witness a true Act 2 tongues experience, I will immediately share it with my reading audience. Just because I have never experienced something does not mean that others haven’t.

You cannot show me where I have ever said that the gift of tongues has passed from the scene. It is true that I believe that as one matures that gifts become less and less of a factor in his faith. I have gone on the record as saying that any gifts that we possess should rest upon our faith and not vice versa. In other words our faith should not depend upon the number of gifts we possess and the number of prayers we have answered. This would lead to nothing less than immaturity and a whole church full of spoiled rotten spiritual “babes in Christ.”

Christ told doubting Thomas: Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen [ gifts displayed and prayers always answered], and yet have believed (Joh 20:29).

James tells us:

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

For some reason, our Creator places great stress upon this thing called ‘patience.’ So much so that He says: In your patience possess ye your souls (Luk 21:19). Babes in Christ, constantly caught up in demonstrations of the gifts they possess and believing that they can “concerning the works of my hands command you me” (Isa 45:11), cannot even discern an admonition from advice or a compliment.

It is “strong meat” to be told that God intends to try the faith of every son He receives. Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is (1Co 3:13). My prayer is simply, ‘give me the strength to endure to the end.’

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Part 2

Dear Brother Mike,

I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to make it sound like I was stating that you taught that tongues had ceased. That was not my intention. That is however what I thought you were saying. I see now that it is not. As far as the movie star preachers are concerned, I don’t much watch them because I get physically ill to my stomach. Really, I’m not joking. I did appreciate your comments on the gifts and it helped me out.

I also do not believe that the gift of tongues is the evidence of the Holy Ghost, which, like I made a mistake, I think you assumed that I did. I am also still learning, just as you are. I think that you, as well as I, are doing just fine without some of the things we were taught. I was in the UPC organization for about 17 years. All the while, God was beating me out of it. You know how it is when you are taught one thing and you find out it is another way. It is a hard road to travel because you seem to be on it alone, although we know that we are not! I have enjoyed your teaching, although I can’t say that I am in total agreement on everything. I am, as I said before, still studying and learning.

May the Lord continue to bless you in knowledge of him. By the way, the scripture you quoted in Isaiah about the stammering lips: I had the Lord quote that to me one night in prayer because I felt so foolish in all the things I have been doing and teaching people about trying to warn them of things to come. He told me it meant by the mouth of the foolish and the tongues of the foreign I will speak to this people. I looked up the word stammering and it means buffoon or foolish. I think it goes along with the scriptures because I have been warning people of us being chastised by foreigners. I hope that you are not put off by me, but that is what I have been teaching. Well, God bless. C____.

Hi C____,

You did not at all offend me. I, too, am at a disadvantage, when communicating by email. It is hard to determine one’s ‘tone of voice’ in an email.

When I ask a direct question, please don’t take it as anything but that. I am just trying to learn what you are thinking and why you believe as you do. I have learned a lot from those who are willing to take the time to tell me why they see the scriptures as they do.

As a matter of fact, I was ‘edified’ by what you had to say about Isaiah 28. All those who are still controlled by ‘the first Adam’ and are opposed to ‘Christ in you’ are indeed ‘foolish buffoons.’

Whether immature Christian, Islamic or total heathen, they are all acting as “evil men.” This is exactly what God uses to punish His own rebellious children.

Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Isa 10:6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Isa 10:11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
Isa 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

These verses tell me that God always has and always will use the heathen to punish His own hypocritical people.

Here it is again from David’s perspective:

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psa 17:14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world…

It seems to me that ” the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land” (Isa 10:23).

Isa 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

I believe that these 21st century ‘Crusades’ that we have embarked upon are only “the beginnings of sorrows.”

Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

While these scriptures seem clear to me, I believe that the weight of the scriptures are directed toward ‘the beast within,’ not some man in a temple made with stones.

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

This is just some ‘food for thought.’

I appreciate your fellowship.

Mike

November 24, 2003

Dear Mike,

I have been reading from your web site and see that you welcome questions and comments. I have a question regarding spiritual gifts, especially tongues.

1Co 12:1-11 “And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant; ye have known that ye were nations, unto the dumb idols– as ye were led– being carried away; wherefore, I give you to understand that no one, in the Spirit of God speaking, saith Jesus is anathema, and no one is able to say Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. And there are diversities of gifts, and the same Spirit; and there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord; and there are diversities of workings, and it is the same God – who is working the all in all. And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit; for to one through the Spirit hath been given a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another faith in the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings in the same Spirit; and to another in- workings of mighty deeds; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues: and all these doth work the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each severally as he intendeth” (YLT).

So it is clear that spiritual gifts are real and serve a purpose. Gifts are dispersed as the Spirit intends.

1Co 12:28-31 “And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues; are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all powers? have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? and desire earnestly the better gifts;…” (YLT)

This again suggests gifts are dispersed among the body. Some teach that there are two types of tongues; a quiet, personal prayer language and another to edify the church aloud. Are you aware of this distinction in Scripture?

Also, usage of gifts in this age will clearly end. My question is: does the “perfect” below refer to Jesus’ return (end of this age) or my own maturity – “teleios” – completeness: of full age, man, perfect (maturity of character, etc.)?

1Co 13:8-10 “The love doth never fail; and whether there be prophecies, they shall become useless; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall become useless; for in part we know, and in part we prophecy; and when that which is perfect may come, then that which is in part shall become useless.” (YLT)

Thanks for receiving my questions and I look forward to reading your response(s).

God bless you,
P__

Hi P__,

Thanks for reading the web page. Thanks especially for your question. You ask:

Some teach that there are two types of tongues; a quiet, personal prayer language and another to edify the church aloud. Are you aware of this distinction in Scripture?

No, there is no such distinction ‘in scripture.’

Yes, I am aware of this distinction in the minds of those who believe in ‘unknown tongues.’ I notice that you have not used the phrase,’unknown tongues,’ and I don’t know how you personally feel about this subject. If we are interested in The Truth, then our ‘feelings’ become secondary and irrelevant. I am going to approach this question as I do every question I receive and answer with only one criteria; what saith the scripture?

“Some teach that there are two types of tongues; a quiet, personal prayer language and another to edify the church aloud.” I ask simply, where is the scripture for this teaching? I know very well how it is deduced, because I was raised an interdenominational Pentecostal. I spoke in ‘unknown’ tongues with the others in my church. Our ‘tongues’ were as good as anyone’s. I was as sincere at that time as I am presently in my desire to know the mind of God and to let Christ live His life in me. I love those who believe in ‘unknown tongues’ and appreciate the sincere desire to please God that many of these brothers have. Having said that, I am compelled to add that I was not, however, as informed of The Truth at that time as I am 40 years later. At that time I also believed in ‘free moral agency’ and another Satanic doctrine, the doctrine of an eternal burning hell for immortal souls.

Simply by the grace of God I have been shown in the scriptures that Adam, as he came from the hand of the Creator, was totally unfit for eternal life in the kingdom of God and had not yet ‘put on immortality.’

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Eze 18:4… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

I now reject the teaching of an immortal flesh and blood Adam, or an inherent immortal soul. They are “Idols of the heart” (Eze 14:9).

I have been shown that instead of ‘free will’ the scriptures teach, (Rom 9:16) … it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (Php 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Eph 1:11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

I now reject the teachings of free will and of free moral agency. It is an “Idol of the heart.”

Instead of eternal burning hell, I have been shown that God (1Ti 2:4) … will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 4:10) For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [not exclusively] of those that believe. (2Pe 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (1Jn 2:2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours [believers] only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I now reject the teaching of eternal hell fire or eternal death. They are both “idols of the heart.”

Likewise when I saw that…

1Co 14:2… he that speaketh in a tongue [a foreign language, when there is no one there to interpret] speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church [and what is the point of this statement?].
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with [foreign] tongues, but rather that ye prophesied[ speak in a language everyone understands]: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you [anyone who speaks in ‘unknown tongues’ care to answer this question of Paul’s], except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?1Co14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? [Does this sound as if Paul is talking about ‘unknown tongues’ understood as unknown to any culture on earth?]
1Co1 4:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound [unknown tongues], who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood[ here is the force of this entire chapter], how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

1Co 14:3… he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

So I repeat:

1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

At that point I decided to, (1Co 14:1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

I was shown that even though Paul could, (1Co 14:18) … speak with tongues more than ye all:

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue.

How many people who claim to have the gift of tongues have this scriptural attitude?

Finally, I was shown the purpose for tongues. I now know that (1Co 14:21) In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. [So the ‘tongues under discussion are, “men of other tongues.”]

1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe[not ‘the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost’], but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe [this is the “language… to edify the church aloud,” as you put it.]

Now that I know the function of ‘tongues,’ I understand how the ‘tongues’ spoken on the day of Pentecost were used by the ‘Holy Ghost.’ They were for a sign to them [the Jews] that believed not. What tongues were they speaking? We don’t have to guess. We are told specifically:

Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

So the 120 on whom the ‘Holy Ghost’ came on the day of Pentecost, did not understand what they were saying, but they were speaking in one of the above listed ‘tongues.’ No one ever spoke in a “tongue of angels.” The reason we have this phrase in scripture is to distinguish it from human languages. In the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue [even a foreign ‘tongues of angels’].

Co 14:2… he that speaketh in a tongue [a foreign language, when there is no one there to interpret] speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. [This is not a word of praise, it is a reprimand. The solution to this infantile behavior of verse two, which simply “edifieth himself,” is verses 3-5.]
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.1Co14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself [when no one understands him]; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church [and what is the point of this statement?].
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with [foreign] tongues, but rather that ye prophesied[ speak in a language everyone understands]: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying [ as well as the person or persons for whom it is “a sign.”]

Once this scriptural purpose for ‘tongues,’ as a “sign to them that believe not,” is understood and believed in, the false doctrine of ‘unknown tongues’ falls away. The ‘unbeliever’ may be a called out saint, such as Peter at the house of the Gentile, Roman centurion, Cornelius. Still, “tongues were for a sign to them that believed not.” It took a duplication of the exact event that occured on Pentecost to convince Peter and all of the Jewish apostles, that God was no longer bound by physical descent in His dealings with mankind.

This was but one of the many (Joh 16:12) “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” that Christ had referred to on the night before His apprehension by those of the ‘church’ of His day.

Part of the problem involved here is that very few people notice that we are given the scriptural definition of ‘prophecy’ here. How is prophecy defined? (1Co 14:3) He that prophesieth speaketh [speaks in ‘plain English’] unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Now since (2Ti 3:16) All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: “All scripture” is therefore prophecy. ‘Doctrine’ is certainly ‘edification,’ and ‘instruction in righteousness,’ is certainly ‘exhortation.’ But for what purpose? To prove that we have ‘the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost?’ Is this the purpose for anything given to us? No, such phraseology is without scriptural basis whatsoever. Though it may not always be pointed out in the context, such as Acts 19:1-5, we are assured that the purpose for tongues, even here, is “for a sign to them that believed not.” God is not into edifying the flesh. Paul exhorts us, “rather seek to prophecy” for this purpose: (2Ti 3:17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Now let’s examine the events of Act 19:1-5.

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Notice that immediately after these disciples receive the gift of tongues, he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

As with Peter, and as with the Jews at Pentecost, these disciples receiving the gift of languages was “for a sign to them which believe not.” The Jews of the synogogue were as obstinate as the Jews at Jerusalem. They were as attached to their privileged position as ‘descendants of Abraham’ as was Peter, while he napped on the roof of the home of Simon the tanner.

“John’s baptism” knew nothing of “Christ [‘dying daily’ to the things of the flesh] in you the hope of glory”

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

There is one other point that needs to be brought out in this 14th chapter of I Corinthians.

1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

This verse does not say, ‘Speak first and wait to see if someone can interpret.’ Paul says it is incumbent upon the person with the gift of tongues to use his gift wisely, as “a sign to them that believe not.” He was to “keep silence in the church” if he had not first determined whether someone was present who was capable of interpreting this particular tongue.

1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy[ even an interpreted language was to edify] one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

In summary, Paul gives us his understanding of the place and comparative importance of tongues:

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

If only this were the attitude of us all, we would all “in understanding be men,” at least on this one subject.

Again, I do not disdain those who are more concerned with the gift of tongues than with the gift of prophecy. It was only yesterday that I was just such a person. However, yes, to answer your question, “When that which is mature is come that which is in part shall be done away.” Here it is:

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [We have just been shown how tongues stack up to prophecy].
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [Why interpret something no one on earth understands in the first place? That is “a sign” to no one.]
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In closing, let me point out that, in Peter’s case at Cornelius’ house, he said:

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

What God had “given them… even as he did unto us,” was real languages which served “as a sign to them which believed not.” Paul was not discussing “tongues of angels” in 1 Corinthians 14. He certainly was not discussing what is passed off as ‘unknown tongues’ in the ‘charismatic’ world of today. This was ‘the real thing.’ It was so powerful that it served as a “sign to them that believed not.” Take it from someone with personal experience, ‘unknown tongues,’ often serve the exact opposite purpose and drive away many who are honestly seeking to know The Truth.

I hope I haven’t offended you. That is certainly not my intent. But I have discovered that many who have experienced ‘speaking in unknown tongues’ find it difficult to admit that they have been believing in, and partaking of, a counterfeit. I myself had just such a struggle. It was a real relief to get to where I did not feel superior to those who had “not yet been baptised with the Holy Ghost.”

I hope this has been of some help to you.

Let me hear from you.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike Vinson

1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Now all any spiritually honest person has to do is to ask himself, did Paul actually remove any mountains? Had he actually given his body to be burnt? The answer to these questions is as obvious as the answers posed by Paul himself in the previous chapter, where he proves that not everyone who has the Holy Ghost possesses all the gifts of the Holy Ghost. No one has all the gifts, and certainly not one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is required to be shared by every believer. Here are those very revealing questions:

1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

The answer to all seven of these questions, for any honest person, is a resounding ‘No, all are not apostles, all are not teachers, and all do not work miracles! Yes, all these worketh that one and the selfsame [ Holy] Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (1Co 12:11). Yet all do not possess the gifts of healing, all do not speak with tongues, and all do not interpret. And yet Paul assures us:

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the [ Holy] Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Paul does not distinguish between ‘the Spirit of God’ and ‘the Spirit of Christ.’ As we are plainly told they are “that one and the selfsame Spirit” (1Co 12:11). ‘Unknown’ tongues are unknown to the scriptures. They discourage those who are too honest to “receive them,” and they “puff up” those who, as I myself once was, have a “zeal for God but not according to knowledge” (Rom 10:2).

When I use the words ‘spiritually honest,’ I am not at all implying that Pentecostal and charismatic people are all spiritually dishonest people. Quite to the contrary, my experience has been that some of the most honest people I have ever known have been charismatics and Pentecostals. And I am not telling you that I was at one time spiritually dishonest. That is not my point. But once I saw the truth revealed when honestly answering Paul’s seven questions; once I saw that the reason “no man understands him” was simply because there was no man there who needed or understood that language, and there was no one there to interpret that language; once I saw that the gifted person was to first determine if there were someone who could interpret his foreign tongue which would be a “sign to unbelievers; once I saw that “in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries” simply because those speaking real languages on the day of Pentecost did not understand what they were speaking, but that there were others there who did; once I saw that the only reason given in scripture for this gift of tongues was as “a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers;” once I saw that in the law it is written, ‘with men of other tongues [ not angels of other tongues] and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord;’ once I saw that the “tongues of angels” matter was a hypothetical question; once all of this became clear, then I would have been a spiritually dishonest person to continue clinging to what I now knew to be scripturally unfounded beliefs.

Once truth is seen, if at that point, we do not relinquish our faulty doctrines; then what was up to that point simply a matter of having “a zeal for God but not according to knowledge” (Rom 10:2), has now progressed to become an “idol of the heart” (Ezekiel 14:1-10). Let us look carefully and prayerfully at these verses:

Ezekiel 14:1 Then came certain of the elders [ Today’s leading ministers] of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Ezekiel 14:2 And the word of the LORD [ The scriptures] came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart [ false, unscriptural doctrines], and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face [ living and acting in accord with their heart’s idols]: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Ezekiel 14:4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart [ continues to cling to his false doctrines after the truth has been presented to him], and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet [ Comes to the Bible trying to force it to fit his heart’s idol]; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols [ God Himself will “send them strong delusion,” and it will be “according to” what they want the Bible to say. It will be “according to the multitude of their idols”];

Ezekiel 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

Ezekiel 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols [ relinquish your scripturally unfounded doctrines]; and turn away your faces from all your abominations [ living in accord with your unfounded teachings, like: ‘free moral agency,’ ‘the immortality of the soul,’ and it’s accompanying ‘eternal hell fire’ doctrine, the ‘secret, pre- trib rapture, the teaching of tithing in the new covenant, and yes, the unscriptural teaching of ‘unknown tongues.]

Ezekiel 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

Ezekiel 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people [ God’s “people” are not in “buildings made with hands;” they “come out … of Babylon”]; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Ezekiel 14:10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh [ unto him];

‘Unknown tongues’ are not an idol of the heart until one is faced with the truth of the scriptures on the subject. But once we see the truth on this or any other false doctrine, if at that point we begin to reason, ‘My whole church believes and teaches this doctrine. Surely my minister and many other great men of God cannot be wrong about this doctrine. Besides I have believed and taught many others this doctrine all my adult life. Why, if I change my tune now, no one will ever believe a word I ever say again.’ These and a thousand other arguments just like them are the building materials of “idols of the heart.” Any criteria other than ‘what saith the scriptures’ is nothing less than an “idol of the heart.”

Getting back to your question about the ‘tongues of angels,’ in 2Co 13, after reiterating the point that he had made in the first three chapters of this epistle, that you can “come behind in no gift:”

1Co 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

And yet these very same ‘gifted’ tongues- endowed Corinthians we are told were yet “carnal.”

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

After reiterating this point in Chapter 13: ‘though I have all gifts and have not love,’ Paul then tell us what it really is that truly distinguishes a man who has come to know Christ:

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

I can well remember how I used to bristle at any suggestion that my ‘unknown tongues’ were not of God. But the scriptures themselves constrain me to confess that the Truth is “forbid not to speak with tongues,” but ‘unknown tongues,’ as I have said, are unknown to the scriptures.

I cannot speak for others, but as I understand the scriptures, every verse from Genesis to Revelation is part of the ‘revelation of Jesus Christ.’ Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end and everything in between. As such, His word has the same qualities. What this means is that all the gifts of God are still available when they are needed for those who are not yet brought to the point that they can function without them. This is true for every newborn babe in every generation. It is an obvious fact that as long as all of one’s prayers are answered, his faith will never be tried or proven. Spiritual maturity, as the experiences of Paul and all the apostles show, necessitates that we will not always enjoy the benefits of the gifts of the Spirit. It is because we have grown to the point that we value the fruit above the gifts that we are able to be weaned from the outward demonstrations of faith. We cannot have our spiritually mature cake and eat it too. Children need gifts. Mature adults need to give to others whatever it takes to bring them to maturity.

No child yet has ever matured by getting everything he wanted. Withholding the gifts of childhood are a necessary step to spiritual maturity. ‘Charity,’ the true measure of spiritual maturity, “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1Co 13:7). “Enduring all things” is a strong indication that at some point in the development of every generation of the Christian experience, our faith will be tested.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

If the gift of real tongues is simply not available today, then neither is the gift of knowledge and neither is the gift of prophecy; we need never ask for healing, and we can never expect to see a miracle. I have yet to witness an Act 2 experience, but I have witnessed healings that, though not instantaneous, were nevertheless miraculous. If Christ truly “is, was and will be,” then the same is true of His Word. It too, “is, was and will be.” If you haven’t yet done so be sure to read Biblical Examples Of Rightly Dividing the Word. It will give you a valuable tool for understanding the way the apostles themselves used the word of God. That tool is not even allowed in the hermeneutics and exegesis of today’s orthodox seminaries.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Israel’s “for our admonition” history reveals a second baptism in the Jordan just before they began doing battle in the promise land. God does not expect infants, or even toddlers, to ‘fight the giants in the land.’ These battles await those who have been matured and are somewhat ‘circumcised,’ after going through the ‘first baptism’ of the Red Sea and learning about the proper way to worship and make proper offerings to God in our ‘wilderness experience. There is generally a great distance in time between our Red Sea baptism and the time when we undergo a ‘second baptism’ in the Jordan. The ‘Jordan baptism’ is a baptism of far greater maturity than the ‘babes in Christ’ baptism of the Red Sea experience.

We are used more by God’s Spirit as our old man ‘dies daily.’ In other words, we have all of God’s Spirit right from the get- go, but God does not have all of us right from the get- go. Having ‘all of God’ does me very little good until He has ‘all of me.’ As we ‘die’ to the things of the flesh, we are able to be used of the Spirit which is always there all along in full measure. It is only with the rebellions of the ‘wilderness experience behind us that we are, at last, ready to experience a second, more mature, ‘baptism in the Jordan.’ Then, only after that ‘second baptism,’ are we ready to become truly ‘circumcised in heart.’ And it is only after we have become ‘circumcised in heart’ that we are then able to do real battle in ‘heavenly places,’ represented by the “giants’ who occupy the ‘land of promise.’

All of our battles up to this time have been battles within our spiritually immature physical bodies. There are ‘giants’ on both sides of the Jordan, but the ‘giants’ occupying the ‘promised land’ are far more intimidating than the ‘giants’ in the ‘wilderness’. The battles on the other side of the Jordan are fought against “powers and principalities in heavenly places” (Eph 6:9). We will prefer to ‘return to Egypt’ or ‘die in the wilderness’ rather than to face and conquer the giants ‘in heavenly places’.

I truly believe you and I are engaged in that battle at this very moment with these e- mails. If we have what John calls “the spirit of error” while we think we have the Holy Ghost, our battles will be impaired by ‘Babylonian robes and gold.’ The first thing to affect Israel in a negative way in the land of promise, was “silver and gold and a Babylonish robe” (Jos 7:20-22). As long as we desire the ‘clothing’ of Babylon, any ‘gold or silver’ we have becomes ‘gold, silver and precious stones’ of Babylon (Rev 18:12) ‘ The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones…”

It is very few Christians who can distinguish between the “gold, silver and precious stones,” of 1Co 3: and the “gold, silver and precious stones,” of Rev 18. In truth, they both are “gold, silver and precious stones.” The only thing that makes one to differ from the other is their location. It is instructive to note that when Israel destroyed Achan, they destroyed the riches he had lusted after, with him. It will be much better for us to ‘judge ourselves,’ and get rid of any ‘Babylonish garments,’ that we may have lying around in our tents before God is forced to do our judging.

It was Christ who said, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Mat 10:22). But He also warned us that one thing in particular would tend to prevent many from ‘enduring to the end.’ What keeps people from ‘enduring to the end,’ is not because they don’t speak in unknown tongues. The reason people don’t ‘endure to the end,’ is a much better gage of one’s spiritual health than tongues, real or unknown. What keeps “many,” from, “enduring to the end is that “the love [ the fruit of the Spirit] of many will wax cold:” (Mat 24: 12). This warning against allowing our, “love to wax cold,” is from Christ Himself. So it is Christ Himself who has inspired Paul to de- emphasize the gifts that minister to our physical appetites, gifts like physical healings and foreign tongues. These are the ‘manna from heaven,’ which minister to our fleshly needs. But Paul’s advice is to “covet earnestly the best gifts,” and the “more excellent way.” Here are ‘the best gifts:

1Co 12:28… First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, [ and what is it that comes after “the best gifts?] after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [ and what is always last?] diversities of [ real] tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The “more excellent way,” is what Chapter 13 Is all about. It is all about ‘agape‘ love. In other words Paul follows Christ’s advice, and de- emphasizes the truly miraculous physical ‘feeding of the four thousand and later of the five thousand,’ and instead places his emphasis upon the “true bread from heaven,’ which ministers to our spiritual needs and has no immediate outward physical display. This doctrine, will of course cost you “many disciples,” as Christ experienced in John six. It was Christ Himself who had fed the 4,000 and again the 5,000. But it was also Christ Himself who chastened those same people He had fed, for becoming attached to that physical gift. It was not “the best gifts.” As hard as it is for us to accept, “Son, thy sins are forgiven,” is by far “the best gift.” It is incalculably better than, “Arise, take up thy bed and walk.”

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits[ not ‘their gifts’] ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?[ including ‘tongues]
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
1Jn 4:6 We [ the Word of God] are of God: he that knoweth God [ His word] heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass[ mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [ This is true spiritual growth; becoming more and more like Christ] even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

I hope this has helped you to see the subject of tongues in a better scriptural perspective.