SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
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.
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Most denominations preach, teach, and place their faith in Mark chapter 16 verses 15, 16, and especially verse 17, here we find the Lord Jesus Christ giving commands to His apostles to go out “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This “gospel” was to be preached to all in the world, but only after the kingdom had been set up on this earth in Jerusalem, but the apostles were told that they must start in Jerusalem first, then they were to go out into all the world. The main purpose for the gift of tongues was so that the 12 apostles and the men that they personally chose in Jerusalem could communicate the word of God to all the nations of the earth no matter what the language. The gift of tongues was a promise from God to His nation (this commission does not pertain to any man outside of Jerusalem) only; and any man or woman outside of Jerusalem (New York, St. Louis, California, etc.) that says that they are following this commission are wasting their time “being deceived,” and deceiving others with this gospel that God would not have preached today. And one would ask the question: “well didn’t the Corinthian church have spiritual gifts?” well as we will see the Gentile church experienced spiritual gifts on temporary basis as a sign to unbelieving Israel.
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.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Dan 9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
And as we can plainly see the “gift of the Holy Ghost” was a promise given by God unto “all Israel” and their seed; which pertains to the Jews that are “near,” (meaning the ones still living in Judea) and also the Jews who were “far off;” meaning they were ones who were “scattered” and “driven” out of the land of Israel into the countries of the Gentiles.
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
The apostles were told to “tarry” (wait) in Jerusalem until they be “endued with power from on high,” they were to wait for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and their prophesied kingdom to come in, and all the glory and promises associated with it.
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.
On the day of Pentecost (a Jewish feast day) all the apostles and the disciples were still in Jerusalem, after they received the gift of the Holy Ghost they knew they were not to preach this gospel outside of Jerusalem until the kingdom was to come. Moreover the apostles knew that the gift that they received from the Holy Ghost was given to equip the apostles with the ability to speak in other “tongues” of man all over the world. If the kingdom had been established at that time (the Holy city of Jerusalem would come from heaven to the earth and Israel would have been established as a “royal priesthood”) the apostles and the disciples would have preached the word of God in Jerusalem first, then Samaria (the northern kingdom of Israel), and then they were to go out to all the world and preach the gospel to all mankind in every tongue (language).
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.
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
To preach this gospel today would disobey what the Lord commissioned His apostles to do, first of all the Lord only gave commands to His 12 apostles to go and preach this message, then later the twelve apostles gave other men authority to preach the gospel to the unsaved Jews. Oftentimes verses 17-20 are picked over and most will take some of what is said, and ignore the rest. We will start with verse 17: the verse says that the signs will follow “them that believe,” but oftentimes the preacher will tell you that if a gift doesn’t work for you it’s because ‘you don’t have enough faith,’ but the verse says that it’s the one preaching the message that has to have enough faith to make the gifts work, not you. Also verse 18 is chopped up in half because everyone tries to use the last part of the verse, but again they ignore the first part, the main reason for that is because it can be a very dangerous thing to pick up a serpent or to drink anything poisonous, but they will say someone has gotten healed because they ‘laid hands on them,’ but this is not the case. When the Lord and His apostles healed the nation of Israel, it was instantaneous and they were made “whole,” today people will say that they are healed of things that can go into remission like cancer, or say someone got healed but they still need rehabilitation, or they are in intensive care, or they need medicine to fully heal from their sickness. It makes you wonder why does the healing preachers leave kids sick and to die in the children’s hospitals, and why won’t they heal the retarded, or blind, or paralyzed? This is because these gifts are not in operation today, and have been done away with today. Verse 20 is one of the verses where a lot of people come up with the idea that you have to ‘show evidence’ of tongues, but again it is the one preaching the message of the kingdom to the unbelievers that has to show signs, not the whole church.
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.
Paul says that there was going to come a time when these spiritual gifts would be done away with, and that the gifts that were in operation at that time were “in part.” What these Corinthians were told was that what was “in part” was the knowledge of God, and “that which is perfect” is the perfect knowledge of God. Some will say “that which is perfect” is the coming of Christ at the rapture, but the verse says “that which is perfect,” not Who which is perfect. At the time that Paul wrote first Corinthians these saints only had partial knowledge, all they had was the Old Testament (this includes Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Galatians, first and second Thessalonians in their possession; they only knew part of God’s will for them as saints. Paul told the saints in verse 12 that concerning having “perfect” knowledge, these saints were ‘still in the dark,’ and it was as if you were to try to look into a dirty mirror and then you were to wipe it clean, then you can see yourself “face to face,” Paul says that there was going to come a time when they were not going to “know in part” anymore, and “that which is perfect” would come; and it would be in his lifetime.
Rom 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
SO WHEN DID “THAT WHICH IS PERFECT” COME?
Paul knew that when he came to Rome that he would eventually “come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” And the Roman church could not wait to come into the fullness of the knowledge of God, and we know that Paul did come into the “perfect” knowledge of God’s will for us, take these verses for example:
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
The last epistle that Paul wrote was second Timothy, and he says that the doctrine that he preached was made “fully known” which is contrary to what he said eight epistles earlier, he says we can know “all things” when it comes to God’s plan and purpose for the Gentile world today. And when we “consider” what our apostle (Paul which is the apostle of the Gentiles) has written in the 13 epistles we understand how to “rightly divide the word of truth” knowing where and when God has made divisions in His word. We know that the whole bible is God’s word of truth, but it is not all for our obedience as saints.
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?
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?
When the gift of tongues were given it was given for the purpose of getting God’s word of truth to unbelievers only, this gift was given so that when the preacher went out to the unsaved that spoke in another language, the unsaved would “hear them speak” the “wonderful works of God.” Notice in verses 8 and 11 it says that they understood what these disciples said, but today you have everyone saying that they are speaking in tongues in the church among other believers, but that is not how God said it should be done.
1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue 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 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.
Co 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.
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?
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
Because tongues are “for a sign” to unbelieving Israel only, Paul says it would not make any sense for believers to speak in an unknown language when no one understands what is being said. The main purpose for the gift of tongues was to get God’s word to unbelievers that spoke in different languages, and the purpose of the church was to edify one another with God’s word, but the church in Corinth had people saying that they were speaking in another tongue, but they were not.
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, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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.
1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
It seems like most churches do what the Corinthians did; speak with ‘tongues’ when they come together at church without any edification taking place. Also there are only to be three in the church that are to speak with tongues, and it has to be done one at a time, and someone has to be able to understand what is being said.
1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Moreover women were not to speak with tongues in the church at all, at that time some of the unsaved Gentiles practiced Greek goddess worship, and the women taught the men, and were look up to as having wisdom given to them by the Greek goddess Dianna. So quite naturally there were women in the churches who also wanted to “speak” just as the men and women did who stood up and were heard by ones who placed value in hearing “some new thing.”
Act 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Act 17:19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Act 17:20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
Act 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF GIVING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The purpose for spiritual gifts was a temporary way for God to get His word of truth to mankind, notice verse 11 it says “and he GAVE,” which is past-tense for the way that God gave His word to the church. And He gave these gifts until the bible was complete, and we now have the full “knowledge of the Son of God.” And when we understand and “consider” what our apostle says in our 13 epistles, we know we can be ‘perfected’ by this doctrine, and we won’t be as “children, tossed to and fro” by the evil men of this world who “lie in wait to deceive” you with the “childish things” that were done by the earlier church ( notice also Paul called these saints “babes” and that they could not yet handle “meat” doctrine because they only hade partial knowledge of God’s word of truth at that time, so it makes you wonder why this world would want to be just like the Corinthian church, but sad to say most feel that you have reached a perfected standing when a saint ‘shows the signs’ of tongues) like spiritual gifts, because we should understand that we have “that which is perfect;” and that is the completed, perfect word of truth: the bible, which is God’s word of truth.
WHERE DID THIS “WIND OF DOCTRINE” COME FROM?
During the 1800’s thru the early 1900’s man began a trade to entice and deceive people out of their earnings, this included the practice of fortune-telling, palm reading, false healing medicine, or say they can reach your loved one ‘in the here-after,’ etc. Also around this time came the birth of many denominations as well. One in particular would be the Pentecostal church; (for more information on the birth of this church look up ‘Azusa street revival’ on the internet) which is an emotion filled-no edification taking place, where the main emphasis is placed upon the “outward man,” and doing works in the sight of men to self-justify, self-sanctify, and self-exalt their outer man, instead of placing their faith in what the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ already accomplished for them on the cross for their “inward man.”
Rod Jones