SPELLING EDITED
Now, almost all Christians believe and teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still present in the church today. However, there are some Christians that teach that miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit of God have CEASED with the first-century church. And they go on to say that any miracle or healing or gift of the Spirit such as speaking in other tongues is of the devil and not of God. In this study, we will take a close look at the different viewpoints and weigh the evidence in light of the WHOLE word of God. Let's begin by looking at the verses of Scripture that are used to teach that speaking in other tongues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit have CEASED and are NO LONGER present in the church today, according to the interpretation of those verses by Christians who teach against speaking in other tongues in the church today.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
“Charity (Or Love) never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall CEASE; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away, 9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be DONE AWAY. 11. When I was a child, I SPOKE as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I PUT AWAY childish things. 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 also as I am known. 13. And NOW abides faith, hope, and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is (Love or) charity.” Now, the Christians that teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have passed away or have ceased INTERPRET this passage of Scripture very different from how almost every other Christian understands these verses of Scripture in the light of the whole word of Almighty God. For example, some Christians have interpreted the phrase “...that which is PERFECT has come...” as being the BIBLE, speaking of the New Testament of the Bible. Therefore, to them, when the Bible was COMPLETED or canonized so that no more could be added or taken away, the Bible was COMPLETE, or PERFECT. Remember, one of the meanings of PERFECT is COMPLETE. Therefore, they interpret when “...that which is PERFECT has come...” was fulfilled when we were given the Bible in its COMPLETED form as we have today. And thus, to them, there is no more NEED to have the gifts of the Spirit, because we have that which is PERFECT with us, according to their interpretation of the Bible. However, if we consider the WHOLE CONTEXT of this passage of Scripture and we allow SCRIPTURE to interpret Scripture then we will clearly see that which is PERFECT has come is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world to come and NOT the Bible.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13:12.
“For NOW we see through a glass darkly, (Or NOW we know in part) BUT THEN (Then when? When that which is PERFECT is COME) FACE to FACE: (We do NOT refer to the BIBLE as seeing FACE to FACE) NOW I know in part; BUT THEN (Speaking of when we see Jesus as he is, face to face) I shall KNOW even as ALSO I am KNOWN.”
You see, right NOW it does not yet appear what we shall be but we know that WHEN Jesus, the Son of man who was made PERFECT shall COME we shall be LIKE him. For you see, we shall SEE him AS HE IS in person FACE TO FACE. And THEN we shall no longer know IN PART because we shall KNOW EVEN as ALSO we are KNOWN. So then the completed New Testament of the BIBLE is NOT what 1 Corinthians 13:12 is speaking of as being that which is PERFECT has COME. But rather, this verse is speaking of JESUS when he comes again in his Father's kingdom to rule and reign for a literal 1000 years on the earth for Yahweh in his God and Father's name.
Please read 1 John 3:2.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: (In other words, we do not know totally what it is going to be like, we only know IN PART what the world to come will be like. Also, we do not yet have our immortal bodies as Jesus has now) but we know (Or but this much we do know) that when HE (Speaking of JESUS made PERFECT and NOT the Bible) shall appear, (Or shall COME) we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
In other words, we may not know all there is to know about the world that is COMING BUT at least we know this PART, that we shall be like him when he COMES and we SEE him face to face. Then the very next verse in 1 John 3 teaches us that every Christian who has this HOPE of the resurrection at his COMING to receive a new glorified immortal body and to see Jesus face to face abiding in them then they will PURIFY themselves to be pure and holy even as Jesus is PURE. 1 John 3:3.
“And every man that has this HOPE in him (Or ABIDING in him to REMAIN a lively HOPE) purifies himself, EVEN as he is PURE.”
Now please notice what 1 Corinthians 13:13 says.
“And NOW ABIDES (Or NOW in this present world REMAINS in us who believe or have faith in Jesus and the resurrection) FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, these three, but the greatest of these is (LOVE or) CHARITY .”
Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord that it takes ALL THREE ABIDING or remaining in us in order to empower us to purify ourselves EVEN as Jesus is PURE? First of all, it takes HOPE or the direction and desire to set our affections upon. Without HOPE there would be no direction in our lives whatsoever. HOPE gives us the VISION to pursue. And from HOPE springs forth FAITH, according to Hebrews 11:1.
Hebrews 11:1.
“Now FAITH is the SUBSTANCE (Or the ground or confidence) of things HOPED for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT SEEN.”
When we first heard the good news, the gospel to be saved and to receive eternal life, then that good news sparked HOPE in us. And when we pondered on the HOPE, faith came. Hebrews 11:6 goes on to tell us that WITHOUT FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. So the beginning of our faith is that at first, we must BELIEVE that God is, or that God exists and then we must believe that God is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And then it takes LOVE, the greatest of all, for us to have in order to use our faith productively for God because FAITH works BY love.
Galatians 5:6.
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but FAITH that WORKS BY LOVE.”
You see, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Paul opens up chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians by telling us that WITHOUT LOVE we are NOTHING. Let's read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that is to CONTEXT of which gift is the best gift of the Holy Spirit to have and use ALL of the TIME to gain a better understanding of the very verses in question speaking of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 that are used to try and prove that the gift of other tongues has CEASED. Now, a CLOSER look at the CONTEXT of this controversial passage of Scripture will clearly show to those seeking only the truth of the WHOLE word of God will see that Paul is NOT teaching against speaking in other tongues. But rather, Paul is instructing those that speak in tongues to make sure that their MOTIVE is right and that they are speaking in other tongues in LOVE not having any PRIDE in them about their speaking in other tongues. Please carefully read 1 Corinthians 13 verses 1-3 and notice that without love THEN speaking in other tongues BECOMES useless and profits us nothing. In other words, Paul is ONLY condemning the speaking in tongues WHEN the speaking in tongues is NOT done or spoken IN LOVE by having PRIDE or the one speaking in tongues is PUFFED UP.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
“Though I SPEAK (In other words Paul himself STILL speaks so his words in this SAME letter in verse 12 could NOT possibly mean that speaking in other tongues have CEASED when the New Testament was completed. Pauls says, though I SPEAK) with the TONGUES of MEN and of ANGELS, and have NOT (LOVE or) CHARITY, I have BECOME as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. (Did you see that? It is ONLY when we speak in other tongues WITHOUT speaking in LOVE that we, that is to say, our speaking in tongues BECOMES useless) 2. 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 (LOVE or) CHARITY, I am NOTHING. (Or all those good things we do and teach or preach have no profit to others or ourselves) 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have NOT (LOVE or) CHARITY, it profits me NOTHING.”
Can you not you see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, even if we are to give ALL our possessions to the poor and we do it NOT in LOVE THEN it PROFITS us NOTHING. We have no reward when we give to others out of DUTY or grudgingly. LOVE has to be our MOTIVE in ALL we do INCLUDING speaking in OTHER TONGUES of men, the language of angels, and even the secrets in unknown tongues that we pray directly to God. You see, if we speak in other tongues WITHOUT being INFLUENCED by LOVE then those kinds of tongues that are being spoken without love BECOME as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, and profits nothing. It is like the Pharisees that PRAY long prayers BEFORE MEN to look good in the eyes of men. In other words, that was their only MOTIVE, so the prayers themselves profited NOTHING. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Paul is NOT teaching that other tongues have ceased and are as sounding brass or in other words, useless, but rather, Paul is teaching that ALL we do must be motivated or initiated by LOVE, otherwise it profits nothing. So in conclusion of interpreting the true sound Biblical meaning of this passage of Scripture on this FIRST point, we see that the gift of other tongues shall NOT CEASE UNTIL that which is PERFECT is COME which is speaking of WHEN Jesus comes again. Remember what the CLEAR word of God plainly says in 1 Corinthians 13:10 that which is in PART shall be done away.
1 Corinthians 13:10.
“But WHEN that which is PERFECT is COME, THEN that which is in part shall be done away.”
Now some still want to argue that the gift of tongues has ceased with the early church and try to use 1 Corinthians 13:11 where Paul says when he became a man or a MATURE Christian he put away CHILDISH things. In order to understand the TRUE sound Biblical meaning, then we must know the CONTEXT which is Paul CORRECTING the Corinthian church for wanting ONLY to speak in the church ASSEMBLY all the time without having any interpretation so that others could be EDIFIED from their speaking in other tongues. That is what Paul means by CHILDISH. Let us take a CLOSER look at that verse of Scripture as our point number two. 1 Corinthians 13:11.
“When I was a child I SPOKE as a child, (Referring to when Paul was a “babe” in Jesus Christ or a brand new Christian because Paul did NOT have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him when he was a literal child) I understood as a child: but when I became a man, (Referring to growing in the Lord to become a MATURE Christian in understanding what the will of God is) I put away childish things.”
And according to the CONTEXT, the childish or the immature things are the SELFISH and PRIDEFUL things such as wanting to speak only in other tongues in the church ASSEMBLY being PUFFED up that you speak in tongues and others do not. However, those who teach against speaking in tongues in our generation for any reason INTERPRET this verse to mean that Paul was saying that when he was a babe in Christ he spoke in other tongues and understood in part, but when he became man, that is to say, when Paul became a MATURE Christian, he then PUT AWAY those CHILDISH things like speaking in other tongues. But yet, if we read the entire CONTEXT of this SAME letter to the Corinthian church we will CLEARLY see that the INTERPRETATION made by Christians that wrong teach that speaking in other tongues have ceased totally CONTRADICTS the WHOLE word of God. Let me explain what I mean. Please notice that Paul says in verse 11 that when he BECAME a man that he PUT AWAY childish things are in PAST TENSE. In other words, IF this INTERPRETATION is true that Paul was speaking about putting away other tongues as being one of the CHILDISH things that he has ALREADY PUT AWAY then this would mean that Paul had ALREADY put away speaking in other tongues even BEFORE that which is PERFECT is COME no matter HOW one interprets the phrase “WHEN that which is PERFECT has COME.” For you see, IF one interprets the Bible as what is perfect has come, the BIBLE was NOT in its COMPLETED form at this time that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church. One would have to say that the Apostle Paul was still a babe in Jesus Christ and NOT YET a mature Christian at the time he wrote this letter to the Corinthians church because Paul was still yet SPEAKING in other tongues. Therefore, we ALSO know that the INTERPRETATION of the Christians that teach against speaking in other tongues saying that Paul PUT AWAY speaking in other tongues is NOT the TRUE sound Biblical interpretation. For you see, in the very next chapter, the same CONTEXT of the SAME letter, we read in 1 Corinthians 14:18 where Paul plainly says in the PRESENT TENSE that he speaks in tongues MORE than all those in the Corinthian church. But yet Paul did most of his speaking in tongues to God and not in the church ASSEMBLY.
Please read 1 Corinthians 14:18.
“I thank my God, I SPEAK in TONGUES more than you all.”
So either the Apostle Paul and the Bible are lying or it is the INTERPRETATION of Paul putting away childish things to MEAN that Paul was teaching that he put away speaking in other tongues because it was no longer needed. And, therefore, speaking in other tongues is childish and tongues have ceased. Well, I believe the Bible OVER the INTERPRETATION of men that CONTRADICT the Bible. So to ME, the INTERPRETATION for tongues have CEASED is an INCORRECT interpretation. No my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Paul did not intend his words “I put away childish things” to mean that we are to put away speaking in other tongues, but rather, is Paul teaching us that we are to use the gift of OTHER TONGUES CORRECTLY when we assemble together IN the church. You have to read all three chapters, 1 Corinthians chapters 12,13, and 14 together in order to understand the true sound Biblical meaning of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. The truth of the matter is that the gifts of the Spirit will NOT cease UNTIL Jesus comes again. For you see, Paul ALSO said that KNOWLEDGE would VANISH away, and we know that knowledge has INCREASED exponentially from the time that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13:8.
“Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it shall VANISH AWAY.”
Has knowledge vanished away after the Bible was completed? Of course not! In fact, knowledge has INCREASED not only technology but also knowledge of the word of God. We have more access to the word of God today than ever before in the entire history of the church. We have many different translations of the Bible and we have Bible dictionaries, cross reference study Bibles, commentaries, and Bible concordances. More people own their own Bible than ever before. The Bible has been the best-selling book of all time. So KNOWLEDGE has not yet VANISHED or diminished in any way. However, when the Son of man-made PERFECT comes there will be some knowledge that will CEASE or vanish away. The Bible teaches us that during the Millennial reign of Jesus that they will NOT LEARN to make WAR anymore.
Please read Isaiah 2:4.
“And he (Speaking of the Son of man-made PERFECT shall come that he) shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: (And to me, this speaks of going back to everyone farming which could also mean that some technology will vanish away) nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they LEARN war anymore.”
We only know in PART of what the world yet to come will be like. It will be a PERFECT world for us who are saved during this PRESENT world before Jesus comes. But we do not know everything about the world to come. So this is one possible interpretation that does not contradict any other verse in the Bible but I have another interpretation as well for the meaning of the phrase “whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it shall VANISH AWAY.” Think about the CONTEXT where Paul said that if he had ALL KNOWLEDGE and even faith that he could move literal mountains that it would be nothing WITHOUT LOVE. When I read that today the thought came to me of Christian men and women arguing and fighting each other over church doctrine. The remembering of videos of heated debates between Christians over KNOWLEDGE of the Bible came to my mind. And AFTER the debate, all that KNOWLEDGED whether right or wrong simply vanished away, as in, it was NOT received and retained or kept because that knowledge was not shared with LOVE. Rather, it was shared to BOAST that they won the debate. Even the comments in the videos were filled with boasting and pride saying things like that one preacher torn that other preacher up with his knowledge of the Scripture. So to me, ANOTHER meaning of TONGUES CEASING and KNOWLEDGE VANISHING AWAY means that we do not speak in other tongues all day every day but we can walk in LOVE all day every day. And we do not preach or teach the KNOWLEDGE of God’s word all day every day but we can walk in LOVE all day and every day. So while both tongues and teaching knowledge cease for a time the LOVE shed abroad in our hearts that we show to others will never FAIL. People will remember the LOVE you show to them. However, they may not always remember things like prophecy, tongues and interpretation, the knowledge of God's word being taught to others, and even miracles. And thus those things may fail at times to reach people, but LOVE will never FAIL. So the passing away means passing away from the memory of people, as in, not having any lasting effect. Again, this is simply another possible meaning. Now, I have also heard others say that they do not even use 1 Corinthians chapter 13 at all to show that tongues have ceased. But instead, they quote Ephesians 2:20 as their evidence and justification that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased when the APOSTLES died in the first century. So let us read Ephesians 2:20.
Ephesians 2:20.
“And are built upon the FOUNDATION of the APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
I have to admit that my first thought was the question of what does this have to do with speaking in other tongues ceasing? Their reasoning is that once a FOUNDATION has been laid then it is FINISHED and you do not keep building or laying MORE foundation because the foundation is already COMPLETED. In other words, that stage of construction is DONE AWAY with and has CEASED. It is no longer NEEDED to keep building or laying more FOUNDATION. So now, according to their interpretation of Ephesians 2:20, you move on to finish the building which is a completely different type of construction. Different building materials are used and different methods are used. And it is the SAME way with the building of the CHURCH. Their line of reasoning goes on to say that the APOSTLES laid the FOUNDATION with signs and wonders and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And thus, according to them, when the last APOSTLE died in the first century then that FOUNDATION was COMPLETED. And the foundation, according to them was the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit. So, therefore, according to the Christians who teach against speaking in other tongues in our generation, the gifts of the Spirit are no longer NEEDED to show or demonstrate the power of God because the GOSPEL is NOW the power of God unto salvation. Then they quote Romans 1:16 to show that the gospel is the power of God so let us go ahead and read that verse.
Romans 1:16.
“For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ; for IT (The GOSPEL) IS the POWER of God UNTO SALVATION to everyone that BELIEVES, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
So in other words, they maintain that the GOSPEL or the Bible is SUFFICIENT to bring salvation to others. And, therefore, their reasoning that the gifts of the Spirit have CEASED because there is no more NEED for signs and wonders to START the building or laying of the FOUNDATION of the church for the FOUNDATION has ALREADY been laid by the APOSTLES. Then they quickly add to their line of reasoning that Jesus and the apostles warned us, the church, that there would be FALSE teachers, FALSE Christs, and FALSE prophets in the last days who would work FALSE miracles and do LYING SIGNS and wonders and shall DECEIVE many. Now, to me, the more that a Christians sits under the teaching of this type of reasoning and hears ONLY this ONE side of the story then the more they begin to be DECEIVED into believing this doctrine of the devils that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have CEASED. Let me explain what I mean by going back to Ephesians 2:20 and reading the ENTIRE CONTEXT to see if their LOGIC or their line of REASONING holds up in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. Now the open title of my Bible says.
The Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle to the Ephesians.
So we see that this ENTIRE epistle is written by PAUL the apostle to the saints in the Ephesian church assembly. In other words, chapter 1, chapter 3, chapter 4, and chapter 5 of the book of Ephesians is ALSO written by this SAME man of God named PAUL who wrote chapter 2 and verse 20. Now, all Christians agree that the Bible does not contradict itself. And that means that the Apostle Paul would not contradict himself since he wrote most of the New Testament. So no one single verse of Scripture CONTRADICTS the other. But rather, SCRIPTURE will INTERPRET Scripture for us without us having to INVENT some elaborate story about how the construction of a building takes place in order to INTERPRET a single verse of Scripture. So then, with this in mind let us read what ELSE Paul has written beginning with Ephesians 3:16-21.
Ephesians 3:16-21.
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might BY his Spirit IN the inner man; 17. That Christ (Or that the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, the same Spirit who dwelt in Jesus ANOINTED) may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19. And to know the LOVE of Christ, which passes knowledge, that YOU might be FILLED with all the FULLNESS of God. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that works in us, 21. Unto him (Almighty God the Father) be glory in the church by Christ (Or by the ANOINTED ONE of Almighty God) Jesus THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, world without end. Amen.”
You see, my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, the FOUNDATION that was LAID is for the church to FOLLOW throughout all ages. The Apostle Paul laid the FOUNDATION that we are to be BEING filled with the Spirit throughout every age of the church. The FOUNDATION that was LAID is to be a PATTERN or GUIDE for us to imitate or do the very same things. In other words, Jesus healed the sick THROUGH the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit then the APOSTLES FOLLOWED our Lord's EXAMPLE and healed the sick THROUGH this SAME anointing of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God the Father. Jesus was also an APOSTLE and NOW it is our turn to FOLLOW in the footsteps of the APOSTLES’ FOUNDATION that they laid and HEAL the sick THROUGH this SAME anointing using ALL the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God including speaking in other tongues. Not one Christian argues that the GIFT of TEACHING has ceased and TEACHING the word of God is PART of the FOUNDATION that was laid to go and make DISCIPLES. A disciple is first a LEARNER of the truth who then goes out and TEACHES the truth. Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:9 that the APOSTLES made themselves EXAMPLES unto us the church to FOLLOW. And again, Jesus is ALSO called an APOSTLE and Jesus said that WE will do the SAME works that Jesus did. So how is that possible IF SO BE that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ENDED with the apostles in the first century? Obviously, their interpretation is in error and the gifts of the Holy Spirit have NOT ceased as some falsely teach. The Apostles are our EXAMPLE to FOLLOW and since the Apostle Paul preached the gospel in the POWER of doing miracles and healing the sick THROUGH the power of the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit then WE should never teach AGAINST the Holy Spirit and the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit saying that they are NOT for today. That is what Satan wants because healing and doing miracles THROUGH God dwelling in us is what the APOSTLES did as EXAMPLES for us to follow.
2 Thessalonians 3:9.
“Not because we have not the power, but to make ourselves EXAMPLES unto you to FOLLOW.”
Now Paul is speaking here of a particular example of working with their own hands so as not to be a financial burden to the church. But nonetheless, Jesus and the Apostles are our EXAMPLES to FOLLOW. Therefore, the FOUNDATION that they LAID was laid for the very PURPOSE of SHOWING us what to do. Thus, we are to be doing the SAME kind of miracles of healing and such just as the Apostles did. Jesus tells us, the church, speaking of ALL who believe in him, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES shall do the WORKS that Jesus did THROUGH the Holy Spirit that dwelt in him.
Please read John 14:10-12.
“Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that DWELLS in me, HE DOES the WORKS. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: OR ELSE believe me for the WORKS' sake. 12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, HE that BELIEVES on me the WORKS that I DO shall HE DO ALSO, and greater works than these shall he do BECAUSE I go to the Father.”
Verse 12 is saying that Jesus went to prepare a place for us so that we can be where Jesus was during the days of his flesh being ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and POWER having God WITH him. Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit was WITH them but that the Holy Spirit shall be IN them when they were endued with POWER from on high. And this PROMISE of the Holy Spirit is for ALL who BELIEVE. And Romans 8:9 clearly teaches us that if anyone does NOT HAVE the Spirit of Christ then they are NONE of his. So it seems pretty clear to me that Jesus did NOT put a time limit on when this promise to WHOSOEVER BELIEVES shall do the very WORKS that Jesus did would expire or CEASE from being a valid promise. Let us continue reading more of what PAUL said in the CONTEXT of Ephesians 2:20 where he talks about the FOUNDATION of the APOSTLES. Please take a look at the epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 1-7, which is right after Paul tells us that we should give glory to God for the POWER or the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit that IS working in us THROUGHOUT ALL the ages.
Ephesians 4:1-7.
“I, THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech YOU that YOU walk worthy of the VOCATION wherewith YOU were CALLED, 2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in LOVE; 3. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in hope of your calling; 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and IN you ALL. 7. But unto EVERY ONE of us is GIVEN GRACE (Or that is to say, every one of us as Christians is given POWER, being endued with power from on high. Thus we have all the POWER that we need to live godly in this present world) ACCORDING TO the measure of the GIFT of CHRIST.”
Or ACCORDING TO the GIFT of the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God the Father. And we have all been given the SAME measure of the Holy Spirit and those who SEEK the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit will be given those gifts as the Holy Spirit WILLS. We ALL have the POWER to heal the sick in the NAME of Jesus but we all do not have the GIFT of healing. There is not much difference but the Christians who have the GIFT of healing seem to be specially called and sent to heal people through the power of the Holy Spirit and the ones that they are sent to heal always receive their healing. It would be like Jesus HEARING the Father instruct him to spit on the ground and made a ball of mud and rub it in the blind man's eyes. And then the Father tells Jesus to tell him that if he goes and washes his eyes in the pool of Siloam then he will come out of the pool seeing. But at other times, like in his own hometown, Jesus could NOT heal anyone except a few people with minor sicknesses. And, therefore, Jesus went about TEACHING the word of God concerning God's will to heal them. In other words, EVERY BELIEVER in the church THROUGHOUT ALL the AGES or every generation is given GRACE which is the very POWER of God, according to the measure of the GIFT of the ANOINTING. Jesus said YOU shall DO the SAME works that he did.
Please continue to read Ephesians 4:8-13.
“Wherefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave GIFTS unto men. (And NOT just to the Apostles of Jesus) 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11. And he gave some, apostles; (Or he gave some the ANOINTING to be apostles) and some, prophets; (Or he gave some the ANOINTING to be prophets) and some, evangelists; (Or he gave some the ANOINTING to be evangelists) and some, pastors and teachers; (Or he gave some the ANOINTING to be pastors and others the ANOINTING to be teachers. Now ask yourself WHY God gave ALL of these GIFTS to the church? And then keep reading) 12. FOR the PERFECTING of the saints, FOR the WORK of the MINISTRY, FOR the EDIFYING of the body of Christ: (Now, ask yourself how long these GIFTS, speaking of ALL of these gifts, were given to the church?) TILL we ALL come in the unity of the faith, (Has this happened yet? Are we all speaking and teaching the SAME things? Have we ALL come together in the UNITY of our faith? NO! Of course not because we are still arguing over church doctrine and dividing to form even more church denominations. Therefore, NONE of the GIFTS have ceased including there being apostles and prophets in the church today. For you see, pastors, teachers, and evangelists are listed right along with the ministry of apostles and the ministry of prophets. So UNTIL him which is PERFECT has come and we come in the UNITY of 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: (Then NONE of the GIFTS of Jesus or the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in other tongues will CEASE. For you see, ALL the gifts were given FOR the PERFECTING of the saints) 13. THAT (Or SO THAT) we henceforth are 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;”
Again, the answer is NO we certainly have NOT come into the complete UNITY of our faith whereby we ALL speak and teach the SAME things. This UNITY will ONLY take place when that which is PERFECT is COME, speaking of our Lord Jesus when he COMES AGAIN. So, therefore, ALL the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in other tongues for believers in this PRESENT world, will CONTINUE until Jesus COMES AGAIN. I can not say one way or the other whether or not the gifts of the Holy Spirit will continue into the world yet to come for the believers during the Millennial age of Jesus. It is at the coming of Jesus that WE, as faithful Christians IN THIS present world, will be made PERFECT. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the DECEIVER will NOT be BOUND in the bottomless pit UNTIL that which is PERFECT is COME which is our Lord Jesus Christ, who will BIND Satan, the DECEIVER for 1000 years. Also, please notice that ALL these GIFTS of ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit are GIVEN to the church and for the church in this present world UNTIL that which is PERFECT is come or ACCOMPLISHED. So ask yourself, has every believer come in perfect unity of faith after the first century? Has every believer been made into that PERFECT man after the first century or after the Bible was made complete? Well, to me, the obvious answer is NO, absolutely NOT. So again, WHEN are we to be made PERFECT or COMPLETE? That is absolutely correct, it is when Jesus COMES again and we shall SEE him as he IS. That is WHEN we will be made COMPLETE or made PERFECT by receiving the END of our salvation and we receive a new glorified immortal body like Jesus was given after the cross. The Son of man, Jesus, was made PERFECT and we shall be LIKE HIM when that which is PERFECT has COME. We shall see him FACE to FACE. So, THEREFORE, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, ALL these GIFTS of the Holy Spirit are STILL applicable today. And thus, NONE of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have passed away. ABSOLUTELY NOT! None of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased nor have any of them been done away with. In other words, we still have APOSTLES in the church today, we still have PROPHETS in the church today, we still have EVANGELISTS in the church today, we still have PASTORS in the church today, we still have TEACHERS in the church today, and we STILL HAVE ALL the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit in the church today INCLUDING the gift of speaking in OTHER TONGUES. Paul goes on to tell us in this SAME CONTEXT what the WILL of the Lord is CONCERNING speaking in other tongues. So if you truly want to be doing the WILL of Almighty God as opposed to wrongly teaching AGAINST the WILL of God then please read Ephesians 5:17-19.
Ephesians 5:17-19.
“Wherefore be NOT unwise, but UNDERSTANDING what the WILL of the Lord IS. (Not what the will of the Lord WAS but what the will of the Lord IS right here, right now for the church TODAY) 18. And be not drunk WITH wine wherein is excess; BUT be you FILLED with the Spirit (In other words, be so FILLED with the Holy Spirit that you appear to be DRUNK with wine. The literal translation read as to be BEING filled or be BEING filled which means to be filled again and again throughout our life as a Christian. The being full of the Holy Spirit fades away slowly and we need to keep on BEING filled with the Holy Spirit. This does NOT mean that the Holy Spirit LEAVES us, but rather, it is the strong ANOINTING upon us that fades away. So be BEING filled with the Spirit) 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”
Again, Paul is teaching us the CORRECT way to speak in other tongues. For you see, when we speak other tongues we speak SECRETS unto God. We edify OURSELVES and others who hear us are NOT edified unless the other tongues being spoken are interpreted OR someone in the church service understands the LANGUAGE in which we are speaking. So the WILL of Almighty God is for EVERY BELIEVER THROUGHOUT ALL the AGES or generations of the church age is to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit. And at times, we are to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we appear to be DRUNK with wine and our JOY is FULL to overflowing. Have you ever laughed so hard that it sort of hurts and you want to stop? That is the joy unspeakable and full of glory that speaking to God can bring. And for me, I can reach that level of joy much faster when I am praising God in other tongues than I can when praising God in my own understanding. Not all Christian songs are Biblical but all spiritual songs, as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance, are 100% Biblical. Well, enough on that point, so let us go to Acts chapter 2 and see what happened with the early church when they were FILLED with the Holy Spirit of God.
Acts 2:4.
“And they were ALL FILLED with the Holy Ghost and began to SPEAK with OTHER TONGUES, as the SPIRIT gave them utterance.”
So then ONE EVIDENCE whereby we know that we have been FILLED with the Holy Spirit is SPEAKING in OTHER TONGUES but that is NOT the only evidence to KNOW that the Holy Spirit DWELL in you. Please read the study “MUST CHRISTIANS SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES?” The short answer, for now, is absolutely not! Speaking in other tongues is NOT the ONLY evidence that a person is TRULY saved. So do not be deceived by that false teaching of SOME Oneness Pentecostal Christians that wrongly teach that you are not a true Christian if you do not speak in other tongues. Moving on, then in verse 13 of Acts chapter 2, we see that some who were around and were observing this INFILLING of the Holy Spirit THOUGHT that they were DRUNK with WINE. So the WILL of God is for us to DRINK of the Holy Spirit until we are FILLED to overflowing and we begin to SPEAK with other tongues or at least magnify God with our whole being even appearing as though we are DRUNK like unto those who drink wine in excess. You can also appear drunk to others when the presence of God comes all over you and you MAGNIFY God in your own understanding. In other words, you can be FULL of the Holy Spirit WITHOUT speaking of other tongues. So the phrase “they began to speak in tongue AND MAGNIFIED God” could be interpreted that some spoke in tongues while others magnified God in their own language. I am not dogmatically demanding that it must be interpreted that way, but rather, I am simply showing you other possible interpretations.
Please read Acts 2:13-18.
“Others MOCKING said, These men are full of new wine. 14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this KNOWN unto you and HEARKEN to my words: 15. For these are NOT DRUNKEN , as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (This teaches us that many different things are ALSO signs or evidence of being FILLED with the Holy Spirit) 18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, AND they shall prophesy:”
So being FILLED with the Holy Spirit is ACCOMPANIED by SPEAKING in OTHER TONGUES, and having the APPEARANCE as being DRUNK with wine, AND magnifying God, and by PROPHESYING. And yet other Christians have visions while others have dreams or night visions. And, therefore, speaking in other tongues is NOT the ONLY evidence that a Christian has been FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Also, please understand that a Christian can have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them and not yet have ever been FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Remember we just read where Paul instructed us what the WILL of the God IS, which is NOT to be drunk WITH WINE, but RATHER, to be FILLED or to be so FULL of the Holy Spirit that we appear as to be DRUNK with new wine, but in essence, we are drunk with the Spirit of Almighty God as we DRINK of the Spirit. And, according to 1 Corinthians 12 13, when we were first saved and baptized BY the Spirit into ONE body which is the church. We were ALL made to DRINK of one Spirit. That means that every Christian has the Holy Spirit DWELLING IN them from the very moment they first believed. And thus, every Christian has the ability to speak in other tongues by STIRRING UP the GIFT that is within them. Please read the study “STIR UP THE GIFT THAT IS IN YOU!” But for now, let us continue this study. 1 Corinthians 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.”
The last part of this verse should read that we ALL have been FURNISHED to DRINK of the one Spirit. This means we can drink a LITTLE or we can drink as much as we can handle. Or we do not have to drink at all, but the Holy Spirit is always in us if we change our mind. There are many places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is likened to WINE. Jesus said you do not put new wine in old vessels because they will burst. Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit not being able to be put in an unclean vessel. This is WHY Jesus had to go to the Father to prepare a place for us. I explain what I mean by this in the study entitled “THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER” But for now, let us continue this study in God's word to show that the gifts of the Spirit have NOT ceased and are still operating in the church today.
Please read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
“Now CONCERNING spiritual gifts, brethren, I would NOT have you ignorant. 2. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led. 3. Wherefore I give you to UNDERSTAND, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN to profit withal. 8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: 11. But all these work that one and self-same Spirit, DIVIDING to EVERY MAN severally as he will.”
Now some Christians who speak against speaking in other tongues will say that this passage of Scripture has nothing to do with speaking in other tongues then they will quote a section of one verse of Scripture out of its context like below. “...that no man SPEAKING by the SPIRIT calls Jesus accursed...”
And then they will go on to argue that Paul goes on to say.
“...and no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
Now, their line of reasoning is that HOW could another person KNOW that they were saying that Jesus is Lord IF they were SPEAKING in OTHER TONGUES which no man can UNDERSTAND? They also use the first phrase to argue that a Christian must be FILLED with the Holy Spirit with the EVIDENCE of speaking in other tongues or they can NOT say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Now, on the surface this line of REASONING might sound logical to some Christians. However, to other Christians who use logic, it makes no sense because HOW can another person KNOW if they are saying Jesus is Lord BY the Holy Spirit if they are speaking in other tongues which no man can UNDERSTAND. Also, they CLAIM that the gift of the Holy Spirit has CEASED which to me cancels their argument of this verse. In other words, HOW could anyone KNOW for sure that they are truly saved seeing that the only way anyone can call Jesus Lord is BY the Holy Spirit? The truth of the matter is that anyone speaking in other tongues by the Holy Spirit can NOT call Jesus accursed. However, a person speaking in other tongues by an “evil” spirit CAN call Jesus accursed BUT they can NOT call Jesus Lord while under the influence of an “evil spirit”. So if you doubt that a Christian is speaking in other tongues BY the Holy Spirit as He gives the utterance, then TRY the spirit to see whether it is of God or not of God by ADJURING or commanding the “spirit” to say that Jesus is Lord and to call Jesus accursed. In other words, while that Christian in QUESTION is speaking in other tongues, TRY the spirit by asking the spirit to call Jesus Lord. False tongues BY an evil spirit can NOT call Jesus Lord and no TRUE Christians will ever call Jesus ACCURSED. Now, they can be faking speaking in other tongues but the test will yield the same result because no truly born-again Christian will ever call Jesus accursed whether they speak in other tongues or not. In other words, you have to have BOTH tests and NOT take part of that verse OUT of its context. As I have said many times, any verse when taken OUT of CONTEXT and viewed ALONE and APART from the WHOLE word of God can SEEM to be saying something that it is NOT truly saying. Let us get back on track and take a closer look at 1 Corinthians 12:1.
1 Corinthians 12:1.
“Now CONCERNING spiritual gifts, brethren, I would NOT have you ignorant.”
The topic under discussion here is SPIRITUAL GIFTS. So how can anyone argue that these verses have nothing to do with SPIRITUAL GIFTS, and then dogmatically state that SPEAKING by the Spirit does NOT mean or refer to speaking in other tongues? Now, I pray that those seeking only the truth can plainly see that SPEAKING by the Spirit means or refers to speaking in other tongues as a gift of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the GIFT of God that comes and DWELLS IN us who believe. Then it is the Holy Spirit in us who gives us the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit or who operates the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In other words, that actual GIFT is the Holy Spirit Himself and the GIFTS OF the Holy Spirit are the WORKINGS of the Holy Spirit or the operations of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. It might be that there are SOME babes in Christ who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of SPEAKING in other tongues who are being brought under a spirit of confusion by those that are teaching that they have a false gift and they are speaking in other tongues by the power of the devil. Well, Paul is teaching us here that we need NOT to be ignorant about these SPIRITUAL GIFTS. So if you are confused by opposing teaching then keep reading. 1 Corinthians 12:2.
“Wherefore I give you to UNDERSTAND, that no man speaking BY the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed:...”
Again, this is actually referring to testing the spirit to see if it is the Holy Spirit or and evil spirit. But I assure you that if you yourself are SAVED then you can understand that NO truly SAVED person speaking BY the Spirit of God can call Jesus accursed. And even if they use the name of Jesus to cuss or use bad language that is NOT calling Jesus ACCURSED. The Holy Spirit will convict true Christians of cussing or using the name Jesus in bad language. However, the unsaved do not seem to be convicted when they use the name of Jesus in cussing or bad language. Calling Jesus accursed means to DENY Jesus or to excommunicate Jesus from your life, and NO TRUE Christians would ever do that whether they are speaking in other tongues by the Holy Spirit or whether they are speaking in their own language. 1 John 3 teaches us they whosoever is born of God can NOT sin but that does not mean that it is impossible for a Christian to commit sin after they are truly saved. Rather, it means that a Christian can not sin without being convicted by the Holy Spirit. So in the same way, it might happen in the heat of anger that a Christian will curse Jesus but I assure you that if they are truly saved the Holy Spirit will convict them to repent and confess their cursing Jesus. They may argue against that conviction of the Holy Spirit because their flesh wants to be angry at God and His Son Jesus just like some Christians argue that their sin is not that bad. But sooner or later they yield to the chastisement to repent and confess their sin. Paul wrote this letter not only to the early church but to YOU who are having doubts. Paul wrote this letter to ALL of us today in order that we would know and UNDERSTAND that God would NOT allow His children to receive an evil spirit that we would call Jesus accused thinking that we were magnifying and blessing his name. Please read Luke chapter 11 verses 9 through 13 which will assure you that you have NOT received a FALSE spirit of the enemy. Be assured that you are NOT speaking in other tongues by the power of the devil if you can say that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and mean it with all your heart.
Luke 11:9-13.
“And I say unto YOU, (Speaking to ALL of the WHOSOEVER who BELIEVE) Ask, and it shall be given YOU; seek, and YOU shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto YOU. 10. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13. If you then, being evil, know how to give GOOD GIFTS unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
So if you are worried that you may not have the true Holy Spirit of Almighty God then let me ask you some simple questions.
#1. First of all, when you were first saved did the person preaching the Gospel to you tell you that the moment you believe in your heart that Jesus is your Savior that you would speak in an unknown tongue? I highly doubt that they did. Rather, you most likely never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit until AFTER you were saved. Now, 1 John 4:15 assures us that WHOSOEVER shall CONFESS that Jesus is the SON OF God then God DWELLS IN them. It says nothing about speaking in other tongues as being the ONLY way to know if you are truly saved.
#2. When you learned about the baptism of the Holy Spirit after you were saved did you ask Satan to fill you with his evil spirit or did you ask Almighty God your heavenly Father to fill you with His Holy Spirit? Read the parable of Jesus again and notice that the one asking was asking his “father” whether it was his earthly father or his heavenly Father. In other words, the parable is not about asking a stranger or asking your enemy but rather, how much MORE will your heavenly Father give you the Holy Spirit.
#3. Do you think that Almighty God the Father would allow His ENEMY to give you an evil spirit to come to dwell in you WITH God’s Holy Spirit who is ALREADY IN you? Then TRUST in God over the false teaching that you have heard accusing you that you are speaking in FALSE tongues that are of the Devil. You KNOW that you are truly saved so also KNOW that the Holy Spirit came to DWELL IN you the very moment you first believe.
#4. When you were seeking to be filled with the Spirit were you SEEKING to be filled with an EVIL SPIRIT? I would hope not! So when you were seeking to draw closer to God to be filled with His Holy Spirit you were NOT seeking an evil Spirit from Satan. And God KNOWS your heart so Almighty God YOUR heavenly Father did NOT give you an evil spirit, NOR did He ALLOW you to receive an evil spirit in place of the Holy Spirit. So be assured that EVERY word you speak in OTHER TONGUES is of Almighty God HIMSELF and that you are speaking ACCORDING to his WILL.
Take a look at Romans 8:26-28.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (That is to say, words that cannot be uttered in an articulate speech that we understand. OTHERS around us may sometimes understand what we speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives us utterance to speak out. And if we speak in other tongues in CHURCH, then we are taught by the word of God to do so only if there is one with the gift of INTERPRETING other tongues. This is a general rule but there are times when that Holy Spirit leads us to speak in tongues for the benefit of ONE who is in the congregation and who will KNOW the language in which the Holy Spirit gives you utterance because it is their own native language. It is the Lord speaking directly TO that person through you in their OWN native language which you yourself do NOT know the meaning of the words you are speaking) 27. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because he makes intercession for the saints ACCORDING to the WILL of God. 28. And we KNOW that all things (Or all these matters of UTTERANCE in other tongues. The word things is not in the original text and the context is about speaking in other tongues) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
So again, the answer is no my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, when we are SPEAKING, praying, or singing in OTHER TONGUES by the Spirit of God as the Holy Spirit gives us the utterance we will never be able to call Jesus accursed. NOR is it a waste of time to pray in other tongues because Romans here assures us that ALL the words that we are speaking in a language that we ourselves could not be able to utter in our own language are working together for GOOD to them that LOVE God. Now, I have to agree with those that teach against speaking in other tongues based on their seeing the abuse of speaking in tongues. That is one reason why they claim that tongues have ceased because they have seen SOME groups of Christians abuse and misuse the gifts of the Spirit of God. Remember Paul said if we speak in other tongues and we do not have LOVE as our motive then basically the utterances that are being brought forth BECOME as sounding brass and profit nothing. So yes, there are SOME Christians who speak in other tongues to show off before other Christians. In other words, a Christian who has been truly baptized in the Holy Spirit can begin to speak in other tongues and at one point in their life it was good and profitable. But then their speaking in tongues became puffed up with PRIDE saying or thinking to themselves that they are better or more spiritual than others because they speak in tongues and these other Christians do not. Well, to those I say, you just stepped out of the LOVE of God. And because of PRIDE your speaking in tongues NOT in LOVE BECAME as sounding brass and profited nothing. Your motive was to receive the praise of MEN and not of God. Now, this is not to say that you cannot repent and get back to walking in LOVE and use your gift or gifts for the GLORY of God rather than to bring glory upon yourself. Well, enough said on that, so let us move on and look at that last part of verse 3 in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
1 Corinthians 12:3.
“Wherefore I give you to UNDERSTAND, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.”
Now as I said before, those that argue that the gift of OTHER TONGUES has ceased with the early church make the point that this verse CANNOT be referring to SPEAKING by the Spirit of God to mean that they are SPEAKING in OTHER TONGUES because it is clear that if someone was speaking in other tongues they would NOT KNOW if they were calling Jesus Lord. And on the surface that might sound like a good argument. But this verse, to me, is edifying those that are already SPEAKING in OTHER TONGUES and are being made to DOUBT by the FALSE teachings of the enemy. And thus, they are wondering if they have a false or evil spirit and could be calling Jesus accused unknowingly because they do NOT UNDERSTAND what they are speaking. Now the last part of this verse lets us know that in our OWN strength we will NOT be able to hold fast to the confession of our faith and remain faithful to call Jesus Lord, EXCEPT it is BY the POWER of the Holy Spirit of God. Remember the words of Peter, who told the Lord that he could follow Jesus and would even lay down his life for Jesus. However, Jesus said back to Peter, are you sure about that Peter? Are you sure that you will lay down your life for me? I tell you that you CANNOT follow me NOW and that you will deny me three times before morning and the cock crows. But then AFTER Peter was FILLED with the Holy Spirit and SPOKE with OTHER TONGUES as the Holy Spirit gave him utterance, then he had BOLDNESS to proclaim the gospel before those that were MOCKING and saying these men are DRUNK with wine. Please read Acts 2:1-18 which is the first account where the early church initially received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that this is a FIRST-time event, and thus, this passage of Scripture should never be used to teach that every time a person receives the Holy Spirit they MUST speak in other tongues as the EVIDENCE otherwise they did not truly receive the Holy Spirit. Again, please read the study “MUST A CHRISTIAN SPEAK IN TONGUES?” I sincerely believe that because of the FALSE teaching by some Oneness Pentecostal Christians that wrongly accuse good faithful Christians as NOT being true born-again Christians just because they have never spoken of other tongues is WHY this other false teaching that tongues have ceased came into being. Please notice that the word “EVIDENCE” is NOT in the text. Speaking in tongues in some cases is used as a SIGN for those in unbelief but not necessarily a sign to the unsaved. For you see, the Jewish Christians were saved but yet they were in UNBELIEF that the Gentiles could be saved.
Acts 2:1-18.
“And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 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. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were ALL FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and began to SPEAK with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 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. 7. And they were all amazed and marveled, (At this SIGN) saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? 8. And HOW hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (A SIGN from God gets the attention of people that God wants to reach, but some Christians have turned this sign into the initial evidence that a person is SAVED. Peter explains later that THIS speaking in other tongues was prophesied by God) 9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews, and proselytes, 11. Cretes and Arabians, we do HEAR them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Now, it might have been that they all spoke in the SAME language in other tongues and the miracle was in the HEARING where every man from a different nation HEARD the message in their OWN language. Or it may have been that a certain number of the 120 disciples spoke in one language of one nation while a certain number of other disciples spoke in other languages of other nations) 12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this? (When some people see miracles today they question and doubt just like they did in the days of Jesus and some even MOCK and say that it is not of God) 13. Others MOCKING said, These men are full of new wine. 14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you and hearken to my words: 15. For these are NOT drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL flesh: (And not just on the APOSTLES as some falsely teach but upon ALL who BELIEVE. The PROMISE of the GIFT of the Holy Spirit is to ALL who BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God) and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy:”
Now some Christians who argue against speaking in other tongues MOCK Christinas who speaking in other tongues. They say that those of us who speak in tongues today are not the SAME kind of tongues that the early church spoke in. They argue that everyone from every nation HEARD and UNDERSTOOD what those in the early church were SPEAKING in their own native language. In other words, no matter what country each and everyone was from they ALL heard these 120 believers who were speaking IN OTHER TONGUES in their OWN language. THEREFORE, they claim that speaking in tongues in the Bible could NOT be speaking some BABBLING UNKNOWN LANGUAGE as these Christians are speaking in today because the tongues in the Bible were UNDERSTOOD by those who were there from ALL over the world, each one HEARING in their OWN language. Now, this is certainly a possibility that in this specific case in Acts chapter 2 that the tongues were in KNOWN languages of the world but this is NOT the only verse in the Bible. The Bible says they spoke in OTHER TONGUES and the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. No more, no less. So we have several possibilities.
#1. They did indeed speak in KNOW languages of the world. # 2. They spoke in a SINGLE UNKNOWN tongue to THEM that they themselves did nor any other man could understand and God opened the ears of each INDIVIDUAL man to HEAR the message in his OWN language. #3. They spoke in the language of the angelic beings and God opened the EARS to HEAR in the different languages of the world. #4. They spoke in a language that ONLY Almighty God Himself can understand and God opened the ears of each man to HEAR in his OWN language.
Let us examine this claim or line of reasoning that Acts 2 proves that tongues have CEASED a little CLOSER. Let us suppose that the 120 who were in the upper room praying and waiting as Jesus had told them to be endued with power from on high and then they were ALL FILLED with the Holy Spirit as promised and began to SPEAK with OTHER TONGUES. And let us suppose that each disciple spoke in a DIFFERENT KNOWN LANGUAGE to represent each and every language of each nationality of the people who were present to hear them just as it is INTERPRETED by some to be the way that it HAD to have been. Now, try to image 120 people speaking ALL at the SAME time in all these DIFFERENT KNOWN LANGUAGES all at once as some have dogmatically DEMANDED it to be. Or just try and imagine all 120 speaking in ANY language at the SAME all at once for that matter and being ABLE to UNDERSTAND what ANY of them are saying. It would be just a bunch of NOISE. Even in a much smaller group with everyone talking at once, it is very difficult to UNDERSTAND what anyone is saying even if they are all speaking your language. Think about this for a moment, even if you take 120 people today and have them ALL speaking exactly the very SAME language that you speak you could still not be able to make out and understand most of what they were saying unless of course they have PRACTICED previously and mastered speaking together in PERFECT harmony enunciating every word perfectly on cue. Now let us suppose that these 120 were speaking just as the Christians today speak in OTHER TONGUES as the Holy Spirit gives them utterance and then God CAUSED these UNKNOWN TONGUES to be HEARD by each and everyone there in their OWN language. To me, this sounds more reasonable and God has given me the gift to speak in many different KNOWN languages of the world so I KNOW that tongues can be known languages that are not known by the person speaking in tongues. But with all 120 speaking in known languages at the same time it would be difficult to understand what was being said. You see, all the German people would have to be all together and close to the one or two of the 120 who were speaking German. And all the Chinese would have to be gathered together and close to the one or two of the 120 who were speaking in Chinese, and so forth and so on. To me, that would be a bigger miracle than for God to open the ears of each and every one HEARING the message to HEAR in their own native LANGUAGE as opposed to having everyone both among the 120 and all that was there of all the nations to be in the perfect position to hear each one of the 120 SPEAK to them in their NATIVE LANGUAGE. Now, it could have happened either way, but for me, it is easier to reason and believe that the SPOKEN language did not matter as much as the HEARING of each one who was present to hear. But I can not say dogmatically that this is the way it had to be because I was not there and the Scriptures are just not clear as to exactly how it was. We only know for sure that ALL of the 120 were Galileans, because verse 7 says, “...are not ALL these which SPEAK Galileans?” And we know for sure that they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and began to SPEAK with OTHER TONGUES as the Spirit gave them utterance and that those of every nation HEARD them speak in their OWN tongue. Another point that is argued to try and show that OTHER TONGUES have CEASED as well as the other gifts of the Spirit is that ONLY the APOSTLES could do the mighty works that were being done. In other words, since there are supposedly NO APOSTLES today then there are NO TRUE gifts of the Spirit present today as well because ONLY the APOSTLES could do the working of miracles and healing. But is this SOUND BIBLICAL REASONING? Let us take a closer look at the WHOLE word of God and see if this line of reasoning stands up. First of all, there were 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost alone that were FILLED with the Holy Spirit and spoke with OTHER TONGUES. Now, were ALL those mentioned in the New Testament, who had been FILLED with the Holy Spirit and SPOKE in OTHER TONGUES ALL APOSTLES? No, they were not. Nowhere in the word of God are we told that all of the 120 in the upper room were ALL APOSTLES. So, therefore, even IF there were NO apostles today as some CLAIM then this would still NOT PROVE that speaking in OTHER TONGUES has ceased and passed away with the early church and that other tongues today is, therefore, of the devil because not ALL the 120 who were baptized with the Holy Spirit and SPOKE with OTHER TONGUES were APOSTLES. So nothing could be further from the truth. God is still FILLING His people with His Holy Spirit. That is to say that God is still FILLING, all who BELIEVE, with His Holy Spirit. The unsaved Jews are not filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And the EVIDENCE of SPEAKING in OTHERS TONGUES is STILL the SAME SIGN as it was in the early church. But again, speaking in other tongues is NOT the ONLY evidence of being saved, NOR is speaking in other tongues the INITIAL evidence of being saved. Let us then reason that since speaking in other tongues is still with us today then all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit are still present in the church today as well. Please carefully consider the words of Jesus. Let's begin by looking at Mark 16:14-20 where Jesus is commissioning his 11 disciples and telling them what to do after he ascends to heaven.
Mark 16:14-20.
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen him after he had risen. 15. And he said unto them, Go YOU (Jesus speaking to the 11 disciples) into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that BELIEVES and is baptized shall be saved; (Did not the 11 disciples ALREADY believe? And were they not already baptized? And were not the 11 disciples already SAVED? So then the HE that BELIEVES is speaking of ALL those that BELIEVE upon the words of the gospel that the 11 disciples went into the entire world to PREACH) but he that believes NOT shall be damned. 17. And THESE SIGNS shall follow THEM that BELIEVE; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall SPEAK with new tongues; (Or they shall speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance) 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. (Now Jesus was not excluding his 11 disciples but rather, Jesus was including ALL who BELIEVED upon their word along with the 11 disciples) 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. 20. And THEY went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
Again, the THEY here in verse 20 does not mean that JUST the ELEVEN disciples went forth to preach the gospel AFTER the day of PENTECOST when THEY were ALL endued with POWER from on high to be WITNESSES of Jesus. Was not ANOTHER disciple added to these ELEVEN and were there not others there ALSO who were FILLED with the Holy Spirit to be WITNESSES of Jesus? Did not ALL the 120 go forth and PREACH the GOSPEL? And does not this passage of Scripture teach us that THEY went forth PREACHING everywhere? Does it not say that the Lord was working with THEM ALL and CONFIRMED the WORD that was being PREACHED with SIGNS FOLLOWING? AMEN. Is this not what the WHOLE word of God teaches us? This is exactly what the word of God teaches us. THESE SIGNS shall follow ALL those that PREACH the gospel and BELIEVE. The Bible does NOT teach that the working of mighty works of healing and miracles was LIMITED to ONLY the APOSTLES. By this type of FALSE reasoning then one would ALSO have to conclude that ONLY the PREACHING of the GOSPEL was given to the 11 disciples or Apostles of Jesus only and NO other. Yes, it is true that nearly every account in the book of Acts is describing an act of an APOSTLE doing these signs and wonders but what one needs to realize is that this book was written to record the ACTS of the APOSTLES. So obviously, MOST of the book would bear the record of the ACTS of the APOSTLES since it is a book describing the very ACTS OF THE Apostles. Also, one needs to consider that these same Apostles are preaching the gospel to people who have NEVER heard the gospel before. So HOW could these, who have never heard the gospel as yet, have KNOWN that they were given the power and authority to heal the sick as they themselves had not yet HEARD the gospel and believed upon it? Does not the word of God instruct us to go and TEACH others the word of God and thereby DISCIPLE them? In other words, after we preach the gospel and those that hear our words BELIEVE then are we not supposed to TEACH them to go forth and do the SAME THINGS that we ourselves were taught of the DISCIPLES to do? The problem is that SOME church denominations have ceased to TEACH that each and every Christian has been given the power and the authority to heal the sick in the NAME of Jesus. How can we BELIEVE unless we HEAR? You know the Scriptures. You have your own personal testimony of how you came to know Jesus. So pastors, Bible study teachers, and even so-called common Christians should be teaching and encouraging our fellow brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ to SHARE what they know to others in the world. So talk to your neighbors. Talk to your unsaved friends. Talk to your co-workers. Talk to those you casually meet while shopping. God wants to use ALL of us to spread the good news of His Son Jesus. And sometimes actions do indeed speak louder than words but God chose the foolishness of PREACHING to save those who BELIEVE the true gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the FOUNDATION that was LAID was laid for us to PATTERN our lives upon. So, therefore, if we teach others to do DIFFERENTLY than what Jesus and the APOSTLES did and taught themselves then we are teaching ANOTHER GOSPEL and ANOTHER JESUS. Besides did not Jesus himself teach us that the very WORKS that he did, WE should do ALSO? I am quite sure that he did. Please read John 14:12 which PLAINLY and CLEARLY states as a fact with no interpretation need that we shall do the SAME works Jesus did.
John 14:12.
“Verily, verily (Or TRULY, TRULY, a double truly) I say unto YOU, HE that BELIEVES on me, the WORKS that I DO shall HE (ALL those that BELIEVE on the words of Jesus as well as the words he taught his disciples) DO ALSO; and greater works than these shall HE DO because I go to the Father.”
Please notice the REASON WHY we are ABLE to DO the very SAME WORKS that Jesus did. Jesus said BECAUSE he went to the Father. What does that mean? Please read the study entitled “THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER” as I explain the meaning of WHY Jesus went to the Father. But for now, let us continue to look at some verses of Scripture that clearly show that there were OTHERS who were doing the WORKS of Jesus who were NOT apostles. Luke 10:1-17 tells us that Jesus appointed ANOTHER SEVENTY disciples ALSO besides the twelve apostles who Jesus sent forth two by two. I will just quote Luke 10 verse 1 and verse 17.
Luke 10:1,17.
“1. After these things the Lord appointed ANOTHER seventy ALSO, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come... ...17. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, EVEN the devils are subject unto us through your name.”
So it is pretty clear that the Apostles were NOT the ONLY ones who were given the AUTHORITY to use the mighty name of Jesus to cast out devils and to heal the sick. Well, one might still have their heart hardened by false teaching and try and argue that Jesus APPOINTED these seventy. So even though the Bible does not specifically say that they were APOSTLES this does not mean that they were not APOSTLES. No, the Bible does not specifically say that these other seventy were not Apostles but the word of God does SPECIFICALLY state that those who BELIEVE that SIGNS would follow them.
Mark 16:16,17.
“HE that BELIEVES and is baptized shall be saved...and THESE SIGNS shall FOLLOW THEM that BELIEVE...”
So with this in mind let us read Luke 9:49,50 where we find one who has obviously heard the teachings of Jesus and BELIEVED but was NOT one of the disciples NOR was he one of the APOSTLES. He was just one who BELIEVED.
Luke 9:49,50.
“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in YOUR name; and we forbade him because he follows NOT with us. 50. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”
Now, we see here that Jesus instructed John NOT to forbid those who were doing mighty wonder WORKS in the NAME of JESUS even if they did NOT FOLLOW all the teachings to the letter that your DENOMINATION teaches IF your church denomination is truly following the FOUNDATION that was laid by the Apostles. Let's go back to Luke 10:16 which plainly shows us that ALL who believe those that Jesus sent forth will also BELIEVE the very one that SENT them forth.
Luke 10:16.
“He that HEARS YOU HEARS ME, and he that DESPISES YOU DESPISES ME, and he that DESPISES me DESPISES him that sent me.”
This word that is translated as despises here means to reject, to cast off, to frustrate, to bring to naught, and to nullify. So by teaching that the gifts of healing are no longer for today and that they have CEASED or passed away with the first-century church is to despise and reject the word of Almighty God the Father who sent Jesus to bear witness of the very nature of the Father. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 tells us that whosoever despises, despises not man, BUT GOD, who has also given unto us the Holy Spirit. And remember, they SPOKE with OTHER TONGUES by the Holy Spirit. So to DESPISE speaking in other tongues is to DESPISE Almighty God the Father. But my main point is that WHOSOEVER HEARS the gospel and BELIEVES then they are in effect HEARING the very words of JESUS HIMSELF, which Almighty God the Father gave him to speak.
Take a look at John 17:18-20.
“As you (Father) have sent me into the world, even so, have I also sent THEM into the world. 19. And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20. Neither do I pray for THESE ALONE, but for THEM ALSO which shall BELIEVE on me through THEIR word;”
Be blessed and KNOW to the UNDERSTANDING that ALL of the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit are present in the church today for ALL who BELIEVE and become DOERS of the word and not hearers ONLY. So, THEREFORE, if you BELIEVE that the gifts of healing have CEASED and have passed away with the first-century church then for YOU the gifts of the Spirit have been NULLIFIED and will NOT operate in YOUR life so long as you remain in UNBELIEF to BELIEVE that the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit are NOT for the church TODAY. Be no longer FAITHLESS, but BELIEVING. Be you FILLED with the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. And for ALL those who BELIEVE that they have NOT CEASED and are for the church today then they will be manifested in your life if you hold fast and cast not away from you your confidence in God and His word. It has been said whether you choose to believe or you choose to doubt by believing something else you can be sure that it will be shown that you are correct in either of what you have chosen to BELIEVE. It is YOUR CHOICE. So if you choose to wrongly believe that the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit have ceased, then the gifts of the Holy Spirit will NOT operate in YOU who are in UNBELIEF. Please be sure to read the study “STIR UP THE GIFT THAT IS WITHIN YOU” as that study will strengthen the walk of those who have chosen to BELIEVE that speaking in other tongues is indeed for today. This is a powerful study so be sure to read it often. And may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Your bother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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