| A young bible college student once wrote and told | | | | discouraging those who had not "received" the gift of |
| me how the college she attends has been teaching | | | | tongues. So, we must ask ourselves, in our desire for |
| that "speaking in tongues" is the sole evidence that | | | | the gift of tongues, what is our REAL motivation?If |
| one is filled with the Spirit and that no one WAS filled | | | | you were being attacked by a bear, would you |
| with the Spirit UNLESS they've spoken in tongues. | | | | prefer a rifle or the gift of tongues? Well, the gift of |
| Apparently, that didn't sit well with her and she | | | | tongues is seemingly widespread in the Western |
| wanted my opinion.Let me begin by stating that I'm | | | | Church, but the fact that our house is in such |
| well aware that not all subscribers to these eMail | | | | disarray reveals that we could use the manifested |
| broadcasts prescribe to the belief that "tongues" are | | | | FRUITS of the Spirit much more than we need the |
| for today. The focus of this treatise is not to argue | | | | GIFT of tongues right now. This is critical because |
| that point, one way or the other. Suffice it to say | | | | Pentecostalism is currently the fastest-growing |
| that I'm hoping we have all read (or WILL read) the | | | | segment of Christianity in the Western Church and its |
| Scriptures enough to recognize: (A) what "speaking in | | | | leadership must be keen to this lack of fruit. Jesus |
| tongues" is, and (B) that many in The Body of Christ, | | | | said, "By their fruits you will know them," (Mat |
| across denominational lines, make claim that they | | | | 7:16-20).Not "by their tongues."How do I know you're |
| have received this gift. In this eMinistry, I've heard | | | | a Christian? Because you SAY so? With that logic, if |
| from people of virtually all mainline denominations | | | | you say you're a book because you stand in a library, |
| who've claimed to have received the gift of tongues, | | | | should I believe you? How do you know I'm a |
| several out of concern that they would be | | | | Christian? You don't. Saints, we will be known by our |
| excommunicated or disfellowshipped if they were | | | | fruit.Go ahead, judge me. Some gasp, "But we're not |
| ever found out.TONGUES IN THE BIBLEThe gift of | | | | SUPPOSED to judge!" (There we go with the |
| tongues was apparently important enough that God | | | | rule-keeping again!) Yes, I know... Scripture says, "Do |
| used this manifestation to "jump-start" the Church | | | | not judge, or you, too, will be judged... ." But the |
| (Acts 2). Logicallyspeaking, why would He have | | | | verse continues, "... for in the same way you judge |
| stopped there? Fact is, the gift of tongues is | | | | others, you will be judged, and with the measure you |
| mentioned after Pentecost as well. Once again, no | | | | use, it will be measured to you."In other words, if |
| logical reason why they should have ceased, humanly | | | | you evaluate my lifestyle and perceive me to be evil, |
| speaking.Jesus made only one recorded reference to | | | | and even bring up the issue to others, you should |
| speaking in tongues. In Mark 16:17, speaking of all | | | | only dare to do so (A) for my benefit; out of love |
| those who would follow as His disciples, He said, "In | | | | for me, and (B) if you are prepared to undergo the |
| my name you will cast out devils, you will speak with | | | | same scrutiny of your own life. Fact is, Scripture |
| new tongues... ." That's it? That's ALL He had to say?! | | | | exhorts us repeatedly to judge people and things (1 |
| And we make such a BIG deal of the issue! He spoke | | | | Cor 5:9; 2 Cor 11:15; Phil 3:2; 1 Jn 4:1), and instructs us |
| much more of Sonship and Discipleship than He spoke | | | | to "test everything" (1 Th 5:21).Enough about that. |
| of speaking in tongues. Strange how I rarely hear | | | | Point is, you'll know I'm a Christian when I exhibit the |
| people argue about the "casting out devils" part. Is it | | | | fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22. Do I love |
| because too few are doing that ... even within the | | | | unconditionally? Am I joyful, or does my happiness |
| tongue-talking camps?Just a thought.I see no biblical | | | | rise and fall with my circumstances? Do I exhibit |
| evidence that the dunamis (from whence we get our | | | | peace in the midst of strife? Am I patient? Kind? |
| word "dynamite") power of the early apostles would | | | | Good to others? Filled with faith in God? Gentle, |
| have been withdrawn from the Church before the | | | | practicing self-control?Personally, I wish we in the |
| King returns. I personally cannot believe there's | | | | Church would speak in tongues all day long. This |
| anyone who can scripturally prove, without a doubt, | | | | might eliminate some of the back-stabbing, |
| that speaking in tongues is the evidence of the | | | | murmuring, criticism and gossip that that is generated |
| baptism of the Holy Spirit. Neither do I believe there's | | | | from that tiny part of our anatomy. It would be |
| anyone who can scripturally prove that this gift (or | | | | especially useful in the car before and after church |
| any other) has been eliminated from the Christian | | | | meetings, agreed? (That was today's attempt at |
| arsenal. I AM certain that BOTH those Christians | | | | humor.)THEY"LL KNOW WE'RE CHRISTIANS BY |
| would argue all day about the subject. The promise, | | | | OUR...TONGUES?One final thought: Early on, I was |
| we must remember, was not "you shall receive | | | | taught that there is a natural example of everything |
| tongues when the Holy Ghost comes upon you." It | | | | that takes place in the spiritual. This as proven to be |
| was "you shall receive POWER!"Not tongues of | | | | true time and time again. Well, since we are soldiers in |
| fire.Not rushing, mighty winds.POWER!Question: what | | | | the Lord's army, engaged in a spiritual war (Eph 6), |
| miracles did the apostles do AFTER Pentecost that | | | | wouldn't it be wise to enlist a "secret code" language |
| they hadn't done BEFORE? They were already | | | | for use in prayer, in case the enemy was listening? |
| healing the sick and casting out devils prior to the | | | | After all, we're snared by the words of our mouths |
| Upper Room experience. Jesus said, "...you shall | | | | (Prov 6:2). Ridiculous? Tell it to the U.S. Marines!In |
| receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; | | | | World War II, Navajo "code talkers" took part in |
| and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all | | | | every assault the Marines conducted in the Pacific |
| Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," | | | | from 1942 to 1945. They served in all six Marine |
| (Acts 1:8).Witnesses? In Greek, the word is martyr. | | | | divisions, Marine Raider battalions and Marine |
| In essence: "You shall receive power to lay your life | | | | parachute units, transmitting messages by telephone |
| down for the Kingdom's sake; for the cause of | | | | and radio in their native language; a code the |
| Christ!" Did the power they received enable these | | | | Japanese never broke.By the way, the idea to use |
| simple, unlearned men to raise the dead, preach with | | | | Navajo for secure communications came from a man |
| convincing eloquence, endure torturous beatings, | | | | named Philip Johnston, son of a Christian missionary |
| forsake everything and everyone in which they had | | | | to the Navajos and one of the few non-Navajos |
| ever previously taken comfort, and write anointed | | | | who spoke the language fluently. As a result of his |
| epistles, too? Absolutely. It changed them. Any other | | | | efforts, the Marines recruited 200 Navajos which, |
| need for power, other than what is required for | | | | throughout the war were praised for their skill, speed |
| Kingdom-building, focuses our attention squarely on | | | | and accuracy. Major Howard Connor declared, "Were |
| "self" and increases the danger of humanism raising | | | | it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have |
| its ugly head amidst the things of God. There's | | | | taken Iwo Jima." Connor had six Navajo code talkers |
| already too much of that. As I've stated in the past, | | | | working around the clock during the first two days |
| Christianity isn't about US.SPIRIT OR FLESH?Back to | | | | of the battle. Those six sent and received over 800 |
| tongue-talking, surely we know it can be faked. Let's | | | | messages, all without error. The Japanese, skilled |
| consider that. I had an unchurched neighbor who was | | | | code breakers, were baffled by the Navajo language. |
| mocking his Pentecostal wife one day and he | | | | Their chief of intelligence later said that while they |
| sounded ... well, quite legitimate! But if we're going to | | | | were able to decipher the codes used by the U.S. |
| appoint anyone to judge whose tongues are "of the | | | | Army and Army Air Corps, they never cracked the |
| flesh" and which are "of the Spirit," why not go all | | | | code used by the Marines.Something to |
| the way and have those same appointed people | | | | consider?Following are some things Jesus had to say |
| whip out their Flesh-O-Meters and determine who is | | | | regarding Sonship and Discipleship. Notice, "speaking in |
| singing, preaching, or even tithing in the church out of | | | | tongues" is nowhere to be found. Let us stress what |
| carnality as well?Selah.Not all tongues could possibly | | | | the Lord stressed and eliminate the stress over the |
| be legitimate. That's simply inconceivable. I've been | | | | "tongues" issue.READ 'EM AND REAP! |
| exposed to enough foreign languages to know when | | | | Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall |
| I've heard "tongues" that had a distinct Spanish, | | | | be called sons of God" |
| German, African or American Indian flavor to them. | | | | Mat 5:44,45 "But I say to you, love your enemies |
| I've heard those who were simply speaking a broken | | | | and pray for those who persecute you, so that you |
| dialect of a second language they already possessed, | | | | may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for he |
| having little to do with God's miraculous gift; they | | | | makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and |
| were merely praying in this second "tongue" of theirs. | | | | sends rain on the just and on the unjust." |
| Nothing wrong with that - I'm glad to see Christians | | | | Mat 13:38 "...the field is the world, and the good seed |
| pray at all, whenever. It just doesn't "classify" as | | | | means the sons of the Kingdom; the weeds are the |
| legitimate tongue-talking in most Pentecostal circles. | | | | sons of the evil one..." |
| Neither does the insertion of an occasional phrase in | | | | Mat 28:19-20 "Therefore, go, and make disciples of |
| Spanish, etc. In deliverance ministry, demonic tongues | | | | all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father |
| may be heard on occasion which most Pentecostals | | | | and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them |
| would envy. But bear this in mind: one's desire for | | | | to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I |
| more of God MUST be commended, never ridiculed | | | | am with you always, even to the end of the age." |
| or scorned, real tongues or not! Such things are too | | | | Joh 8:31 "If you remain in My Word, then you are |
| often used as a source of contention and division in | | | | truly My disciples. |
| the Church.I could tell some of the most incredible | | | | Joh 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are |
| stories of people who spoke in tongues, were | | | | My disciples, if you have love for one another." |
| overheard, and understood, by someone nearby ... | | | | Joh 15:8 "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear |
| and it ministered to them. To THEM, mind you ... to | | | | much fruit; and so you will be My disciples."Need |
| the people who overheard. That's terrific because | | | | pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or IM me at |
| this Kingdom is not about you and me. If we are | | | | Every blessing!Michael |
| sons of the house, our efforts should be geared | | | | A servant of God |
| toward building the house, tending to the house, filling | | | | t.e.a.m. ministries |
| the house, expanding the house, guarding the | | | | A Message of Discipleship & Encouragement to the |
| house.GIFT OF TONGUES IN CONTEXTUnderstanding | | | | Body of Christ |
| Sonship in the Kingdom of God must be put within | | | | P.O. Box 633 |
| the context of Stewardship and Servanthood. This | | | | Stephenville, Texas 76401 |
| brings us to the reality that we are witnesses | | | | |
| (martyrs; serving unto death) to the Gospel of the | | | | BLOG: Michael has been broadcasting his eMail |
| Kingdom of God, and not rulers. If it were all about | | | | messages of Discipleship and encouragement to |
| US being made rulers, then the focus of Christianity is | | | | Christians of all denominations |
| all about us and what WE get when if we sign-on. Do | | | | since 1999. These messages are literally reaching |
| we get tongues? Great! But wait ... if tongues edifies | | | | millions each week and the messages are being |
| no one but ourselves, there's no focus on making | | | | re-posted on other Christian sites,used as Bible |
| disciples, right? See, the gift of tongues, when | | | | studies for groups, and are being used by those in |
| legitimately manifested, is for the strengthening of | | | | ministry as a preaching guide.Pastor Michael has been |
| one's self (1 Cor 14:4-5,12). It rarely, but not always, | | | | broadcasting an e-Mail message of Discipleship & |
| does anything for anybody else, especially the way | | | | Encouragement to Chrsitians across the planet since |
| we see it being demonstrated in most cases today. | | | | 1999. Now reaching literally millions, these messages |
| Sadly, I've seen tongues become a measuring stick | | | | have forever touched countless lives as believers |
| of one's spirituality, creating a "have vs. have-not" | | | | everywhere catch his vision of forwarding the |
| ungodly caste system in the Church, inviting | | | | message and write him to say so! |
| dissension into the ranks. Even frustrating and | | | | |