Text: Act 2:1-21; Isa. 28:11
Intro: Speaking in tongues was a special gift given to special men, for a special purpose for a special people for a special period of time.
Now read 2:1-12; Isa.28:11 The first truth I want you to know, is that the tongues in Acts 2, was an actual human language, not some heavnly language.
The day of Pentecost of the apostles preaching the Gospel in a gentile language, of which they had never learned, was prophesied by the prophet, Joel and Isa.
Note in the Isa.28 passage,vs.11 that the Apostles would speak win a stammering lips and another tongue i.e. another language, the Gentile language.
A. Stammering lips , compared to the Jewish lanuage which is an
easy flowing language, the Gentile language is staccato sounding
language, or as this Scripture renders it "stammering" sounding.
B. So Scripure has established that the original speaking in tongues
was a specific human language, given to special men - the 12
Apostles.
....and note also, these men had not been striken in the spirit or
had someone lay hands on them and utter heavenly words over
them, and declare they had just been baptized in the Holy
Ghost.
ans declare he or she jad just been baptized in thr Holy Ghost.
C. Next take note, that this speaking in a language which they had never peviously learned, was for a special purpose -the proclaiming the wonderful works ofGod -Acts 2:11 and God's plans for the future Acts 2:17-20., and the most important purpose , V.21 to proclaim God's salvation - "Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved."
Now I want to pull over to the side of the road, and park for awhile and talk to you, who-so-ever-you are who thinks you have talked in tongues - have you ever used that gift to proclaim the Word of God, the Word of salvation? Of course you haven't; because as I Corth. 14:9 says "Except you utter by tongue (a language) words to understand, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you shall speak in the air."
Personl Illustraion
At one time I worked among sme Mexican men who did not speak or uderstand the English language. I and a particuler Mexican man and I became friends. I invited him to church,which he refused, Why? As he said, I could not understand laguage or the music.
I'm saying very bluntly to anyone reading this who thinks you have a special gift of speakig in tongues, except you speak in a language they understand, proclaiming the wonderful works and wonderful work of God, you are fooling yourself or have been fooled by someone else that you have the gift of speaking in tongues.
"But Preacher, I know I was speaking in a heavenly language because I had no control over my tongue."
"I understand that, and will address it in a few minutes."
But right now I want to review what we have leaned thus far.
1. Speaking in tongues is an earthly known language, not
some heavenlylanguage.
2. Speaking in a unleaned language was specia gift of the Holy Spirit
given to some special men for a special purpose.
3. That purppse was to proclaim the Word of salvation to some
special people the Israelites, IOW the Jewish people.
a.Isa. 28: 11,12 says "Yet thet would not hear" so now go to the New
Testament I Cor. 14:21 which subsatuates Isa, 28: 11-12,In the law
it is written, with men of other tongues (languages) other lips,
will I speak to this people, and yet for all that they will not hear
me, saith the Lord" I Cor. 14:22 says "Tongues are for a SIGN, not to
them that believe but to them that believe not." and John 1:11 tells
us who the unbelievers are "Jesus came unto His own but His own
recieved Him not"
Now I'm going to address those who say "I know I'm speaking in tongues, because I have no control over my tongue,
You are not going to like me for what I am going to say, but you really need to hear it.
Look at Acts 16:16-18 and pay attention to details. This girl had no control over her following Paul around and actually was sayimg some things we today, might have easiy been drawn in to her, "These men are the servants of the most high God which show us the way of salvation."
But Paul recognized her for what she was, a demon possessed
person, and even though she was saying some wonderful things, Paul said,"I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, come out of her" and she came out the same hour.
OK< now what I am about to tell you, if this young girl had no control over her tongue, just as this damsel had no control over her tongue, is it possible you are being controlled by an evil spiirit. If you have no idea of what you are saying, has it ever entered your mind that a satanic spirit is cursing Jesus, using your tongue to do so
Remember, tongues are a known human language, and you have no idea wht you are saying, so its a very possiblity that an evil spirit is speaking in some forign laguage through the use of your vocal chords, Not to Praise Jesus, But curse Him.
Now I know there are several passages that have to do with speaking in tongues,(An unlearned language), but keep in mind that tongues was a SIGN FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE and in every pasage where tongues were spoken, they were always speakin in a Gentile language that the Jewish people had lerned, and always the were proclaiming the Gospel to a, or, some Jews.
In closing, I am going to show you from Scripture, that the gift of tonges was for a SPECIAL PEOPLE for a SPECIAL PERIOD OF TIME and that time has long ago passed on, SO speaking in tongues
is not for today ICor. 13:8 "...whether there be tongues, they shall cease."
When did they cease? Look at 13:10 "When that which is perfect (complete) is come, then that which is in part (incomplete) shall be done away,"
"When "that" which is perfect is come" is not a reference to Jesus' return, as some have taught, Why? Because the word "that" is a neuter word, neither male nor female and so is talking about the completion of the Scriptures. Besides, Jesus is not a "that".
Ok, you may ask, "When was the completion of the Scrptures?" Look at the last word in Revelation. With the salutation of John's writings, came the end of many of the speaking gifts, such as the gift of tongues.
Today with the completion of thr verbal insp[iraion ofmScriptre, tongues are no longer needed; We hve God's last wrd to the world of humanity in writtn form. God has laid aside His daligs with Israel, so the SIGN of tonges is no longer needed for them; everyone gets the Gospel of God's Word the same way......through the written Wrd of God.
From Jerry Howarth's Book of Sermons
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