Tongues of Men and Angels Speaking in a New Tongue is mentioned as a sign that will follow they who believe. Other spiritual gifts mentioned are healings, casting out devils, and divine protection from evil. The key to these gifts is faith, not study. Were this a reference to simply an earthly language it would represent an undoing of Babel. Have you ever tried to pass school by faith alone and without study? Hint: Such is nigh impossible. Yet here faith is the key element to acquire a new tongue. Speaking of my experience, nothing manifested at the instant of prayer by others. But rather after spending some days in private prayers and fasting did this gift come. And that was while alone in personal prayer; some 46 years ago. The specific words used in Mark 16 are: 1)New (καιν ς kainos recently made, fresh, recent, unused, of a new (95%) kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of) 2) Tongues (γλ σσα glōssa a language, specifically one naturally UN-acquired, a member of the body, an organ of speech, the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations) as in tongue(50%) & tongues(50%) `And signs shall accompany those believing these things; in my name demons they shall cast out...(AMP) & they will speak in new languages..(YLT). The meaning is clear: without faith you cannot see but ask with faith & you can manifest a new kind of heavenly language.. Sadly there are they who use the first recorded new testament instance of speaking in tongues as the only meaning for speaking in tongues. It is imperative to take the whole council of scripture, and not just that which supports one narrow view. On the whole, the book of Acts lists three (3), instances (ch2, ch10, & ch19) of people being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. These instance happened at three (3) separate locations: 1)Jerusalem, 2)Caesarea, & 3)Ephesus. Only in the first instance was the gift of tongues mentioned as relates to earthly languages. In the other two (2) instances the grouping of peoples understood & conversed with one another just to hold the initial meeting. At Caesarea, Cornelius was instructed to send for Peter, as a sign that the gospel was for all peoples. At Ephesus, the apostle Paul was helping some disciples of St John de
Baptist comprehend the full working of Jesus resurrection. In both instances it is mentioned, ... was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.… also v19:6 ... the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. In the 3 parallel
instances ‘prophesied’ and ‘magnify God’ can be taken as equals. Fortunately Acts chapter two harkens back to the Hebrew to explain instances in both Hebrew & Greek bible languages. By which “prophesy” in OT can mean to praise Yahweh. Look how the phrases, ‘with tongues & magnify God’ or ‘with tongues & prophesied’ of chapters 10 & 19 differs from Acts2. So also one translation is: an unused & new unheard of but naturally unacquired language. 1. The many at Jerusalem: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts 2:3-4&8 2. Cornelius an Italian centurion at Caesarea: And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Acts10:45-47 3. Paul unto John’s Disciples at Ephesus: When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts19:5-6 A limited explanation such as:
- ‘Speaking in tongues is the ability to speak in a language the speaker does not know, in order to communicate the gospel to someone who does not speak a known common language’...ignores Acts Chapters 10&19 and other instances simply indicate one is praising & glorify God. Some say Paul was only using hyperbolae in the phrase of 1Cor13:1, angelic speech. But, what if there are heavenly languages? Consider the story of Babel, just after Noah’s flood: • And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech... Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; ... Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did
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OP Armstrong
Jan2021 

This Is That Spoken Of
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