Category: speaking in tongues

To Be Seen and Heard #13

Sunday, March 30, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Egocentric Corinthian Christians fragmented their local church into little factions: “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Harmony lacked because each was “doing his or her own thing.” They derived incalculable pleasure from their misuse of spiritual gifts, particularly the gifts of prophecy and tongues (see 1 Corinthians chapter 14). Similar to drug addiction, it felt so (!) unbelievably (!) good (!) to be seen and heard, to be regarded as “most spiritual” and “holiest of all.” Their loss of bodily control attracted many stares, and their unusual speech patterns (glossolalia, tongue-talking) appealed to countless ears. Of course, it was all for show, to compete with one another: “I am closer to God than you are! I have outdone you!”

Whether the formalism of the Galatians (the “fair shew in the flesh” of works-religion or self-righteousness), or the fanaticism of the Corinthians (the “to be seen and heard of men” courtesy of experiences and emotionalism), neither is Jesus Christ’s life. Both are man’s life (Adam’s life, sin). The creature is being worshipped and served instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25). This loops all the way back to the “I will… I will… I will… I will… I will…” plan of Lucifer or Satan in Isaiah 14:12-14. Such self-will carried over into Adam’s species (us) when he chose to align with that idea in Genesis chapter 3. Pride is called “the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6; cf. Ezekiel 28:2,5,17; Isaiah 14:12-14), but Christians should be humble (Philippians 2:5-11).

If members of the Church the Body of Christ are not walking by faith in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, they will not mind the things of the Holy Spirit. Flesh-walking will therefore wreck their Christian lives. Attention will be drawn to individuals rather than the Lord whom the sound Bible doctrine portrays and glorifies….

To Be Seen and Heard #12

Saturday, March 29, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

The heart of the three-chapter unit of 1 Corinthians dealing with spiritual gifts is chapter 13—charity described, love in action or the labour of love defined. Love is seeking another’s highest good; therefore, “charity… seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Yet, the only people the Corinthians loved were themselves. They were babes in Christ, mere spiritual kindergarteners. Children are obsessed with getting their way, deriving as much pleasure as possible from whatever achievable means. Similarly, the Corinthians treated spiritual gifts like toys or candy: “I want, I want, I want! Look at what I have, look at what I have, look at what I have! You cannot have, you cannot have, you cannot have!” Pouting, fussing, and fighting divided the Corinthian church.

Chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians is exceptionally shameful. God’s gift of tongues, speaking intelligent human languages without formally learning them, is being counterfeited. The Corinthians have returned to their babbling of heathen idolatry and are trying to pass off gibberish (unintelligible speech) as “the words of God.” “Hastala, shastala, habbala, gabbala!” Instead of legitimate language, it was imitation, and nothing but occasion for arrogance: “I can speak in a private tongue that you cannot!” Of course, like modern charismatics, it drew attention to individuals. In addition to strange sounds uttered, there was loss of bodily control (falling down, rolling on the floor, waving arms, jumping, running, spinning, trembling, fainting, et cetera). Fake spirituality was confused with genuine spirituality (see 1 Corinthians 14:37,38). People were speaking their opinions but pretending God the Holy Spirit was talking. They just aspired to be seen and heard, not worship or glorify God. Paul thus counseled, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Frankly, Corinthian living is trashy Christian living. It is a hybrid of the wild, loose conduct of charismatics and the depraved, darkened mind of humanistic intellectuals. Corinthian living is not real Christian living, but simulated: Christians struggling in futility in the energy of the flesh to copy Jesus Christ’s life. It is the “reality television” of Christianity….

Spiritual Calligraphy #10

Thursday, May 16, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

It is no secret the Corinthians were the worldliest, most carnal (fleshly) believers in the entire canon of Scripture. They thought and acted like people who were lost and on their merry way to Hell! What makes it all the more ridiculous is that Paul had spent some two years teaching them the Gospel of Grace and grace living (see Acts 18:11,18)! One of their primary sins was abusing spiritual gifts—especially speaking in tongues. Three chapters of 1 Corinthians are therefore devoted to spiritual gifts (read chapters 12–14).

Consider 1 Corinthians 14:21-23: “In the law it is written [Isaiah 28:11,12], With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad [crazy, insane, lunatic]?”

The Corinthian assembly of Christians met in a building that shared a wall with the Jewish synagogue of Corinth. Read Acts 18:1-8, noting that “joined hard” in verse 7 references the common wall between them. Since the Corinthian saints were abusing the spiritual gift of tongues by engaging in gibberish or ecstatic utterances (just like the pagans in their worship services!), that spiritual gift was not serving its purpose of reaching unsaved Jews next-door as the Spirit of God had intended! It was the spirit of man trying to counterfeit God’s work, and even lost Jews could see the silliness! Instead of attracting unsaved Israel to Paul’s ministry and message, such frivolity was repelling them, keeping them antagonistic toward the Lord Jesus Christ whom those spiritual gifts should have glorified.

Exalting human “wisdom,” Corinth abounded with spiritual cacography, ugly handwriting, hideous words and deeds….

The Comforter #4

Thursday, March 28, 2019

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16 KJV).

Who is this “Comforter?” What are His roles?

In the 40 days following His resurrection, Jesus Christ opened the Scriptures so His Apostles could better comprehend them. All they had at the time was Genesis through Malachi (see Luke 24:44-48), but it was enough to get them going without Him. Those “Bible classes” resulted in the Apostle Peter’s astonishing grasp of obscure Old Testament Scripture as seen in Acts 1:16-20!

Just before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus said, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The parallel passage is Acts chapter 1, verses 4 and 5: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

As sworn, the “Comforter” arrived in Acts chapter 2: “[1] And when the day of Pentecost was 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.” Here, the Holy Spirit enabled the Apostles to speak in human languages they never formally learned, that their Jewish brethren visiting from foreign lands would understand God’s Word in their native dialect!

Over in Ephesians 3:16, we see Paul praying for us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace, “That he [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;….” Here, the Holy Spirit functions as our fortifier, our “Comforter,” our Helper….

Translated Judgment #7

Saturday, September 22, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

First Corinthians chapter 14 outlines the seven rules that regulated the gift of tongues (which gift the Corinthians were abusing). When the Holy Spirit was involved, these seven principles were always in place. Any deviation, even slightly, meant that the experience was artificial and satanic. Someone was striving in his or her flesh to mimic or counterfeit God’s work.

Primarily, tongues served as a sign to the nation Israel (today’s Scripture). Secondly, two—or maximum, three—individuals were to speak in tongues during one meeting (verse 27). Thirdly, the speakers had to take turns, and not talk over each other (verse 27). Fourthly, the tongue had to be translated or the speaker was to remain silent (verses 27,28). Fifthly, only men spoke in tongues (verses 34,35). Sixthly, the translated tongue was to conform to Pauline doctrine (verses 37,38). Lastly, there was to be decency, order, self-control (verse 40). These seven rules describe the only type of speaking in tongues the Holy Spirit has ever (!) endorsed!

It was particularly important that tongues be translated. This interpretation allowed unsaved Jews to not only hear a foreign language (recognizing God’s judgment on their nation), but also learn God’s Word in their own native tongue (whatever it happened to be). An intelligible message, as opposed to gibberish, afforded them an opportunity to be convicted of their sin and converted to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Now that that Acts transitional period is over, God dealing with Israel has passed, so the spiritual gifts have ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). We have a completed Bible, total revelation from God, and thus temporary spiritual gifts and fragmentary revelation are unnecessary (2 Timothy 3:16,17; cf. Colossians 1:25-27).

Our two latest Bible Q&As: “Did Saul of Tarsus ever meet Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry?” and “Did Paul just hear Jesus’ voice, or did he see Him, too?”

Translated Judgment #6

Friday, September 21, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

Here are two simple Bible verses that will revolutionize the way you view God’s Word. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22). “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” (John 4:48). Signs are Israel’s national heritage (see Psalm 74:9). When we come to today’s Scripture, we thus see that one of these “signs” is the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues: “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not….” The unbelievers during the Acts period were the nation Israel (Acts 9:23,24; Acts 13:45-48; Acts 17:5,13; Acts 18:6,12; et cetera).

In Isaiah’s day, Israel hearing foreign languages meant that her LORD God’s judgment had fallen on her for her unbelief and disobedience. Similarly, Israel hearing the gift of tongues working amongst Paul’s Gentile converts signified to Israel that her God was now operating in the world without her. It was a drastic change in program. God had taken the spiritual gifts—what had belonged to Israel—and given them over to the Gentiles. The gift of tongues operated amongst Paul’s Gentile converts so as to provoke to salvation in Christ the unsaved Jews scattered around the world.

The gift of tongues was not meant to be entertainment (as the Corinthians were using it—see 1 Corinthians chapter 14), but rather a clear testimony to Israel. It was important that the Corinthians correct their abuses of this most special spiritual gift. Today’s Body of Christ would do well to take heed to these verses, and address and fix their misunderstandings and misuses of spiritual gifts….

Bible Q&A #535: “Who are the ‘Grecians’ in the Bible?”

Translated Judgment #5

Thursday, September 20, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

The spiritual gift of tongues, as the God of the Bible operated it, was the speaking of human dialects never formally learned. Rather than studying the language at school for years, those carried by the Spirit of God were automatically fluent in the foreign tongue. It was God reversing the language confusion He caused the idolatrous nations at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

Zechariah 8:20-23 promises that God, one day, will enable the Jews to speak all the world’s languages so Israel can be His kingdom of priests. In the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, Israel will share God’s Word with the nations: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Acts chapter 2, the Day of Pentecost, was a reversal of the language confusion at Babel. Israel here saw the spiritual gift of tongues operating in her midst. Then, most strangely, in mid-Acts, it left Israel and began working among Paul’s Gentile converts…..

Translated Judgment #4

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

Acts 18:11 says Paul preached God’s Word in Corinth for 18 months (verse 18 indicates even longer). When he had first arrived, he preached to and converted Jews and Greeks in the synagogue (verses 1-5). Once unbelieving Israel opposed him, he pronounced God’s judgment on them (verse 6) and went next door to the house of Justus, a Gentile, to start a local assembly (verse 7). “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (verse 8). Eventually, there is a second leader of the synagogue, Sosthenes, but he too becomes a convert of Paul (verse 17 cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1).

When we approach the Books of 1 and 2 Corinthians, we should keep the above background in mind. The Christians at Corinth met in a building that “joined hard” (Acts 18:7)—shared a common wall—with the Jewish synagogue. In other words, believers in Jesus Christ frequently met in close proximity to unsaved Israel! It was because of these lost Jews that the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote today’s Scripture. God had a special message for them: it was important that the Corinthian saints maintain a clear, influential testimony to enlighten and evangelize lost Israel.

In today’s Scripture, Paul quotes Isaiah’s prophecy to describe a similar situation occurring in the Book of Acts. (Remember, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians circa Acts chapters 19-20.) God is operating the spiritual gift of tongues among Paul’s Gentile converts, which is to signify something to Israel. Israel, knowing the Old Testament, is expected to make the connection and be converted to Christ….

Translated Judgment #3

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

Chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians deal with the issue of spiritual gifts operating in the early Church the Body of Christ. These passages remind the Body of Christ as to the special nature of the Acts transitional period. Spiritual gifts are being abused in Corinth, thus hindering God’s message from being sent clearly to unsaved Jews.

Begin in Acts chapter 18, when the Apostle Paul founded the church at Corinth: “[1] After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; [2] And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome: ) and came unto them. [3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

“[4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. [5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. [6] And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. [7] And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. [8] And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.”

There is a neighboring Jewish synagogue in Corinth….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why did Paul not give the Gospel of Grace in Acts 17?”

Translated Judgment #2

Monday, September 17, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

Romans 11:11-14 is the best commentary on the purpose of Paul’s Acts ministry, a most-confused topic that should be quite easy to grasp (provided we do not have a theological system to maintain!): “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”

During the Acts transitional period, the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to conduct his ministry in such a way so as to “provoke” unbelieving Israel to “jealousy.” Unsaved Jews were to be concerned that God had left them and had now gone to the Gentiles (non-Jews, nations) without them. How was Israel to get this communication though? Paul behaved in a most “bizarre” way during Acts: God was not operating Israel’s program through him but was rather showing how it was giving way to our mystery program. If any unsaved Jews were to enter God’s family, they would have to “emulate” (or follow) the Gentiles in coming to faith in Christ and thus join the Body of Christ.

As Paul preached his Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) in Acts, today’s Scripture says God had the Gentiles declare something to unbelieving Israel as well….