The GIFT of Languages

It should also be noted that nowhere in Scripture -- whether on earth or in Heaven -- do angels speak in another language (which could be labeled as "the tongues of angels"). Whenever they spoke it was in a human language, and even when Paul was in the third heaven (in Paradise) he heard things which he could understand, but was forbidden to disclose them. So Paul was being hyperbolic to make a point. What we should always keep in mind is that he viewed prophecy as far more beneficial than tongues. He also ranks the spiritual gifts in the order of their importance.

Modern tongues do not even pretend to be other human languages. Therefore they have been converted into a "prayer language". In view of the fact that many genuine Christians are committed to this fallacy, it is better to let them do whatever they do and drop the subject. There is no point squabbling over this. People can choose either Charismatic or non-Charismatic churches by checking what they say about tongues.

Choose the House of God and build it. It is being built in Australia.

Perhaps the "tongues of angels", to the which I have spent no time on in the past, is that same voice we have heard when our Father has spoken to each of us, not loud, not quiet, not repeatable in any other language than our own, yet understood.

When His Holy Spirit came into me, there were no words, yet I heard all is going to be just fine. That came in understanding with Light and the Holy Spirit. Do not believe me, believe our Father.

God brought me to a people I knew not, but I could see the peace of God on their faces and I could see their obedience to His word. So my life was turned around and I began to obey the word of God also, outwardly. Until the question came to my heart, “if you die by car accident on your way home from this meeting, where will your spirit go, to heaven or hell?” My honest answer was “I don’t know”
I was doing the right thing outwardly but I had not made Jesus/God, my King, my Guide, my Master, my shepherd.
That night while praying/speaking to God, these words came to me, “repent, repent, repent”
I thought I had, but it was only outwardly. I had not given my heart and mind to God
(We certainly like to be the one controlling our life.)
So I handed over the controls to God and His Holy Spirit came in, like a light turned on inside of me. He has never failed me.
From the very next day, I could not stop telling that I was saved, and sharing the Gospel, for the first time in my life.

I'll bite the bullet on this one!
I confess to being a Cessationist, that is, I believe the sign and revelational gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles.

I have not always held this view.

I spent 20 years in the Pentecostal Movement, 7 of those years as a pastor. I have seen and experienced it all!

I left in disgust around the time of the Toronto Blessing. I just could not reconcile people rolling around the floor laughing and barking like dogs as being a 'move of God'.

From a study of Scripture I came to see that New Testament Tongues were in fact Human Languages ( Acts 2) not what
was on offer in Pentecostal Churches. I had to examine my own experience of speaking in tongues and came to the realisation that it was not the NT gift but rather a psychological imitation.

So for better or worse, I am now a Cessationist.

Peace

I'll bite the bullet on this one!
I confess to being a Cessationist, that is, I believe the sign and revelational gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles.

I have not always held this view.

I spent 20 years in the Pentecostal Movement, 7 of those years as a pastor. I have seen and experienced it all!

I left in disgust around the time of the Toronto Blessing. I just could not reconcile people rolling around the floor laughing and barking like dogs as being a 'move of God'.

From a study of Scripture I came to see that New Testament Tongues were in fact Human Languages ( Acts 2) not what
was on offer in Pentecostal Churches. I had to examine my own experience of speaking in tongues and came to the realisation that it was not the NT gift but rather a psychological imitation.

So for better or worse, I am now a Cessationist.

Peace

Dear me, it's a pity you read the Bible with closed eyes, mind and spirit!

It works better when you open them!

Why would "the house of God" be limited only to Australia? The Church is the Body of Christ which consists of every child of God worldwide. There is ONE Head and One Body. Now the churches and denominations of Christendom may or may not contain the children of God, but God know exactly who they are.

To speak plainly, there are some that need to say prayers or worship in their native tongue/language and they are permitted to when someone else in the meeting knows that particular language and can translate for them.

Another testimony is, One preacher spoke in his own language, the whole congregation were of a different language but God made them to understand every word.

I assume you can show examples of this on video. A lot of meetings are videotaped and nearly everyone has a smart phone. Has anyone captured this?

As messengers, Angels, speak every human language plus the language spoken in Heaven.

People can choose either Charismatic or non-Charismatic churches

Had the King James translations consistently translated glossais as languages, many modern issues might have been resolved right there. So that should read "diversities of languages". Paul had a lot to say about this spiritual gift, but what is most significant is that he said he would rather speak five INTELLIGIBLE words of prophecy that 10,000 words in tongues (which would then need interpretation). Then he told the Corinthians not to be children in understanding. There is also a counterfeit gift of tongues accessible to pagans, so people need to be clear.

1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings,
helps,
governments,
diversities of tongues.

I had a friend that came out of that movement. He told me they would meet once a week to practice speaking speaking in tongues. Some were better than others so they were allowed to voice in the service.

Like so many topics here, we get taught by people who have no experience with the subject matter. All they are doing is repeating what they have been told to believe.

The best way to learn is to keep an open mind even when you are convinced about something as a new revelation may come up which needs our attention.

My origins were Baptist (no supernatural), then the Brethren (no supernatural), and then the charismatic Brethren (plenty of supernatural). I attended a Brethren Bible College and whilst there I did a study of revival. Last week I started reading another book on revival which listed all the revivals that have happened since Azuza Street.

If you believe what the book says and I do, it is very clear that each revival was accompanied by tongues ( languages) and people were speaking in languages they had not learned and people were hearing messages in their own native tongue the same as they did on the day of Pentecost.

Do we throw the baby out with the bathwater? Some do but I don't. Pentecost and the history of revival very clearly show people being given the ability to speak in a language they have not learned. If that is what God wants to do, that is fine with me.