SPEAKING IN TONGUES, The Miraculous Gift of the Holy Spirit, and its various uses today
Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10 and 28
1100 Strong, glossa, gloce-sah’, language, tongue,
not naturally acquired - by implication
2084 Strong, heteroglossos, het-er-og’-loce-sos,
from 1100, other-tongued (1 Corinthians 14:21 only)
1258 Strong, dialektos, dee-al’-ek-tos, dialect,
dialectic, language, tongue, used by the crowd in Acts 2:6
To read through Proverbs (and the Prophets, for that
matter) noting the importance of the human tongue - both for immense blessing
and for incredible evil - makes the obvious point that the submission of the
tongue to the Holy Spirit, in this gift, is of huge significance.
It is suggested that James 3 is virtually a summary of Proverbs relative to
this subject of the tongue.
Even in chapter 1, James is given these words: “If
anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his
tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
verse 26 “If anyone is never at fault
in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”
With this verse, the Holy Spirit introduces thoughts on the power of the
tongue, the difficulty in taming it, and the conflicting hypocritical use we
make of it. (James 3:1-12)
Our Lord’s promise: “they shall speak in new
languages”. (Mark 16:17) It is a tragedy that two extremes exist in
the Church, today: the belief that only a limited number of gifts are now
available to Believers, and new languages is not one of them; the other is the
abuse of the manifestation of the Spirit, by the misuse of tongues.
In the one, there is the audacity of criticising God’s infinite wisdom in
bestowing this charisma - in ridiculing His gift, we scoff at God; in the other
there is the lack of informed discipline. I have seen one American
television evangelist speaking in tongues, as a joke, and to no sensible
purpose: only to show-off. This wastes valuable transmission time and
money given sacrificially by God’s people, who trust that their gifts will be
used wisely.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a
violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were
sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated
and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them ...
each one heard them speaking in his own language (dialect).” (Acts 2:1-6)
Words often serve several usages: “glossa” is used
for the “tongues of fire” and for the “speaking in tongues”. (Acts 2:3, 4)
In verse 5, however, the word “dialectos” appears. This is taken to mean
a specific “dialect” of a language, but it is worth noting, that elsewhere in
Acts it is translated as “dialectic”: reasoned statements, or discourses - Paul
in synagogues at Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus; in the School of
Tyrannus; the Troas Upper Room; and in the Jerusalem Temple, where he made a
point of not arguing. (Acts 17:2,17, 18:4,19, 19:8,9, 20:7,9, 24:12) This association is quite the opposite of “the ecstatic”,
which some theologians, and translators, have imagined, basing their thoughts
on Arabic, and Classical Greek cultures.
We can note that this is called “being filled with
the Spirit” and “the baptism of the Holy Spirit”, promised “not many days hence”
(Acts 1:5 [AV]); elsewhere it is referred to as “the sealing”, “guarantee”, “deposit”,
or “down payment”. (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, and Ephesians 1:13-14,
below)
1.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit, reveals the unseen presence of the Spirit in a
Christian: confirming our acceptance by God at conversion, in a subjective
experience at the time, or soon afterwards (normally). Perhaps
other gifts may be used, such as prophecy, but tongues is the most common in
the New Testament. It is important as a means of assurance: that
God has responded to our faith in his Son, by giving us this dramatic event -
whether privately or publicly. One X-ray technique requires a dye
to be inserted into the spinal fluid, so that the otherwise invisible flow of
the fluid can be observed. In a similar way, the invisible Spirit
of God reveals His presence by clear assuring evidence. This is not an optional extra; but the normal Christian experience in Scripture! Lack of blessing in our lives may be due to lack of prayer in dialektos, and singing in tongues. Paul exemplars: I speak in tongues more than you all!
Just as with Baptism in water – we have all the
blessings associated with Baptism, but God requires the obedience of the
action: so with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, there is the importance of
formally inviting the Spirit into our life. We have known the ministry of
the Comforter before, during, and after conversion; but we need this special
event.
Jesus's promise of the Holy Spirit to His Disciples: John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
[Some Muslim thinkers, apparently believe this part of the Bible. Although Jesus was speaking to a group of His Apostles, with Him at that moment and place: the Muslims apply it to their Prophet coming 600 years later. This is tragically dishonest and deceitful.]
On the Day of Pentecost, in Acts chapter 2, they
also had tongues of flame and a violent wind. We all need a
personal “Pentecost” or sealing. Ephesians 1:13-14 in Moffatt’s
translation reads:
“You ... have been stamped with the seal of the
long-promised Holy Spirit, which is the pledge and instalment (first) of our
... heritage…” God is placing His seal on our lives, and
giving us the down payment of the greater glory, which will be ours at the
resurrection. Newberry gives this passage as a clear example of the Greek use of the aorist participle: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed. Literally: having heard, having believed." Here are the three stages of Christian experience - hearing, believing, being sealed.
Some see this experience as instantaneous, or minutes, hours, days, or even years after conversion.
We may look at the other, similar, occasions of this
initial coming of the Spirit into the lives of new Christians, as recorded in
the Book of Acts - it must be pointed out, that it is an inadequate preaching
of the Gospel, that fails to minister this vital aspect of the work of God, and
it is dishonest to the whole counsel of God.
The examples in Acts:
8:15-16, laying on of hands at Samaria, where no
sign is described;
10:44-48, Cornelius and his household, experience
tongues and praise, during the preaching of Peter;
11:15-17, the above event is reported by Peter, and
called “baptism” in the Holy Spirit;
19:16, at Ephesus, with the laying on of hands,
there was both tongues and prophecy.
The last two verses of a Charles Wesley hymn (280
TMHB) are on this theme of sealing:
“Come, Holy Ghost my heart inspire!
Attest that I am born again;
Come and baptize me now with fire, Nor let the
former gifts be vain:
I cannot rest in sins
forgiven;
Where is the “earnest”
of my heaven?
Where the indubitable “seal”
That ascertains the kingdom mine?
The powerful “stamp” I long to feel,
The signature of love
divine:
O shed it in my heart abroad,
Fulness of love, of heaven, of God.”
(“Earnest” is another word for down payment: as when
we secure an item in a store by paying a part, of the whole purchase price -
agreeing to pay the full amount, later. “Seal” and “stamp” are
synonyms. These represent some of the collection of words used in
the English Versions - translations.) I could well imagine that if Paul collected leather
at the docks in Lechaion (the nearest of the two ports of Corinth).
It would have first been stamped to ensure it remained in the owner’s
possession - everyone would know, who it belonged to.
2. A second use of the Tongues, is as a
sign to the unbeliever, as the apostle describes in 1 Corinthians 14:22: a
miracle which totally astounds the unconverted, as I will show in examples
later. The exact opposite effect is seen, if everybody speaks in
tongues - as in an unruly meeting, which would do nothing but bring
dishonour to our Lord’s name. This was starting to happen in the
Congregation at Korinthos. Apart from a special miracle of
tongues, it is prophecy, which normally has more effect on the unconverted -
certainly in cases approaching excess. As I said, in a television
transmission, a preacher used tongues almost as a form of entertainment and
showmanship: a gross example of its misuse - wasting valuable time and
opportunity.
3. Tongues will be prophetic to the
Assembly, and the individual, when combined with the gift of Interpretation. (1
Corinthians 14:5)
4. When the gift is used privately, the
spirit of a Believer is: built up - strengthened, speaks mysteries, and prays to God in the
spirit, sings, gives thanks, and praises, but the mind receives nothing.
When I was engaged in a missionary maintenance course at Bible College, I
overheard a fellow-student singing in tongues, in his quarters. He
did not believe in the gift - theologically, and yet he often enjoyed this
experience.
Clearly it is desirable that the gift of
interpretation is sought. I have found that the two gifts bring
clarity, and innovative perceptive thoughts and insights. (1 Corinthians 14:2,4,13-17)
5. Singing in tongues in corporate
worship sometimes sounds like the complex music of the 16th century
composer Thomas Tallis; “Spem in alium” has 40 voices in eight choirs of five.
This would be impressive at any time in history. I have felt, on
occasions, that the sheer beauty of this manifestation of tongues is ample
evidence of the Spirit’s presence.
NOTE: There are angelic languages, not known on Earth - 1 Corinthians 13:1.
When recovering in hospital from a life-threatening illness (bacterial meningitis), I received a gift of tongues which was quite unusual: it could only be sung. I wondered at the time, if it might be an angelic language.
A key passage
Just as 1 Corinthians 14 deals extensively with
prophecy in the Christian congregation, so this chapter gives parallel teaching
on the part to be played by tongues in the corporate life of the Congregation:
verses 5-12,18,19, God the Spirit would have everybody
speak in tongues, but would have its use kept firmly in place
verse 6, “But now brothers, if I come to you speaking in
tongues, what will I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or
in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?” (Green’s Literal) It
could well be understood as a contrast of tongues with other gifts, which are
of more profit for the Congregation, or it could be saying that interpreted
tongues can be more illuminating
verse 13, We should pray to receive the gift of
interpretation to add to the gift of tongues
verse 21, Two Old Testament prophecies understood, within
our biblical culture (and rabbinic, says Kittel), to be about tongues: Isaiah
28:11; Deuteronomy 28:49
“Very well then, with foreign lips and strange
tongues
God will speak to
this people.”
“The LORD will bring a nation against you from far
away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose
language you will not understand.”
“This people” and “you”, could be understood as
referring to just Israel; but, within the New Testament context, this point is
never made: quite the contrary, tongues is discussed within the atmosphere of
the a “mainly” gentile church - as at Korinthos.
verses 22-25, Tongues and prophecy in excess, and the
effect - referred to above
verse 27, Only two people should speak in tongues, in a
given meeting - three at most
verse 28. If there is no one with the gift of
interpretation, “the speaker should keep quiet in the congregation and speak to
himself and to God”- in other words, appear virtually silent. This
is not an easy instruction for many to receive! The sound of
tongues should be heard: as a prophecy - awaiting interpretation, as a miracle
for the unbeliever, or in corporate singing.
Practical thoughts
Teaching on the logistics of the gift in the
Congregation is: singing in the Spirit, Messages in Tongues, and Private Devotions
(Private meaning: not interfering with the experience of others in the meeting,
or when alone). The extensive, dominating, use of tongues by a
speaker with a loud voice, or a microphone, is completely out of tune with the
New Testament instruction: it is an unfortunate abuse, does damage to the cause
of the Gospel, and requires counselling, pastoring, rebuke, guidance, and
teaching.
Paul sums up the correct attitude to all potentially
intrusive manifestations, with these words (RSV): “For if we are beside
ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.” (“We are
beside ourselves unto God: for your sake we are sober.”) 2 Corinthians 5:13
Again, time must be allowed in meetings for the
gift; and there is nothing wrong with periods of silence - put to good use in
private prayer, meditation and waiting on God. When a message is
given, there may be a wait: for someone to feel led by God to miraculously give
the interpretation. It is not a translation, and may take more or
fewer words. There are many human languages, Kittel suggests that “kinds”
implies variety (sixteen is a rough count of dialects on the Day of Pentecost)
- there is even the possibility of an extinct language, or a heavenly (1
Corinthians 13:1, 14:10-11). As I said, when I was seriously ill in hospital,
a beautiful language, in song, was given to me; it certainly sounded
heavenly to me. Even though ill, I was able to worship and set my
mind on heavenly things - psychosomatically contributing to my recovery, no
doubt. There are Assemblies where the messages are recorded, taken
down in shorthand, and published; certainly great respect must rightfully be
shown. The Elders - as with prophecy - must carefully assess the
messages. Sad to say, in many churches, which subscribe to a belief in
the gift; there is no provision made for the practice!
I was preaching at a Methodist Church, which aspired
to be Charismatic, but gave little evidence of it. The text for my sermon was:
1 Corinthians 14:26 “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come
together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue
or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the
church.”
We had done most of the things listed.
“Nobody believes in speaking in Tongues today!”
“Oh yes we do!” answered the congregation.
“Put your hand up, if you have the gift of
Interpretation.”
And so we had a time of waiting on God, to await a
message in tongues, and its interpretation.
Why did God choose to give us such a strange gift?
We may note that it is: egalitarian, dramatic, miraculous, above and beyond
intellect, and humbling - a surrender of a most powerful part of our
physiognomy. There can be the most wonderful creativity and
revelation, when linked with interpretation - but it must always be compatible
with the cannon of Scripture - as indeed I have found it to be.
Poetically it may be seen as a reversal of the curse at the Tower of Babel.
It is probably the only gift, which Christ did not use, although in his deity,
he knows all languages.
To argue against God, or to present ridicule, is extremely foolish. The Creator of the human mind has many hidden, and
wise, reasons why this gift is beneficial to the human psyche. The
senior business executive, being driven home after an exhausting trip, can
relax and lift his soul to God in tongues. The aged man, finding it
ever harder to waken up in a morning, enters the heavenly places with this
gift. The man or woman, boy or girl, in whatever situation of life,
can rise above this world and its horrors, and reach God in heart to heart
communication, and revelation.
Arguments used against the current offering of the
gift
Some discount the giving of any of the anointings of
the Spirit, in this sense, and the Scripture they use is:
“Love never fails. But where there are
prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled;
where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part
and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.”
(1 Corinthians 13:8-9)
As explained in the general introduction to the
gifts, knowledge has not yet passed away; in fact libraries, the Internet, and
computer information storage systems, are ample testimony that knowledge is
increasing (Cf Daniel 12:4). Christians who take this critical
attitude also want the words: “when perfection comes”, to refer to the Bible.
It is strange irony, that the two chapters guarding the thirteenth chapter of
First Corinthians mention prophecy and tongues in some detail - when taken
together. (It is normal to find that these Christians, warm and
dear though they are, are quite willing to accept two of the gifts, namely
pastor and evangelist.) Their argument requires that tongues and
prophecy have been discontinued: thus making chapters 12 and 14 obsolete - and
implying that the present Bible would therefore be imperfect, and not “perfection”.
Indeed, their long and devious arguments, which arrive at the opposite
conclusions to the simple reading of Scripture, have a great resemblance to the
cunning of the sects. This interpretation, which requires part of a
verse in chapter 13 to be taken out of context, is like the Jehovah’s Witnesses’
attempt to make the Lord Jesus, the Archangel whose voice is heard in the final
moments of human history. (There is equal justification, in this
explanation, to make the Lord Jesus the “trumpet”, of the passage in 1
Thessalonians 4:16).
I took the trouble to read a book dedicated to the
discontinuation of tongues. On borrowing the book from a church
library, my entry had to read: “I speak in tongues more than you all”, followed
by my signature; this would certainly be my ambition, as it was Paul’s confession. The title was malicious: because the author’s aim was
to discourage the use of the gift; whereas Paul used the words: firstly to
establish his authority to give rulings on the subject - to the Corinthian and
to all Christians, and secondly to offer himself as a considered and guarded
exemplar.
The book was characterised by ridicule; in my days
of classroom and staff meeting debate, I came to suspect ridicule and personal insult,
as the companions of a weak argument. Another suspicious aspect of
the book was the lengthy and extremely involved theses: whereas most biblical
doctrine is expressed in simple terms - so that ordinary people who are
Christians, can start to understand something of the great and satisfying
truths of God.
A major argument of the work is that tongues is
singularly intended as a sign to Jews - that men and women of Israel were
always present in the New Testament. Whereas this may have been the
case, because of the nature of first century fellowships, and his key verse
from Isaiah is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14, this deduction is never made
in Scripture (Isaiah 28:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:21). There need be
no fear that the churches in Athens and Corinth might be exceptions, both
contained Jewish converts - indeed Paul rarely, if ever, went to preach the
Gospel in places where there was not a synagogue - to act as his starting point
(Acts 13:5,14; 14:1; 16:13; 17:1-4, 17; 18:4; 19:8; Romans 1:16). The writer makes such complicated lines of
discussion, that the direct meaning of the biblical text is totally lost.
The book is unfortunately characterised by: poor (even evil) exegesis, lack of
logic, absurd arguments, additions to the actual words of the Bible,
dismissiveness, diversionary quips, a subjective style, derogatory remarks, and
complete non-sequiturs.
This particular book turns to the kind of anecdote
often applied in the case against tongues: a person uses a known foreign
language in a Pentecostal meeting, and then ridicules the inaccurate
interpretation. In this case, a Salvation Army Colonel spoke in
Lingala, a West African dialect; the interpretation had nothing to do with the
praise utterance of the Colonel. One has to ask the question: What
were Christians doing employing a foreign language skill, in the context of a
time of speaking in tongues and interpretation? Were they setting
out to sinfully tempt God, and ridicule His servants? Or take
another case given in the book: where a tape recording was played to test two “interpreters”,
and two different “interpretations” were given. Jim Packer, the
gentle and eminent evangelical theologian, told a similar story (in a talk
recorded at Eden Chapel, Cambridge), in which an Ethiopian student attended a
charismatic meeting in London. But, in his case, he did not
appreciate what was happening, and so, in a break in the worship, he recited
the Twenty-third Psalm in Guji - the ancient language of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, only to be followed by an interpretation of different content.
Another form of discreditation is to find that 90%
of tongues are valid languages, but are actually blasphemous statements -
showing that the speakers have demons. The statement in the above
book is quoted from another writer, and no scientific details of methodology
are given. Assuming the percentage to be true, one must ask: what
kind of sample group was examined, and, how were the tongues analysed and
translated? Certainly there is a cautionary element here for both
sides. My own examples of tongues, being understood as
valid linguistic statements, offer evidence in support of the gift’s
genuineness.
Examples of the gift of tongues - as a miraculous witness, and in a known language
1. An English Elim Pastor was holding an
open-air meeting in Belfast, at which a young lady in the support team spoke in
tongues, but there was no interpretation: this concerned the Pastor, and he
intended to speak to her about it. As the meeting closed the
attention of the lady was dominated by a Jewish man trying to talk to her in
Yiddish - but she did not know the language intellectually, she had been given
a miraculous tongue. The gentleman became a Christian as a result.
(Described in a recorded sermon by Eric Gaudion.)
2. The Reverend Dennis Bennett,
Episcopalian Minister and author of “Nine O’clock in the Morning” recounts that
when he spoke in tongues: a woman, who had lived in Japan for four years,
complemented his good Japanese accent. (Recorded sermon.)
3. My own experience at Bridge Street
Four Square Church, Leeds, in about 1959. Another Christian had
told Brian Dodsworth, an NSPCC Officer, at work, that his gift of tongues was
“of the Devil”. In the Sunday morning service, Brian sat behind me,
and to my right - across an aisle. When he stood to give a message
in tongues, a cry came from the front of the congregation - rather as if a pin
had been stuck in someone - as happens in the classroom
sometimes! An elderly lady, in the transept, at the front and
to the right, gave a prophecy, along these lines: “The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, to preach the Gospel to the poor...” The Pastors took this to be of God,
and preached an evangelistic sermon.
The man, who screamed, was an Hungarian
businessman. He had left the main hotel in the city centre – ‘The
Queen’s’, he had asked the way to a Church for the morning service.
The language was Hungarian, and he knew God was speaking to him. Although
there had been no clear interpretation in the morning service – which worried
Brian, the message had said: “I have spoken to you many times, but today is
your last opportunity to respond.” One of the leaders explained to Brian that it
was a different use of Tongues – as a Sign Miracle. The man became a
Believer. At a fellowship, in his home city of Birmingham, he was
eventually appointed an Elder. When I told this story to my
classes, over many years, I gave the telephone number of one of the Leaders: so
that anyone could confirm the details.
4. A graduate in Spanish attended the
same Church, before taking up residence in Spain as a missionary.
Whilst in Barcelona, he heard a lady praying in English: so convincingly, that
he wanted to meet this fellow English person, after the service. To
his surprise, he found it to be an uneducated peasant lady, complete with her
black shawl. (Related to me by a mutual friend.)
5. “The Pentecostals”, by Walter J.
Hollenweger, published by the SCM Press Ltd, 1972, begins with the following
story, which in turn is taken from John L. Sherrill’s book, “They Speak”, pp
89f. For seventeen generations, Rabbi Jacob Rabinowitz’s ancestors had
been rabbis. He felt some fear at the conviction that Rabbi Jesus
of Nazareth was the Truth. As a secret disciple he accepted an
invitation to a meeting in an Assemblies of God Church in Pasadena, Texas.
After a rich and noisy beginning, the service continued with a short address by
an evangelist, who then invited members with problems, to kneel on the red
carpet before the altar step, so that the congregation might pray for them
specifically.
A few men left their places to lay hands on the
Rabbi, as he knelt. Behind them, others stood. People
were praying in English, and in tongues.
I quote from the book:
Suddenly Rabinowitz stood up and asked with tears in
his eyes, “Which one of you is Jewish?” No one answered.
“Which one of you knows me? You’ll forgive me: I don’t recognize
you.” Still no answer.
Now the whole church became silent. “It
came from right here, behind me ... Just exactly where you’re standing ... Are
you Jewish?”
“Me?” The man smiled. “My
name’s John Gruver. I’m Irish.” “That’s the voice ...
but tell me where you learned to speak Hebrew so well.”
“I don’t know a word of it,” replied Gruver.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” retorted Rabinowitz, “because you were speaking
Hebrew just now. And how did you know my name and the name of my
father? You said in perfect Hebrew, ‘I have dreamed a
dream that you will go into big populated places and there you will preach.
The ones who have not heard will understand you, Jacob, son of Rabbi Ezekiel,
come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’”
6. Jack Smith, a friend of mine, then
quite recently converted knelt in a prayer meeting, at his local Assemblies of
God Church, in North Manchester. Feeling disconsolate, he hardly joined
in, but prayed in tongues. At the close of the meeting, a young Finnish
lady with long dark hair, who had been sitting behind his chair - an au pair in
fact, came straight to him and asked when had he been to Finland for his
holidays. The answer was, “Never” - how was it then that he had
been praying in her mother tongue?
7. At a church in the same Lancashire
town, a well-travelled Christian lady graduate heard a message in the Basque
language, which she herself knew. The message was to the pastor:
saying that if he did not repent, God would remove him within a few weeks.
The man who gave the interpretation said that God was pleased with the Pastor,
and would bless him. Within a short time the minister moved on.
8. Kensington Temple, even
in its early days, had many nationalities. Eldin Corsie (a leader
in the Church) was quietly praying in tongues. There was a man
listening, who immediately afterwards started talking to Eldin in the same
tongue - it was Modern Greek. After some explanation, the Greek
gentleman told Eldin he had praying: “Lord, when will you bring revival to this
place?”
9 and 10. Mike Stevens gave two
interesting accounts in a recorded talk (on “Leaders and Elders”).
A lady in his fellowship was in discussion with a
Rabbi who studied at the same university; he admitted to never having
experienced a miracle, and challenged her to produce a message in tongues.
Reluctantly she did; and spoke in a rare Persian dialect, which he had
researched in his MA thesis - dealing with some of its content. He
then argued that she had read his thesis and learnt the ancient language, in
order to fool him!
A friend of Mike was working in Italy with Operation
Mobilisation, selling Bibles. He carried a card: “Stop me and buy one”,
as he spoke no Italian. First of all a large lady questioned his
religion, and then struck him on the side of the head, knocking his stock of
books and Bibles flying. A crowd gathered to ridicule him, and he
felt decidedly depressed. In desperation he stood, and spoke out in
tongues: mainly directed at a priest, who, by this time, had taken his place
standing at the front. He had no idea of the content of his speech,
but the priest suddenly took to his heels, mounted his cycle, and fled before the
crowd. When the people returned they were delighted to purchase all
his books.
11. An eight year-old Caribbean girl spoke in
tongues, in fluent French. A gentleman, who did not have the normal
gift of interpretation, simply translated using his knowledge of French.
(Joel Edwards, Evangelical Alliance Chairman, interviewed by Sir Melvyn Bragg
on British television, 15.03.98.)
12. David Pawson tells of a meeting in Bristol: a
lady on the front-row miraculously spoke in Urdu. A Pakistani man
thought it was someone from his own village.
13. Patricia St John is known and respected for her
Christian children’s stories – two have been made into films. She served
as a missionary nurse, and Head Mistress. Whilst travelling with her
sister from the Levant to Tangier, a huge lorry, the driver of which had
apparently dozed at the wheel, smashed into their car. He was then
observed changing the angle of the front wheels so that he could escape blame.
Miss St John continues: “It was here in that dingy office
that I was given the gift of tongues. I knew very little Spanish, but I
suddenly found that I could ask for what I wanted and give a lucid account of
all that had happened. In spite of the lies told by the lorry driver, we
were awarded full insurance costs six months later.” (page 191, “Patricia
St John tells her own story,” 1997, OM Publishing, UK)
14. Canon David White’s wife, Ruth, has a friend who
was also her Bridesmaid; this lady came from Malaysia, and was a Buddhist. At her first visit to a Christian church, in
Liverpool, she heard a person stand and give a message in tongues: in perfect
Malaysian, a message from God’s heart for her.
She gave her life to Christ. (sermon by the Canon, 31.May.2015, at St
Andrew’s Chorleywood).
15. Derek Prince, the eminent Bible Teacher (see below), tells of a young man invited to a London church by his daughter. Derek preached a Gospel Sermon, and was about to give a challenge to respond, when an elderly man spoke in tongues and spoiled the flow of the meeting. The young fellow nudged the lady who had brought him. "Why is that old man telling everybody about my sins in public?" The young fellow was Welsh speaking, and the Tongues message was Welsh. He later became a Believer, and Derek's son-in-law. He gave two other examples of people being given a new language in which to witness: Canary Island Spanish, and Russian.
16. Bill Adair told me how he prayed for a man in hospital. The prayer was in tongues - Punjabi; the Asian man told Bill what he had prayed: it included Jesus's words, "I am the water of life, him that cometh to me will have eternal life." The Asian pointed to a jug of water.
17. A local lady vicar told this account. She was at the front of the sanctuary praying
for a lady who requested intersession. The vicar prayed in tongues, as was her
habit. “I didn’t know you spoke Polish.” “I don’t.”
Again there was intercession in glossolalia. “There you are, you speak Polish with a good
accent.” An explanation of the Spirit’s
Gift followed.
18. Our local Vicar was leading a Tour in Israel. Quietly he spoke in tongues, as was his custom. The Israeli Tour Guide asked him where he had learnt to speak Ancient Hebrew.
Many people in churches have this gift covertly -
using it only privately, and not in public.
John Wesley heard someone saying that the gift was
no longer for today, and he wrote a scorching letter proving that it was indeed
still a gift for the present. (“Wesley’s Works”, Volume V, page 744.
“Sir, your memory fails you again ... It has been heard of more than once, no
further off than the valleys of Dauphiny”. Quoted by Carl
Brumback.) Derek Prince spends much time on Tongues (four hours
of lecturing); similarly, David Pawson, and Canon David Watson.
Miraculous Languages is a strange gift, but it is
there in the NT, and if we are disciples, we had better come to terms with it -
we need the “whole council of God”, and not 99% of it.
There are two questions, which might well have
introduced this topic: Are you using your gift of tongues on a daily basis,
and, is your congregation making regular and frequent use of this channel of
communication with God?
