Tuesday, June 27, 2006
What is the Gift of Tongues?
At the end of Mark's Gospel, there is a short but important teaching of the Lord Jesus before He went up into Heaven. Some experts do not think that this passage appears in all the earliest manuscripts, but it is printed in most modern translations of the Bible. Here it is in the New International Version:
These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not harm them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
The very fact that there has been some controversy about whether this passage should be included in the text of the Bible shows that Satan does not like Christians to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and thus become effective in destroying his kingdom - he particularly dislikes us receiving and using the gift of tongues, as it is a supernatural language of power and direct spirit-to-spirit communication with God. It is completely different from a natural or even an enhanced talent for learning a foreign language.
The gift of tongues is just that: A GIFT to be humbly asked for, and gratefully received from the Father who Jesus said delighted to give good gifts to His children. Anyone who has put their trust in Christ for salvation has the God-given right to ask for and expect this precious gift! Simply ask the Lord to baptise you with His Holy Spirit, and then expect to be able to praise Him in new words, as you run out of words in your natural language to express all that is in your heart. You may only get one or two syllables in your mind or on your tongue to start with - don't doubt that this is God's new language, keep on using it in prayer and praise, and He will add to your flow of words.
These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not harm them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
The very fact that there has been some controversy about whether this passage should be included in the text of the Bible shows that Satan does not like Christians to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and thus become effective in destroying his kingdom - he particularly dislikes us receiving and using the gift of tongues, as it is a supernatural language of power and direct spirit-to-spirit communication with God. It is completely different from a natural or even an enhanced talent for learning a foreign language.
The gift of tongues is just that: A GIFT to be humbly asked for, and gratefully received from the Father who Jesus said delighted to give good gifts to His children. Anyone who has put their trust in Christ for salvation has the God-given right to ask for and expect this precious gift! Simply ask the Lord to baptise you with His Holy Spirit, and then expect to be able to praise Him in new words, as you run out of words in your natural language to express all that is in your heart. You may only get one or two syllables in your mind or on your tongue to start with - don't doubt that this is God's new language, keep on using it in prayer and praise, and He will add to your flow of words.
# posted by JillVic @ 4:47 PM 
