AboutElder Greg Madden Expertise As a born again, Holy Ghost filled minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I am available to answer questions concerning most all Biblical doctrines, the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, "Pentecostal/Apostolic" issues, and the history of the Pentecostal movement. For more info check out our web site at... http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1 Experience I gave my heart to the Lord a few months after being married during a revival meeting. A few weeks later I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and I have not been the same since!
In those twenty five years we have only attended one church (Harvest Church), and there I have served there as an Elder for fourteen years. We minister in song with the choir and worship team. I am also the new member’s class coordinator, men's ministry director, and the Harvest Riders motorcycle ministry president.
In 1993 the Lord called me to "...preach the Gospel where ever I open the door..." I have had the privilege of ministering God's Word to churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. In those meetings we have seen the Lord save, heal, deliver, and fill people will His Spirit.
Organizations I am ordained through Harvest Church, and with the World Harvest Ministerial Fellowship. I also am a licensed minister with the State of Oklahoma,
Publications
Education/Credentials I am currantly enrolled with the Ames Bible College.
Education/Credentials I am currantly enrolled with the Ames Bible College.
Question I recently attended a friend's church while I was on vacation. During the service, a few people began babbling in some strange language (if it was a language). I have heard of speaking in tongues and I know it is mentioned in the Bible several times, most notably in Acts, but this seemed to be a different sort. When the apostles spoke in tongues, each listener heard what was being said in their native language (a gift from God to allow the apostles to spread the word, regardless of language barriers). That was a useful gift. What I saw seemed to be the most useless gift I could imagine. First, I didn't understand a thing these people were saying. If this was supposed to be the true "tongues" gift, why didn't I understand it? If it's because I am not a member of this particular faith, then why didn't my friend, who actually belongs to that church, understand them, either. When I asked him what was being said, he just replied that they were speaking in tongues. But when I asked what tongue, he just shrugged and had no idea. What is happening here? I get the idea of tongues, but shouldn't we be hearing it in just plain old English? I am somewhat confused here. I don't think I like that church.
Answer Thomas,
Thank you for the opportunity to help. I do understand you confusion about the spiritual gift of tongues. Like yourself, I too was confussed by it's opperation in the moden church until I began to study the scriptures for myself, and not allow any pre-supposed ideas. So let me explain...
First, speaking in tongues as the present Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches experience it, is ecstatic inspired speech in a language or languages that one does not know and it takes two forms. Sometimes such languages exist but the person who receives them is not able to speak them in the natural, such as what happened to the apostles at Pentecost – They started speaking languages, given to them supernaturally by the Holy Spirit, which were not known to them but were known to others.
Other times, believers start breaking out in non-existing languages that take the name of “heteroglossa”, which are not known on the earth and have no specific translation. They can be interpreted, but they can’t be translated. It is a language given to the believer, which he has no previous knowledge of.
The gift of tongues is supernatural and cannot be learned by our own means. Sometimes, the unknown glossa of a message sound like known languages, such as Japanese or Arabic, or some African dialects. But most of the times, the messages will be in “heteroglossa” – or different tongues. These are referred to in the New Testament by Paul as “the tongues of angels” or heavenly languages (“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…” - I Corinthians 13:1) which can only be interpreted, not translated. Messages in tongues are direct witnesses of and to God’s presence and work in the midst of a gathering of believers.
Secondly, the Bible teaches us that there are two types of "tongues". One, is for the Believers edification. It is commonly called their "prayer language". It is when the Christian allows the Holy Spirit to pray through them. This is necessary at times because the Bible teaches us that there are some thing’s the Christian does not know how, or what to pray for. And, this also allows the Christian to worship God when their own natural language is insufficient. This "prayer language" is given to the Believer when he or she receives the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Second encounter with God. The first encounter with God is called as 'conversion' or salvation. Just as the indwelling Spirit reproduces the life of Jesus, the outpoured, or baptizing Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus.
To illustrate, if I had a glass of water and took a swallow, then the water would be inside me. If, on the other hand, I went down to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then I would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give and to equip him for a practical, efficient, spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service. Inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days.
Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6
Do not think that I am saying you have to speak in tongues to be saved. I am not. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the mercy of God bring salvation and the indwelling Spirit, and that does not involve speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues, from all indications in the New Testament, is the consequence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There was an initial utterance in tongues, bearing witness that the tongue had been sanctified and empowered by God for His use. But speaking in tongues was not necessary for the salvation of those people.
Praying in tongues builds your faith. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 20). Some think you have to be "spiritually up" and anointed to pray in tongues, but praying in the Spirit builds our faith. If you need victory, pray in tongues.
Praying in your prayer language brings you spiritual rest. "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing . . . ." (Isaiah 28:11,12). When we are tired or upset we can pray in tongues and receive supernatural rest from God.
Praying in the Holy Spirit can help us better understand the truth of God’s Word and His guidance. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).
Praying in tongues, as the Spirit impresses us can "take care of things" before they happen. Have you ever been awakened at 3 a.m. to pray and not know what to pray or how? (John 16:13).
Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, "For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."
Have you ever been awakened at in the night to pray and not know what to pray or how? Praying in the Spirit helps us in that circumstance. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, "For no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."
Praying in the prayer language gives us a "direct line" to God. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot. "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2.) God the Holy Spirit can talk to God the Father in ways we cannot.
Praying in the Spirit acclimates us to the realm of the Gifts of the Spirit. I believe it is a stepping stone to the other gifts. For these six reasons you can see that speaking in tongues is much more than just a sign of the Holy Spirits Baptism.
Lastly, the second type of "tongues" taught in Scripture is called the "gift of tongues" This is when a Christian speaks a message in tongues that is designed by God to operate in tandem with another spiritual gift from God called the "gift of interpretation". These two gifts allows work in tandem, and are always for the church body. Together these gifts deliver a message from the Lord to His church is a supernatural way. This message is always to be judged by the word of God to see if it lines up with the Scriptures. If it does not, then the Bible teaches us it is to be rejected. Usually this happens when a young Christian becomes zealous for the gifts to operate in them, and will give what they "feel" to be a message from God. If it does line up to the Bible, then it is to be received as such.
1 Cor. 12:7-11, 31, 1 Cor. 14
Thomas, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.
