THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
(CONTINUED)
Some years ago, while we were living in Launceston in Northern Tasmania, I attended a Holy Spirit teaching seminar with meetings held over about three days, from memory. The speakers were Doug Duncan, a pastor with a high degree of credibility in the realm of prophetic ministry, and Stewart Rae, who at the time was pastoring a Charismatic Baptist church in Geelong, Victoria.
During one of the sessions, Doug Duncan shared an amazing incident which happened in the life of another Pentecostal pastor in New Zealand by the name of Kindah Greening some years before that time. I believe he is now pastoring successfully on Queensland's Gold Coast.
As the story goes (and I believe it to be a true account), Kindah Greening was in Invercargill in the very south of the South Island of NZ, when on a particular day, he entered a local post office. He saw a man standing at one of the counters, and felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to approach the man and to start speaking in tongues. As one could imagine, this is not something a person would normally do, for fear of being thought more than a little mentally-challenged.He hesitated, wanting to make sure this prompting was from the Holy Spirit. The impression would not leave him, so in the end, he obeyed this prompting to approach the stranger and he began to speak in tongues - a language he had not learned. As Kindah Greening began to speak, the most amazing and wonderful thing happened. Tears began to well up in the eyes of the stranger, and he broke down and cried.
The stranger was, as it turned out, a former Christian minister from a European country who was away from the Lord. As Kindah Greening spoke in tongues, the stranger was so moved because Pastor Greening was actually speaking in the stranger's native European language.
Basically, the Lord was reaffirming His love for this man who was so many thousands of miles from his homeland with the words, which he heard in his native tongue: "THOUGH YOU RUN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO THE ISLES OF THE SEAS, YOU CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!" This was a message of encouragement which I believe was a turning point in this man's experience to bring him back to a close relationship with the Lord.
The operation of Speaking in Tongues may be in a known language, or it may be a "heavenly language." The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, at the beginning of what is referred to as the Love Chapter in this particular book, states: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
Those who are not able to accept that speaking in tongues is for the church today would argue that, if the spoken tongue is not a known language, it is just gibberish, or speech that is nonsense. I would refute that argument most vigorously, as I believe there is ample Biblical evidence to show that speaking in other tongues does not have to be in that of a known human language, and if it is not a known language but one given by the Holy Spirit, it is a language known in heaven and perfectly understood by God.
Romans 8:27,28 says Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When we pray in tongues, using what probably amongst most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers today is praying or speaking in tongues which are not known languages, we can be praying the will of God into situations and circumstances of which we know nothing.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14,15 the Apostle Paul in addressing the Corinthian church on the correct use of the vocal gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy in public gatherings makes the point: "For if I pray in a tongue (in public), my Spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:2 He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. What a great prayer tool God has given us, to be speaking mysteries - in the spirit, as the Holy Spirit inspires our speaking forth in other tongues.
Speaking in tongues or "praying in the Spirit" has the benefit for the one speaking of edifying or building up of the believers faith. 1 Corinthians 14:4a says He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
This is re-stated in Jude 20, 21 where the writer says: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (that is, praying or speaking in other tongues)
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
This is a wonderful provision in the life of the Spirit-filled believer, the person who has experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. While bringing correction to the Corinthian church concerning the abuse of this practice in church life, the Apostle Paul did admit to the importance he placed on speaking in tongues in his own prayer life when he said in 1 Corinthians 14:18, 19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with the understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
To be continued.......................
During one of the sessions, Doug Duncan shared an amazing incident which happened in the life of another Pentecostal pastor in New Zealand by the name of Kindah Greening some years before that time. I believe he is now pastoring successfully on Queensland's Gold Coast.
As the story goes (and I believe it to be a true account), Kindah Greening was in Invercargill in the very south of the South Island of NZ, when on a particular day, he entered a local post office. He saw a man standing at one of the counters, and felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to approach the man and to start speaking in tongues. As one could imagine, this is not something a person would normally do, for fear of being thought more than a little mentally-challenged.He hesitated, wanting to make sure this prompting was from the Holy Spirit. The impression would not leave him, so in the end, he obeyed this prompting to approach the stranger and he began to speak in tongues - a language he had not learned. As Kindah Greening began to speak, the most amazing and wonderful thing happened. Tears began to well up in the eyes of the stranger, and he broke down and cried.
The stranger was, as it turned out, a former Christian minister from a European country who was away from the Lord. As Kindah Greening spoke in tongues, the stranger was so moved because Pastor Greening was actually speaking in the stranger's native European language.
Basically, the Lord was reaffirming His love for this man who was so many thousands of miles from his homeland with the words, which he heard in his native tongue: "THOUGH YOU RUN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO THE ISLES OF THE SEAS, YOU CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!" This was a message of encouragement which I believe was a turning point in this man's experience to bring him back to a close relationship with the Lord.
The operation of Speaking in Tongues may be in a known language, or it may be a "heavenly language." The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, at the beginning of what is referred to as the Love Chapter in this particular book, states: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
Those who are not able to accept that speaking in tongues is for the church today would argue that, if the spoken tongue is not a known language, it is just gibberish, or speech that is nonsense. I would refute that argument most vigorously, as I believe there is ample Biblical evidence to show that speaking in other tongues does not have to be in that of a known human language, and if it is not a known language but one given by the Holy Spirit, it is a language known in heaven and perfectly understood by God.
Romans 8:27,28 says Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When we pray in tongues, using what probably amongst most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers today is praying or speaking in tongues which are not known languages, we can be praying the will of God into situations and circumstances of which we know nothing.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14,15 the Apostle Paul in addressing the Corinthian church on the correct use of the vocal gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy in public gatherings makes the point: "For if I pray in a tongue (in public), my Spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:2 He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. What a great prayer tool God has given us, to be speaking mysteries - in the spirit, as the Holy Spirit inspires our speaking forth in other tongues.
Speaking in tongues or "praying in the Spirit" has the benefit for the one speaking of edifying or building up of the believers faith. 1 Corinthians 14:4a says He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
This is re-stated in Jude 20, 21 where the writer says: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (that is, praying or speaking in other tongues)
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
This is a wonderful provision in the life of the Spirit-filled believer, the person who has experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. While bringing correction to the Corinthian church concerning the abuse of this practice in church life, the Apostle Paul did admit to the importance he placed on speaking in tongues in his own prayer life when he said in 1 Corinthians 14:18, 19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with the understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
To be continued.......................
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