Scriptural Tongues Part 1 How to Activate Your Spiritual Gift notes. Without a doubt, the spiritual weapon of tongues is the most attacked weaponry given to the believer. People who do not speak in scriptural tongues tend to view those who do as ignorant or misinformed. Taught and rapidly received is how tongues are not for today when no place in scripture teaches this. Why has the enemy so attacked scriptural tongues? What is there about tongues that frighten the enemy? What weapon does the enemy use to fight scriptural tongues? Hopefully, we will answer those questions as we study the weapon of scriptural tongues.
WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE
- Tongues are for self-edification
- Scriptural Restoration
- The Dispensational Enemy
- Promise And Coming Of The Holy Spirit And Power
- Dispensationalism Is A Lie
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 How to Activate Your Spiritual Gift
by Delbert Young
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 How to Activate Your Spiritual Gift
Scriptures: 2Co 10:3-6, 1 Corinthians 14:4, Genesis 20:7, 14-16, Jude 1:20, Romans 14:17, John 16:7, Acts 2:2-4, Acts 2:16-18, Daniel 7:13-14, 1 Corinthians 1:7, Acts 10:45-47,
2Co 10:3-6 (KJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NIV)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Without a doubt, the spiritual weapon of tongues has been the most attacked weaponry given to the believer. People who do not speak in scriptural tongues tend to view those who do as ignorant or misinformed. It is taught and rapidly received how tongues are not for today when there is no place scripture for this teaching. Why has the enemy so attacked scriptural tongues? What is there about tongues that frighten the enemy? What weapon does the enemy use to fight scriptural tongues? Hopefully, we will answer those questions as we study the weapon of scriptural tongues.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Tongues are for self-edification
[1 Corinthians 14:4] He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
The first point we want to make about tongues is that a person speaking in tongues can edify himself. Of all the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, the gift we can use to build ourselves up is tongues. The thought of 1 Corinthians 14:4 and the Greek word oikodomeo, translated as edifieth, is to build back or restore after a storm. Following is the word definition.
edifieth – 3618 oikodomeo {oy-kod-om-eh’-o} also oikodomos {oy-kod-om’-os} Ac 4:11
from the same as 3619
(1) to build a house, erect a building
(1.a) to build (up from the foundation)
(1.b) to restore by building, to rebuild, repair
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
When we understand tongues from a Scriptural aspect, they will restore. Tongues will build back. We all experience storms and floods of life (Mat 7:24-27). Tongues quickly restore and build back the believer as nothing else can rebuild.
Scriptural Restoration
Scriptural restoration does not have the exact definition given for restoration in our English language. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “restore” as “To bring back to an original condition.” That is not the Scriptural definition.
Scriptural restoration is not only “to bring back to an original condition.” Scriptural restoration is many times better than the original. We find the first use of restore in Genesis 20:7 and the truth of it in 20:14-15.
Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
It is the story of Abraham and Abimelech. Abraham had told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. The Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream and told him to restore to Abraham his wife. Following is what the Lord meant by restore.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Genesis 20:14-16 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and women servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
Restoring was not only giving back Sarah. It was giving back far more than what Abimelech took. This use is the first use, or seed use, of restore. This truth follows the word restore. Exodus 22:1-4 states that if a man took an animal, he would restore that animal and add from double to four times. Leviticus 6:5 teaches that if a man swore falsely, he corrected it and added twenty percent for restitution. If not restored in this manner, the Law interpreted it as the Lord’s curse (Deu 28:31). A thief caught must restore sevenfold in Proverbs 6:30-31.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Scriptural restoration is giving back that taken plus up to seven times more. This adds so much light to such scriptures as Psalm 23:3, which says, “He restoreth my soul….” When the Lord restores our soul, we do not only get back the mind we once had. We get the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16; Phi 2:5). No one would argue that that mind is many times superior to our old minds. We also see light on scriptures such as Psalm 51:12, which says, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation….” When our joy is Scripturally restored, it is joy unspeakable and far more joy than we ever experienced prior.
The Scriptures teach restoration as being better than before.
Scriptural restoration is not only being restored to the place prior. It is being restored to a superior position. Tongues are for edification (1Co 4:4). Edification means “restore.” Speaking in tongues will bring us to a place superior to what we were before. Thus, the more we speak in tongues, the larger our “spiritual house” becomes (1Pe 2:5). We become the holy temple and habitation of God (Eph 2:21). The enemy does not want you or I to be restored or built up. He will do all he can to stop your use of tongues.
Scripturally, tongues utilized in this way edify or build from the foundation up. Tongues rebuild and restore and repair. Jude said it this way.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
[Jude 1:20] But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
The Dispensational Enemy
The devil, through dispensational doctrine, has removed the weapon necessary to build, rebuild, and restore the believer. Satan has removed that which is necessary for the believer to grow. We wonder why we do not see the miraculous power of the church we read about in the scriptures. The reason is that we have allowed false doctrine to take it from us.
Contemporary and Pentecostal Dispensationalism
Contemporary Dispensational doctrine teaches that Jesus was not successful in his first coming. They teach that the Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ, and because of this, the Lord must come again to rectify the situation. He will do this by establishing the Jews in their proper place as God’s special people. They teach that this is why the Holy Spirit does not function today in his full power. According to that doctrine, the Holy Spirit was given primarily to the Jew.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
However, when the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit was not able to complete his mission. Today, the Holy Spirit is only able to “save” the Gentiles as he did in the Old Testament. He is not allowed or able to give the same power today that the first-century church experienced. That is what the dispensationalists teach.
Of course, if a person is a Pentecostal dispensationalist, the Dispensational doctrine is altered. The difference is that Pentecostal dispensationalists teach we have the Holy Spirit but not the kingdom.
Were I to believe either of the above dispensational false teachings, it would be the Contemporary Dispensational doctrine and not the Pentecostal Dispensational doctrine. The reason for that is that we cannot have the Holy Spirit and power as the Pentecostals teach and not have the kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 proves this.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Promise And Coming Of The Holy Spirit And Power
The truth is that both doctrines are in error. Our kingdom was established at the Ascension of Christ, and because of that, we have access to the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said that it was expedient that he go to the Ascension. If he did not go, the Holy Spirit could not come. However, if Jesus did depart, he would indeed send the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Jesus did go to the Ascension. No one will argue that point. So, if he went, did he send the Holy Spirit? Of course he did. Acts 2:4 tells of his coming and his effect.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Peter said this was the pouring out of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had said and as the prophet Joel had prophesied.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Acts 2:16-18 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
The meaning of the Ascension was that Christ Jesus received his kingdom. About 500 years earlier, Daniel had prophesied of the Son of Man (Jesus’s favorite title) coming in clouds. It would not be a temporary or powerless kingdom. Jesus, at his Ascension in the clouds, received a kingdom that would never pass away.
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
What have I attempted to show us here? Jesus said he must go. He meant he must go to the Ascension, for he was to send back the Holy Spirit (Comforter). Did he go? Yes, he did. Did he send back the Holy Spirit? Yes, he did. Did he receive his kingdom at his ascension? Yes, he did. Revelation chapter 5 gives details of that event.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
We will see more by pursuing this a little further. Did the Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit in power after the Ascension of Christ? Yes, they did. A primary example of this is the church at Corinth. They had all the gifts (1Co 1:7). They would have all the gifts until the Lord came, and the gifts would continue until the Lord came again.
1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We see that Jesus Ascended to the throne–kingdom. He sent the Holy Spirit in all his power. The Gentiles received the Holy Ghost exactly as the Jews received him. The scriptures make certain that we see this.
Acts 10:45-47 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 – How to Know What Happened to Tongues
Dispensationalism Is A Lie
All believers have been affected by the lie of the Dispensational doctrine on tongues. If you rear your children in a church where tongues are the norm, expected, and desired, they will talk with tongues quickly and easily. Realize this. As soon as the enemy can send his messenger, your child will be challenged concerning tongues. They will be made to feel inferior rather than superior because they speak in tongues. If at all possible, the enemy will cause your child to doubt tongues. The enemy will weaken if it does not take that weapon.
Adults who speak with tongues also struggle. Today, a second-rate attitude is associated with those who speak in tongues. Many people are ashamed to tell family and friends that they “speak with unknown tongues.”
The devil has successfully made tongues unattractive. Why is this? Because the gift of tongues is a mighty weapon of our warfare. The devil’s weapon has been and is the Dispensational doctrine. Dispensationalism is an enemy to your weapons, your life, and your family.
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 How to Activate Your Spiritual Gift
Scriptural Tongues Part 1 How to Activate Your Spiritual Gift
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