7/08/07 – 27LAW “Speaking in Tongues” - Part 2
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

Today’s message is “Speaking in Tongues” - Part 2

Before we begin, let us seek God’s guidance, “Heavenly Father, as we continue this most important subject regarding speaking in tongues, I pray that You bless those listening today with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that we may understand the difference between the true speaking in tongues and the false; we pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may live in the center of Your revealed will, as we ask in Jesus Name, Amen.”
Right now, I continue to keep my pledge, to cry aloud and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet and to show God’s people where they are transgressing God’s law.
We began this important study on speaking in tongues a week ago and before we finish this multi-part study, we will have exposed the counterfeit tongues movement that has swept through many Christian churches today. Last week we discussed why the miracle-workers were turned away by Jesus as "workers of iniquity." Having rejected the will of the Father, His law, they lost access to the power of the Holy Spirit. At that point Satan stepped in to supply a continuation of power by producing the same apparent miracles as the Holy Spirit produced. 
Lulled into a fatal blindness by grieving the Spirit which convicted them of disobedience, the professed Christians lost their sensitivity to the violation of God's holy law. Under the exciting emotional stimulus of Satan's spirit they continued to exercise a counterfeit religious power, based on feeling rather than the authority of the Word of God. Christ taught in Matthew 7:22 that the end time will produce a phenomenon of Christians' claiming the Spirit's power in miracle-ministry, but who are actually manipulated by the devil.
Are there such people in the world today, and do they meet the four basic requirements for drawing the religious world into a massive scheme of disobedience? 
All across the land today millions are being attracted by a movement which transcends all barriers of denominationalism. Catholics and Protestants alike are caught up in the exciting phenomenon of being moved by a common spirit. They sincerely believe that the Holy Spirit is endowing them with a new language of the soul and that the power of God is using them to heal, cast out devils, and prophesy. 
In the light of Christ's warning in Matthew 7:21, 22, how are we to distinguish between the true gifts and the counterfeit? How can we be certain that miracles are not being worked in the power of Satan? The only way we can recognize the counterfeit is by its failure to obey all the commandments of God. Jesus warned that the great "signs and wonders" of the false prophets in the last days would be so delusive that "even the very elect" would be almost overwhelmed by them. Matthew 24:24. John saw "spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world." Revelation 16:14. 
Don't fail to catch the spiritual implications of this demon activity. Miracles are operative only within the context of religion. These end-time evil spirits will work through the garb of churches, in the name of Christ, professing to be ministers of truth. Paul actually speaks of Satan's "…his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." 2 Corinthians 11:15. Writing to the Thessalonians, he further described the work of these false apostles as being "with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. 
The frightening conclusion is that the devil will so closely impersonate the true manifestations of spiritual power that most of the world, including the churches, will be manipulated by him. And according to the Scriptures, only those who obey all of God's commandments out of love will be protected from the deception. 
Unfortunately, we live in an age of the spectacular and the bizarre. Because of this climate multitudes are drawn by the promise of healing, miraculous tongues, or demon exorcism. Few pause to ask whether the power is God or Satan. Most are totally unaware of the inspired predictions concerning counterfeit miracles, and how to separate the true from the false. Impressed by the sincerity of those who preach and pray with such obvious power, in the name of Jesus, millions "feel" that it must be from God. Their emotional ecstasy is quickly exalted above the true test of the Scriptures. 
And so many today are fully conformed to the four essential conditions which Satan requires in order to sweep the religious world into his camp. They feel secure in disobeying the law. They had rejected the Word of God as the final test of truth. They had set up another test - their religious feelings - as the proof of their acceptance with God. They also appealed to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit as evidence of God's approval. Finally, they brush aside the tremendous doctrinal and prophetic truths as being incidental and unimportant in comparison to their charismatic "experience." 
Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Episcopalians gladly set aside biblical convictions and denominational stances in order to keep the unity of "the Spirit." But what spirit is it that works equally through those who worship Mary, break the Sabbath, and try to contact the dead? Certainly not the Spirit of God! The Holy Ghost is given only "to them that obey Him." Acts 5:32. 
Now let's take a close look at this spiritual gift which has been claimed by more modern Christians than almost any other - speaking in tongues. Since Jesus warned about those in the last days who would prophesy and cast out devils in His name, through the power of Satan, we can be sure that the other spiritual gifts will be counterfeited also. If, indeed, the current epidemic of glossolalia is a perversion of truth, it would be difficult to think of a more perfect plan for Satan to use in getting control of the churches.
No Evidence Needed!
The best way to expose error is to reveal the truth, and the finest way to test the tongues phenomenon is to get the full biblical doctrine of tongues before us. Many believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. If a person doesn't speak in tongues he is automatically classified as lacking in essential grace and power. This judgmental, mechanistic manner of measuring the Christian experience of other people has produced a large class of spiritual egotists - those who feel themselves to be living on a higher plane than their weaker, unanointed brethren. 
Does the baptism of the Holy Spirit require some sign or evidence to confirm its operation? The Bible teaches that it is a gift, and must be received by faith. Paul's doctrine is "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:14. If it is by faith, then it is not by feeling. In claiming the promise of forgiveness, we do not demand a sign from God that He has fulfilled His word. We know it is done because He said it would be. In the same way, we should claim the promise of the Spirit by faith, not requiring some special evidence from God that He kept His promise. By demanding signs and evidence people are doubting the Word of God. 
The fact is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is just as available to all Christians as is forgiveness of sins. This does not mean, though, that all Christians will receive all the gifts of the Spirit. In fact, Paul states that the gifts, including tongues, will be divided among the Christians. The Holy Spirit Himself decides how the gifts will be distributed, and to whom. 
" For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. 
Then Paul proceeds to illustrate the different gifts as being parts or members of Christ's body, which is the church. "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Corinthians 12:18. Systematically he points out how impossible it would be for all to receive the same gift. "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?" Verse 17. Then he dramatizes that thought with these questions: "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues?" 1 Corinthians 12:29, 30. And the answer, of course, is no. The gifts are divided to various members - never the same gift to all members. 
Purpose of the Baptism
The most important truth about the baptism of the Holy Spirit is often overlooked, and it has to do with the purpose of the experience. Many have defined it in terms of personal ecstasy, joyful emotions, or inner spiritual happiness. None of these things even touches on the basic reason for the promised outpouring of the Spirit. Some of those things might be included in the subsequent fruits of the experience, but they cannot and should not be mistaken for the baptism itself. Just before His ascension Christ told His disciples to tarry at Jerusalem until the Spirit came upon them "not many days hence." Acts 1:5. 
Then He spoke these words: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8. 
Christ emphasized in this promise that the Spirit would give power in their ministry to others. A witness is a person who tells to someone else something which he knows firsthand. The disciples definitely had something to tell, because they had been eye-witnesses of the Messiah. But they were completely unqualified to stand up and effectively communicate what they had seen and heard. The Holy Spirit would come to make them powerful witnesses, so that souls could be won by their preaching. There was no hint from Jesus that the baptism by the Spirit would give them any special feeling. It was not for their personal benefit, but that others through them might be instructed in the way of salvation. 
Well time is up for this week. Next week we will continue our study on speaking in tongues part 3.
If you would like to worship with seventh day Sabbath-keepers, come to the Victory Seventh Day Adventist Church new location at the Hampton Inn Conference suite in South Hill, VA at the exit 12 interchange of Interstate 85. We meet at 10:00 am and will be meeting there until out new building has been completed.
Until next week, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Come Lord Jesus.