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Why I Don’t Apologize for Speaking in Tongues, by J. Lee Grady
[As posted by Ray E Horton – emphasis mine].
“Eliminating the gift of tongues can have a direct impact on the miraculous flow of the Spirit’s anointing in the church. You might as well flip a breaker switch and turn off all the lights.”
Have the Courage to Embrace this Gift
Last week after I taught a class on… the Holy Spirit at a ministry school in Pennsylvania, a 22-year-old guy from Maryland asked if I could pray with him. He had heard me share how I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at age 18, and he wanted the same experience. He was especially intrigued by the idea of speaking in tongues—something he had never done even though he was comfortable around other classmates who had this spiritual gift.
Instead of denying or downplaying this misunderstood spiritual gift, we should have the courage to embrace it.
This young man, Eric, understood that he already had the Holy Spirit. We can’t be born again without the Spirit entering our hearts and quickening Christ’s life in us. But he knew that Jesus offers us more—that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second experience in which the fullness of God’s divine power saturates us and anoints us for supernatural ministry.
I explained to Eric that when I prayed for this blessing many years ago, God did not force anything on me. We don’t have to speak in tongues, and God certainly doesn’t make us move our mouths against our will. We open our mouths, but it is the Spirit who gives us this unusual heavenly language. Glossolalia makes no sense in the natural—it actually sounds like gibberish—but the Bible says praying in the Spirit strengthens us profoundly (see 1 Cor. 14:2,4).
I laid hands on Eric in the back of the auditorium and asked Jesus to fill him with divine power and to release the Holy Spirit’s language as a manifestation of the overflow. Nothing dramatic happened at that moment, but I told Eric to remain expectant. I’ve learned that oftentimes the release of the Spirit comes easier when people are not distracted by crowds. I encouraged my new friend to go home and pray some more.
A couple of days later I received an e-mail from this brother, letting me know that a small miracle had occurred in his life. He wrote: Thank you for praying for me to speak in tongues. That night was interesting because phrases started to pop into my head. I was determined. I began speaking the phrases and by the next night I was speaking in tongues as I was falling asleep. Now, every moment that I am not worshiping, praying, eating or speaking to someone, I am practicing this gift. Praise God!
Many of us fall into the trap of downplaying the phenomenon of speaking in tongues, even after we have received the gift ourselves
Many of us fall into the trap of downplaying the phenomenon of speaking in tongues, even after we have received the gift ourselves. We may consider it divisive and it certainly can be when it is abused, or we’re embarrassed because it seems weird or fanatical to our unbelieving friends or family members.
Yet when I read the apostle Paul on the issue, I realize that glossolalia was a key component of the New Testament church. No one can deny that. Not only did tongues play a fundamental role on the day of Pentecost when the church was born, but this strange gift also fueled Paul’s personal zeal. He wasn’t bragging when he wrote: “I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all” (1 Cor. 14:18, NASB). He most likely prayed in tongues for hours at a time. He knew he couldn’t carry out his extraordinary ministry without a private devotional life that was soaked in supernatural prayer.
That’s also why he wrote: “Do not forbid to speak in tongues” (1 Cor. 14:39). He knew that even though some people might be tempted to misuse this gift, and this is usually why people restrict it, we must never, never, never shut it down.
Eliminating the gift of tongues can have a direct impact on the miraculous flow of the Spirit’s anointing in the church. You might as well flip a breaker switch and turn off all the lights. Tongues does not make us holier than anyone else, and if we don’t exhibit love and Christian character it becomes a useless gift comparable to a noisy gong (see 1 Cor. 13:1). But when stewarded properly, and tempered with humility, this seemingly insignificant grace of the Holy Spirit becomes an invisible atomic weapon.
An Invisible Atomic Weapon
I am not saying we should showcase tongues in church gatherings, scream at people in tongues or make people feel like misfits if they haven’t experienced the gift. When the Corinthians put tongues on the platform and turned their meetings into chaotic circus sideshows, Paul rebuked them sternly. But the same apostle who warned his followers not to flaunt tongues in public also spent countless hours praying in tongues privately—because it is a vital source of spiritual power that we must not neglect.
The young man I met in Pennsylvania has a strong call on his life to reach others for Jesus, and he will be more effective in ministry now that he has added this misunderstood spiritual weapon to his arsenal. I pray you, too, will discover its value.
[Published Wed., 23 June 2010 in the online “Fire In My Bones” Newsletter. J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma and author of the new book The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. Follow him on Twitter at leegrady. Learn more about his ministry at themordecaiproject.com].
Anonymous
The purpose of biblical tongues was completed in the first century and tongues ceased. This is the Word of God.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess No, this is your denominational interpretation based on prejudice and the lack of power among your members.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess you say that is the word of God. Would you mind showing us the passage?
Or, are you like those Roman Catholics who proclaim their traditions as being the Word of God?
Anonymous
Gerardo de Dominicis Montanus of Phrygia stands as a leader in the support of tongues. Eusebius, a fourth century Church historian writes that the followers of Montanus would be “carried away in spirit, and wrought up into a certain kind of frenzy and irregular ecstasy, raving, and speaking, and uttering strange things.”(2)
Because of his teachings, and the practices of his followers, they were forced to withdraw from the accepted church of the early second century and were ultimately labeled as heresy.
Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp who was in turn a pupil of the Apostle John, wrote in his book “Against Heresies”
“In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of language and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, whom also the apostles term spiritual “(3)
Tertullian, who lived about the same time as Irenaeus in 160-220 A.D, writes a passage in his book “Against Marcion” which challenges Marcion to produce anything among his followers such as was common among Tertullian’s.
“Let him exhibit prophets such as have spoken, not by human sense but with the Spirit of God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision a prayer, only let it be by the Spirit in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him “(4)
A few years later in the third century, a certain Pachomius was able to “after seasons of special prayer, spoke the Greek and Latin languages, which he had never learned, under the power of the Spirit.”(5)
Saint Augustine, who lived in the fourth century (354-430) also wrote: “We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Spirit on them by the laying on of hands. It is expected that converts should speak with new tongues.(6)
Anonymous
Philip Williams you mean the pope?
Anonymous
Troy Day like the Pope! Duane L Burgess likes similar pronouncements about God.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess There is No scripture in the Bible that says tongues were to cease in the first century, furthermore it directly contradicts Jesus teaching about the Holy Spirit. John 14:15-31 Luke 3:16 Acts 1:3-5 That is that Jesus would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit. Not just a couple of apostles, not just a first generation of believers. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the church age. While there is a church on earth, the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be here. They will cease when the elements dissolve with fire. 2 Peter 3:10. Cessationism is a false doctrine by people who are stuck between believing in Jesus and the book of Acts. If you say you have the Holy Spirit then walk in obedience to Jesus and get baptised in the Holy Spirit the evidence for which is speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance or speaks through you. Otherwise you walk in disobedience on that issue.
Anonymous
We receive, not embrace, the gift of the Holy Spirit evident by other languages flowing from inside us though our mouths and tongues. We don’t speak these tongues but we hear our mouths speaking them.
Anonymous
Montanus of Phrygia stands as a leader in the support of tongues. Eusebius, a fourth century Church historian writes that the followers of Montanus would be “carried away in spirit, and wrought up into a certain kind of frenzy and irregular ecstasy, raving, and speaking, and uttering strange things.”(2)
Because of his teachings, and the practices of his followers, they were forced to withdraw from the accepted church of the early second century and were ultimately labeled as heresy.
Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp who was in turn a pupil of the Apostle John, wrote in his book “Against Heresies”
“In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of language and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, whom also the apostles term spiritual “(3)
Tertullian, who lived about the same time as Irenaeus in 160-220 A.D, writes a passage in his book “Against Marcion” which challenges Marcion to produce anything among his followers such as was common among Tertullian’s.
“Let him exhibit prophets such as have spoken, not by human sense but with the Spirit of God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision a prayer, only let it be by the Spirit in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him “(4)
A few years later in the third century, a certain Pachomius was able to “after seasons of special prayer, spoke the Greek and Latin languages, which he had never learned, under the power of the Spirit.”(5)
Saint Augustine, who lived in the fourth century (354-430) also wrote: “We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Spirit on them by the laying on of hands. It is expected that converts should speak with new tongues.(6)
Anonymous
Troy Day but followers of Montanist identified themselves as the incarnation of the Holy Ghost. Thus instead of Jesus, we get a Trinity. We know Jesus but we don’t know about this other fellow in these Montanists. But to rebuke them is unforgivable blasphemy as they claimed.
Don’t rebuke a Oneness speaker of tongues, or you get the same fate!
Anonymous
Philip Williams YES we do get the baptism with the HS in the Trinity NOT sure how oneness folks Bishop Bernie L Wade and dualists get it
Anonymous
what’s the difference between being baptized into Jesus and being baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Which one has the tongues?
Anonymous
@Roland Smith do you now speak in tongues brother?
Anonymous
I believe tongues as used at Pentecost and the follow up teachings of Paul, are not by any means what is being taught today. Paul said if tongues are spoken in public there should be 2 or 3 interpreters. That’s not what’s being done. and this foolish gibberish so called tongues is not of the God creation…CAPICHE…AMEN..
Anonymous
CAN ONE LOSE THEIR SALVATION.??
13 Bible Verses about Guarding Yourself..
1 Peter 5:8
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 John 5:21
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Psalm 39:1
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
I said, “I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
2 Timothy 4:15
Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—
James 4:7
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Anonymous
No one has spoken in biblical tongues since the first century.
Anyone who believes otherwise is deceiving and being deceived.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess theory or fact?
rhonda E Leath
How do you Know ?? you can speak for everyone ?
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess do you think St. Irenaeus was decieved? Divers tongues is among the gifts given as the Spirit wills. What scripture can you show to justify the idea that the Spirit world not give this gift after the first century?
Anonymous
Where is Ralph Waldo Emerson when we need him?
There is a monumental conflict brewing between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. It will be a classic struggle that will be more legendary than that which occurred between Greece and Troy. If only Homer were alive today to record the deeds of the heroes who may be called to lay down their lives in this epic conflict.
Unfortunately, few people are actually paying attention to what may very well be a fight for the soul of the country. That needs to change.
There are far too many people who are AWOL in this battle. While our brave warriors are dying in the street, the rest of the population goes on carelessly with their lives, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. They are completely unaware of the flood that is coming.
Too few of us are keeping watch and do not understand that the day of the Lord is at hand. The forces of Satan are amassing even now and are preparing for spiritual warfare against a small cadre of God’s warriors. Only a precious few have had the foresight to don the armor of God and take a stand against the devil’s schemes.
Anonymous
Troy Day who are those brave warriors dying in the street? The homeless??
Don’t you have a sling? Find some pebbles and sling away.
Anonymous
Philip Williams Richard Cunningham stated
Demons cannot possess a true believer. A true believer belongs to Christ they do not have authority over anything that belongs to him . It is unbiblical and inconceivable that The Holy Spirit would allow one that Christ died for , the one who is a temple of the Holy Spirit , and one who belongs to the Lord to be inhabitated and controlled by a evil Spirit. If you are casting out demons you are casting them out of unbelievers and professors that really don’t belong to Christ . This type of false doctrine running rampant especially throughout Pentecostal and Baptist churches . Because of false teachers and preachers .
My questions is ONLY this – how does Richard Cunningham KNOW a true believer from a false believer?
Anonymous
Troy Day he ain’t seen some of the preachers I have seen.