By Pastor Murray
You know, probably one of the most asked questions that we receive is about Tongues. So we’re going to discuss tongues today. And being a teacher, there’s only one way I know how to teach and that is from the Word of God. Let me put it this way, that’s the only way, I will teach. And when questions arise, we should go to the Word. I don’t care what brother so-and-so says, or great-grandpa, or anyone else, it’s what your true Father, Almighty God, has to say about tongues.
First I want to say, and this is not to offend anyone, I don’t care what people do, you can still be my friend whether we agree or not. And I certainly do not insist that everyone believe the way that I do. But I will caution you that you should believe your Father’s Word when you witness it through more than one scripture and that which is natural applies to it and in the way our Father created things. Anything that feels very uncomfortable, always remember that our Father is the author of peace not confusion. When something confuses you or in confusion, analyze it. It is the natural way or nature’s way of telling you either you don’t understand, or something is wrong. So you take a good look at it.
Now with that in mind let’s go to the place where Christ said that the Holy Spirit would speak through man. Let’s start with that. Is there such a thing? Well, naturally there is such a thing as the Holy Spirit speaking through man. But why, when, where, and what? If you don’t have those answers from the speaker, it’s the four W’s, that’s when you take that good look. When you have accomplished the four ‘W’s you’ve taught on a subject. So always when you’re analyzing something ask yourself those questions as you do your research and you will be more pleased with the outcome thereof, most likely. Does the Holy Spirit speak through man? Let’s go to the 13th chapter of Mark, which is a chapter concerning that time that God’s elect will be delivered up to the synagogue of Satan as it is written in Revelation 2:9, delivered up as a witness, as a testimony. Let us absorb what happens there. And we will answer the question, "Will the Holy Spirit speak through man?” That’s what we’re going for. Let’s hear that.
Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
That being the prime reason for one being delivered up. Now this beating, in as much as the spurious messiah is playing Savior or Jesus, it’s brow-beating in a sense, to try to beat you spiritually and to reason with you.
Perhaps I err in not telling you that in verse 4 is where Jesus was taken aside and asked, "What’s it going to be like when you return?" and He gave seven events that would transpire, these events we are reading are part of those seven signs. The same as it is in the book of Revelation of how it would be at the very end; that in itself fixes the time.
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
So it is apparent that these trials will be public trials before the spurious messiah of God’s elect that will not accept him.
Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Or the Holy Spirit (pneuma). You know what the Holy Spirit is? It is the spirit of our Father, and He’s speaking through us and bringing that testimony and that witness of the true gospel to the world. It is even written in the book of Luke in chapter 21 that even the gainsayers, that is to say those that would try to witness against us, would be convinced by what was said. Why? It will be God speaking through the Holy Pneuma, the Holy Spirit.
So the answer to the question, "Will the Holy Spirit speak through people?" is, absolute. But now we also know when it happens, in this particular case; it happens in the hour of temptation. That can be documented in the 17th chapter of Revelation where the son of perdition comes into power for one hour and it is his synagogue that you, [God’s elect] are delivered up to. So yes, we know that the Holy Spirit will speak through man at the very last hour when the false messiah is on earth by God’s chosen, His elect. Not that they are super special, but that they already overcame [in the world that was, the first earth age]. They were called for this purpose, [to be delivered up] because God knew that He could trust them as it is written in Ephesians 1:4 - a different subject for a different time. But they were chosen before the foundations of this earth.
So, the answer is yes; the Holy Spirit speaks through people. [But many misunderstand this particular tongue, or speech and], that we are not to premeditate - meaning you are not to even think about what you would say when you are delivered up [before the antichrist]. [It will be] in that time when the Holy Spirit will take care of [what you will say, not your words, God’s words which He will put in the mouths of the His elect in] that last hour. [To understand this better, it is important to document in the word] what happened back on that Pentecost day [when the Holy Spirit spoke through man before and those present] would ask [in astonishment] "are these men drunk?" Well, let’s go there, [read the scriptures,] and find out. Let’s not go by what men say, but let’s go to the Word itself and let us analyze and let us understand.
We know that in the first chapter of Acts that Christ stayed after the resurrection approximately forty days and visited with the apostles, and told them not to leave Jerusalem until they received the gift that would be sent them. And of course, that gift would be the Holy Spirit. We will pick that up in Acts 2:1. Let us listen to God’s Word and not man’s:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
In other words, they had come in for the feast of Pentecost and people gathered to Jerusalem from all over from the known world at that time, and from all areas. We here in America are very blessed that we can drive 3,000 miles and the language is still the same, but in most countries, especially in the Middle East at this time, you didn’t have to go three city blocks until it was a totally different language. So at the gathering of Pentecost they would have people of many tongues [which is many languages] present there.
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.
Of course remember that in the Hebrew “wind” is ruach, or the spirit. So this is the Spirit moving. It is talking about God’s elect here, where they were sitting, the Spirit touched them and they were filled.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Now this was a one-time thing where visibly God would use this particular vision so that they could see what was happening to them. Cloven means going out in many directions. The Greek word that is translated here means “distributed”.
Strong's G1266 – diamerizō
1) to cleave asunder, cut in pieces
2) to be divided into opposing parts, to be at variance, in dissension
3) to distribute
The Greek word which is translated as tongue here is "glossa".
G1100γλῶσσαglōssagloce'-sahOf uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.
So we see that we are not talking about the [literal] tongue of your mouth but the language of your mouth and the fact that it is in many directions. What does that mean? It is important to know first of all where we have all these languages pulled together that to be able to communicate as a witness then certainly we have an interesting subject.
Let us listen to the Spirit as we continue with verse 4:
Acts 2:4-5 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
There were men there from every dialect, from every language, from all over. This is important to know.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
You see we don't have an interpreter here. Now we understand where the Greek word cloven or distributed comes in to play because [the language they were speaking] was being distributed in more than one language at one time. Now it's important in your research that you know what this word language is in the Greek because it really says more in the Greek than it does in the English. Because there is more to your own language. We speak English in many parts of the world, but certainly dialect has a great deal to do with identifying where someone is from. God is being very specific here. The Greek word that was translated “language” here is dialektos.
Strong's G1258 – dialektos
1) conversation, speech, discourse, language
2) the tongue or language peculiar to any people
As you probably have clicked on the word in verse 6, does it look and sound familiar? It's almost the same as the English. In other words, not only did they hear their own language, but they heard it in the dialect in which they spoke. What was heard was in their own, local dialect. We see here the miracle of the Holy Spirit at work within this. We have many people from around the world that speak English, but there are many different dialects. But with the miracle of the Holy Spirit, [they heard what was spoken even unto their own dialect] and this is what stunned them.
Acts 2:7-8 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans’ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born.
In other words they're saying, “they are from Nazareth, but talk like they are from Bethlehem!” [More than just different dialects;] totally different languages but still [heard even] in their own dialects. That is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Again, I caution you that they heard it and they understood it, each and every person. There was nothing unknown about it. So regarding the the Holy Spirit then, make a note, when the Holy Spirit speaks through a person, it is a language that is heard in every dialect of the world in whatever language they may speak. That, my friend, no man can fake. That is the evidence of the presence of Almighty God through the Holy Spirit, and that He is utilizing that person. If it sounds anything different than what was just mentioned, then it is obvious that the Holy Spirit is not present. Because the mark or evidence of this specific tongue, the Pentecostal day tongue, is that it is understood by every language of the world all at one time even down to the neighborhood in which you were born and raised. For example, picture someone from the United Nations that would get up to speak [to the entire] world and no one would need an interpreter. Everyone there would hear it in their own tongue as they were gathered in from around the world, jut as they were in this case, here [in Acts]. And if [what I’m stating from] the Word of God offends, then if I were you, I would pray about it a great deal, and look at it, and believe God. Not [necessarily what] this man says, or any other man [says], but believe God’s word. And that’s what the Word says. There is nothing unknown about [the so-called “speaking in tongues”]. Some might say, "How do we know that there were different peoples there?" Well, give Him a chance to declare it.
Acts 2:9-11 Parthians
People from India…
and Medes
The middle land…
and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia
The Orient…
Phrygia
Asia Minor…
and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
African…
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes
Not only of Judah…
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
This was an example, as you are going to find as we continue our study, this is the work that was done on Pentecost. But it was only an example. An example of what? Well, we’ll find out:
Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this
Certainly they had never seen anything like that before.
Acts 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
There are some people who, if they can’t understand something (they have to) make their own miserable excuse up. They're saying, “These men are full of new wine, that must be what it is!”
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
In other words he saying, “I’m going to explain it to you.”
Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
In other words, it was only 9 o’clock in the morning and it was against the law of the land; for on the Holy day (the feast day), to partake of anything that early in the day. Thus Peter brings it forth. He explains it then. Do you really want to know what the Pentecost tongue is about? Peter’s standing up, he’s got their attention, and he’s going to tell you:
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Certainly that shouldn’t be difficult to understand. And the term this is that is a metaphor which means this is an example of what Joel the prophet was speaking of. When he said what, well, he’ll tell us.
Acts 2:17 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:
Again, there is the time element, not until the last days when that hour of temptation… Now if you don’t think that God intends to use females, then you’ve got sad trouble, because especially in the last days He specifically brings that out stating, “daughters shall prophesy”. That means to teach and to prophesy the Word of God with the Holy Spirit coming from the mouth of women. Hey, if you don’t like it, then just don’t accept it and lump it, and continue confusing yourself. But if you believe God’s Word, lace it up, put it on, and wear it, because it fits, it is going to happen, it is prophecy and it shall happen. God will use His elect, the Holy Spirit as it was written in Mark 13, in the last days, that is to say when the spurious messiah is here and we are delivered up and the miracle to the world will be whoever is listening. I have no doubt in my own mind that these trials will be televised around the world and you are not going to need an interpreter. Now that is the miracle of the presence of God through the Holy Spirit and people will know and understand that it is from God and not some unknown thing, but just the opposite, it will be from God’s Word, and it is that which is known and heard whereby no one has an excuse to say “I didn’t understand it because it wasn’t in my dialect.”
Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
It's written and you’ll read it. It is written in Mark 13, it is written in Matthew 24, it is written in Luke 21, and it is written in the book of Joel. It wasn’t unknown. If you want to know what they spoke on Pentecost day, go to the book of Joel and read it. It’s all laid out for you what they said, the marvelous, glorious, wonderful works of God that was mentioned back in the eleventh verse of this chapter by all those foreign tongues.
Acts 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
This is a quote from Joel. These are signs within the end times.
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Again you have the time that this tongue will be spoken nailed down flat and firm. There is no room for confusion. Again, I caution you, listen to God’s word and not man’s. I don’t care how many preachers have told you that this Pentecost tongue was unknown. I don’t care how many times you have heard it from whoever, or whomever. God’s Word states that it was just the opposite of unknown, that it was in the very dialect or brogue…
BROGUE = (a strong dialectal accent, especially a strong Irish accent)
…of whatever person heard it that was born regardless of who the speaker was, because it was not the speaker that spoke, but the Holy Spirit. God has your number friend, He has your dialect, He knows how you hear. That’s why the miracle cannot be copied, conned, or made up by man. It is so crystal clear that no one is without excuse of understanding the scripture of God.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Yes, even up to that last hour. Now that was on Pentecost day. Did it happen again? Of course it did. Let’s turn to the tenth chapter of this great book of Acts and let us analyze. Let us see what God’s Word says, not this man or any other man. Let’s begin in verse 44. Remember they’ve gone out now and they are teaching.
Acts 10:44-45 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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.
Well, how could Gentiles have this’ Well, they’re all God’s children, alright.
Acts 10:46-47 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
In other words, they received the same as Peter and the others did on Pentecost day. Christ told him, don’t leave Jerusalem; stay there until you receive it. So it was exactly like they spoke on Pentecost day, which means what? The voice that is heard in every dialect of the world, and no man can copy it. It’s lead pipe, there is nothing unknown about it. While we are doing so well, let’s go to the 15th verse of the 11th chapter. What does it say on another occasion when Peter begins to explain this to the group?
Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
How did it fall on them? At the beginning! Isn't that complicated? I don't think it's complicated at all. I don't know how anyone can confuse it. The Holy Spirit fell on these exactly as the tongue fell on them on the Pentecost day, thus being called the Pentecost tongue. It was heard in every language of the world and no man can fake that. Now, I know that sometimes the truth of God upsets people because they’ve heard so much from man. Well, I could say by the grace of God, there go I. What’s important is what the Word of God says. What the Word of God teaches. And hey, like it or lump it friend, you’d better be in accord with God or you’re in accord with the master of confusion, that is to say, satan. Not necessarily because you want to follow Satan, but because he has you confused. I love all of God’s children, but I am a teacher of the Word and I teach it as it is written to the very best of my ability with the unction of the Holy Spirit. I have a very close walk with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has helped me in my drive to teach God’s Word with clarity and understanding, to cause the Word of God to come alive, whereby children, adults, anyone can understand the simplicity in which God’s Word was written in the original languages. You see, the example, the word language that was translated into English as language, we found out was dialektos, which is the dialect, which meant that it was even more specific than simply a language, they talked in the same dialect as the county that the old boys were born in; emphasizing clarity and the simplistic way in which God teaches, giving everyone that equal chance to hear and to understand. So, there you have that tongue of Pentecost. Now in the next setting, we’re going to go into a different book and we’re going to go where the word “tongues” is used again, and see if we can have clarity or with understanding what is spoken of there. And I assure you, I don’t want to disappoint you. You will find an example in 1 Corinthians, chapter 14 in your King James bible of “unknown tongues”, but you will notice that the word unknown is italicized, which means man added it with the assumption that it would carry over better into the English. They thought it would be understood better. So prepare yourself for the next setting, for the next lecture, always believe God’s Word, and I pray that you are not offended by God’s Word. For if you are, you really have a problem. I find God’s Word rewarding, comforting, and certainly keeping everyone in the will of God and receiving His blessings. So never ever allow God’s Word to make you angry or indeed you’re out of God’s will and His blessings and it will show in your own life. Think about it will you?