Correspondence Course Lesson 21:
The Gift of Languages
By DON ESPOSITO
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When you look at Christianity today you will find that most branches even including Roman Catholicism have been infected with the Pentecostal Movement of speaking in gibberish that includes out of control behavior, such as uncontrolled laughter, making animal sounds, rolling on the floor and other types of immoral conduct. Although there is a true gift of languages outlined in Scripture, which this lesson will fully cover, nowhere in Scripture do we see the Bible advocating such silly and immoral behavior. Also, in all the congregational historical records going back to the time of the Apostles we never see any eye-witness testimony of true believers engaging in such unrestrained behavior. So where did this movement come from?
The Azuza Street Revival of 1906-13 was the launching pad for a worldwide Pentecostal renewal. The main feature of this Pentecostal outpouring was the so-called “baptism with the Holy Spirit,” which is evidenced by speaking in tongues (gibberish). There were, however, other incidences that preceded Azuza, which prepared the way for its induction. On January 1, 1901, in Topeka, Kansas, Agnes Ozman, a student at Charles Parham’s Bethel Bible School, spoke in tongues. Sometime later, Parham himself had the same experience and from then on preached that all believers who sought the tongues experience diligently would be recipients of the experience. Most recognize Parham as the founder of the Pentecostal Movement.
Many denominations did not favor the revival and viewed the deliverance evangelists as “independent extremists.” Many leaders were disgusted by the lack of integrity among the revivalists, who often made claims marked by absurd exaggeration. The display of alleged miracles had become so outlandish that revival meetings had turned into “personality cults.” Historian David Harrell quotes one Pentecostal leader who reported:
“The healing evangelists live in constant dialogue with angels and demons, the Holy Spirit and the spirits of diseases from the abyss; Many of today’s “televangelists” have adopted the melodramatic preaching styles of the deliverance revivalists of the mid-twentieth-century.”
The official name of this uttering of gibberish is called glossolalia coming from the Greek word for tongue-speech. New Testament scholar J.G. Davies made a study of the accounts in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 especially with the Greek word ‘hermeneuo’ meaning to translate or interpret. His conclusion is that in the Bible, in Acts 2 and also 1st Corinthians 14, they are clearly talking about speaking real languages and not gibberish that is performed today.
Professional linguists have investigated modern glossolalia, yet have found no evidence that it ever consists of real speech or a real language. It is usually just saying the same phrase over and over putting the participant into a mantra that we will explain in detail in this lesson, which comes from pagan Hinduism. The scientists doing this work are seldom hostile toward glossolalists, most are neutral observers and some are even sympathetic toward them. However, they are unanimous in finding no connection to any human language among the massive and growing library of recorded ‘tongue speech’.
One qualified researcher who has worked a great deal with tongue-speakers is William J. Samarin. His work called ‘Tongues of Men and Angels’ is probably the most definitive treatment of linguistic analysis of glossolalia. Dr. Samarin had to conclude from his extensive study that there are just no known examples of glossolalists speaking an actual foreign language as we clearly see in the bible in Acts the second chapter. In one article Dr. Samarin commented that though Christian Charismatics claim that they are speaking in real languages they would be unable to provide a case that would stand up to scientific investigation, as in real languages there is the correspondence between form (grammar, syntax and sound, etc.) and meaning. A particular phrase carries a certain meaning; this is not true in glossolalia.
Anthropologist Felicitas D. Goodman reported on a specific study he did on glossolalia in the ‘Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion’, and reported six specific ways in which glossolalia differs from real language.
In one case an experiment was conducted in which a tape of glossolalia was played to several individuals claiming to have the gift of interpretation. The interpretations were quite general in most cases, but even then, various interpretations of the same material varied widely from one person to another with no common cord of linguistic practices.
The fact that glossolalia is not a true language and faked many times under emotional sensationalism is not the worst of this false movement, but as we will see now that the movement is progressive in nature and stems from paganism and demonic submission that it can lead to outright demon possession to those who go full force with this disturbing practice. Starting in the 1960’s and 70’s and moving more progressive with each decade such disturbing practices arose as the Toronto Blessing where the promoters of the movement started to bring in such practices as rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter and also acting like animals and taking on animal characteristics.
The movement goes in progression in three stages, first is contemplative prayer where the person will give his mind over to a demonic force, and then say the same intangible gibberish over and over until he is fallen into a mantra where if done over and over, in time, a demonic force can completely control him. Next is the phase of taking on the characteristics of an animal such as a lion or tiger, and the third is an immoral cult condition called the whirling dervish where the person would spin so fast in a circle until they become in a form of ecstasy.
As mentioned above, the early Congregation never supported such action and there is nothing in Scripture that would support such actions by a true believer; and people who surrender their will to such a mystical spirit can wind up becoming demon led or even full blown demon possessed. Let us look at what author Ray Yungen states about the pagan, New Age origin of contemplative prayer and the Modern Tongues Movement.
“When one enters the deeper layers of contemplative prayer one sooner or later experiences the void, the emptiness, the nothingness… the profound mystical silence… an absence of thought. To my dismay I discovered the mystical silence is accomplished by the same methods used by New Agers to achieve their silence- the mantra and the breath! Contemplative prayer is the repetition of what is referred to as a prayer word or a sacred word until one reaches a state where the soul, rather than the mind contemplates a god. Contemplative teacher Willigis Jager instructed it this way:
Do not reflect on the meaning of a word; thinking and reflecting must cease, as all mystical writers insist. Simply sound the word silently, letting go of all feelings and thoughts. Silence, appropriate body posture, and above all emptying the mind through repetition of prayer have been the practices of mystics in all world religions.”
When one empties his mind he is opening up for the possibility of filling it with a demon spirit. Contemplative prayer is New Age and mystical and started with a group of Middle Eastern Christian Monks called ‘the desert fathers’ in the Middle Ages. They were the first ones who promoted the mantra as a prayer tool. Ray Yungen in his book called ‘A Time of Departing’ explains where these monks learned this practice from.
“The meditation practices of these earliest monks bear strong similarity to those of their Hindu and Buddhist renunciate brethren several kingdoms to the east. Consequently, the desert fathers believed as long as their desire for God was sincere-anything could be utilized to reach him. If a method worked for the Hindu’s to reach their gods, then Christian mantras could be used to reach Jesus. In the wider ecumenism of the spirit being opened for us today, we need to humbly accept the learnings of particular Eastern religions…. What makes a particular practice Christian is not the source, but its intent… selective attention to Eastern spiritual practices can be of great assistance to a fully embodied Christian life.”
Unfortunately, most of Christianity has fully adopted not only Eastern Religious pagan practices and occultism, but has incorporated many pagan cultural practices into their religion including Christmas, Easter and even Mary and New Age worship. Since they do not obey the Torah there is no common basis for them to make up their doctrine from, and most forms of Christianity have entered into this New Age demonic fad of speaking in tongues with its various demonic manifestations mentioned.
Rodney Howard Brown who was the originator of the Toronto Blessing and has been a major leader in this unscriptural movement stated the following in an article in Charisma Magazine:
“I’d rather be in a church where the devil and the flesh are manifesting than in a church where nothing is happening because people are too afraid to manifest anything… And if a devil is manifesting don’t worry about that either, rejoice, because at least something is happening.”
Does the Torah forbid the mixing of pagan practices with Yahweh’s true statutes and commandments?
Deut 12:29 When YAHWEH your Elohim shall cut off the nations from before you, where you are going in to possess them, and you shall possess them, and shall live in their land,
Deut 12:30 take heed to yourself that you not be snared to follow them after they have been destroyed before you; and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their Elohim? And I shall do so, even I.
Deut 12:31 You shall not do so to YAHWEH your Elohim; for everything hateful to YAHWEH, which He detests, they have done to their gods. For they have even burned their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
Deut 12:32 All the things that I command you, take heed to do them and you shall not add to it, nor take away from it.
Deut 18:9 When you come to the land which YAHWEH your Elohim is giving to you, you shall not learn to do according to the hateful acts of those nations.
Deut 18:10 There shall not be found in you one who passes his son or his daughter through the fire, one that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or one fortune-telling, or a spell caster,
Deut 18:11 or a magic charmer, or one consulting spirits, or a wizard, or one communicating with the dead.
Deut 18:12 For all doing these things are an abomination to YAHWEH. And because of these filthy acts YAHWEH your Elohim is expelling these nations before you.
COMMENT: Yahweh strictly forbids the mixing of paganism with His Torah, and commands His covenant followers to fully avoid any form of paganism, mysticism, or witchcraft which the Tongues Movement is full of.
Would the Holy Spirit entering a person cause them to speak in gibberish, laugh uncontrollably, or even bark like a dog or bock like a chicken as is common in the Pentecostal Churches?
Gen 1:26 And Elohim said, let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth.
Gen 1:27 And Elohim created the man in His own image; in the image of Elohim He created him. He created them male and female.
John 14:26 But the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, whom my Father will send in My name will teach you everything. And it will remind you of everything that I said to you.
John 15:26 And when the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, it will witness concerning Me.
Eph 5:1 Then become imitators of Elohim, as beloved children,
Eph 5:2 and walk in love, even as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to YAHWEH for an odor of a sweet smell.
Eph 5:3 But let not fornication, and all uncleanness, or greediness, be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
Eph 5:4 also cursing, and foolish talking, or witty insults (none of which are necessary), but rather the giving of thanks.
COMMENT: In Genesis 1:26 Yahweh made mankind in His image and His likeness, which is the spirit of love and kindness and self-control. Yahweh also gave man dominion over the animal kingdom and the Holy Spirit entering a person would give Him the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faith, goodness, meekness and self-control. The Holy Spirit would never cause a person to be uncontrollable in silliness, or lower themselves to act like an animal that Yahweh has given them dominion over.
1st Cor 14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
Yahweh has given mankind free will to make decisions and He also has given him His Torah that is the guide book in making those decisions. The Torah teaches mankind how to love Yahweh with his heart, mind, soul and strength and how to love his neighbor as himself. However, Yahweh never takes away man’s freewill in making decisions and the Holy Spirit will guide and lead, but never possess by force.
It is Satan the devil who is a roaring lion searching for who he may devour that tricks humans to give up their free will to him through evil satanic music, or mind altering illegal drugs, or in this case false tongues, as once the person is not in control of his/her spirit any longer they are giving opportunity for a demon to manifest, and since they have no idea what they are saying they may even be inviting the demon to take over their body. One man once told a testimony that he was in a meeting where this false tongue was being manifest and when he heard one man speaking he said, “I know that language it is Romanian,” and when asked what the man was saying in the Romanian tongue he said “he is cursing Elohim.”
Also, during these meetings when they are speaking in the false tongues many times the charismatic leader will touch the person’s head and they will fall backward. Does Scripture tell us that falling back is for worship or for demonic activity?
Gen 49:17 Let Dan be a serpent on the way, a horned snake on the path that bites the horses’ heels, and its rider falls backward.
John 18:3 Therefore Judas took a unit of soldiers and some men from the chief priests and Pharisees. He took guards and came there with torches and lamps and weapons.
John 18:4 Then knowing all the things coming upon Him, going forth, Yahshua said to them, Whom do you seek?
John 18:5 They answered Him, Yahshua the Nazarene. Yahshua said to them, I AM! And Judas, the one betraying Him, also stood with them.
John 18:6 Then when He said to them, I AM, they went backwards and fell to the ground.
COMMENT: Falling back is always associated with demonic activity not with reverence to Yahweh. The tribe of Dan was filled with idolatry and it is most interesting that a snake (a symbol for Satan) bites the heel and the rider falls backwards just as in the false tongues meetings.
In Scripture, when giving reverence to Yahweh how are the worshipers positioned?
Gen 18:1 And YAHWEH visually appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And he was sitting at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.
Gen 18:2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked; and, behold, three men were standing by him. And he saw, and he ran to meet them from the entrance of the tent. And he bowed to the ground.
Gen 24:48 And I bowed and worshiped YAHWEH, and I blessed YAHWEH, Elohim of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the true way, to take for his son the daughter of the brother of my master.
Exo 34:8 And Moses hurried and bowed to the earth and worshiped.
Exo 34:9 And he said, If now I have found favor in Your eyes, O YAHWEH, please let my Adonai go in our midst,
Neh 8:6 And Ezra blessed YAHWEH, the great Elohim. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands. And they bowed and worshiped to YAHWEH with their noses to the ground.
COMMENT: In Scripture when giving reverence to Yahweh the Creator one would bow and prostrate themselves in homage; whereas, when demonic activity occurred, the person falls back in rebellion. I have cast demons out of people and many times the person would fall back when the demon was commanded to leave.
Some people have claimed healing by these false tongue meetings. Could this be possible?
Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman having a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent together and was not able to straighten herself at all.
Luke 13:12 And seeing her, Yahshua called her near and said to her, Woman, you have been freed from your infirmity.
Luke 13:13 And He laid hands on her. And instantly she straightened herself and glorified Elohim
Luke 13:16 And this one being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, eighteen years, ought she not to be freed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
COMMENT: It has been proved that many of the so-called healings that take place are staged. When entering a meeting someone who may be frail will be told to sit in a wheel chair, and then, later told to stand to give the appearance of a healing that never happened. Books have even been written by those who left the movement stating that money was even paid to some to stage fake healings.
However, at other times it does appear that a healing is taking place, but many times it is simply adrenaline that causes a person to temporarily believe they are better when they are not. Statistically, it shows that 70% to 80% of the so-called healings go back to their original condition within a few hours or days. This would never be the case if the Holy Spirit truly was healing someone as Yahshua did.
Also, as the Scripture states in Luke 13 we must never forget that Satan has power to bind someone who may have given him the authority to do so for whatever reason in their life, and Satan can release the person from the ailment to give the appearance of a healing to purport the lie. If Satan can bind a person, as in
Luke 13:16 then he can certainly loose a person he has bound.
Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim gave to those obeying and believing Him.
Isa 8:20 To the Torah and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light to them!
I think that it is also important to state that as the above scripture says that Yahweh gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. So since the whole Pentecostal Movement is based on the false teaching that the Torah is nailed to a cross, it would be totally illogical that Yahweh would give spiritual gifts to those who are openly disobeying Him and His Word. It is also plain from Scripture that Satan is a counterfeiter and will have his own ministers portraying themselves to be ministers of Elohim but inward are deceiving wolves who deny the truth and have fruit from the flesh, but not from Yahweh’s holiness.
2nd Cor 11:13 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Messiah.
2nd Cor 11:14 There is no marvel in this; for if Satan disguises himself into an angel of light,
2nd Cor 11:15 it is not a great thing then, if his ministers also pose themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
It is interesting that scripture states their end is according to their work, when they deny that we need any good works as a believer. I believe we have laid out conclusive evidence that the Pentecostal false Tongues Movement of Christianity is not a movement of the Holy Spirit but was founded on Mid-Eastern paganism such as Hinduism etc. However, there is a real gift of languages in the Bible, so now let’s look at the Scriptures and see what was the reason for this gift, as everything that Yahweh performs has purpose and how was it manifested in Scripture.
Hebrew is the original language of the Bible and was the language that the Tanach (Old Testament) was written in. Abraham is called in Scripture the first Hebrew (Hebrews 14:13). The word means ‘one who crosses over’ and Abraham crossed over from Mesopotamia to the Promised Land and also crossed over from the pagan worship of his fore-fathers to the true worship of Yahweh.
When the Israelites came to the Promised Land of Israel they spoke Hebrew, and also a dialect of Hebrew developed called Aramaic. It is debatable whether Aramaic was first spoken or Hebrew, but both are very similar in nature and both are Semitic languages. Since Israel was basically an exclusionist nation all Israelites understood each other and there was no language problem for communication.
However, when the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive from 734 to 718 BC they were dispersed throughout the world and over several generations many no longer understood Hebrew. As a matter of fact, the problem became so dramatic by the 2nd century BC that many dispersed Israelites and Jews could not even read the Torah any longer and that is why 70 Rabbis convened and made the Septuagint, or Greek version of the Tanach, as in the west, Greek was the common language in most areas and in the east it was Aramaic. There was an Aramaic translation also translated around that time. So when Yahshua came to Israel as the promised Messiah in 27 AD only the tribe of Judah was living in Israel with minimal scattered people from various other tribes who had migrated south with Judah after the dispersion of the northern tribes of Israel around the world. But as we know, Yahshua was the Messiah to all of Israel including those in the Diaspora not just those living in Israel. This is the reason that Yahshua gave the command to His disciples to go throughout the world and bring His Good-News message to all nations seeking the lost tribes of Israel.
Mat 10:5 Yahshua sent these twelve out, charging them, saying do not go into the way of the heathen, and do not go into a Samaritan city.
Mat 10:6 But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 28:18 And coming up Yahshua talked with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Mat 28:19 Then having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son,
Mat 28:20 and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.
Of course when His disciples would bring the Good-News worldwide to the House of Israel anyone from any nation who heard the message and repented of their sins, and accepted Yahshua’s sacrifice for paying for those sins could also join the covenant with Yahweh as He is not a respecter of persons. Yahweh was still working with Israel, but their dispersion became salvation for the nations.
Rom 11:11 I say, then, Did not they stumble that they should fall? Let it not be! But by their slipping away came salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy.
However, there was one problem; the 12 Apostles of Yahshua were regular blue collar fishermen who did not speak multiple languages, so how could they bring the Good News of Yahshua worldwide to areas that would not understand Hebrew? Also, since this movement was just starting there were no other believers yet anywhere in the world but Israel at this time.
Yahweh is logical and everything He does has purpose and this was the reason to give the gift of languages in the New Testament. It was a very logical reason as the first century disciples did not have years to go to special training to learn the languages of other nations to bring the Good News.
Was it also prophesied due to Israel’s sin that they would be punished and when the Good-News message of Yahweh would go worldwide it would not be given in the Hebrew tongue or language?
Isa 28:8 for all tables are full of vomit and filth, without a clean place.
Isa 28:9 To whom shall He teach knowledge? And to whom shall He explain the message? Those weaned from milk, those moving from breasts?
Isa 28:10 For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lip and another language, He will speak to this people;
COMMENT: Due to Israel’s continual sin and disobedience to Yahweh’s Torah not only would they be allowed to be taken into captivity into the nations, but also when the time came to call them back into covenant relationship they would be punished and shamed that the message would not come from the holy Hebrew language, but would come from the language of the nations they were living in.
In Acts the second chapter on the day of the first Shavuot in the New Testament congregation where were the people in attendance coming from?
Acts 2:5 And Jews were living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven.
Acts 2:8 And how do we hear each in our own language in which we were born,
Acts 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those living in Mesopotamia, both Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10 both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions of Libya over against Cyrene, and the temporarily residing Romans, both Jews and proselytes,
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabians; in our own languages we hear them speaking the great wonders of YAHWEH?
COMMENT: There were Jews and Israelites present from many different areas and many of them spoke different languages from the countries of their origin. It is also interesting to note that if you look up many of the places listed in the above scripture you will find that they are places that the dispersed Israelites went to.
With this gift of languages given here were they speaking real languages or simply gibberish?
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave ability to them to speak.
Acts 2:6 And when that sound occurred, all the people gathered and were perplexed because they were hearing each man among them who were speaking in their own language.
Acts 2:7 And all were amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, we can’t grasp this, are not all these, those speaking, Galileans?
Acts 2:8 And how do we hear each in our own language in which we were born,
COMMENT: It is extremely clear that not only were the people speaking real languages, but also in the miracle, people were hearing what was being spoken in their own language. There is nothing in the example here in Acts the second chapter that resembles what you see today in the false Pentecostal Churches. Peter had a most important message to give on this day and how would the Israelites attending have understood his message without Yahweh delivering this wonderful gift of speaking and understanding real languages?
As the Good-News message went throughout the world by the end of the first century this particular gift seemed to phase out to a large degree simply because as new brethren were converted around the world the need for the miraculous gift of languages was not as necessary as before. However, the gift is still real and alive even today, as on several occasions while on mission trips I have had brethren come up to me afterward and state that all that I said was true because they did not speak any English but heard everything I said in their local language.
The most important point we learn from this scripture in Acts is that the gift of understanding languages and interpreting languages is a real gift and they are real languages and not gibberish or demonic tongues.
Is the gift of languages in 1st Corinthians 14, the same gift as the one shown in Acts the second chapter?
1st Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and seek eagerly the spiritual things, but especially that you may prophesy.
1st Cor 14:2 For the one speaking in an unknown language does not speak to men, but to Elohim, for no one understands, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
1st Cor 14:3 But the one prophesying to men speaks for building up, and encouragement, and comfort.
1st Cor 14:4 The one speaking in a language builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a Congregation.
1st Cor 14:5 And I wish all of you to speak in various languages, but I would even rather that you may speak under inspiration. For the one speaking under inspiration is greater than the one speaking in languages, unless he interpret, that the Congregation may receive building up.
1st Cor 14:6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in various languages, what will I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in inspiration, or in teaching?
1st Cor 14:13 So then, the one speaking in a foreign language, let him pray that he may interpret.
1st Cor 14:18 I thank my Elohim that I speak more foreign languages than all of you.
1st Cor 14:19 But in a Congregation I desire to speak five words with my mind, that I may also instruct others, than thousands of words in a foreign language.
COMMENT: The gift of languages in 1st Corinthians 14 is the same gift as in Acts the second chapter. The only difference is that now the Apostle Paul is putting the gift in perspective as some brethren who were exhibiting this gift were getting puffed up by the physical manifestation of being able to speak a new language without ever studying it before.
Some of these people were even using this gift when there was no one either to interpret or when no one present understood the language being spoken. So the Apostle Paul is putting the gift in perspective stating that the gift is only profitable if there are people present who can understand the language that is being spoken. I can go to China and give the greatest message in the world for one hour, but if no one there understands English, then it would be more profitable if someone else gave 5 words of encouragement in Chinese that would be understood, than my 1 hour sermon that was not understood at all. Then Paul continues to stress this important point.
1st Cor 14:7 Yet lifeless things giving a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sound, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
1st Cor 14:8 For also if a shofar gives an uncertain sound, who will get himself ready for war?
1st Cor 14:9 So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language, how will the thing being said be known? For you will be speaking into air.
1st Cor 14:10 So it may be many kinds of sounds are in the world, and not one is without distinct meaning.
1st Cor 14:11 If, then, I do not know the power of the sound, I will be a foreigner to the one speaking, and he speaking to me, a foreigner.
1st Cor 14:16 Else, if you bless in the spirit, the one occupying the place of the unlearned, how will he say the amein at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you say?
COMMENT: Very clearly here the Apostle Paul conclusively shows that the gift of languages are indeed real languages as he used a very practical analogy with a flute or harp as music is its own language and that each note is distinctive as to the sound being played as each syllable and word are distinctive to any given language.
Then, he even uses the analogy of a shofar that had distinctive sounds for each tribe and even for calling to war. This is exactly how languages work with each language having a variable of verbs, nouns, and proper syntax to creating the language itself, which as we have stated earlier in the study, that modern day false tongues glossolalia has none of these characteristics and is not a real language.
Then, he clearly states in verse 16 that if the brethren don’t know what the speaker is saying, then how could they say the amen at the end of the prayer? Again, this clearly shows that the person speaking in the new language is speaking a real language that the people can understand.
1st Cor 14:21 It has been written in the Torah, “By other languages and by foreign lips I will speak to this people, and even so they will not hear Me”, says YAHWEH. (Isaiah 28:11, 12)
1st Cor 14:22 So that the gift of languages is not a sign to those believing, but to those not believing. But inspired teaching is not to those not believing, but to those believing.
Then Paul goes on to quote Isaiah 28:11-12 showing the reason that the gift of languages had to be given as the prophecy states, and then showing that this fulfilled prophesy would be a sign to unbelievers that the Word of Yahweh is perfect, but to believers it is only necessary if there are brethren present who would understand the language that would be spoken.
Paul finished by giving the parameters for using the gift of languages in the congregation.
1st Cor 14:27 If one speaks in a foreign language, let it be by two or three at the most, and in turn, also let one interpret.
1st Cor 14:28 And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the Congregation, and let him speak to himself and to Elohim
So we see that with the gift of languages there has to be judicial order or you will simply have confusion.
There can only be two or three at the most who are speaking in another language and only if there is an interpreter to the language being spoken. This is completely opposite of what you see today in the Pentecostal tongues speaking Churches, as there, everyone is chanting all at the same time and it is total chaos and pandemonium. We don’t see anything set out in 1 Corinthians 14 that even remotely resembles what is going on in the false Pentecostal Churches of today.
Then, lastly, the Apostle Paul goes on to show that as with every spiritual gift, the gift of languages also must be done with judicial order and structure.
1st Cor 14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
1st Cor 14:33 For YAHWEH is not an Elohim of confusion, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the saints.
1st Cor 14:40 And let all things be done decently and with proper order.
So we see there is no wild screaming and people falling over and laughing uncontrollably or barking like a dog or bocking like a chicken. The gift of languages is a real gift to have instantaneous recall of a previously unknown real language for bringing the truth of the Good News to those who may not understand the mother tongue of the speaker; yet, if either the speaker cannot interpret what he is saying or there is not another interpreter there to interpret the message, then the speaker should not speak in the unknown language, which no one would be able to understand.
Is there also a cherub language from 1st Corinthians 13?
1st Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and with cherubs, but I do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
COMMENT: Some have tried to twist the above language to say that there is a heavenly language for cherubs that they are speaking when they do their glossolalia that no one can understand, but when we look at 1st Corinthians 13 in context we see that Paul is not discussing languages of cherubs, but is simply using an analogy with hyperbole to make a point that if one doesn’t have love he doesn’t have anything. Look at the next two verses to prove this.
1st Cor 13:2 And if I have prophecies, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love in my heart, I am nothing.
1st Cor 13:3 And if I give out all my possessions to the poor, and if I surrender my body so that I may boast, but I do not have love in my heart, I am not profited anything.
Is anyone claiming that Paul had all prophesies or that he knew all mysteries or had all knowledge to everything? How about was he actually trying to say that he could literally move a mountain? Of course not; he was simply using poetic license to prove his point of the importance of love above all else. And if there was a language for cherubs it would be Hebrew, as whenever in Scripture we see a cherub speaking with a human, such as in Genesis 19 when the two cherubs came to Lot, or in the book of Daniel when Gabriel is speaking with Daniel, the cherub is always speaking in Hebrew not some gibberish that could not be understood.
Rom 8:26 And likewise the Spirit also joins in to help our weaknesses. For we do not know what is right and proper for us to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes on our behalf with that earnestness that cannot be described.
From Romans 8:26 would this constitute that there is also a prayer language in which the Holy Spirit would take over a person’s will and speak the prayer for him in an unknown language?
COMMENT: We have already shown that the Spirit of Yahweh guides and leads, but the spirit of Satan tries to possess. Each person has free will given by the love of Yahweh, and each person has the choice of what they will do with that free will.
John 14:26 But the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, whom my Father will send in My name will teach you everything. And it will remind you of everything that I said to you
Deut 30:19 I call Heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before your life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your seed may live,
Yahweh will never override a person’s freewill and force him to do anything, but His Spirit teaches the believer and guides his path in life when the person, from his own freewill, chooses to surrender his freewill to the will of Yahweh.
So the Holy Spirit may inspire a person during a prayer in what to say by putting certain thoughts in his mind, and some prophets have even spoke under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but nowhere in Scripture do we ever see even one example where the Spirit of Yahweh takes over a person’s mind or body and speaks on his behalf. In light of all the other scriptures quoted on this subject, one cannot biblically prove that there is a separate prayer language apart from the normal gift of speaking in real languages, in which the Holy Spirit possesses a person and speaks through him.
The only example of this is from demons possessing a person, not Yahweh.
Mark 5:7 And crying with a loud voice, he said, What is to me and to You, Yahshua, Son of the most high El? I adjure You by YAHWEH, do not torment me.
Mark 5:8 For He said to him, Unclean spirit, come out of the man!
Mark 5:9 And He asked him, What is your name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion, because we are many.
Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
Luke 4:34 saying, Aha! What is to us and to You, Yahshua, Nazarene? Did You come to destroy us? I know You, who You are, the Holy One of Elohim.
It must also be brought up that in 1st Corinthians 14:34 it clearly states that women are not to be the teachers in the assembly but are to be under the judicial order of the men. However, the vast majority of people involved in the false Tongues Movement are women who have no covering of a proper elder or headship over them.
When we are looking to discern whether a gift being manifested by someone is truly from the Holy Spirit of Yahweh or is a counterfeit of Satan there is a simple litmus test that can be given to prove the truth.
1st John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from YAHWEH; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
- Anything done must be confirmed by the Word of Yahweh (Isaiah 8:20).
- Does Yahweh get the glory? Any gift that Yahweh gives to man is to further His work of spreading His Kingdom message to this earth and all things done must give the glory to Him (1st Corinthians 10:31).
- The spirit of the prophet must be subject to the prophet (1st Corinthians 14:32). The Holy Spirit would never possess an individual or cause them to do something against their own will.
When we look at the biblical mandate outlined above, we can clearly see that the current false Tongues Movement does not in any manner or form hold up to the scriptural mandate that Yahweh outlines for judging if something is of His Spirit or not. Yahshua also warned in the last days that there would be people claiming to be ministers from Him, but would actually be deceivers and workers of iniquity.
Mat 24:4 And answering, Yahshua said to them, See that no man deceives you.
Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Messiah. And they will cause many to be deceived.
Mat 7:15 But beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are plundering wolves.
Mat 7:16 From their fruits you shall know them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So every good tree produces good fruits, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruits.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot produce evil fruits, nor a corrupt tree produce good fruits.
Mat 7:19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.
Mat 7:20 Then surely from their fruits you shall know them.
Mat 7:21 It will not be that just everyone who says to Me, Master, Master, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do the will of My Father in Heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, from everlasting, I never knew you; “depart from Me, those working lawlessness!”
Conclusion: The modern day Pentecostal Movement of rolling laughter, acting like an animal and falling over backward is not supported by Scripture and has its roots in Mid-Eastern New Age practices and Hinduism. It is something that has demonic influences and should be avoided by all true believers. The true gift of Yahweh is real languages and has purpose and is used to bring the Good News to areas where there are not true believers yet, and is used to bring new people to salvation.
Points to Remember:
1) The gift of languages is real languages not gibberish.
2) Yahweh gives His Spirit to those that obey Him.
3) Spiritual Gifts are used to give glory to Yahweh and bear fruit for His Kingdom
4) The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Good-News in the future would go to the nations by a foreign tongue and not in Hebrew.
5) The spirit of a prophet is subject to the prophet and the Spirit of Yahweh would never make one act like an animal or do foolish things.
6) Modern gibberish tongues speaking is satanic in nature and not supported by Scripture.
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