Last week, Pastor Ben taught on the gifts of the Spirit -- as a whole. Today, I’m going to focus on just one of the gifts. Just one. Speaking in tongues. Who is excited? We likely have two camps here today. All of the former Pentecostals -- including myself -- who are ready to bust out in tongues. And then you have another camp who are wondering, Do we really need a full message on this? Why not just call it what it is -- fake, excessive, manipulative, fill in the blank -- and move on? ‍

This divide -- these differences -- are understandable. Because when it comes to speaking in tongues, and to a lesser extent, when it comes to the other charismatic gifts like prophecy, or miracles and healings, (in essence, anything that is in the realm of the supernatural) the church tends to swing to extremes: from an excessive focus to ignoring them. (When it comes to the gift of speaking in tongues the church tends to swing to extremes: from an excessive focus to ignoring them.)

My goal today is to help us think through how we avoid doing either one and give these gifts their proper place. So throughout this message I’m going to go back and forth. I’m going to push on this side, which is going to have the other side saying ‘amen’. But don’t get too comfortable. Because then I’m going to come back and push on you. But the goal is to get us away from the extremes.

Speaking in tongues, more than any other gift, is what has created the divide with how the global church views and embraces the Holy Spirit. The church has no problem with the gifts of help, or generosity, or administration, or things like that. We have no problem with gifts that we can wrap our heads around. Gifts that quite frankly aren’t embarrassing to us. Gifts that aren’t going to cause us to look more strange or skeptical to a watching world. But when it comes to tongues, for most of us it just doesn’t fit neatly into our box of what genuine faith looks like. And as a result, because of tongues (because of excessive expressions of faith) many of us (including churches and entire denominations) have relegated the Holy Spirit entirely to that ‘third wheel’ status. 

And I get it. I remember my first church experience at a Spanish-speaking Pentecostal church. I was about 14 years old. (I didn’t grow up going to church. We considered ourselves Catholic but we never went.) But I went to this church because one of my best friends had invited me. During the worship time, which in a Hispanic Pentecostal church can go on for hours (one merengue song would be about 20 to 30 minutes long; it would be so long that the drummers would switch out in the middle of the song because they would get tired). But during worship I heard people speaking in tongues, people were running around the church, one lady kept bowing and going in circles -- I thought she was going to hit her head on the pew. That whole experience was both funny and scary at the same time. A part of it felt like a show, and another part of it felt supernatural -- but not all ‘good’ supernatural, if you know what I’m saying. 

And some of you are saying ‘amen’ right now. This is exactly why I don’t like it. It’s all fake; it’s all a show. But over the years here’s something that I have learned about that experience and similar experiences: We shouldn’t be quick to judge. We shouldn’t be quick to judge whether something is fake or not from God. First of all, I’m not sure anyone is qualified to talk about what is false unless they are well acquainted with what is real. Right?! The best people qualified to spot a fake $20 bill are those who have seen and felt the real countless times. (Foreign Currency) So it’s interesting when you constantly hear that a certain movement or church denomination or religious experience is false from those who show no sign or evidence of experiencing the power and manifestation of the Spirit. 

Secondly, we shouldn’t be quick to judge simply because something can’t be explained naturally. Remember, that the foundation of our faith rests on a miracle -- the resurrection of Jesus. All other lesser miracles, like the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, stem from that major one. 

Lastly, we shouldn’t be quick to judge simply because we can’t understand it. Leave room for God to be the explanation; even if there is some doubt -- that’s okay. In Acts 2, when those early Christians spoke in tongues (which were actual languages that they did not know), some in the crowd believed that they were drunk. Because they could not understand what they were witnessing they attempted to arrive at a natural explanation. 

For those of you who have an issue with speaking in tongues but you’re okay with other spiritual gifts, let me just say that the Bible doesn’t take your view. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul gives us an important insight about the variety of gifts that the Spirit gives. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 - There are different kinds of gifts, (Pastor Ben read last week the list of gifts, which included speaking in tongues.) but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Paul tells us in this passage that the same Spirit that gives the acceptable gifts (like helping, and generosity, and teaching) is the one who gives the other types of gifts as well, like speaking in tongues. He is at work in all of them. 

And here this clearly: for the life of me I can’t twist the Scriptures to prove that the power of God and the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit were limited to the early church -- that somehow they stopped after all of the apostles died or after the Bible came together. Some people believe that. But there’s no evidence in the Scriptures implying that that was going to be the case. 

So if we’re not seeing the power of God manifested through these gifts, meaning it’s hard for us to believe in them, maybe we’re the roadblock. Check out this quote: Whether we hold that the Holy Spirit does not, will not, or cannot manifest today through the gifts of the Spirit or the miraculous, … the Holy Spirit is put to one side before He is given an opportunity to show His power. Our doubt can make the whole debate about the Holy Spirit and his power a non-starter. This is like when Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in his hometown because the people did not believe in him. Their lack of faith was a roadblock. Whether you believe the Holy Spirit can work through a person in powerful ways or he can’t, you are right. My encouragement to you today is for you to open yourself up to the idea that the Holy Spirit can and wants to work through his church in this way; even today. He wants the church to have this gift; plus so much more.

Now, let me hit up the other side. But before I do, let me define what speaking in tongues is (I have probably gone too far without doing so.). Tongues is a form of prayer and praise that you express to God in another language that you do not understand. And more than likely in another language that no one understands; unlike Acts 2. Although, there are reports of Acts 2 type stuff still happening today. Peter Wagner, who is a missiologist, reports of several missionaries who were given the gift of speaking in the unknown language of the people among whom they were ministering. There were also reports of this happening in the Azusa Street Revival in the early 1900s. But those occurrences are few and far between. What we are focused on today, and what Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and in other places like Romans 8, are unintelligible tongues. 

And here is the first place that many Pentecostal and charismatic movements have gotten it wrong: the belief or expectation that every true follower of Jesus will speak in tongues. Many believe that you do not have the Holy Spirit unless you speak in tongues. Some even believe that you are not saved unless you have spoken in tongues. But look at what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 (2-30): Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? These are all rhetorical questions and the implied response is “No.” Just as not all are teachers or work miracles, we should not assume that all will speak in tongues. 

Secondly, here’s another way that we get it wrong. We overemphasize the Spirit’s power in one’s life over the significance of the grace of God and the sacrificial death of Jesus. This happens too often. Just like in the natural world, we can become obsessed with power in the spiritual realm. But if that power becomes more important than the one who gives the power, then we have completely missed the point. Charles Spurgeon has a quote where he says: I looked to Christ, and the Dove flew in; (the Dove representing the Holy Spirit) I looked to the Dove, and He disappeared. We get it wrong when we take our eyes off Jesus and focus instead on the gifts and the power, which happens too often in certain circles.

Let me also say this to those who tend to overemphasize the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, that the gift of tongues is not a major topic of discussion in the Scriptures. Like it happens so often, we get obsessed with and make the main thing something that just might only be a footnote -- the main thing (or person) is always Jesus. The three times that we see speaking in tongues appear in Acts, happens when the gospel is breaking through to new people groups. Out of about 22 accounts of people coming to faith in Jesus, you have three occurrences of speaking in tongues. You have the account in Acts 2 we mentioned earlier. Then it happens when Peter is meeting with Cornelius, who was a God-fearing man, but a Gentile. And the next time we see it is when the gospel comes into Asia. So it’s as if tongues serve as a sign -- a confirmation and witness -- that God is behind the movement to take his message to the ends of the earth -- it shows that God is at work and present in the spreading of his message. So let’s not overemphasize it.

Let’s also talk about this. When is the proper time and place for the gift of tongues to be exercised? Look at what Paul writes: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:18-19) Paul says, I have this gift. And I use it more than all of you. But in the church, in a gathering like this, I’d rather speak five intelligible words than ten thousand words in tongues. What is he saying? In essence, that the church gathering is not the place for tongues, unless one is sure that it can be interpreted. Which I believe is a catch-22 because how do you know unless you speak the tongues? (I guess the Spirit can reveal that there is an interpreter.) What Paul wants to guard against is any of us operating in a gift that is only going to draw attention to ourselves and not be helpful to anyone else. 

So does this mean that we can reject the gift of tongues completely? No. Who would reject a gift from God? We are to embrace it and receive it if given the opportunity. Heck, Paul implies that we can even ask for it if we choose to. The gift of tongues is good for us. That’s why we shouldn’t reject it. Paul writes that Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves… (1 Corinthians 14:4a). He also writes in Romans (8:26-27) how the Spirit, through this gift, helps us when we don’t know what to pray. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. The Spirit, the gift of tongues, helps you connect with God in a way that otherwise would not be possible.

If I’m being honest, I have gotten away from practicing this gift over the years. A part of it, just like many of you, I wanted to get as far away from any form of spirituality that felt forced. I wanted to reject the abuses that the hyper-spiritual environment I came from inflicted. But I have been convicted lately that I might have overcorrected. And I’ve been reminded lately of a few beautiful instances over the years, in which I did know what to pray, and my burden was heavy, and all I could muster were some groans. And tongues came forth in my lament. I’m telling you, after those prayer experiences, I felt like a new person. I was edified and strengthened through the Spirit praying through me. That is what is possible through the gift of tongues. It truly is a gift.

Let me give you some homework. Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 so that you can get a full picture of what Paul has to say about the spiritual gifts, and specifically speaking in tongues. Honestly, there is too much there to cover in a 30 minute message. But keep this in mind: when it comes to spiritual gifts, the Corinthian church is nothing like our church. The Corinthians were taking certain spiritual gifts too far; specifically speaking in tongues. So Paul is having to reign them in. But what I love is that even while trying to reign them in he commends them. He writes, … Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. (1 Corinthians 14:12b) He’s basically telling them, I love your passion; but everything you’re practicing is not helpful. So let’s keep the energy going but make sure that what you do is in love and for the building up of others. ‍

And so Epic, we might not be where the Corinthians were, but I want us to learn from them. I want us to be eager for the spiritual gifts of the Spirit like they were -- because these gifts (all of the gifts) are going to be helpful for the building up of our church family. 

If the Bible is our compass, we can’t neglect this clear teaching and manifestation of the Spirit. Because if we do it has so many negative ramifications in other areas. Let me give you one example. In order to protect itself from the dangers of tongues and other, what are deemed excessive, expressions of faith many churches have rejected all forms of religious experience. The spiritual journey has become an intellectual ascent. But Jesus didn’t just come to only transform our minds but to also transform our hearts. Yes, we are called to know God. But that knowing goes beyond simply knowledge -- it goes beyond just knowing about him. But to know him is to know him personally, relationally, intimately -- it’s to experience him too.

We must realize all that we are missing out on when we neglect certain aspects of the Holy Spirit. I focused primarily on the personal experience today. But even if you look at it from a missional lens, if you think about reaching those that don’t know Jesus, the supernatural gifts play an important role in drawing others to him. Let me give you a quote from a Reformed pastor (which, by the way, those in the Reformed camp are less likely to lean into the charismatic gifts). He writes, "... more and more former critics of charismatic teaching are recognizing that where biblical lifestyle and a biblical openness to the Holy Spirit go hand in hand, the church is thriving." What he’s saying is that when churches take what the Scriptures say about the Holy Spirit as relevant and put it into practice, it leads to explosive growth: both numerically and spiritually. It draws those who don’t know Jesus in and it also helps with the building up and strengthening of the church. 

Guys, that’s what we are after. We can’t do this in our own natural gifts. We can’t do this in our own strength. We need the power, presence, activity, and gifts of the Spirit. But in order for us to walk in all of that we have to open ourselves up and believe that it is possible. Will we get it wrong at times? Yes. Will it feel forced at times? Yes. But this is not about getting it perfect. If perfection is our goal in any area of life that will keep us from doing or trying anything. But the goal has to be love and walking in the fullness of what God intended for us to have. I’m in. Are you in?

Here are a few quick tips on how you can begin to practice to receive the gift of speaking in tongues: 1) Create space. Set aside time to be with God and pray to Him. 2) Ask God. 3) Try it. Open your mouth and see what comes out. 4) Repeat. Don’t give up after the first attempt.

I’m going to pray for the gifts of the Spirit to be distributed in our community. I want to invite you to pray with me. If you speak another language, feel free to pray in that language. Seth is going to sing a song in English and Spanish.