Tongues ("God's Love Language") signifies the Lord overflows with an equal & endearing love for people of EVERY TRIBE PEOPLE LANGUAGE & NATION!

The worldwide heart of God is revealed by Jesus in John 3.

John 3:16-21
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.

Tongues as a reminder of the worldwide heart of God
The presence of so many languages all over the world, and also the supernatural spiritual gifts of "tongues" given by the Holy Spirit to believers in Christ, serve as a reminder about God's heart.  That the Lord loves & longs to reach all people with His salvation.  To show the whole world the reality of His Love. 

God is a Communicator & truly wishes to communicate His Son Jesus into each language, every language, to each nation & region, every people group all over the world.

There is a love in the heart of God which shows that God is the God of EVERY TRIBE PEOPLE LANGUAGE NATION.

GOD'S WORLDWIDE FAMILY
I got saved through Christianity at a fairly young age.  Though both of my parents were atheists.  I personally experienced the thrilling joy to be saved, understanding the gospel, and receiving a real Saviour.  Learning to know Him as beautifully revealed in the Bible.  This blossomed into a full-hearted discipleship during the years following. 

Since those days the Lord has worked a multitude of divine interventions & supernatural experiences in my life.  God so loves the world that He is very generous with extending His miraculous grace to the humble who believe.

I was the youngest child in my family and also the first to be saved.  Somewhat of a spiritual pioneer amongst my secular peers, family, school buddies & others around me in the United States, I needed to embrace a deep determination to sustain the strength to put aside so many of the errors of the world that I grew up in.  The love of the world & the ways of sinful man try to stand as an arrogant enemy to God.  Some of those allurements tried for awhile to keep me under their influence.  My youthful Christian years soon became my time to stand out & be different.  To come out from them & be separate.  To step out of the bad side of a heathen, secular and non-spiritual culture, and rise above a two generation pagan genealogy. 

Through the Lord's grace, I stepped out of my non-spiritual upbringing.  And dropped those failing secular ideas common to the unspiritual people in my generation.  I had to reject the bad ideas of misled school teachers, neighbors, school friends who were going after sin.  And drop the atheism, misguided universalism & clueless agnosticism of my spiritually misguided parents.

It was time for me personally to escape the entrapments of a secular humanist generation & look deeper into the Word of God.  And learn to embrace the truth. 

As a young man, I then became a full-hearted disciple & follower of Jesus!  Best thing that ever happened to me!

Others around me in my generation (as I had done prior) devoted time & energy in selfishness & erring directions.  Consumed with earthly lusts, pleasures, meaningless endeavor & carnality.  In some countries around the world, godless lives display man's emptiness: carnality, love of money, pride, stubborn hardheadedness, sinful behaviors, cursing God & conflict with others.  No one is more miserable than the atheist. 

In my upbringing my parents' inadequacies manifest as an inability to have a healthy marriage, family or loving relationships.  Strangely, we knew nothing better & thought our lives were normal.  But something was drastically missing. 

Others thought my parents & siblings were nice, normal people, well-educated, who responsibly worked & led a quiet life as good citizens.  But deep inside every one of us was drastically missing something.  In reality, we lived largely self-centered, heathen, secular and non-spiritual pursuits.

What my family really needed was to know the Lord & experience God's help.  It was time to be lifted out of our empty lives & embrace the Biblical revelation of Jesus.

There were a few bright spots.  If I looked beyond my immediate siblings & parents (and all our emptiness), there was a legacy of light going back into my grandparents' generation.  Thank God for that.  Nearly all of my grandparents, great-uncles, great-aunts & my great-grandparents' generations & beyond were moral, righteous people, who prayed, read the Bible, went to church & understood real Christianity.  My ancestry actually was filled with a strong heritage of Biblical Christianity. 

My grandmother on the maternal side was a real & true Christian. All her life. And there were others in my grandparents' generation & earlier (great-aunts, great uncles & other relatives) who knew how to live life better, from a Christian perspective.  Their lives were more together & more blessed.  Their marriages stayed together.  I attended 50th golden wedding anniversaries for many of them.  Their lives stood for something better.  These were people who lived with a righteous principle.  One of my great aunts & her husband were farmers out in the country.  Everytime we would visit at their house (when I was still a child), I would see a Bible & Billy Graham Decision magazines on their coffee table & end tables.  They were always pleasant, friendly.  You see in their eyes a deep joy.  And they were generous to smile.  They were wiser people who understood the Bible & believed in the Lord & knew something about Jesus' amazing kindness & goodness.  My grandmother also always had Bibles in her living room.  And a hymnal on the piano.  And went to church every Sunday.

Jesus, my Lord & God!  How I returned to the God of my grandmother & my godly forefathers. 

As a young man in college, I became a born again Christian believer.  And learned how to live & walk as a true follower of Christ.  This was a big change for someone who had been so clueless.

The God Who saved earth's WORLDWIDE FAMILY on a cross through Christ
As I grew as a Christian, I began to get the notion from the Holy Spirit that God is much more than my personal Saviour.  The Lord began to show me that His heart is BIGGER than me, BIGGER than my family, BIGGER than my neighborhood, BIGGER than my city or country. Actually, GOD HAS A WORLDWIDE HEART & longs to adopt & love a WORLDWIDE FAMILY!  Jesus is keenly interested in EVERY tribe, people, language and nation!

When Christ died on the cross & rose from the grave, Jesus was paving the way for salvation & eternal life.  For EVERY tribe, people, language and nation!

The close friendship I had for decades with my dad
After graduating from college, I often would pal around with my dad.  Visiting with him for hours over dinner at restaurants on many occasions.  Then on other days, calling & talking on the phone in-between our evenings out on the town. For more than 20 years, as a young adult, my father & I kept building a good, close father-son friendship. Our relationship, despite great spiritual differences, enjoyed decades of many occasions of encouraging togetherness all through my early adult years.  I made an extra effort for years to maintain a friendly closeness with my dad in the hopes that someday he would listen to the Bible's message about Jesus & believe.  But that seemed impossible with my dad.

One week, I went to dinner, like a thousand times before, with my dad.  He actually had always been what I would describe as a flaming, "stark raving atheist"  (who stubbornly continued in almost a century of smug unbelief).  My dad often would boldly assert rejection of Biblical truth, Christ & Christianity.  Sometimes openly scoffing at God, he seemed stuck in the trap of 60 or 70 years of a sinful world & all its lies, plus his own spiritual hardheartedness. My dad would occasionally angrily spit out his words of rejection about Christian truths.  And curse Jesus in his attitude.  So, typically, my dad seemed to want nothing to do with Christianity.  On many occasions, he would not hesitate to tell other people how he felt.  My dad was blunt at times, adamantly indicting the Bible and Christian faith as being "stupid" "nonsense."

Of course, my father was spiritually all wrong, but, for years, this was his usual ATTITUDE.

That evening, I sat politely across the dinner table from my dad, biting my tongue about a dozen Christian things that I would rather say.  My dad & conversed on many subjects, trying to enjoy our time.  This sometimes was difficult because my dad & I were so spiritually opposite.  That night, weary from my day's work, I couldn't help but think (about 10 times during the visit) about how my dad might die soon and (if things spiritually didn't change) he would surely inherit his determined CHOICE - a result of completely fair eternal punishment for sin & a hell of eternal flames that lasts forever. 

With my dad sitting across from me at dinner, I wondered:  "What else could await a person who has heard the truth about Jesus a hundred times, including dozens of times from me, but refuses to believe in heaven or the Bible, or Christ's cross. And sees no need for salvation through Jesus?  There is a penalty for any who refuse to repent of their lifetime of rejecting God. I could feel such a need like my dad had, to turn and believe.  How desperately he needed to change his whole attitude & embrace God's goodness and forgiveness.  I wished my dad would be touched by God & learn to embrace the truth. 

All evening, thoughts of concern like this ran through my mind for my dad.  Like a hundred times before. I was often truly concerned about my dad.  In spite of this spiritual struggle, my father had always been a faithful friend by my side. Both as a kid.  And later into my young adult years.  My dad was a great father in many ways (despite his weaknesses) & always encouraged & supported me. I loved my dad but actually could never seem to break through all his God-rejecting barriers.

How God showed me His WORLDWIDE heart

What started with an evening of concern for the salvation of my dad as an individual soon turned into
An unexpected revelation of God's loving heart to save THE WHOLE WORLD. 

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

That night I received a beautiful revelation
Toward the end of my dinner at the restaurant with my dad that evening, I stood alone for a few minutes in the cafeteria lobby, there in Indiana, waiting for my dad to finish his transaction with the cashier, and get ready to leave. My dad was always gracious on our dinner visits to pay the bill.  He never ceased to show hospitality and the heart of a father who loved his son, even all through my young adult years.  After finishing with the cashier, my dad went to visit the restroom before we headed out.  That gave me a few minutes to think & pray.

Just then a young Spanish (Central or South American) woman got onto the pay phone a few feet away from where I was standing.  And she began chattering so rapidly and hard in Spanish.  She talked so fast!  Some of the fastest talking I ever heard in my life!

Despite my efforts to eavesdrop on the rapid-fire conversation, I couldn't understand a single word she said.

Yet all those words clearly meant SOMETHING to someone. I listened to her whole conversation standing nearby. Her Spanish words flew through the air filled with emotion.  Many of the points she made were very emphatic!   It must have been something important.  She spoke so fervently.

This was back in the old days when restaurants & public places still had coin-operated pay phones.

After a minute or so her first phone conversation abruptly ended. Then she placed another coin in the pay phone. Someone else answered on the other end.  She then calmly and quietly began speaking to the 2nd person in a very slow, easy American English.  I smiled & laughed to myself:  what happened to this lady?  It was like she changed into a different person, like someone flipped a switch. 

This time I could understand every word she said, though I could only hear one side of the conversation. (But it hardly seemed like the same person speaking). Yet this was indeed the very same Spanish woman who had just been chattering a mile a minute in rapid-fire Spanish a few moments before. 

The obvious fact I began observing here is this: in order for this young woman to communicate to different people, there was a need to use a variety of languages. Her second phone conversation was fully & completely English.

As I stood there pondering this amazing language transformation, I sensed the Lord Himself begin to open my eyes to understand a deep, spiritual mystery. About languages.

Tongues as a revelation of God's heart for all the nations
The Father pointed out to me that SPEAKING IN TONGUES (as given by the Spirit of God to believers) is a spiritual gift (i.e. Acts 2:4, 19:6, 1 Corinthians 14, Mark 16:15-20).  Suddenly I realized divine implications.  Speaking in "Tongues" is a revelation about the ALL-NATIONALITY heart of God!  The Lord's focused desire is to reach & communicate to ALL the world, to people EVERYWHERE!  To save every tribe, people, language & nation.  The Lord wants to communicate His message to them, to know them & make each people group a part of His eternal family.

Though I had never thought of languages in this way, I suddenly realized that praying, worshipping God or communicating the gospel is not an American or English thing, but can be done in other languages (whether through natural languages or supernaturally heaven-inspired tongues).  See: Acts 2, 1 Cor. 14, Jude 20 

Praying in tongues has always been meant by God to be a quiet, daily reminder to believers about some important things. 
One:  Jesus desires to have a prayer closeness with us. 
Two:  Jesus loves to speak & sing through the preaching, prayers & worship of His people, utilizing us & our availability as His communication channel. 
Three:  Tongues means God wants to seek and save the lost from EVERY tribe, people, LANGUAGE and nation.

The heart of God in Great Commission outreach illustrates His worldwide amazing grace!  Extended to all people.

Tongues (for the everyday Christian) can be a quiet, blessed, daily reminder that God is the God of all languages. Even languages we don't understand. Jesus is Lord of peoples FOREIGN to us. But dear to God.  The Lord loves those whose ways are foreign.  Though their tongue may be foreign, their culture & practices different. God desires to communicate to ALL PEOPLE.  Through Jesus.  Through the cross.  One way to heaven.  John 14:6  Jesus died on the cross for every tribe, people, language, nation to come near! 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today & forever."  Hebrews 13:8

If you ever want to better understand John 3:16, get immersed in the Holy Spirit & speak in other tongues (languages) Acts 19:1-6, Acts 10:44-48  You may find yourself learning a new compassion to seek & save the lost in other nations as a result.

It's true that speaking in tongues (as a prayer, proclamation or song gift imparted to believing Christians) has little or NOTHING to do with preparing one for being saved.  However...

Mark 16:15-20 shares: "These signs shall accompany those believe: In My Name they will speak in new tongues." 

Why does God say that?

Speaking in tongues is a sign God sends to accompany those going into all the world & preaching the gospel to all creation. Tongues is available (according to Christ, in Mark 16:15-20) to any who believe, ask, follow Jesus or desire to participate in worldwide evangelism.  Simply receive.  Tongues is a good gift from the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 2, the pouring out & filling of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues was shown to be integral to worldwide evangelism.  James 1:16-17 says God's gifts are good & from our loving Father.  Hallelujah!
 

Tongues (praying to Jesus through the Holy Spirit in a language beyond what we mentally learned) is an international sign showing Jesus deeply desires ALL NATIONS AND LANGUAGES to come to His wedding!

 
Just like the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), God's heart yearns today for MORE THAN ONE culture and for every people & tribe to be beckoned to drawn to the LAMB!

Why do you guess John the Baptist said:
"Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the WORLD!"  John 1:29

That night, for all I knew, that Spanish woman talking 70 MPH on the cafeteria pay phone may have been talking to her Spanish husband. Her bridegroom on the other end of the phone actually understood EVERY Spanish word she said! It wasn't meant for me to know her private communications with her husband. Her words were only for her husband. That's what speaking in tongues is like.  Worship and prayer in other languages is also, usually, a private conversation between you and Jesus! The Bride, the Spirit and the Bridegroom. The Spirit is like the language & the payphone (intermediaries to deliver the message). 

To me, the Spanish woman in the cafeteria seemed like she was uttering "mysteries". I had no clue what she was saying. But every thought and all those feelings of hers portrayed on the phone were plain and open before the one for whom her words were intended! Worshipping Jesus in another language as given by the Spirit is just as intimate & powerful as this! 

After finishing dinner with my dad that night, standing by the cafeteria payphone, I was captivated listening to the empassioned Spanish communication pouring forth from that woman in the lobby. Though I don't understand a bit of Spanish, I got the message!  I realized that we are to embrace heaven's love language of "speaking in tongues."  And know it's one more needed, blessed and wonderful way to communicate with our loving Father.

Tongues as a communication channel of intimacy with the Lord

Tongues is a communication channel (like a wifi connected laptop or smartphone).  The signal goes out (though most people could not explain the technical methods of how wifi signals or cellphones work).  That secret, unknown channel is an avenue for praying and worshipping by the Spirit. The believer worships God & says Jesus is Lord, then declares fresh & fervent love for God.  The whole text message says: "I focus all my love on you. I give you the worship & passion of my heart."  Tongues also helps us yield a most unruly member (what James says about the tongue) to the Spirit of the Lord.

Tongues is an intimate bedchamber language, communications expressed privately between a bride (the believer) and her Bridegroom (Jesus).

The primary description of tongues given in 1 Cor. 12 & 14 & Acts 10:44-48 is that of intimate communication "quietly to yourself and God."

Tongues (other languages) are one more blessed way to communicate with the Lord of Heaven, a special channel of understanding and an intimate connection between the two of you.

Sometimes, other languages are just the right thing, to pour out your spirit and heart to the One Who loves you most!  No one else can understand.  But the message will still get through.  God understands everything.  Including what you are going through.

Psalm 62 has been a favorite Psalm of mine for years. There it tells us of the great privilege we have to POUR OUT OUR HEART to the Lord. What great heavenly catharsis! There is no better channel of blessing known to man than talking to God! Through Jesus, we can do that directly. 

Prayer which goes beyond words

Communication with the other world goes beyond words: it incorporates feelings, emotions, sounds, sighs, utterances, even tears. And when we run out of English, there ARE other languages in the world. And GOD, the Holy Spirit, KNOWS THEM ALL! Where English, ends, tongues & heavenly languages begin.  Speaking to God in heavenly languages is like special delivery.  The message goes straight through, absent of the limitations or interferences the human mind may pose.

Romans 8:18-30
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 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. 27 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.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

In a good marriage, there is holiness within an exclusive privacy.  Bedroom intimacy between wife & husband is not intended for others to know about or eavesdrop on.   So it is with Christ & His bride.  The Holy Spirit gives believers intimate love languages and passionate, heartfelt ways to communicate with God (tongues is one of these).  Just read the Song of Songs (Solomon). 

Music, song, the praying of scripture in an understood language, pouring out our feelings with words in various languages, through tears, surrendering our heart on the wings of lyrics & worship - all these are all good ways to talk to God. Yet tongues offers an additional special quality.  Tongues is truly a love language for God and God alone. No one else nearby should attempt to eavesdrop or reject that beautiful, private conversation. 

Tongues as a private way to pray
Tongues, the Bible tells us, can be like a private language between the bride and the Bridegroom. "Let me hear your voice for your voice is sweet." 

I personally have a LOT to say to my wife!  I LOVE HER LIKE AN ENTHUSIASTIC FANATIC!  We have a great marriage.  Talking to God, at times, is supposed to be like a private conversation with your wife in the bedroom, with the door closed and no one else around. "Go into your room, close the door.  And speak to your Heavenly Father Who is unseen."  Prayer was meant to be like an intimate dinner conversation.  In a quiet corner.  With both flowers & candlelight.  Have you ever talked to God like that?  There are precious things spoken between a husband & wife in love that NO ONE ELSE could understand. And no one else is even meant to hear.

My wife speaks three languages fluently.  I have learned special words & phrases from all of those languages to better communicate with her.  Especially intimate things.  Privately understood words conveyed in a foreign language ("tongues") can be especially intimate (kind of like sending and receiving an encrypted email or a private, sealed enveloped).  Inside is a message of love put together by someone you dearly love. Just imagine the thrill and joy of opening a sweet message sent to your wife on the day of your wedding or a special anniversary.   

When I talk to my wife & share emotions with her, what's the most important is that our HEARTS ARE CONNECTING.

Tongues is given as a Holy Spirit-generated language which the believer utilizes to talk and sing intimate words to the true Beloved, Jesus. When we pray in tongues or worship, Christ understands & ENJOYS every word. Others don't need to know what is being said.  

Prayer is not just words.  The expression of love & closeness is FAR DEEPER.

James 4:8
"Draw near to God.  And He will draw near to you."

Tongues as part of the Divine Romance
Spiritual languages ("tongues") take the divine romance one step farther.  In the mysteries of God, even a person speaking in a "tongue" (a Holy Spirit given spiritual language for prayer or worship) does not really need to even understand himself what he is saying.  Sometimes the wife & husband in the bedroom just make sounds.  Not words, but giggles or laughs or exclamations of joy.  Sounds of pleased gladness that others would not understand.  Deep love goes beyond words. 

Tongues as intimate, private worship
Tongues & singing in the Spirit can be WORSHIP TO Christ's EARS. You are spiritually saying: "I love you God!" And tongues can be more private than other communications. This song is for you, Lord, from my heart, FOR YOUR EARS ONLY."

After finishing dinner with my dad that night, standing by the cafeteria payphone, I was captivated listening to the impassioned Spanish communications pouring forth from that woman in the lobby. Though I didn't understand a bit of Spanish, I got the message! 

Here's what I learned:  I realized we are to embrace heaven's love language of "speaking in tongues." It is not only a valid way to communicate.  But a heart felt passionate, effective way to communicate.  "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!" 

Speaking in tongues is simply one more needed, blessed and wonderful way to communicate with our loving Heavenly Father.

Tongues is a communication channel (like a wifi connected laptop or smartphone with encrypted transmission).  The signal goes out (though most people could not explain today's technical methods for encryption or how wifi signals or cellphones work).  This secret, unknown channel is an avenue for praying and worshipping by the Spirit. The believer worships God & declares through his praise that:  "Jesus is Lord."  Singing in the Spirit then declares fresh & fervent love for God.  It's like an encrypted text message or email in another language that says: "I focus all my love on you. I give you worship & all the passion & gratitude of my heart." 

Tongues as a way to control our unruly tongue
Tongues also helps us yield a most unruly member (what James says about the tongue) to the Spirit of the Lord.

Tongues as a way to pour out our heart to God
What needs to transpire between the Lord & us in prayer is a CONNECTION, a POURING OUT of hearts.  The Lord gives you what's in His heart & keeps going until you understand. 

With speaking in other languages in prayer, the understanding is only needed on God's end.  We are pouring out our hearts through the Holy Spirit & God understands. 

In such moments...
This channel of heavenly language is the Holy Spirit within us interceding through the believer's utterance.  Enabling us to carry on a heart to heart talk with Jesus, offering petitions, requests & meaningful communication directly before the throne of the Lamb.

I heartily recommend this kind of heavenly communication, freedom, blessing & joy to ANY BELIEVER.

Jesus loves to hear from His children every day.  1 John 3:1  Pick any language you prefer to express it. Come into God's Presence & enjoy. Make languages your spiritual passion.  Frequently, lovingly TALK TO GOD!  He hears you.

There is a heavenly expression our Bridegroom pours out, longing to reach people around the globe, and talk to them in their native tongues. 

There are moments (for example, in a believers' assembly or during evangelism), when the Holy Spirit desires to reveal God's heart by speaking in another language to OTHERS.  In the language the people He is trying to reach understand best.  God can do this supernaturally through a foreign expression of language. God's intention is to proclaim the gospel or a message, to bestow a sign that will reveal Jesus to others.

Tongues with interpretation as an understood, translated message
One way this is done: The Holy Spirit can give a communication to a believer's heart & mouth.  After they speak it, there can be a supernaturally revealed interpretation following.  This is explained in 1 Corinthians 14.  Or Acts 2.  Sometimes, as in Acts 2, no interpretation is needed, because the language spoken by the Holy Spirit is fully understood by the listeners!  (Though foreign to the human SPEAKER.)  God is not doing this as a sideshow.  He is doing it to demonstrate that: 

John 3:16-17
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

This communication is given because GOD LOVES EVERYONE!  And knows ALL languages worldwide.  Jesus died on the cross for all people everywhere! From EVERY TRIBE PEOPLE LANGUAGE NATION! 

Tongues reveals the heart of God for
EVERY TRIBE PEOPLE LANGUAGE NATION!

Tongues as worship

In love with Jesus, believers' hearts wonder & worship.  No wonder the new testament encourages the availability of all God's gifts.  Declaring these the same yesterday, today & forever.  Hebrews 13:8  And encouraging these as greatly needed all the way up 'til we see Jesus face to face (at His Second Coming). 1 Cor. 13  

Foreign languages from the Spirit provide a means for hearts to call out, deep unto deep (Psalm 42), thirsting for God, worshipping Christ's Name, proclaiming the worldwide nature of God to all peoples.

Whether you're standing at a phone booth listening to a woman rattle away Spanish at blazing speed, or whether you're a Christian who hears the Holy Spirit emanate a foreign language from your own lips once in awhile, you are having an experience that enables you to tune in to God's Presence.  You are getting in touch with the heart of God.  You are dialing Christ on the phone.  Knowing He will answer.  When you let the Holy Spirit flow words or songs of praise and intercession from your lips, what does this accomplish? By the Spirit's help, you are going beyond your mental understanding to worship Jesus & pray on a higher level in a language you never learned from a book or in a classroom.  There, on the mountaintops, you declare the praises of Jesus, and worship the Lamb our salvation!

Tongues as a gift from God
So receive all the gifts. The gifts come from above, from One Who changes not. Malachi 3:6  "Do not be deceived, my dear brothers." James 1:16-18   There is more to come.

Tongues, an international message reaching out with worldwide salvation
Tongues, a revelation of God's heart for all  nations

Jesus died for our sins.  Christ is Lord.  Jesus, above all, is the God of EVERY tribe, people, language & nation. He knows every language on earth.  And more languages from heaven.

God's heart is truly to save people from every race, ethnic group & location. 

Supernatural languages can be the Holy Spirit's way of defying our racist bigotry or prejudice.  We can grow beyond self-centered nationalism &  extend our patriotism to encompass the kingdom of God.  Rather than just a country we live in.   The Holy Spirit wants us all to exit introverted national pride and subjective ethnic feeling.  Heaven intends to become our recognized citizenship.  Walls of pride get blow down when Heaven's Language steps up & speaks.

Beyond political party rants about racism & cultural favoritism, God Himself longs to save people of every nation.  And free them from false gods, idols, fake religions & the tragedy of sin.  Tired of wars & conflicts, the Prince of Peace proclaims: "Go ye into ALL THE WORLD and preach the gospel to every person, every child, every language under the Son. Forbid no one. Hinder no one. Invite all to come. To drop their culture, creed & religion & come to Christ.  The Wedding Supper of the King is long prepared. All languages, cultures and races are welcome & invited.

Tongues speak forever as one of the Holy Spirit's ways to communicate Jesus to a lost & struggling world.  Broadcasting His message to every language, the Voice of the Lord speaks, bringing salvation to each municipality & region on earth.  The gospel is intended for worldwide evangelism.  The message God speaks reveals Jesus Himself as our salvation, the Word made flesh.  John 1

Hearts that are hungry need to hear, follow & listen.  "God's Love Language" reminds us that each of heaven's methods to preach, proclaim, publish, evangelize, share, connect & communicate are a worldwide echo of the gospel for all men.   The Lord loves EVERY TRIBE PEOPLE LANGUAGE NATION!   Tongues, then, are a sign of the worldwide heart of God, a reminder of God's heart longing to reach people everywhere. 

"Today, end your biases.  Drop your rejection of others based on language, denomination, skin color, location, politics, race or language."

"You who are weary, come to Me," Christ says.  "You who have no money, come buy and eat. The wedding supper is prepared. And the throne of your Father will be heard. His Voice calls out to each tribe, in EVERY TONGUE, to every people, language and nation. The chosen of the Lord shall arise & come.  And Jesus will sit enthroned above the nations, Lord over all. Receive the gifts of God and quench not My Spirit. Arise, My beloved. Come away with Me!"

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

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What should we think about those who reject spiritual gifts or the Biblically recommended Christian experience of speaking in tongues?

Over the years, I must admit being discouraged and mystified by a loud minority of churchgoers or religious people, even some Christians, who seem to fear, reject, deny or even despise the Holy Spirit and His gifts. The Bible gives very serious warnings about denying Jesus.  And the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  I believe denying the Holy Spirit, His reality, gifts & miracles is also very serious. 

It is actually shameful and dishonoring to the Lord to reject His gifts. Beginning with the gift of salvation.  Those who reject that gift end up with eternity in hell.  Rejecting other gifts from God also involves missing grace.  And is a serious mistake.

Anyone who teaches God's gifts are expired should rethink their (second-hand) questionable theology.  If someone thinks the gifts of the Spirit, sent to reveal Jesus, are scary or bad, this is simply misled. 

Some well-known traditional, denominational "pastors" or  teachers over the years, seem like their teachings are running on fumes of untrue traditional doctrines.  Perhaps they got these from theological seminaries.  Or other misinformed sources.  Some infer that, supposedly, gifts from God are expired, passe, rejected or even bad.  Naysayers warn against receiving gifts though they actually are from God. (Especially spiritual manifestations they or their church do not like.) For example: Healing, miracles, spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues, prophecy. Anything that demonstrates God is supernatural.

Honestly, this uncomfortable perspective on the supernatural is incorrect.  God, by definition, is supernatural.  And Malachi 3:6 clears it all up:  "I, the Lord do not change."

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Neither Luke, Matthew, Paul or Jesus had any "phobia" about spiritual gifts. Jesus encouraged us to receive them.  Jesus authored the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  And told all those (in Acts 1) who had already received salvation, to wait for a second experience with the Holy Spirit from on high.  We are to ask and receive all the gifts the Holy Spirit calls good.

We should not be confused or deceived or deterred by satan against the good that comes into our lives through spiritual gifts.

One especially harmful deception is the false notion that God, only in the old days, used to give supernatural gifts, but (supposedly) now we don't need them anymore.  That seems preposterous considering Jesus said that, in the last days, there would be times of great tribulation.  During the last days, the need for believers to experience the supernatural sustaining power of Christ will increase, not decrease.  

1 Corinthians 13, properly understood, says that spiritual gifts, like prophecy, miracles, word of knowledge, speaking in tongues, will CONTINUE throughout the full time period of the New Covenant until we see Jesus FACE TO FACE. Following that, in heaven, the partial glimpses of His glory & Presence (like prophecy and tongues and miracles) will no longer be needed. When we see Him FACE to FACE.  The Holy Spirit & His gifts last AS LONG AS EARTH LASTS. For the entirety of the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 13 is really full of divine advocacy, encouraging us to receive the LOVE of God along with all the Spirit's gifts.  1 Corinthians 14 (& 12) both confirm the unchanging purpose of both LOVE & GIFTS in the lives of all believers.

Notice how scripture many places confirms the UNCHANGING nature of God and the UNCHANGING giving of His gifts.

James 1:16 -17
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Therefore, since Jesus does NOT change...)  9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. (In other words, simply accept and stick with what the BIBLE says. On all matters. For...) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace."

That some humans would misunderstand - even reject or neglect to experience God's blessings is unfathomable.  Why do people reject & deny Christ's salvation?  It makes no sense.  Why would Christians reject or minimize the Holy Spirit? Rejecting God's gifts which richly bring us the revelation of Jesus, also does not make sense.  Jesus Himself demonstrated almost all of the Holy Spirit's gifts throughout His earthly ministry and wants them for us.

"The things that I do, you also will do.  And even greater."

Best recommendation:  Believe God's Word. 

As for me, I am going with GOD'S WORD (not what Christ-rejecting people say).  Isaiah 28 hits every nail right on the head.  God is right. The Bible is our infallible truth. Any voices contrary to scripture are false & suspect.

Romans 3:2-4 They (Jews like Isaiah through whom the Holy Spirit brought forth the revelation of Scripture) have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

Prayer in other tongues or worship by singing in the Spirit are great ways to draw close to God & glorify Jesus. Through the supernatural, the Holy Spirit challenges our human boundaries and doctrinal prejudices.  God Himself bursts out beyond our doctrines and takes us out of our comfort zone. When it comes to decided how God wants to do things, we are NOT in control.  Jesus is Lord. No one tells the King what He can & cannot do.

Gifts, signs, miracles, healing, tongues & many of heaven's wonders are each a divine way of God saying: I want to move you beyond what you can do.  I want to transcend what you can figure out with your brain.  I am not limited to your human words or your limited vocabulary.  I want to transcend your spiritual studies & academic understanding. 

Yes, you're right, speaking in tongues doesn't have anything to do with being saved. But after you are saved, speaking & praying in tongues, plus singing in other languages are all great ways to draw close to God, deepen your understanding of Jesus, worship the Lord & add to your prayer life. 

Some people try to contradict tongues in their spiritual circles.   Why?  They want to deprive people of a bonafide Holy Spirit inspired experience that is clearly Biblical. 

It's actually no wonder the devil fights against spiritual gifts & supernatural experiences. 

The devil is master at deceiving & declaring gifts from God are not available or speaking in "tongues" is now invalid.  satan himself tries to discredit the Acts 2:4 experience, saying it's not you or not for us today (these are lies).  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today & forever."  Hebrews 13:8

Some misdirected, but perhaps well-meaning, Christians try to persuade us that tongues or other supernatural gifts may be over long ago (or only  historical).  But these ideas do not hold up to scripture.  The same world-wide heart of God that reached men from many languages & nations on the day of Pentecost has actually never changed!

Naysayers sound off to deny the communication abilities of the Holy Spirit or prevent God's heart from reaching out to every tribe & language by cutting off spiritual gifts, supernatural prayer & more.  This is tantamount to denying John 3:16 plus the Holy Spirit of Acts 2!  We should not be doing that.

Even good Christian folks can form doctrines or biases against God, His gifts, grace & Word.  God Himself is the One Who decided to create a world with many & plural languages (in Genesis). We should not let any doctrinal idea from humans dwarf our ability to understand the outreach of the Holy Spirit through all languages to express the worldwide heart of God. 

For years, I've even seen some brothers and sisters seem to speak against the Bible or resist God's Spirit. I hear them mistrust, accuse those who believe, even disallow legitimate spiritual gifts, deny contemporary and wonderful, miraculous workings of God. The naysayers want to outlaw the supernatural altogether, because it does not fit their doctrines, theology or personal preferences.

Some people want to accuse Jesus of no longer giving good gifts. James 1:16-17 says otherwise.  Other dear, but confused, ones say prophecy or healing or tongues or other miracles God can no longer do.  (Because we won't allow Him to?)  In Christ's day, the Pharisees accused Jesus, when He performed miraculous works of being Beelzebub & not of God. There's really nothing new under the sun.  Religious people are still accusing Jesus & trying to outlaw His miraculous works today. 

I personally would rather not reject the Lord's gifts. "Every gift of God is GOOD & PERFECT." People are flawed, but God's gifts are all good. James 1:16-17

Instead of picking and choosing gifts (as if we were God or in charge of Christmas), I've always felt God's Word alone is our guide. Everything in the Bible is right & true.  And all the gifts are still on the menu. The Father can choose which gifts are best for you. But there is no denying, in Acts 2:4 that "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." 

Jesus taught we, like sons, are free to ASK of a loving, generous Heavenly Father, Who delights to give us gifts.

Forget all the doctrinal debates.  Step beyond denominations, sects & human doctrines.  Set aside man's religious confusion & controversies.  God's word is the right source. 

Isaiah 8:20
"To the law & to the prophets.  If they do not speak according to this Word, they have no light of dawn." 

The scriptures are clear on spiritual gifts. God's Word speaks for itself.  And actually all God's gifts are good.  James 1:16-17   All of them.  Divine gifts flow from above.  From a Gift-giver Who is unchanging.  Malachi 3:6  Likewise, the kinds of gifts He gives also never change.  We are still in the same new covenant.  Same as always.  From the first century until now.  I personally have learned that God, the never changing gift giver, is generous in His Spirit outpourings!

Speaking in tongues is a great way to celebrate Jesus, worship Christ as our Saviour, to draw close to the One we love, adore Him (like the Magi), bring Him GIFTS!  We honor God most when our gifts are truly focused on worshipping JESUS. Just as the Magi brought gifts humbly and bestowed them in worship before the newborn King, so every Christian needs to offer gifts and spiritual talents to honor and glorify God! 1 Cor. 10:31 

 I've often baffled at those who, nevertheless, feel a need to rage or scoff, or be afraid of divine things supernatural. 

Some miscreants preach a fuming mistrust toward the Holy Spirit & many of the gifts God delights to give. Set this aside.  And remember that the Bible commands us to ENCOURAGE & EAGERLY DESIRE spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12-14

I notice great irony, even in some of my fellow "evangelicals." Over the years, I have known dear friends who somehow inflamed themselves to declare we should reject tongues, prophecy, healing & miracles (and other gifts and workings of God established by the scriptures). To any honest reading of the Bible, such contradictions simply can not hold.

Rejection of spiritual gifts or forbidding others to receive Christ's gifts is a really SCROOGE kind of "Christianity."  Bah. Humbug! (God, we refuse & reject your gifts.  Return to sender.)  Such attitudes dishonor the Lord.

Instead of being spiritual scrooges, let's resolve to believe the Bible, welcome all the Spirit's gifts and love the miraculous workings of Jesus in our midst, all for God's glory.  Test and discern what's real & right, yes, always. But hold to the scriptures as the only  guide.  ENCOURAGE Jesus to reveal Himself.  Welcome the Holy Spirit to do the Father's will. Encourage all spiritual GIFTS, not just the ones you are comfortable with.  Above all, encourage the seeking of God. Remember James 1:16-17.  All good gifts come from God.  From above.  And spiritual gifts are given to REVEAL Jesus to us. John 1:29  That's a good thing.  Like the magi of old, it is best to draw near to Christ.  And bring our gifts to His feet to worship Him.  Truly Jesus is the One Who we love.  And the One Who we honor with all the Holy Spirit's gifts that are given. 

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.