TONGUES FOR TODAY?

 "Though I speak in the tongues of men OR ANGELS"

1 Corinthians 13v1

meaning that a new tongue given by the Holy Spirit as a prayer language may not only be a foreign language. It may well be a Heavenly language and in our experience it often is!

Paul further wrote

 

 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, BUT UNTO GOD: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14v2

Making perfectly clear again that a new prayer language is not spoken for human ears to hear but God only and is therefore not necessarily a foreign earthly language.

Just to note further on this very important matter before progressing with the story - We have also heard it said "Ah brother, but tongues are not for today, they passed away when that which is perfect was come" - meaning the Word of God. Well, there are a couple of contradictions to that train of though.

a) Paul did indeed write at the end of 1 Corinthians 13 "Tongues will cease". There is no challenge to that scriptural fact. However, there most certainly is a challenge as to the timing of the ceasing and what is meant by "that which is perfect"?

To address the first error - the timing, we only have to read the FOLLOWING chapter 14 to hear Paul reiterate over and again the benefits of speaking in tongues, and that he spoke in tongues more than all and then rounding the chapter off by warning "Forbid not to speak in tongues". Thus negating that the "dispensation of the end of tongues" had certainly not yet arrived.

b) The reference to "When that which is perfect is come" as the reason that tongues will end is not possibly a reference to the completion of the new testament as argued since King David had already penned in Psalm 19 that "The law of the Lord IS perfect (already) converting the soul". So it is a blasphemy to state that Gods word was imperfect until the New Testament was complete and therefore one of the most necessary gifts of the Holy Spirit (tongues) should no longer be given. Its a further gross error to suggest that Christ's birth and life was anything less than "Perfect".

"The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory  as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1 v 14

Was this anything less than perfection dwelling among us. Nevertheless, though He Himself surely was perfect, the response of wicked humanity, His own people and the world at large was far from perfect. Of course, ultimately we crucified Him.

Ah! but when He returns and every eye will see Him and His eyes will be like flames of fire and a sword shall go out of His mouth and destroy His enemies, THEN He shall curb the wickedness of the nations with a rod of iron. The ensuing state of peace when the Lion lays down with the lamb and a little child shall lead them, and He restores a pure language to all the peoples of the earth. Perhaps then we can consider "that which is perfect is come and tongues will cease as unnecessary". Till then, virtually 100% of the major miracles we see, and we see many of them, are the outcome of praying fervently in tongues.