The Holy Spirit & You
SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY NOTES
EXAMINING THE CONTINUANCE OF TONGUES
In Search of Proper Christian Practice
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
2
TONGUE SPEAKING
The Scriptures use the term “tongues” [glossa] in three unique ways. The physical organ (James 3:5-6; 8) A known human language (Acts 2:4; 6; 11; Mark 16:17) Strange or obscure speech that needs explanation; an utterance outside the normal patterns of intelligible speech and therefore requiring special interpretation; and ecstatic language (Acts 10:46; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 14:1-33). Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
3
TONGUE SPEAKING
Specific to our focus in this study: to speak with (in) a tongue (the organ of speech), to speak with tongues; this, as appears from 1 Corinthians 14:7 ff, is the gift of men who, rapt in an ecstasy and no longer quite masters of their own reason and consciousness, pour forth their glowing spiritual emotions in strange utterances, rugged, dark, disconnected, quite unfitted to instruct or to influence the minds of others: Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:2,4-6,13, 18,23, 27,39. [Thayer’s Lexicon] Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
4
TONGUE SPEAKING
So what's really at issue here? Is this gift (all miraculous spiritual gifts) still available? If so, what does this say about divine revelation? If not, what does this say about biblical relevancy? What was the purpose of this (all) gift? How was this gift to be used? How does all of this fit, what does it say about modern claims of continuance? Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
5
TONGUE SPEAKING
What was the purpose? Confirming the message and messenger (Mark 16:1720) Communicating portions of God’s revelation (when interpreted) (1 Corinthians 14:5-6) Building up the church (1 Corinthians 14:5-6)
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
6
TONGUE SPEAKING
COMPLETE SALVATION KNOWLEDGE INCOMPLETE KNOWLEDGE Temporary Miraculous Partial Revelation Tongues-Prophecy Partial Knowledge of God Provided to Few
Written Revelation The Holy Scriptures
Sufficient for Christian Life. No Additional Revelation Required from Human Agency (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE
WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
Complete and Full Knowledge of God for All of the Saved (1 Corinthians 13:12) 7
TONGUE SPEAKING
Written Revelation will be superseded by Face-to-Face Revelation because the latter is the ultimate goal of all of the saved.
Temporary Miraculous Partial Revelation TonguesProphecy
Written Revelation
WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
The Holy Scriptures
Tongues and Prophecy are superseded by Written Revelation because the latter provides universally and time-bound-completely what the former was only designed to provide locally and temporarily.
8
TONGUE SPEAKING
How were they to be used? When they were available… They were to be used to built up and strengthened in the Lord’s service. Paul was adamant in instructing the Corinthians to be other-focused. They were not to use their gifts in worship for the mere purpose of self-satisfaction. Tongues, prophetic utterances, and all manner of divine revelation and inspiration were for mutual benefit and not for self-indulgence (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
9
ANOMALIES???
Great Awakening I 1730’s – 1740’s Great Awakening II 1790’s – 1830’s
1801 in Cane Ridge Meeting House near Paris, Kentucky
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
10
ANOMALIES???
Birthplace and or Origin Reference Point of contemporary charismatic factions of Christianity
William Joseph Seymour & the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles - 1906 Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
11
CRITICAL QUESTIONS
Is what is claimed matching what is revealed, exemplified in Scripture? Is there any understanding of what has been communicated (…with the Spirit and with the understanding)? What makes subjective Christian claims of the experience of direct, divine revelation anymore legitimate than those of other religions (Muhammad, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), David Koresh, etc.)? Remember: we must weigh the veracity of our experiences by what the Bible teaches. Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
12
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
We can never examine this question from the standpoint of what God can do…for He can do anything. It is fair as well as responsible to question charismatic teaching on the continuance of the miraculous today. It is fair as well as responsible to seek proof of claims of the miraculous today. It is unfair to characterize all charismatics as like the manipulating, extorting false teachers we see in the media. It is crucial that we weigh all of this by the Scriptures to see whether whatever espoused position is so. Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
13
EXAMINING THE CONTINUANCE OF TONGUES
In Search of Proper Christian Practice
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
2
TONGUE SPEAKING
The Scriptures use the term “tongues” [glossa] in three unique ways. The physical organ (James 3:5-6; 8) A known human language (Acts 2:4; 6; 11; Mark 16:17) Strange or obscure speech that needs explanation; an utterance outside the normal patterns of intelligible speech and therefore requiring special interpretation; and ecstatic language (Acts 10:46; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 14:1-33). Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
3
TONGUE SPEAKING
Specific to our focus in this study: to speak with (in) a tongue (the organ of speech), to speak with tongues; this, as appears from 1 Corinthians 14:7 ff, is the gift of men who, rapt in an ecstasy and no longer quite masters of their own reason and consciousness, pour forth their glowing spiritual emotions in strange utterances, rugged, dark, disconnected, quite unfitted to instruct or to influence the minds of others: Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:30; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:2,4-6,13, 18,23, 27,39. [Thayer’s Lexicon] Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
4
TONGUE SPEAKING
So what's really at issue here? Is this gift (all miraculous spiritual gifts) still available? If so, what does this say about divine revelation? If not, what does this say about biblical relevancy? What was the purpose of this (all) gift? How was this gift to be used? How does all of this fit, what does it say about modern claims of continuance? Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
5
TONGUE SPEAKING
What was the purpose? Confirming the message and messenger (Mark 16:1720) Communicating portions of God’s revelation (when interpreted) (1 Corinthians 14:5-6) Building up the church (1 Corinthians 14:5-6)
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
6
TONGUE SPEAKING
COMPLETE SALVATION KNOWLEDGE INCOMPLETE KNOWLEDGE Temporary Miraculous Partial Revelation Tongues-Prophecy Partial Knowledge of God Provided to Few
Written Revelation The Holy Scriptures
Sufficient for Christian Life. No Additional Revelation Required from Human Agency (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE
WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
Complete and Full Knowledge of God for All of the Saved (1 Corinthians 13:12) 7
TONGUE SPEAKING
Written Revelation will be superseded by Face-to-Face Revelation because the latter is the ultimate goal of all of the saved.
Temporary Miraculous Partial Revelation TonguesProphecy
Written Revelation
WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
The Holy Scriptures
Tongues and Prophecy are superseded by Written Revelation because the latter provides universally and time-bound-completely what the former was only designed to provide locally and temporarily.
8
TONGUE SPEAKING
How were they to be used? When they were available… They were to be used to built up and strengthened in the Lord’s service. Paul was adamant in instructing the Corinthians to be other-focused. They were not to use their gifts in worship for the mere purpose of self-satisfaction. Tongues, prophetic utterances, and all manner of divine revelation and inspiration were for mutual benefit and not for self-indulgence (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
9
ANOMALIES???
Great Awakening I 1730’s – 1740’s Great Awakening II 1790’s – 1830’s
1801 in Cane Ridge Meeting House near Paris, Kentucky
Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
10
ANOMALIES???
Birthplace and or Origin Reference Point of contemporary charismatic factions of Christianity
William Joseph Seymour & the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles - 1906 Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
11
CRITICAL QUESTIONS
Is what is claimed matching what is revealed, exemplified in Scripture? Is there any understanding of what has been communicated (…with the Spirit and with the understanding)? What makes subjective Christian claims of the experience of direct, divine revelation anymore legitimate than those of other religions (Muhammad, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), David Koresh, etc.)? Remember: we must weigh the veracity of our experiences by what the Bible teaches. Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
12
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
We can never examine this question from the standpoint of what God can do…for He can do anything. It is fair as well as responsible to question charismatic teaching on the continuance of the miraculous today. It is fair as well as responsible to seek proof of claims of the miraculous today. It is unfair to characterize all charismatics as like the manipulating, extorting false teachers we see in the media. It is crucial that we weigh all of this by the Scriptures to see whether whatever espoused position is so. Michael A. Brown Ministries, LLC © 2016
13
