>>Continue....K
Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:
"Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I
have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I
give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
These verses are used to construct a case for unknown tongues.  The
Charismatic brethren focus on "tongues of angels" and go around saying Paul
spoke with tongues of angels, and therefore spoke a "heavenly language" which
is unknown, that is, if you believe our Charismatic friends.  (Remember that
whenever an angel spoke, he was understood by the hearer).
Follow along here for a moment and observe that Paul never claimed to speak
in tongues of angels; he never removed mountains; nor did he give his
body to be burned.  What is happening here is that Paul is "setting forth
an argument."
Let's move on to 1 Corinthians 14.  In verse 2 we read,
"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."
What is clear in the verse is that the man is speaking to God (but in a
moment we shall find the person really "speaks into the air").  How does that
benefit the hearers? It doesn't.  Does it  benefit the person who is
speaking? No. He doesn't even know what he is saying!  What he is speaking
doesn't edify the church. Also notice the word "spirit."  The "s" is not
capitalized.  That word "spirit" does not refer to the Holy Spirit.
Please read 1 Cor. 14:5-6. Notice Paul is not forbidding the speaking "in
tongues." These are authentic tongues. However, even with the "authentic
tongues," there needs to be interpretation (which can happen since it is a
language that is established and used), so others who do not know that
language will understand what was said.
And if you read 1 Cor. 14:7-9, you will find Paul is making a distinction
between the authentic tongues and counterfeit tongues (unknown tongues).  As
in Acts 2, the tongues gave a distinct sound that was understood.  God
doesn't give the gift of incoherent babbling.  Now here is where a person
speaks into the air.  The unintelligible babbling is done by those who "speak
into the air" (verse 9) who may think he is "speaking to God" (1 Cor. 14:2).
God does not deal with people the way the Charismatic brethren do.  God is a
direct God and has no interest in incoherent babbling.
"There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them
is without  signification.  Therefore if I know not the meaningof the voice,
I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be
a barbarian unto me." (1 Cor. 14:10-11).
Do you know what we have today? We have a lot of "barbarians." Unknown tongue
speakers are barbarians.  The  Holy Spirit is not in the business of
producing barbarians. You see, Paul is going to eliminate this unknown
tongues business.
If a person speaks in tongues, there has to be an interpreter.  The Bible
says:
"Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, [notice it does
not say pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so you may speak in an
unknown tongue] seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he
may interpret" (1 Cor. 14:12-13).
Why the need for pray to interpret?  So people will understand!  We need that
distinct sound that we may be edified.  Incoherent babbling does not give a
distinct sound, nor does it edify anything, including God.  God is not
impressed with repetitious syllables (Matt. 6:7). If a person is going to
speak in an unknown tongue, he must pray that he may interpret. (See
comments on verses 27-28 below).
The following is another verse used to build a case to prove Paul spoke
in unknown tongues.  It states:
"For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding
is unfruitful."
Did Paul just claim to speak in an unknown tongue?  No.  He said "IF." Again,
Paul is using an argument and will debate this case to the end.  He's telling
us what would happen IF he spoke in an unknown language.  If he were to pray
in an unknown tongue, he says, "his" spirit prayeth. Again, note the "s" is
not capitalized here.  So another perversion of this scripture is that we are
to believe Paul was praying IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Not so.  Paul said nothing
about praying in the Holy Spirit. What Paul is basically saying is if you
pray in an unknown tongue, it is the labor of your OWN SPIRIT (small "s");
your understanding is unfruitful, and if unfruitful, then obviously it is not
the work of the Holy Spirit.
continue
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 þ OLX 2.2 TD þ  When you fear God, you do not have any man to fear....
--- GEcho/32 1.20/Pro
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