Q. Does Hebrews 4 tell us that
now we are not required to observe the Sabbath of the Bible because
Jesus is our Rest?
A. First let's consider
these four questions...
Does a Good Father give His
son Instruction ? Prov. 1:8; 4:1; Eph. 6:4; Deut. 21:18.
Should a Good Son obey His
Father? Prov. 4:1; Ps 32:8; Ps 25:8.
Did Yeshua (Jesus) obey / or
Do the will of His Father? John 8:28-29; 5:19; 4:34.
Are we to walk as Yeshua did?
1 John 2:6; Col 2:6
I believe that we should rest
(Greek=anapauo) in Yeshua (Jesus) because ONLY He is our security of
Salvation and Eternal Life, whereby we can rest from our trials and
hardships in Life and live the rest of our Earthly life without worry
of our final destiny. However the context of Heb. 4 is about the 7th
day Sabbath. Verse 9 in Greek uses the word "sabbatismos"
and is equivalent to the Hebrew word "Shabbat" from where
we get the word “Sabbath”. The only place in the Bible where
Yeshua (Jesus) tells us to rest in Him is Matthew 11:28 and the word
"rest" used there is "anapauo" (meaning refresh,
or cease from labor) and if we compare this to all of the times
"rest" is used in Heb. 4, except v.9, you will see that
"Katapausis" and "Katapauo" is used and are
synonymous with "anapauo" in Matt. 11:28. The context of v.
9 is in regards to the 7th day Sabbath and if you read v. 8 as it was
intended to be read, as a question (KJV), with the understanding that
Joshua and Jesus in Hebrew are the same name, then we have to ask
ourselves "did Jesus or Joshua ever speak of another day?"
They didn't. Jesus, when dealing with the Jews concerning Sabbath had
plenty of opportunity to teach of a new day or a changing of the day
or the negating of the day, but He didn't. He was contending with the
Jews about "their man made traditions" which made void the
commandments of God. This is clear in Matthew 15. It is interesting
to me that people quote Paul's writings not realizing that he was a
Jew and a Pharisee and never one time in His writings did he ever
teach against anything of the Jews, except their traditions that
contradicted the Torah. Acts 18:18; 22:3; 23:6; 26:5; 2 Cor. 11:22;
Phil. 3:5; Rom. 11:1.
The book of Hebrews was
written to the Jews or Hebrews who believed in Yeshua and were
getting "beat up" so to speak by the unbelieving Jews,
which still happens today. Just to be clear. I do not try to keep the
7th day Sabbath "set-apart" for Salvation's sake, I do it
out of Love for my Heavenly Father and if we don't do it out of Love,
then it becomes legalistic and that is the error of some even today.
It is this same reason that I don't murder and cheat on my wife. I
also believe that we need to be careful not to fall into following
the example of disobedience mentioned in Heb. 3:19; 4:11; by not
entering into His Sabbatismos rest, not His Anapauo rest. Peter makes
a great point that people like to quote.. 2 Peter 3:16, however if we
read v. 17 also, we get a deeper meaning of what he is really trying
to say. The untaught and unprincipled man cannot understand Paul's
writings because the teaching and principles spoken of are from the
Hebrew / Jewish school of thought and a Western, Greek, Marcionic
mind-set will never be able grasp it. Please consider 1 John 2:3-6;
3:4; and Matthew 7:21-23 (if your Bible uses the word "iniquity",
please look up the Greek to get the true understanding.)
The New Covenant (B'rit
Chadashah) is what was originally given to us through Moses, but now
written on our Hearts. This covenant is the same Torah (Law), however
now it is better, because God has made it “do able” because He
has given us the Eyes, Ears and Heart to do so when He had not
previously. Deut. 29:4 This Covenant is “cut” (karath=made or
make. Deut. 29:1) at Mt. Nebo in Moab and can be found in Deut. 29 –
30 and was ratified or put in force by the Blood of Yeshua, whereas
the covenant at Horeb was ratified by the blood of an animal. Ex
24:8; Matt 26:28; Heb 9:20; 10:29; 12:24; 13:20. It is not what was
written that changed, but where it was/is written and how it was
ratified. Also, if we study the word “new”, Chadash (H 2319
derived from H 2318) we find that it can mean renew, repair, or make
anew. Just like the “New” Moon ( H 2320) every month is the same,
original Moon, however it is made anew or refreshed. Another point
that we really need to consider is that the New Covenant is not in
full force yet. Notice the wording carefully in Jer. 31:31-34 &
Heb 8:8-13. Especially verse 11, not all people on Earth know Him
yet, that will happen during the Messiah's reign as King during the
Millennium. Notice verse 13. “obsolete” is G3822 “palaioo”
and means to make old, become old, to be worn out, to declare a thing
to be old and so about to be abrogated. About to be abrogated, not
already abrogated, about to be. The word “ready” is G1451
“eggus”and means to be near, ready, soon to come pass. In other
words it is old and will soon come to pass and will become so in the
Messianic Kingdom. Also, notice who this New Covenant is made with in
verse 8. The Goy (Gentiles) become grafted into Israel when they
accept Yeshua. Rom 11:17-24. Again, the “New” is Torah written on
our Hearts for all to know Him and how it is ratified. The “old”
written on stone is growing old and ready to disappear. “Kainos
palaioo protos palaioo gerasko eggus aphanismos”. Heb 8:13. We Live
in the New Covenant when we are re-born because He puts it into our
Heart to follow His Instructions by His Spirit, instead of it written
on stone and paper. Stone and Paper is what is old and ready to
disappear.
Sabbatismos (G4520) is used
only once in the Bible because this is the only verse (Heb. 4:9)
talking about there remaining “a keeping of Sabbath” which is the
meaning of the word and it is notable that this word is derived from
the word “Sabbaton” (G4521) which always refers to the 7th day
Shabbat (H7676). The two verses in Hebrews 4 that witness to the
context being about the 7th Day is v. 4 and v 10. This couldn't be
any clearer. In v 4, Paul quotes Joshua 22:4, but the question
remains, did he speak of another day? No he didn't. God gave the
people “rest” through Joshua, but not a Sabbath rest, it is the
word “nuwach” which is synonymous to the Greek word for rest,
“anapauo”. Rest from war and their enemies, rest from wondering
around lost in the desert. Joshua 11:23; 23:1. Joshua giving them
“rest” has to do with the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half
tribe of Manasseh wanting to stay in the land this side of the
Jordan, however they made a deal with Moses that they would go with
their brothers across the Jordan to help them obtain the land and
after they possess the land and obtain rest, then the Reubenites,
Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh would be able to go back
across the Jordan to possess the land promised to them and rest.
Joshua 1:14-15; 18:7; Deut. 3:8-17. Joshua didn't give anyone rest
(nuwach), YHWH did. Joshua 21:44; 23:1. They are now able to “nuwach”
because they now possess the land promised to them. In Joshua's
farewell address to Israel before his death, he says in Joshua 23:6,
“Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book
of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the
right hand or to the left”, and in Joshua 24:25-26, He (Joshua)
makes a pledge or covenant with them concerning their agreement in
not turning away from YHVH to serve other gods. He then writes it in
the book of the Torah which Moses wrote after “renewing” the
Horeb covenant at Moab. Deut. 29&30; 31:24. So, with this, we
should be able to understand the question and answer stated in
Hebrews 4:8-11; “For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he
not afterward have spoken of another day? There remains therefore a
keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.” Another point that is
worth making at this time is that since Yeshua is GOD and was
involved in the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, then He was
the one who “rested” on the very first 7th day after His work of
Creation . He was also the God who made the covenants and gave The
Torah. (Colossians 1:15-17). We should then, enter into His rest
“Sabbath” (“as God did from His). It is a witness of our belief
in His Creatorship. Heb. 4:10-11.
Look at Acts 21:20; 15:20;
18:18, Paul keeps Torah 30 years after Yeshua's ascension back to
Heaven and he never teaches against it even though he has plenty of
opportunity. Instead he states in Acts 24:14 that he is“believing
everything that is in accordance with the Torah and that is written
in the Prophets”.. In Galatians 3:10-13, Paul is showing us that
Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. What is the curse
of the Law? It is Death to those that don't abide! What will happen
to the Lawless, those that live without the Torah? What is sin? Who
is the man of sin and what does he teach? The Scripture is clear. 1
John 3:4, 2:3-6; Matt. 7:21-23; 13:41; 23:28; 24:12; Rom. 6:19-23; 2
Thess. 2:3-8; Dan 7:25; Heb. 10:26. In Greek there is only one word
used for anything concerning a law or decree, it is “nomos” and
it is not a true representation of what the word “Torah” means.
Therefore the word “Law” derived from “nomos” gives an
improper meaning for the word Torah. Torah simply means “instruction”
and is derived from the root word "yarah" which means "to
hit the mark or target" and sin is the word “chet”, meaning
“to miss the mark”. Ex. 24:12. The Torah is God's instruction in
how to live in Righteousness, not to be Righteous because of "our"
works or deeds. We have to shift our thinking from “Law” to
“Instruction”. Laws are burdensome, however Instruction isn't.
Legalism or "works of the law" is one of the problems that
both Yeshua and Paul were up against, along with man's stone cold,
unbelieving heart, and this is why the New Covenant is better,
because no longer was it up to man to circumcise his own heart, God
does it for him... Deut. 29:10(Ger/alien/Gentile), 14-15; 30:6,
11-14; Jer. 31:31; 32:40; Eze. 11:19-20, 36:24-27; Heb. 10:16; 2 Cor.
3:3; Rom. 7:14. The letter of the “Law” is of the flesh and
brings death, this is the Covenant given to Moses at Horeb that man
could not abide in, but the “Brit Chadasha” or New Covenant is of
the Spirit and gives us Life. It is Better because it is up to YHWH
(THE LORD) to write it upon our Heart by His Spirit. The same Torah,
different place of writing it. The problem has never been Torah, it
has always been man's unbelief. Romans 7:12, 16; 1Tim 1:8; Neh
9:13-17; Psalms 19:7-11; 119:160; Prov 29:18; Isa 51:7.
Look at Galatians 3:15-17 and
note “when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds
conditions
to it” and “What I am saying is this: the Law does not invalidate
a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.”
The New Covenant made at Moab, was not ratified with the blood of an
animal, like the covenant at Horeb, it was ratified with the Blood of
Yeshua. And Paul is clear that once it is ratified you don't set it
aside or negate it, or add conditions to it, and it doesn't nullify
the Covenant previous to it. Our Father has never broken any of the
covenants, man did, (Jer. 31:32) and the New and Better Way is the
Torah written within us and on the heart (“leb”= mind, will,
understanding, knowledge, thinking, memory, inclination, desire) and
Yeshua's blood given once and for all, for all Sins. Contrast this
with the High Priest entering yearly with the blood of animals that
can never take away sin. Heb. 10. To those who confess His Sonship
and claim His blood in their place, then the sins of that person are
Passed Over and Eternal Life is the Free Gift given by His unmerited
favor, also known as Grace. Rom. 3:25; 10:9-10. We have to try and
understand that our Father chose Israel, and was betrothed to them
and became a husband to them. The Torah was/is a marriage contract,
that they broke, but even though they committed adultery, He Loves
them/us and gave a “new” contract written on their/our hearts.
Isaiah 54:5; Jer. 31:32; Deut. 29-30; Hosea 2:16,19,20. Notice the
word “know” and “knowledge” in Hosea 2:20; 4:6; Jer. 31:34.
It is the words “yada`” and “da`ath” (da`ath H 1847 is
derived from yada` H3045) and is the same word used in Gen.
4:1,17,25; 38:26; Judges 11:39; 1 Kings 1:4 (relations, knew, know,
cohabit) and is always used in the context of intimacy. So in Hosea
4:6 we should see that His people are destroyed for lack of the Yada`
or lack of the intimate knowledge of Him, which is gained by Torah,
or His personal instructions for His betrothed to be able to
Yada/Know` Him. 1 John 2:13; 5:3.
If we are going to understand
what is happening in the 1st century setting, we have to understand
the mindset of the believing Jews of that time. They thought that
they were to go and make Jews of those born outside the land. A
Gentile (Goy or Ger) is anyone not born in the land of Israel or no
Jewish blood in their Genealogy. This is one of the problems dealt
with by Yeshua and Paul (Matthew 15:6, Acts 15; Galatians 2:3). The
other thing that has to be realized is that the Jew, then and even
today, say that the Oral Law or Tradition, supersedes the written
Torah of Moses and actually the written and the oral are one in the
same in authority. The written Torah is God's instructions and the
Oral is the rabbinical “halacha” or how to walk in it and the
problem is when the tradition or oral rabbinical halacha is more
important or supersedes the Torah. Matt. 15:3, 6; Mark 7:5,9,13. This
is what is going on; the struggle of following the Torah given by
Moses from our Heavenly Father or the torah given by man according to
their tradition. This is one of the things that Yeshua is addressing
in Matthew 5:17, He came to “fulfill” which is the Greek “Pleroo”
which means to rightly interpret; teach correctly; carry out; bring
to realization. Yeshua is the one we should mimic in “halacha” or
how to walk in the Torah, because this is one of the reasons that He
came. 1 John 2:6; John 13:15; 15:10; 1 Peter 2:21. So in Galatians
2&3 “the works of the law”, also known as "legalism"
is the rabbinical traditions or oral Torah and the Jews believing
that they achieved salvation by the works (rabbinical halacha) of the
Torah. The New Covenant is not what was written, it is where it is
written. What was/is written on our Hearts and within us when we are
born from above, is His Torah, by His Spirit. Our Father's
Instructions written on our Hearts so we will walk in it. How then is
Torah a burden to us? It is only a burden because of a cold heart of
stone that is after the way of Cain. Jude 11, 1 John 3:12; 5:3. We
should do it out of Love for our Father, not for salvation, but
because of Salvation...
There are 2 different schools
of thought. Most Christians are in a Western, Greek, Marcionic,
anti-nomian, replacement theological school of thought and the other
(which I follow) is from the Eastern / Hebrew, Messianic, pro-nomian
school of thought. I challenge you to step out of the replacement
theology box and study the Scriptures from a Messianic Hebrew school
of thought. I believe that those who teach against the Torah or
aspects of it will be left behind when Yeshua comes to get His bride.
Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 25:11-12. There is a lot more that could be said
concerning all of this, however, I believe that enough has been given
to allow anyone that really wants to know, the ability to see and
understand.
I want to leave on this note
and suggestion, that all who read this study follow the example of
the Bereans given in Acts 17:11. By “examining the Scriptures daily
to see whether these things were so”.
Maranatha, John
The La Quinta meeting room in Alvarado, 1165 Hwy 67W Alvarado, TX. 76009. (Behind Sonic)
For information Email at wmriley17@yahoo.com
Olive Tree Image
upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB95)
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Speaking in "Tongues"...
SPEAKING IN “ TONGUES “
Revised 9-07-2014
Recently I met some people and we started talking about spiritual things and the question was asked to me, “ Have you received the Holy Spirit and had the evidence by speaking in Tongues?" My response was probably like most people’s . Uhm, I don’t know, I really don’t believe in that. But I wasn’t really sure why I responded like I did. As I have thought about my answer to them it came to me that I really didn’t know for my self, all I knew was the traditional belief passed on to me from my parents and my former church association. So, I knew that I had to study this in the Scriptures on my own. My contention is that what is done today in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement does not match what we see in Scripture. Charismatic Christianity teaches that “You must speak in Tongues to show the proof that you have received the Holy Spirit “.. I don't find this "teaching" anywhere in Scripture, and that is what this writing is going to present.
The 2nd Chapter of Acts during the Feast of Pentecost is where we find the first instance of speaking in tongues..
Acts 2:3 - 4 says, “ And there appeared unto to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ”
First, we should find out what the word “ tongues “ really means, in the Strong’s Concordance #1100 is “Glossa”, which means, the actual tongue in a man’s mouth, or a language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations. It simply means another language different from the person’s original language... We have to look at every time in the Bible the word “Tongues“ is used... Look these up. In every case you can say “a different language“ instead of saying the word “Tongues“. Except in Acts 2:3, Romans 3:13, in these text it would be appropriate to use the word “Tongue“, like the one in your mouth...
We find in 1 Corinthians 12:4, that “ there are diversities in gifts, but the same Spirit “ and then in 1 Cor. 12:8-10 we find the list of gifts that can be given to us by the Holy Spirit. They are as follows: Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Tongues (languages), Interpretation of Tongues (languages), and in verse 28 it lists: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues/glossa. Notice that in verses 10 and 28, tongues is listed last. Why? I believe it is because tongues is least among the list of Spiritual Gifts, but in today's time it has become the first or most important. It has it's place, but it has been "mis-placed". Today, "tongues" is out of place and given too much concern or attention.
I have made an observation concerning the churches that teach the doctrine “ you must speak in tongues as proof of receiving the Holy Spirit “. They all seem to believe this teaching without really studying on their own, therefore I believe they are simply following a traditional belief passed down from generation to generation... They are going on feelings and tradition instead of "sound doctrine" based solely on Scripture and Scriptural examples written in The Bible. One of my other observations is that this "speaking in tongues" happens to those that are part of a Charismatic, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, type "church". Generally we don't see this in the other denominations, unless someone with a background in a charismatic church brings it in. Everyone that I have ever talked with about this, who says that they have recieved this "gift" has a background in one of the charismatic type denominations. This should make us question it's legitimacy. Does God only give this "gift" to those in a certain denomination?
Another thing that happens in the instances of what I believe is a False “Holy Spirit“ encounter is people shaking, and their eyes quivering, flaying themselves on the floor, crying, laughing, babbling, crawling around on the floor, "slain in the spirit", running and jumping around in an excited state, basically uncontrollable..completely out of control. They say that all of these things are the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.. But, if we look at all of the examples of people in the Bible receiving the Holy Spirit, do we get a picture of them babbling uncontrollably or any of the other things that I previously stated? The answer is NO. How about the instances of Yeshua healing someone that was sick or had a demon, we see that these people, when they where healed, “stood to their feet and praised and thanked him” They did not jump around and act like a mad man. The ones that jumped around, babbled, and quivered etc. were the ones that had a demon spirit in them. When the demon spirit was cast out they were calm and peaceful.
Now don’t get me wrong and do not misunderstand, I do believe that there is a gift of Speaking in Tongues.. But, I believe that there is enough evidence to say that Speaking in Tongues is simply speaking in another language that is foreign to the person speaking... It could also mean that the speaker was speaking in his own language and the hearers heard in their language.
In 1 Corinthians 14:2 the phrase "For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in spirit he speaks mysteries." This leads us to believe that there is possibly an unknown language that no one knows, except our Heavenly Father. This is definitely possible, I am not about to put GOD in a box and try to say that he doesn't have an unknown language. However, I think if we look at the other key statements made in 1 Corinthians 14 we can put together a pretty good idea of what Sha'uwl/Paul is trying to convey to the reader of this letter to the Assembly of Believers in Corinth. First we need to acknowledge verse 1 and let it set the tone for the rest of the chapter. "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
We should next look at v.4 which says "one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church". Before we go any further let's look at the word "edifies". In Greek it is "oikodomeo" which means build, builders, building, built, edified, edifies, edify, rebuild, or strengthened. It gives the idea here that the person speaking a tongue builds himself up, but one who prophesies builds up the assembly of believers.
Now lets look at verse 5 and 6. He wishes all spoke in tongues, but more so wishes that they would prophesy and the one who prophesies is greater than the person speaking in a tongue, unless he interprets so that the Assembly of Believers would be built up. He states that if he was to come to them speaking in tongues, what would it profit them unless he would speak by way of revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching. In verse 9 he states that unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, you will be speaking into the air and how will it be known what is spoken? Now in verse 10 and 11 he makes a statement that we need to remember because it challenges the idea that the "tongues" that are spoken today in the churches is unknown and directed to God. "There are perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning and if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be the one who speaks like a Barbarian." Verse 12 then goes on to say that they should seek to abound for the edification of the church. Remember, edification means to Build up or Strengthen.
In verse 13 the speaker of a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if he prays in a tongue, his spirit prays, but his mind is unfruitful or unproductive. (v.14.) The outcome should be that of praying with the spirit and mind also; and sing with the spirit and sing with the mind also (v.15.). Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the "ungifted" say "amen" since he wouldn't know what you are saying? Yes, it is good to give thanks, but the other person (who doesn't understand what you are saying) is not edified or built up. (v.16-17). It is very likely that Paul knew that what they were doing was uninterpretable, therefore "closing" the door on this practice?
Paul goes on to say in verses 18-19 that he is thankful that he speaks in tongues (languages) more than you all; however, in the Assembly of Believers (Church) he desires to speak five words with his mind or understanding so that he may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
He goes on and makes a statement that I think pretty much sums up the idea that he is trying to teach. In verse 22 he says that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers.
If we read the rest of Chapter 14 we continue to get the idea of order, not confusion and that everyone in the Assembly of Believers should be conscious of edifying or building up the Assembly.
On the website of The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America they make the following statement concerning "Glossalalia".
"Corinth was greatly influenced by Greek paganism which included demonstrations, frenzies and orgies, all intricately interwoven into their religious practices. In post Homeric times, the cult of the Dionysiac orgies made their entrance into the Greek world. According to this, music, the whirling dance, intoxication and utterances had the power to make men divine; to produce a condition in which the normal state was left behind and the inspired person perceived what was external to himself and the senses.
In other words, the soul was supposed to leave the body, hence the word ecstasy (ek stasis). They believed that while the being was absent from the body, the soul was united with the deity. At such times, the ecstatic person had no consciousness of his own.
The Corinthians of Paul's time were living under the influence of Dionysiac religious customs. It was natural that they would find certain similarities more familiar and appealing. Thus the Corinthians began to put more stress on certain gifts like glossolalia. No doubt the Apostle was concerned that their ties and memories of the old life should be reason enough to regulate the employment of Glossolalia." www.goarch.org
In other words, the soul was supposed to leave the body, hence the word ecstasy (ek stasis). They believed that while the being was absent from the body, the soul was united with the deity. At such times, the ecstatic person had no consciousness of his own.
The Corinthians of Paul's time were living under the influence of Dionysiac religious customs. It was natural that they would find certain similarities more familiar and appealing. Thus the Corinthians began to put more stress on certain gifts like glossolalia. No doubt the Apostle was concerned that their ties and memories of the old life should be reason enough to regulate the employment of Glossolalia." www.goarch.org
This statement gives good support for what I am trying to teach in this writing. We need to realize the pagan influence that surrounded the Believers in Corinth. We also need to understand that New Corinthians converts, would bring their "pagan baggage" with them. I believe that this is what Paul is dealing with when he is writing to them about "Tongues" or "Glossais"(plural form of Glossa/Tongue). At this point I want to tell you that the word "Glossalalia" does NOT exist in the Greek Text. Glossalalia is the "modern" word to describe the "speaking in tongues" that we hear of today. It is man-made and of no Biblical origin.
With all of this being said we must remember that Paul/Sha'uwl was a Hebrew, an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, schooled under Gamaliel and of "the Way"(believers in Messiah Yeshua). He was a "Lawyer" of the Law/Torah and Torah was his "checks and balances". His primary language was Hebrew, but also spoke Aramaic, Greek and possibly Latin. He may have spoke other known languages that we are not aware of. When he says that tongues are for a sign, we need to remember what is said in 1 Corinthians 1:22 and Hebrews 2:3-4. We need to look at this as the gift of tongues enables a person to speak to and understand those who need to hear the Besorah/Good News/Gospel. We need to see that the gift of tongues was meant to reach the unsaved Jews. When unbelievers heard men speak languages that they ordinarily would not know, and heard them witness in their own native tongue; it would be a sign to them that they should listen to the message. We are not supposed to be thinking of ourselves and how we can build up ourselves. We should be "mature" and consider the "babies" and how we can "edify" or build them up in the Truth! Just imagine a Hebrew, speaking fluent Japanese, would sure get the attention of people who speak Japanese. This is really an unending line of thinking because you can come up with many scenarios that fit with what I am trying to say. Each situation would be different, but the outcome should be to share the good news to someone of a different language so the Assembly of Believers would be built-up!
Speaking in a “Tongue” is a Sign for those that are NOT believers and they speak a different language than the person witnessing to them. 1Cor. 14: 21-23... Notice that Paul includes a little hint of what they should have seen or understood because they hear "strange tongues". Verse 21 quotes Isaiah 28:10-13 which states: "For He says, Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there. Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, Here is rest, give rest to the weary, and, here is repose, but they would not listen. So the word of the LORD to them will be "Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there" that they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive." But, within this quoted scripture is a little known fact that you have to be shown or else you won't know. The translators made up a translation to try and give meaning to "Sav lasav, sav lasav, Kav lakav, kav lakav, Ze'er sham, ze'er sham". These words are Hebrew gibberish. It means nothing, just like a Baby's Babble or a Drunk man's words. If we look at the verses previous to and after these, we see the context and are able to easily see what is being said. Those who are Babies or Drunks will only be able to Hear words that make no sense, that they may go and stumble backwards, be broken, snared, and taken captive. Contextually, we see that Yahweh (The LORD) responds to their scoffing of the Truth by imitating their mockery to represent the unintelligible language of a conquerer. This is prophetic of what those in Jerusalem would have heard from the foreign soldiers/people who would come in and destroy The City and take them captive while speaking a different language that they don't understand. This is speaking to the Babylonian captivity as well as the Roman seige on Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Isaiah 29:13 is very profound and fits into this topic very well. When someone speaks a language that you don't understand it might as well be "childish babble". We can also see the Gentile connection here, knowing that non-jew, non-hebrew speaking people will speak the Good-News of Yeshua the Messiah and the coming Restoration of All Things to those of the "Jews" who don't know the Good News. With that being said we can also see the connection with Acts 2 and the Jew/Galilean teaching the "Gentile" the Good News. This is where the "Gift of Tongues" comes into play because instead of people hearing babbling, they Hear in their own language and understand. Truly a Miracle!
In Acts 2, when the disciples recieved the Gift, they were speaking The Good News to those gathered for Shavuot/Pentecost. They were heard in the listener's own language. Acts 2:4 says they "began to speak with other languages (tongues/glossa), as the Spirit was giving them ability to speak out (utterance/apophtheggomai). Then we see in verse 5 that the "hearers" were Jews living in Jerusalem, cautious (devout/eulabes) men from every nation (race/ethnicity/gentile/ the nations distinct from Israel) under heaven. Verse 6 states that the "hearers" were bewildered because each one of them was hearing the speaker speak to them in his (the hearer) own language. The people hearing these men speak like this were amazed and astonished, because the men speaking were Galileans, but in verse 8 we see that "we hear them in our own language in which we were born". They couldn't believe their eyes and ears. They had never experienced anything like this before. These men were all of Known Tribes/Nations, with Known languages. Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, also from Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs. They all heard this going on and say to the others with them of their nation "we HEAR them in our own language(s) speaking of the mighty Works/Deeds of Elohim/God."(v.11) They were amazed and greatly perplexed, asking, "What does this mean?", but the ones with "no ears to hear" the message of the Good News, mocked them and accused them of just being drunk. (v.12-13).
What example do we have from this account of Acts 2? Do we see anyone doing what we see being done in the "Churches" today? The answer is a resounding NO! I have talked with people that have experienced this so called receiving the “Holy Spirit” and it is interesting that it comes up from their feet, and wells up in them and then they start speaking uncontrollably. Read all of 1 Cor. 14 again... There is to be order, and the speaking in a different language (tongue) is useless to the "church", unless someone can interpret what is being said. What is done today is not translatable. The witness of Scripture shows us that they should and could control it and not speak if there was no translator or unbeliever present to hear and understand the message.
Speaking in “Tongues” is a gift to those that will be witnessing to the unbelievers of other Languages. Sha’uwl/Paul makes it clear that “ Prophecy” is of MORE value to the Believers, because this gives valuable instruction to the Church... The Believers should not need a sign. There is no need for an English speaking church member to speak in a foreign language unless there are unbelieving visitors from another country and/or language.
I also want to touch on the fact that I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears, how these groups of people put so much pressure on their members to speak in “Tongues” that they are led into it and they are literally pushed into it by coercion to the point where this person looses control and does what they are being pressured in to. I have also been told that they will tell a person who has not "received" it yet, to practice what they have heard from others. PRACTICE ???? This should be a HUGE Red Flag, warning them to get out of there. These groups put people into a state of mind which I believe opens them up to deception. We all want to fit in and we want to please our peers, so all of this sets up the person to become what they behold. I believe we should consider Second Thessalonians 2:10-11 here and really consider the fact that not having a love for the Truth will set you up to believe what is False. "they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved and for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false". What is done (by most if not all) today is not scriptural. In all of the scriptural examples of a person either receiving the “Holy Spirit” or speaking in a tongue, it just happens without the person or the church even knowing it is about to happen. And it happens without chanting, dancing, peer pressure, coercion, or practicing!
Remember that “speaking in tongues” and interpreting tongues is last on the list of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-11), so its importance is only when it is needed to witness to someone of another language. We need to realize that just because we experience or feel something, doesn't mean it is True. Part One of the Bible gives us 3 Tests that we need to apply to what is going on today. Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Deut. 18:22 and Isaiah 8:20. These rules/instructions can be applied to Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, and anyone that acts as or says they are representatives of the Word of GOD. It is to be a "Checks and Balances" to what is happening before our eyes. I will say here to all of the "Old Testament Nay-Sayers" who say that the "Old Testament" isn't for us today, that they need to consider 1 Corinthians 10 and especially verses 6 and 11. We are the people upon whom the ends of the ages have come and we need to look back at previous examples in Scripture so that we don't fall as they did. How are we to know what is Counterfeit, if we are not taught what is REAL? People today live their lives on Entertainment, Feelings and Experiences and the "Highs" that come with it. Entertainment is what I see happening in most congregations. The leaders of these congregations are competing with TV, Internet and Video games and people will not stick around for anything less than the "high" that they get from all the other forms of entertainment. Hopped up of hype is the order of today!
I want to share a story that I believe exemplifies what I believe to be True Speaking in Tongues. There was a pastor who traveled to Africa to share the Gospel with a large group of people who did not speak the pastor's language, which is English. This pastor had no knowledge of their language and was to rely on a translator to Interpret for him. The evening came and it was time to begin, but the pastor's interpreter did not show up. They waited for a while and it was clear that he was not coming. There was no one else to interpret. Most would have cancelled the meeting, however this pastor prayed for help and he decided to go ahead and speak to the people in English and hope that they would some how understand. When the pastor got on stage and began to speak, to everyone's amazement, they heard fluent Swahili, their native tongue. Can you imagine the amazement of the African people to hear this man witness to them in their language. Can you imagine how much more meaningful his words were to them when they found out that the pastor had not studied or learned their language before coming to them? Now, I don't know if he was given the ability to speak Swahili, or if he spoke in English but they heard in Swahili. Either way, I believe, gives a True Biblical example of what Speaking in Tongues would look like today.
I believe that we have enough evidence to know that what happens in the groups that believe that you have to speak in tongues to prove the receipt of the Holy Spirit, is simply NOT the same thing that is taught in the Scriptures. It is a deception.
It seems clear to me that the proof of someone receiving the Holy Spirit is revealed by the Fruits that they Produce. A goodly tree is known by it’s Fruit..
We must come out of Error and Tradition and follow what is taught in the Scriptures Only... Friend, you must think for yourself while studying the Bible.... We are to be a Workman that need not be ashamed. Rightly dividing/handling the Truth... 2 Timothy 2:15
Thank you for reading this, I hope that you will Pray and ask our Heavenly Father to guide you in your study of his word !!
Maranatha, John
© 2009 Common Law Copyright John Dandridge, All Rights Reserved Without Prejudice. Can be reprinted ONLY if NO Changes are made to the Text. Revised 9-07-2014.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
No Food on Yom Kippur?
Q. Where in Scripture does it say no food on Yom Kippur?
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