PROCLAMATION
“All of them were filled with The Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as The Spirit enabled them … When they
heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard
their own language being spoken.” Acts 2:4-6 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words were written by Luke, the
physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. When the day of
Pentecost came, they were all in one place and on one accord. There was a
sound like a blowing violent wind, and they saw what appeared to be tongues of
fire which came upon each one of them. Each of the 120 men and women in
the upper room (Acts 1:13-15) was filled with The Holy Spirit and began to
speak in tongues (Acts 2:4) and each person in the crowd that gathered heard
them in their own language. (Acts 2:6) The crowd included people from the
surrounding areas who spoke different dialects and languages. (Acts
2:8-11) Three thousand people joined the church that day (Acts 2:41) and
The Lord God adds to the church daily as He sees fit. (Acts 2:47)
APPLICATION
All believers are filled with The Holy Spirit
of God. (Romans 8:9) Today, however, there seems to have been a
misunderstanding of “speaking in tongues.” Speaking in tongues means
speaking in a foreign language or dialect, usually an ancient one, without
having learned or been taught the language. It is done for the benefit of
someone who speaks and understands that language or dialect to help the church
grow. When one is given the gift of speaking in tongues it is for the
edification of the church and there should be someone else there who has been
given the gift to interpret tongues so that the church is edified. (1
Corinthians 12:28-30 and 14:4-5) If one is speaking in tongues in order
to speak to God, that is not necessary for He speaks and understands all
languages. Prayer can be in any language or utterance. If we are
not speaking to God, then our spoken words should be helpful to someone
(Colossians 4:6) or they should give God glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment