Oct. 25, 2009 sermon: “The Mystery of Speaking in Tongues”
Rev. James Meeks, founder/senior pastor
Scripture: Acts 2:2
- There is no subject that causes more dissension in the church than that of speaking in tongues.
- if this gift is in operation today, it is the least of all spiritual gifts today.
It is the only one that edifies the individual and not the entire body.
We have taken a gift that is so small and blown it up. In fact, some denominations have been formed solely around speaking in tongues.
This event happened on the same day that the Holy Spirit came into the lives of the believers.
It is not correct that everyone hears the sound of God in a mighty rushing wind.
And are we saying that everybody is filled with the Holy Ghost that the fire is sitting on them?
Some signs that you are saved:
1. Love. Do they love people or not?
2. Forgiveness. Do you have the capacity to forgive people that hurt you or do you wrong?
3. Are you patient? 1 Corinthians 13.
4. Do you give people a secnd chance? Read Acts 15. Paul didn’t want to give Mark a second chance. If God keeps giving us chances, why don’t we give someone else a second chance?
5. Do you go to church?
6. Giving.
The Holy Spirits purpose is to shine the light on Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not come to bring attention to himself, so you know he doesn’t come to bring attention to you. Read John 16:13
If the thing you do does not bring glory to God, is not ordained by the Holy Spirit.
When they speak in verse 4, the emphasis is actually on verse 11.
Verse 4 was never the intention of Jesus for the church. It was verse 11.
The day of Pentecost was a celebration of when God gave the people the law. People were from all over. What happened was everyone gathered outside of the Upper Room where the 120 were gathered. So the noise they created spread and others came to hear what the noise was all about.
God intends for whatever happens in the church, He plans for it to spill out on the outside. Our message is so powerful that we ought to take it on the road to those that need to know.
The tongue spoken on the day of Pentecost was not something only God understood. It wasn’t unintelligible. It wasn’t gibberish. They were speaking other languages and the people from all over heard them speak in their own language.
If you are communicating with me, communicate in a way that I understand.
What happened on Pentecost reverses what happened on the Tower of Babel. Genesis 11.
We are supposed to leave here and tell others about the wonderful works of God.
