Speaking with tongues was given only to some, whereas every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him (Rom. 8:99But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9); John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)). The Christian has believed the gospel of his salvation, and has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. He does not pray for the Spirit; he prays by the Spirit (Rom. 8:2626Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)). He says, "Abba, Father" by the Spirit (Rom. 8:1515For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15); Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)).
In Acts 2 The converts did not speak with tongues, nor in Acts 8. It was the preachers that spoke with tongues, so that all could hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God.
In Acts 10:4444While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:44) the Gentile converts spoke with tongues, and magnified God, so that the Jewish prejudice was overcome, and Peter, who had the keys of the Kingdom, commanded in the Name of the Lord that they should be baptized into the assembly on earth.
In Acts 19, Paul found some twelve disciples of John the Baptist who had never learned that the Holy Spirit had come down to dwell in the assembly. He told them of Christ Jesus, and baptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and laid his hands on them; then the Holy Ghost came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Among all the many conversions narrated in the Acts, these are the only three eases of speaking with tongues, and in each case what they said was fully understood.
Miracles, gifts of healing, speaking with tongues, have all passed away as no more needed. There is no gospel of healing. There are thousands of sick Christians, and no promise in the Word that they were to believe to be healed. We have all seen answers to our prayers in some eases for our dear sick ones, but not always, as Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus, and others (see 1 Cor. 11:3030For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30); 1 John 5). The Christian's blessings are heavenly; he has many mercies here as well.
What is called speaking with tongues in this day is against all Scripture, and the influence under which those who have willingly given themselves up to, is not of the Spirit of God.
Satan has always imitated what God does; he used the magicians to withstand Moses; he set up false gods to worship, so that he could keep men away from the true God. God sent prophets; Satan sent false prophets. God sowed wheat; Satan sowed tares-imitation wheat (Matt. 13). God has wise virgins; Satan has foolish ones (Matt. 25). The Lord sent apostles and prophets; Satan does so also (see Matt. 7:2222Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22); 2 Cor. 11:1313For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:13); 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1); Rev. 2:22I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (Revelation 2:2)).
He now imitates Christ's miracles. We see them wrought by the enemies of God so-called Christian Science, priests and faith healers. Compare Acts 2:2222Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (Acts 2:22) for the Lord's miracles, and 2 Thess. 2:99Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9) for Satan's. In the future day he has his trinity also. The beast, the false prophet and the dragon, and lots of miracles then (Rev. 13:12-14; 16:13, 1412And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:12‑14)
13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13‑14)).
The Lord's coming is near; Satan's miracles are showing themselves, and the poor world is more and more blinded (1 Tim. 4:1, 21Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1‑2); 2 Tim. 3:1-131This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1‑13)), and now we would earnestly entreat any dear child of God, who is entangled in any of these snares, and has given himself up to this influence to be led, that he turn to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to deliver him from what is not of Himself; from what is ruining the souls of so many. It is not the influence of the Spirit of God; it is not what is in the Word of God.
Dear blinded one, look to the Lord Jesus; He alone can set you free. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).
A Christian wife, in the presence of her husband, said to the writer of this, "My husband's prayers do me no good now. When we go on our knees, this influence comes on him, then I do not understand what he says." When asked if he understood what he was saying, he replied to this effect:
“No, but a man said that I might be praying for some one in a foreign country who speaks that language.”
How sad it is that dear children of God should be so deluded, and the praise and adoration of His dear saints hindered from going up to God who delights to hear His Son well spoken of.
Our only path of safety is in keeping humble before the Lord, and looking to Him to keep us true to His Word and Name.
(Continued from page 16)