14/10/18 DERECH HAMASHIACH INC STUDY 28 SPEAKING IN TONGUES BOOK OF ACTS THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK OF JUDAISM DERECH HAMASHIACH INC

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1 STUDY 28 SPEAKING IN TONGUES BOOK OF ACTS THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK OF JUDAISM 1

2 The Manifestations of the Ruach The gifts of Tongues and Interpretation 1st Corinthians 13 Warning: speaking in the tongues of men and/or angels, prophecy and charity all mean nothing without love Two Hebrew words for language: Lashon (,wvl) Tongue Safar (hpc) Lip Some incorrect understandings: Speaking in tongues is of the devil If you don t speak in tongues, you are not spirit filled (or you are not saved/born again) Speaking in Tongues just means speaking in the Hebrew language The gift of tongues is done away with 2

3 The First Record of the Manifestation of Tongues: When was the first occasion (in the Apostolic Writings) of the manifestation of Speaking in Tongues? What was the purpose for this? What did this represent? 1. Evidence of being spirit filled / born again: NOT Acts 8 and 9 No mention of a joyous outbreak of praising G-d and speaking in tongues Acts 13:52 The Talmidim were simply filled with joy and the Ruach HaKodesh Speaking in tongues was not always and not the only evidence of the Ruach upon a person. 3

4 What Else? What other purpose or description of this manifestation do you know or have you heard of in your time as a Believer? What Else? 1. Personal prayer language 2. A joyous expression where your native language will not suffice (Niggunim) 3. Intercession language 4. When combined with interpretation, it can be prophecy 5. It is the Hebrew language (the Language of angels)? 6. A sign to unbelievers 7. And of course, speaking in another earthly language for the sake of someone who a) doesn t understand the main language being spoken or b) as a sign to them that G-d is speaking to them directly. 4

5 2. The Hebrew Language Tongues of angels in 1 st Corinthians 13:1 The Hebrew language the tongue of angels is a Hebrew idiom for Hebrew language Only evidence in Jubilees and one of the Qumran documents (4Q464) Jewish writings Suggest the tongue of angels was an esoteric tongue Meaning very unusual and understood or liked by only a small number of people, especially those with special knowledge 2. The Hebrew Language Acts 21:40 (KJV): And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Acts 26:14 (CJB*): We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, 'Sha'ul! Sha'ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? 1st Corinthians 14:18-19 (CJB*): I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 5

6 2. The Hebrew Language 1st Corinthians 14:14 & 15 (CJB*): For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit does pray, but my mind is unproductive. So, what about it? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If he was speaking in Hebrew, at least his mind would be productive, but he says it is not. Conclusion: Not all manifestation of tongues are the Hebrew language 3. A personal prayer language Romans 8:26-27 (CJB*): Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don't know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God's people accord with God's will. 6

7 4. An Expression of Joy and Personal Prayer Language Acts 10:44-45 (CJB*): Kefa was still saying these things when the Ruach HaKodesh fell on all who were hearing the message. All the believers from the Circumcision faction who had accompanied Kefa were amazed that the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh was also being poured out on the Goyim, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Again in Acts 19:6 (CJB*): and when Sha'ul placed his hands on them, the Ruach HaKodesh came upon them; so that they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Chasidic Ecstatic Utterances (Niggunim) Wordless songs/melodies songs generated as the spirit connects with HaShem 4. An Expression of Joy and Personal Prayer Language 1st Corinthians 14:1 (CJB*): Pursue love! However, keep on eagerly seeking the things of the Spirit; and especially seek to be able to prophesy. For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit. But someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them. A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation. I wish you would all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you would all prophesy. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless someone gives an interpretation, so that the congregation can be edified. 1st Corinthians 14:39 (CJB*): So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but let all things be done in a proper and orderly way 7

8 4. An Expression of Joy and Personal Prayer Language Speaking in tongues edifies the person speaking, praying or singing 1st Corinthians 14:16-17 (CJB*): Otherwise, if you are giving thanks with your spirit, how will someone who has not yet received much instruction be able to say, "Amen," when you have finished giving thanks, since he doesn't know what you are saying? For undoubtedly you are giving thanks very nicely, but the other person is not being edified. What is this type of manifestation of the gift of tongues useful for? 4. An Expression of Joy and Personal Prayer Language What is this type of manifestation of the gift of tongues useful for? Speaking direct to G-d Giving thanks It is an expression of praise to G-d and joy in the spirit It is self-edifying (if you need to pick yourself up) But it is a mystery to your own understanding and to others 8

9 5. Tongues (and Interpretation) A form of Prophecy 1st Corinthians 14:3 (CJB*): someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them. A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation. In verse 6 (CJB*): Brothers, suppose I come to you now speaking in tongues. How can I be of benefit to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 5. Tongues (and Interpretation) A form of Prophecy 1st Corinthians 14:9 onwards (CJB*): It's the same with you: how will anyone know what you are saying unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech? You will be talking to the air!. but if I don't know what a person's sounds mean, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation. Therefore someone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 9

10 Guidelines for using the Gifts of the Ruach 1st Corinthians 14:26 onwards (CJB*): What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification. If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret. And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets they can speak to themselves and to God. 1st Corinthians 14:26 (KJV): How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Romans 6:1 (KJV): What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. 6. One scriptural reason for the gift of tongues 1st Corinthians 14:20 onwards (CJB*): Brothers, don't be children in your thinking. In evil, be like infants; but in your thinking, be grown-up. In the Torah it is written, "By other tongues, by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people. But even then they will not listen to me, says ADONAI. Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole congregation comes together with everybody speaking in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers come in, won't they say you're crazy? But if you all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed person enters, he is convicted of sin by all, he is brought under judgment by all, and the secrets of his heart are laid bare; so he falls on his face and worships God, saying, "God is really here among you!" Isaiah 28:

11 Speaking in tongues is a sign to whom? Rav Shaul says not to the Believers, but to the unbelievers. These are Jewish people (those who understand Torah and Judaism), but do not believe that Yeshua, the Messiah has come. As for the unbelieving, those who are uninstructed, those not instructed in Torah (Gentile in other words), they will not understand what tongues are meant to signify from the writings of the Prophet Isaiah. They will however be convicted when they hear prophecy, and the secrets of their hearts laid bare. CONCLUSION: Quoting Rav Shaul and Jude (the brother of Yaakov): Do not forbid speaking in tongues. I wish you would all speak in tongues, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, for then you are speaking mysteries direct to G-d, and edifying yourself, the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for G-d's people accord with G-d's will. Seek eagerly the things of the spirit, and especially that you may prophesy. But whatever you do, do through the motive of love, to edify others, otherwise you will just be a clanging symbol, and others will simply say you are crazy. 11