Blessed Assurance The Truth about Speaking in Tongues Greg Backes
Blessed Assurance The Truth about Speaking in Tongues
Copyright 2008 Greg Backes, All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author. Scriptures used in this pamphlet are from the following versions: Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. LaHabra, California. All Rights Reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ASV) are taken from the American Standard Version. 1901 Edition. Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from The Amplified Bible, copyright 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation and The Lockman Foundation. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from The New Revised Standard Version published in 1952. ISBN 978-1-60458-232-1 First Printing: January 2008 P.O. Box 9002, Naperville, IL 60567 www.ourhopeofglory.com
Contents Preface... 7 God s Desire Blessed Assurance... 9 Eternal Life... 14 How to Receive Eternal Life... 17 A New Beginning for Mankind... 19 What is Speaking in Tongues?... 24 What Language is Tongues?... 31 The Manifestation of Speaking in Tongues... 32 The Profit of Speaking in Tongues... 36 Magnify God... 37 I Corinthians Chapter 14... 39 Speaking unto God Mysteries... 42 Edify or Build-up Yourself... 44 God s Will for All to Speak in Tongues... 46 Confusion in the Church... 49 Seek that You May Excel to Edification... 51 Speaking in Tongues is Perfect Prayer... 52 Give Thanks Well... 56 A Fine Example... 57
Ministries and Manifestations within the Church... 59 True Worship... 61 A Spiritual Relationship with Your Heavenly Father... 66
Preface This pamphlet is not exhaustive in nature regarding the topic of speaking in tongues. It is designed to give the reader an understanding of the benefits associated with speaking in tongues. Some of the benefits illustrated and explained are: certainty of eternal life, perfect prayer, true worship, building up of the inner man, giving thanks well, praise to God and true worship. It is the author s intent that if you, the reader, currently speak in tongues that the scripture contained in this brief study will create a desire in you to speak in tongues much more in your private prayer life. If you do not currently speak in tongues it is the author s prayer that the scriptures contained in this pamphlet will give you an understanding of speaking in tongues and how it is to be used in a Christian s life. It is the author s prayer that you will manifest the greatness of the power of God in your life by speaking in tongues. The Word of God, The Bible, stands on its own and can be the only source for
finding the truth regarding spiritual matters. In looking at the topic of speaking in tongues it is vitally important that we let the Word of God speak for itself. We cannot elevate our personal experience or the opinions of men above God s Word. God s Word is in a category all its own. In Psalm 138:2 it states that God has magnified His Word above all His name. God exhorts us to study His Word in II Timothy. II Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. When a child of God knows the Word of God and rightly divides that Word he need never be ashamed. I pray that God will open the eyes of your spiritual understanding and that God will show you great truths from His magnificent Word.
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues God s Desire Blessed Assurance There are many Christians, children of God, which have doubts as to their sonship and eternal life. One day they feel like they are saved and the next day they doubt that they are good enough to receive God s love and salvation. They feel empty and are searching for reassurance of their salvation. They endeavor to do good works to keep their salvation. Thinking that they could lose it if they do something wrong. They doubt their sonship and that they are saved. They base their salvation on their feelings and the circumstances they may find themselves in. This kind of thinking, this kind of doubt and worry is tormenting to one s mind. The uncertainty regarding one s eternal destination cause sleepless nights and anxious days. For some Christians they just give up all together, not knowing what God has done for them through Jesus Christ. This is not how God desires His children to live. He desires that they are assured 9
Blessed Assurance of the salvation which He has so freely given. It can only break His heart to see His children suffer because of doubt and worry and condemnation. It is God s will that His children know, without one trace of doubt, that they are His and that their eternal destination has been sealed. The grace and mercy of God Almighty shown forth to mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ, is declared and made known for all to see and know. Your Heavenly Father desires that you know beyond any shadow of doubt that you are His and He is yours. It is His will for you to have confidence in who He is and in what He has accomplished for you through His Son Jesus Christ. Days of doubt and worry need to end! Second guessing God s Word must cease! Ignorance of God s Word must stop when it s available to know the truth! The tears from the cry of a heart to God have been dried. It is a new day! It is a fresh and glorious life for the one who knows that he knows that he is God s child. Each day is an exciting new 10
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues day anticipating and looking for the blessings that a Heavenly Father has in store for his beloved child. It is God s will that you as His child never doubt your sonship. It is His will that you know by experience that you are His child. It is God s heart s desire that you enjoy the fullness of the fellowship and comfort that only a child can know from a loving Heavenly Father. Concerning spiritual matters, God does not want His children to be ignorant. He desires that you know the score. He desires that you are fully cognizant of what you have received when you became His child. The only way to know the truth regarding eternal life, sonship and fullness of fellowship with your Heavenly Father is to read the truth regarding those things in the Word of God, the Bible. The experience you may have or the lack of experience one may display in his life is not the standard for the eternal truths of eternal life. Experience and feelings will surge and 11
Blessed Assurance fade with the day. We cannot base eternal truths on experience or feelings. Truth is truth. It doesn t change or alter based on feelings or experiences. It is in God s Word that we will find a storehouse of goodness and grace and mercy. It is in God s Word where our assurance will be established. It is God s Word that will answer the heart questions of life. As a child of God, surely you desire to know your Heavenly Father. As a child of God, surely you hunger to praise and worship the one True God as He designed praise and worship. As a child of God, surely you long for the assurance that you are His and He is yours. Let your heart soak in the rich wisdom and understanding that comes from His Word. You will walk and talk with a confidence and boldness that only comes with knowing who your Heavenly Father is and who you are as His child. This booklet was written in mind for those that are already children of the Father. It was written to give His 12
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues children assurance of their sonship, so that you as a son of God might never waver again regarding who you are as His child. It is certainly not limited to only those that already have eternal life. If one is reading that has not yet become a child of the Father, included is how to become God s child, how to receive eternal life, how to become born again. 13
Blessed Assurance Eternal Life 14 John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God loved the world. God loved the people of the world. He so loved that He gave. He did the giving. Mankind didn t give anything. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Why did God give His Son? So that whosoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:17 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jesus Christ didn t come to condemn anybody. He came to give life. He came to make mankind whole. He came to restore the relationship between God and man that was severed by Adam when he
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues transgressed the commandment of God. He came to make the spirit of God freely available to mankind once again. Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus Christ was successful. He was the beginner and the finisher of believing. He believed God perfectly! No mistakes! He completed, finished the job that his Father had sent him to do. He accomplished the redemption of mankind. Ephesians 2:8 9: (KJV) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith (believing); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 15
Blessed Assurance You are saved by God s grace. Grace is God s divine, unmerited favor given to you. You are not saved because of your works. You are saved because of the completed work of Jesus Christ! It is a gift from God. God s Son is a gift to mankind. Believing God s Word is so much easier than trying to work out your own salvation. When you believe God you receive the benefits of that believing. When you reject God s Word you receive the consequences of your unbelief. Our salvation is not by our own works. No one receives a better salvation than another because of his own works. It was the complete, perfect accomplished work of Jesus Christ that makes eternal life available. We cannot boast in our own works. We are to boast in the completed work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 16
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues How to Receive Eternal Life Romans 10: 9 10: (KJV) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You are saved, you receive eternal life when you believe in your heart (the mind) that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and when you confess Jesus as Lord. Do you believe that God Almighty raised Jesus Christ from the dead? Have you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus. That is to say, Jesus, you are Lord of my life. If you have, you have eternal life. You have received God s gift of eternal life. You are a child of God that is filled with holy spirit. 17
Blessed Assurance Romans 10:9 (NRSV) because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. There s nothing more you need to do to receive eternal life. Jesus Christ did all the work for your salvation! You cannot improve upon the spirit that you have received by your good works, nor can you degrade the spirit you have received by evil works. It is a perfect gift given to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God s solution for man s deliverance. 18
The Truth about Speaking in Tongues A New Beginning for Mankind Over two thousand years ago, on the day of Pentecost, it became available for men and women to have a permanent Father child relationship with the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Almighty God. Now, God could be a Father to men and women who would believe on His plan of salvation that is made available through Jesus Christ. Let s look at the record in the scriptures of the day of Pentecost and see what took place on that great and notable day. Acts 2:1 5 (KJV) 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, 3 and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 4 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 19
Blessed Assurance 20 5 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The day of Pentecost had been in the process of coming since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This day of Pentecost was a monumental moment spiritually in the history of mankind. The original receivers on the day of Pentecost were the 12 apostles. It is the 12 apostles that received the outpouring of the gift of holy spirit from God. There appeared unto the 12 apostles cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. Biblically the word sat refers to something being completely complete or finished. They where all filled to overflowing with the gift of holy spirit. When they were filled to overflowing what was manifested or shown forth? They began to speak with other tongues. They spoke in tongues! They spoke as God gave them the words to speak by way of the spirit that was now in each of them.