Tongues and Gifts
​
There is no doubt that there were supernatural signs (tongues, etc.) bestowed on the first believers through The Holy Spirit as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts but is The Holy Spirit still doing these things today or did the 'gifts' cease with the apostles? The belief that the gifts have ceased with the apostles is known as cessationism and is very common among more conservative denominations such as Baptists but definitely not among the Pentecostal or Charismatic congregations. I can't say whether or not these gifts continue since Jesus did say "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."
​
At first glance these gifts seem to be very active in the church today and many large ministries have been built around these. From the healing crusades of Benny Hinn to the prophetic words spoken through many other so-called prophets and of course the countless Christians that speak in tongues. But is this Really The Holy Spirit working and if not are these people simply deceived or are they deliberately perpetrating deception? Countless 'revelations' have been spoken through 'word of faith' leaders such as Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis clearly stating ‘thus saith The Lord’ but was it Really The Lord speaking? One quick look and the answer is obviously not! The list of inaccuracies and clearly heretical teachings is far too long to go into here and there are many good sources on the internet available for those who are interested. From being 'slain in the Spirit' at the motion of the man of God, false and even staged healings, to the countless 'revelations' that are in direct conflict with the scriptures, there is no doubt that Christianity has been the subjected to ridicule by unbelievers as a direct result of the actions of these leaders which is far cry from the scriptural command for our actions to be above reproach. Most of the prophecies are too vague to be verified anyway and others are just flat out wrong (i.e. Trump winning a second term). Nothing at all like the prophecies given through Daniel or others like him. And the words of 'knowledge' are purely the imagination of the speaker. For instance, Jesse Duplantis said that we (believers) are a gift from Jesus to his father, whereas the scripture records Jesus saying the exact opposite, we are a gift to him from his father!
I would like to share my experience which may shed some light on where some of these people are coming from and this also comes with an urgent call for repentance to anyone on a similar path!
I became a Christian at the age of eighteen and was on fire for God. I came to Christ through a somewhat unusual way in that I had not heard the gospel prior to receiving it. In any case, following being led in the sinner's prayer to receive Jesus, I felt The Holy Spirit for about a minute afterwards. I had no knowledge of Christianity and certainly no expectation of this. I grew in Christ and followed him in the joy of The Holy Spirit. I was taught evolution growing up which was very upsetting since I loved life and my family and according to evolution we would all die and never exist again…ever! Anyway, I was extremely happy to find out about God!!!
I attended a Pentecostal church which believed in the baptism of The Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues (very common then and now). I didn't seek out this experience and since I knew that I had already received The Holy Spirit without ‘the’ so-called evidence. However, I came across a book that taught one how to enter into the gift of tongues and that was simply by stepping out in ‘faith’ by just doing it. So I did and did it for many years although only when I was in an intense spiritual battle. I ‘believed’ it was the unintelligible edification of The Holy Spirit and it really did seem to improve the situation whatever it might be at the moment. I didn't speak in tongues publicly since I did not have the gift of interpretation (unlike so many three days). It seemed rather innocent to me but it had actually unlocked more dangerous doors which I would venture through later on.
So many years later I was in a bit of a spiritual battle and ended up fighting this in ‘the spirit’. Not even speaking in tongues but entering ‘The Holy Fire’ by faith to purify myself and destroy the spiritual strongholds I was facing. This was the beginning and from there I went deeper and deeper into the spiritual realm but didn't realize I was in my own imagination and was not being Led by The Holy Spirit. Sometime later I came to realize the error I was in and repented but unfortunately not before I lost my marriage and my church family as a result.
The main point is that just because we have The Holy Spirit and our intentions are good, we cannot accept whatever comes into our mind as being from the Holy Spirit! I was believing things that were not true, some of which I thought were direct revelations from The Holy Spirit. Now I don't believe I was being controlled by the devil but nevertheless it was not in Spirit and Truth which is a big deal!
I believe there are many sincere members of the body of Christ that have also entered this realm of imagination and are calling it God's word. God shook me very deeply with the revelation that I was doing this and I was horrified at my error. But it led me to repentance and deliverance and I am no longer engaged in this error. The call is for others to follow the same correction. It is a grave error to be mishandling the word of God as stated in Revelation 22:18-19...
​
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
For those of us who have been 'born again' through the gift of God (Jesus) and have received the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins we don't 'require' any other evidence than the priceless peace of Christ that we have received. And we live in His power every day, the power to do what is right and bear the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy.
One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 11:17 ‘The kingdom of heaven is not about eating and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and the Joy of The Spirit ‘. That's exactly what Christianity was to me in the beginning and my only pursuit three days! I no longer speak in tongues or go exploring in ‘the spirit’! I follow Jesus in Spirit and in truth and I am much better for it!