The Taste of Heaven, promised as a blessing through Abraham and Joel, is for all those who the Lord calls. It is an encounter with the Spirit of God that opens the natural man to experience the supernatural, heavenly realm of spiritual reality, not as an observer, but as a participant, made spiritual, in fellowship with God’s Holy Spirit, graced with spiritual abilities outside the grasp of natural man, engaged with spiritual reality and empowered to impact the natural world with spiritual tools.
In the Old Testament world the Holy Spirit coming upon a person gave them such supernatural impacts as ability to see spiritual realities, such as angels; have supernatural revelation by dreams and visions, as with the prophets; have supernatural strength, as with Samson; hear God’s voice, as with the whole nation of Israel at Sinai; work miracles, such as multiply food, open a body of water, raise the dead and heal the sick; have divine wisdom, such as a battle strategy; and more.
The New Testament describes a new set of empowerments which come by the Holy Spirit poured into people’s lives, including: witness of being God’s child; prophetic inspiration to speak the wonderful works of God; ability to heal people supernaturally; dreams and visions; ability to pray in an unknown language; ability to know information not disclosed to them; ability to identify spirits at work around them; ability to bring people a direct message from God; ability to bring a direct word from God to people via an unknown language and/or interpreting a message in an unknown language; functioning in divine authority in the body of Christ in the office of apostle, prophet, teacher, evangelist, miracle worker or healer (plus others – 1Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11); character fruits; and spiritual perception.
There is a wide scope of spiritual experiences and capacities opened to the believer as they receive Abraham’s blessing, the promise of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance they now qualify for as God’s children. One particular spiritual capacity is highlighted as a significant marker, speaking in an unknown language as the Holy Spirit empowers the believer.
We see speaking in tongues as the sign of Joel’s prophecy being fulfilled at Pentecost.
Acts 2:16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.
Tongues is the sign that Gentiles at the home of Cornelius had received exactly the same blessing of the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost
Acts 10:47 – received the Holy Spirit just as we have.
When people at Ephesus confessed Christ and were baptised and Paul prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues was the result.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Speaking in tongues is the widespread spiritual experience evidenced in the New Testament church. It was practiced in large groups (as at Pentecost and Cornelius’ home) and individually (as Paul described – 1Corinthians 14:28). It was not hidden but openly observed, such as at Pentecost and Ephesus. It was discussed as a spiritual faculty available to all believers, as in Jude 20, where all believers are advised to build up their faith by praying in the Holy Spirit.
Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy SpiritThe New Testament Taste of Heaven clearly involves speaking in languages of men and angels (1Corinthians 13:1) which people have not learned, but which they speak as direct consequence of a spiritual experience called Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is thus a significant marker that a New Testament believer has experienced that special encounter with the Holy Spirit, given by Jesus, as John the Baptist prophesied, called Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Speaking in tongues also befits a description about the Holy Spirit given by Jesus, as a well of living water springing up within the believer.
John 7:38,39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The flow of language, speaking out prayers and praise to God, is a good fit for Jesus’ prescription. At Pentecost a flow of praise, speaking the wonderful works of God in languages unknown to the speaker carries the effect of a flow from our innermost being – rivers of praise to God.
Acts 2:11 we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God
Prophecy is the only other supernatural gift of the Spirit connected with people receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Prophecy is also a flow of words, like a river from the innermost being.
Prophecy involves words in the speaker’s own language, compared with tongues as an unknown language. This reflects Paul’s claim about himself that he will use his known language (speaking by his understanding) and the heavenly prayer language.
1Corinthians 14:15 I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
At the home of Cornelius we also find other words accompanying speaking in tongues.
Acts 10:45-47 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptised who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?
Tongues and More Tongues
Speaking in tongues is not only a profound experience evidenced in the early church, but an ongoing contention among believers today. Apostle Paul addressed issues around speaking in tongues to the Corinthian church and today churches are divided over speaking in tongues.
Thankfully more is spoken about tongues in the New Testament than any other of the nine listed gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:7-10), so we should be able to discern some helpful clarity.
Audience: One of the most striking distinctions about speaking in an unknown language is the intended audience. Simply stated speaking in tongues can be a spiritual outpouring to God, which includes prayer and praise, or it can be a message to a human audience, such as a church congregation. Obviously a message to the church requires the accompanying miraculous gift of Interpretation of an Unknown Language. Prayer and praise can be spoken out privately or corporately, but a message to the church must be spoken singularly to be heard and heeded.
At Pentecost we find the entire church speaking to God, proclaiming the wonderful works of God. The whole group spoke at the same time, something that would be counselled against if the intended audience was the crowd.
At the home of Cornelius we also find the whole group spontaneously speaking at the same time, and speaking to God, magnifying God.
The idea of magnifying God or speaking the wonderful works of God is a practice evident in Psalms, where God is repeatedly commended for wonderful works and glories. It could be suggested that praise outpourings accompanying Baptism in the Holy Spirit are akin to the prophetic outpourings in the psalms.
Speaking in tongues to God, as prayer, is clearly evident in New Testament writings.
1Corinthians 14:14 – For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1Corinthians 14:15 – I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Ephesians 6:17,18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
Jude 20,21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
1Corinthians 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
1Corinthians 14:18,19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Speaking in Tongues to people, as a message to the church, is also clear in the New Testament, since all such occasions are addressed to the church and require the associated spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues.
1Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ….. to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1Corinthians 12:28-30 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1Corinthians 14:13,14 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Corinthians 14:26-28 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
1Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unlessindeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Summary: We see that the Holy Spirit gives believers a prayer language capacity of speaking in tongues. This is a river of praise and prayer from within as the Holy Spirit speaks through them.
It is directed to God and it has wonderful benefit for the speaker as it edifies them (builds them up) and builds up their faith.
1Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Praying in tongues was done corporately in the New Testament without any censure, as at Pentecost, Cornelius’ home and Ephesus. This is because it is a personal expression, not intended to be understood or interpreted. It is akin to a group prayer meeting where each person cries out to God at the same time.
Speaking in tongues as a message to the church was to be managed by certain protocols, including that there be one with the gift of interpretation of tongues. Without an interpreter no message in tongues was to be spoken. However if there was one with the spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues the combined message and interpretation had the same standing as prophecy, which Paul declared to be the best gift.
1Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Copyright Ps Chris Field November 2023
cfield096@gmail.com
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