DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Gen 11:4-9

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the Lord  came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord  said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the Lord  scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord  did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord  scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Acts 2:2-8

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

1 Cor 14:33

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

          A question received by email prompts this morning’s study. The essence is that at one time God scattered man by confusing languages. Then, at Pentecost, God gathered man by making His message clear and plain. I do not think I will exhaust all there is to consider in this brief forum but some things are worth considering.

          Glossolalia is a term that references the event in the book of Acts. Much controversy continues regarding this. The word itself is from the Greek glossa which means tongue and the word lalia which means chatter. There is no mention of “unknown” tongues. The word used in Acts 2:4 is “other”. There is no mention of what is sometimes called “a heavenly language,” only that the Spirit gave utterance. It helps greatly if we get the facts straight.

          The multi-lingual gathering on the day of Pentecost presented the disciples with a unique opportunity to share the gospel. This is precisely what Jesus prophesied in Acts 1:8 when he said “when the Holy Spirit comes ye shall be witnesses.” In all our investigation, let’s not forget why this took place! The delivery of the gospel was paramount in importance. I don’t think God is interested in producing a highly controversial emotional experience.

          Another aspect to consider is whether the disciples spoke other languages or the people simply heard in their own language. One would be a miracle of speaking while the other would be a miracle of hearing. Either way the gospel was heard – and heard so clearly that 3,000 responded and were baptized.

          One more, very uncomfortable, question is whether the Devil might be able to counterfeit the gift of tongues, turn it into an emotional spectacle, and change the focus from witnessing to personal experience. I think the greatest evil has been to suppose that this is the qualifying evidence of salvation! Some have actually thought and taught that where there is no tongues … there is no salvation. This is insulting to the Cross and to grace.

          One thing is clear. We do not fully understand this miracle. What we do know is that, standing in the midst of  “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of [or from] Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, [all did] hear them speak in their own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (Acts 2:9-11) The important thing is that every nation and language needs to hear the wonderful works of God.

Dear Lord, you are not the author of confusion. Let me share your gospel clearly to those who need to hear it. AMEN