SPIRIT LANGUAGES
October 10, 2021 | Steve Pixler
Spiritual Gifts Series
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, McKinney, TX
Introduction: My Story
Biblical Background
The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
Acts 2:1–8 (NLT): 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
Acts 2:14–21 (NLT): Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy. 19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. 21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
Eschatological echoes
Babel (reversal of judgment upon the nations: Genesis 11, confusion of languages)
Exile (reversal of judgment upon Israel: Isaiah 28:10–11 (NLT): He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!” 11 So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language! )
Pure language (Zephaniah 3:9 (NLT): “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.” The age to come, Jerusalem-Judaea-Samaria-ends of the earth)
First century experience
1 Corinthians 12-14 — public tongues and private tongues
1 Corinthians 14:1–5 (NLT): Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious (in the Spirit, you speak mysteries). 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
1 Corinthians 14:13–19 (NLT): So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
1 Corinthians 14:27–28 (NLT): No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
2. Romans 8: Groaning too deep for words
Romans 8:26–28 (NLT): And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (too deep for words).
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Christian History
1. Mystics
2. Cessationists
3. Pentecostal/Charismatic renewal/third wave
Conclusion: Spirit Apps
Spiritual gifts come pre-installed on the hsOS (Holy Spirit operating system!)