“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.”
(Acts 2:4)
This is the second chapter in a row on speaking in unlearned languages. Tongues are so controversial, why preach on tongues at all? Because it’s in the Bible, and that’s all the justification needed. Second Timothy 3:16 says, “AllScriptureis inspiredby Godandisprofitable…” Tongues are in the Scripture and therefore they are inspired by God and therefore profitable. Why would we neglect part of Scripture when all of Scripture is inspired and is profitable? What the Bible says about tongues is inspired by God. Why would you want to not learn about something God gave us that He Himself declares profitable for us? God only gives good gifts, and He gives them for our own good.
If the gifts of the Spirit passed away, then whole sections of the New Testament cannot possibly be profitable. Might as well tear them out of your Bible! What would be profitable for us to study the rest of the book of Acts and 1Cor.12-14 if those passages are no longer profitable?
Besides all that, in 1 Cor.12:1 God tells us that He does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. If there is a major flaw in the modern American church, it is its ignorance of the gifts of the Spirit. If you ask the typical 100 people what their spiritual gift is, 99 of them would tell you they have no clue. That in spite of the fact that God has told us He doesn’t want us ignorant of spiritual gifts! Then 1Cor.14:1 says, “Desire spiritual gifts.” We are supposed to want to have and use the gifts God has given to us. Desire is a very expressive Greek word. Some translate it, “Earnestly desire spiritual gifts.” Go after them! You will never desire something you think will not profit you. You will never have something you do not honor. “He who honors Me, I will honor.”
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