ACTS

Today, is Tuesday.  Here are a few thoughts today: 1) MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS- In Acts 1:3, this is what the scriptures tell us.  Jesus proved Himself alive by many infallible proofs for forty days being seen of men.  John later tells us in I John, that our eyes saw, and our hands have handled, the Word of Life... Jesus!  Peter talks about hearing, seeing, and handling Jesus, but the more sure word is the Word of God given to us.  The resurrection was carefully proven by Jesus to His disciples before they began their great start of sharing the Gospel on the day of Pentecost. 2) TONGUES- What does the Bible say about tongues?  Well, there is what is called:  The Law of First Mention in Scripture  Interpretation that says that the first time a thing is mentioned it sets the foundation for all of the other times to build upon.  In Acts 2:4-11, we see the foundation.  vs. 4- "All filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."  vs. 6-"and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."  vs. 8-"And how hear we every man in our own tongue, where in we were born?"  vs. 11- "we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God".  Here is the teaching: a. Tongues were a language  vs. 6,8, 11 b. Tongues were miraculous vs. 4 c. Tongues were a foreign language spoken to men about the wonderful things of God vs.11 d. Tongues had a purpose.  1Co 14:22  "Wherefore tongues are for a sign," e. The Tongues were all in Gentile languages  vs. 6 and vs. 9-11a list the different nations. f. These men who were there, were Jews who lived outside of Jerusalem  (vs. 5 says- "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."  g. It was not JUST for sharing the Gospel, but every Jew knew Hebrew!!  It was a SIGN that the Gospel was open to the Gentiles, and tongues were used UNTIL the Jewish Christian finally understood this, and then tongues ceased!  It never was a HEAVENLY LANGUAGE or a PRAYER LANGUAGE, but a TOOL to show the JEWS that the GOSPEL was for ALL PEOPLE!!  This is the meaning of tongues according to the BIBLE.  Well, I've got to go for today!  Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler