Dr. Mike Fogerson Tongues 4 August 19, 2012
A In philosophy there is a tool used called “an argument of silence.”
1 Means there is simply no direct evidence that proves anything.
a When people say that Jesus didn’t have a prayer language it is an argument of silence because there is no clear evidence that He did.
b Also true that there is no direct evidence that He didn’t.
2 What I share with you tonight may surprise you concerning the possibilities about Jesus and prayer languages.
B Jesus supported, endorsed, and prophesied about prayer languages.
1 17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17 (NASB)
a “new” is kairai, which means “new and unusual.”
b Jesus said that prayer language (new tongue) would be sign that fell on the early believers as the gospel spread.
2 Some question the validity/authenticity of the last several verses of Mark 16 because it is not found in the earliest manuscripts, but they do appear in the majority of the manuscripts we do have!
3 Jesus promised that signs would follow those who fulfill the Great Commission.
a Verified in Hebrews 2.1-4
1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable , and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty ,3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Heb 2:1-4 (NASB)
b God verified the words of the gospel by supernatural gifts, signs, & miracles.
T.S. What I am about to share with you may be unusual (you don’t have to agree with me),
just receive this research with an open heart/mind.
I Nicodemus & Prayer Language.
A John 3.5-8 contains a masterful play on words.
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again .'8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8 (NASB)
1 Nicodemus is an OT scholar, bible exegesis, theology student.
a “You must be born again.”
aa again is from the Greek “anothen,” which can mean “from above.”
bb No one can access the kingdom of God without a spiritual birth.
cc Once you are saved the spiritual realm opens up to those who have had a second birth by the Holy Spirit.
b Jesus illustrates this new birth by using the word “wind” in our English version.
aa The usual word for “wind” is anemos, but here “pneuma.”
bb Pneuma is translated as “Spirit” in John 3.5-8, literally can be read, “The Spirit spirits where He wishes . . .”
c “Sound” is the Greek word phone, which means “voiced” or “languages.”
aa Vincent Word Study says, “Thou heardest His voice . . .”
bb Could it be that Jesus is telling Nicodemus that the Spirit will articulate phonetically a new language?
2 Could it be, “The Spirit blows where it wishes and you hear the articulated language, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit?
a When Rome brought its kingdom to conquer another land, it brought a language with them . . . the Greek language, which was the universal language of its day.
b Could it be that God’s kingdom breaking through released “the tongues of angels”?
B Ol’Nicodemus would have undoubtedly been at Pentecost.
1 He would have observed & experienced the wind blowing, tongues of fire, ecstatic utterances.
a He would have also had the Jewish tradition of why Pentecost was celebrated.
aa Giving of the Law on Sinai.
bb God spoke to Moses by “voice,” descended in power causing supernatural lightening, thunder, angelic trumpets and smoke (Exod. 19.16-19).
6 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder . Ex 19:16-19 (NASB)
b 18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.19 Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die."20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. Ex 20:18-22 (NASB)
c Exod. 20.18, The people “trembled and stood afar off.”
2 The people didn’t want to hear the language of heaven from God’s voice (v.19).
a Moses tried to get them to receive, embrace the heavenly words but they refused (v.20), sadly the people decided to stand afar off (v.21).
b God said to Moses, “You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” (V. 22).
3 Surely Nicodemus would have heard the challenge of hearing from heaven and not being afraid of a powerful spiritual breakthrough.
a He may have been among the 120 gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost.
b This time 3,000 drew near & received God’s voicel
II Jesus’ Prayer Life
A Jesus had a profound and powerful prayer life.
1 He’d go for long seasons to pray.
a 40 days fast/journey before launching His 3 year ministry.
b He’d go to pray in the mountains
c His disciples asked Him, “Teach us to pray.” Luke 11.1
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1 (NASB)
aa Jesus was interrupted, “ceased” (pauao) means to cause or to pause.
bb Then gives Luke 11.2-4
2 And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father , hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.3 'Give us each day our daily bread. 4 'And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.' "Luke 11:2-4 (NASB)
2 Notice the prayer for Kingdom & power & glory are not in Luke.
a Jesus moves from the pattern of prayer to persistence in prayer by telling a parable.
b Friend @ midnight (Luke 11.5-8).
5 Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';7 and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'8 "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:5-8 (NASB)
aa Then encourages an ever-increasing level of passion in prayer: ask, seek, and knock
bb 9 "So I say to you, ask , and it will be given to you; seek , and you will find; knock , and it will be opened to you.10 "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 (NASB)
B He promises an open door to all who come to Him in prayer!
1 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:13 (NASB)
2 Righteous prayer results in the giving of the Holy Spirit and all His gifts/graces.
a Persistent & passionate prayers will lead to a release of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
b Could this include a prayer language?
III Understanding the Great Commission
A 14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Mark 16:14-20 (NASB)
1 Mark was written 15 to 20 years after Jesus was ascended.
a Prayer language (speaking in tongues) is a sign that accompanies not simply apostles but also those who are people of faith.
b Many will dismiss this verse because of the belief that the text is an endorsement of snake handling and drinking poison.
aa This is God’s promise of His protection, power, and His commission if obeyed.
bb IL. Paul on Malta
2 It would be difficult to conclude that Jesus did or did not have a prayer language.
B He did teach on the intimacy of prayer and promised these gifts to His church.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
