Pentecost: The Power of the Spirit — Stephen Hamilton

Pentecost in the Feasts of the Lord

I want to draw your attention tonight once more to the 23rd chapter of the book of Leviticus. In this chapter we have a record given of various feasts of the Lord. Each of them do speak to us of the person and work of the Lord Jesus.

Last time we considered the third feast of the Lord, the Feast of Firstfruits. But that feast was followed by another holy convocation called the Feast of Pentecost. Perhaps you have heard of it. Pentecost is of course mentioned in the New Testament.

It was a feast, the fourth feast, which occurred exactly 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. We learn that from verses 15 and 16 where they were to count from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that they brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths, even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath.

He said, shall you number 50 days and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. It took place therefore this feast on the first day of the week. That's the Lord's day, the day upon which we worship God particularly and especially.

Now we've seen that the Firstfruits speaks to us, among other things, of the resurrection of Christ. Because, just to refresh your memory, back in verses 10 and 11, the Lord commanded them to bring a sheaf of the Firstfruits of their harvest unto the priest.

God says in verse 11, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you. On the morrow after the Sabbath, the priest shall wave it. And of course that morrow after the Sabbath was the Lord's day, the first day of the week.

And that's the day when Jesus rose from the dead. And the Bible calls Christ, in the book of 1 Corinthians, in the chapter 15, the Firstfruits of them that slept. So the feast of Firstfruits definitely speaks to us about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Pentecost as a Picture of the Unified Church

Now if that's true, then it is also true to say that the feast of Pentecost, following on from that, commemorates the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the church. I think it's interesting as we look at this portion, especially in verses 16 and 17, Leviticus 23, 16 and 17, that the New Testament church is pictured here.

He says, even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days, and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two-tenth deals.

They shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven. They are the firstfruits unto the Lord. It speaks there of a new meat offering. That one offering consisted of two loaves baked with leaven.

I know we're spiritualizing this, but I think as you look at the Scripture, it would not be wrong to say that those two loaves making one offering reminds us of the Jews and the Gentiles being made one body in Christ, in the church.

Two loaves, but one offering. And we read in Ephesians chapter 2, a portion that for me, definitely militates against the nonsense of hyper-dispensationalism, which tells us that the church didn't begin until Pentecost, or even, in some cases, the ministry of John the Baptist, or in some cases, the ministry of Christ.

Look at Ephesians chapter 2, and reading from verse 11, it says,. Wherefore remember that ye being in time past, Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now listen to verse 14 and onwards,. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, two loaves, one offering, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, between who?

Between Jews and Gentiles, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain or two, one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

There is this one church that's made up of Jew and Gentile. But I want you to notice as well that that offering in Leviticus 23 is baked with leaven. Now we've mentioned the leaven before, as we saw in the feast of unleavened bread.

Leaven and the Growth of God's Kingdom

Leaven or yeast can be a picture of sin. But as I read the Bible I find that it can also represent something good. Because the church shall be as leaven. According to the parables spoken by our Lord in Matthew 13 and verse 33.

Another parable, speak ye unto them. Matthew 13, 33. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. And I believe in this instance it's talking about the spread of the church.

And the growth of the kingdom of God. Not in an evil sense, but in a good sense. And surely that is the picture that God gives us of the New Testament church. It continues to grow, it continues to spread until Christ comes.

And of course on the New Testament day of Pentecost, the church quite literally grew instantaneously. As a result of the outpouring of the Spirit. Because about 3 ,000 souls were saved. And in the aftermath of that many more thousands were brought into the church.

Christ's Cross Before the Spirit's Outpouring

Now there are various offerings mentioned in Leviticus 23 that we're not going to look at in detail. But each one of them pictures the work of Christ on the cross. What I want to focus on tonight is the coming of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts chapter 2 we notice that that coming of the Spirit was on the day of Pentecost. But when the day of Pentecost was fully come, this is this feast mentioned in Leviticus 23. Let me say that that which happened in Acts chapter 2 would never have happened unless Christ had been sacrificed at Calvary.

That had to happen first. And that leads us back to Leviticus 23 and the order there. But let me just mention it very briefly what the Bible says about this in John chapter 7. So you don't just take my word for it but you have the scripture for it.

That Pentecost would never have come unless Christ had first been sacrificed upon the cross. If He had not been offered, there would never have been the coming in fullness of power of the Holy Ghost. Look at John 7 reading from verse 37.

In the last day, that great day of the feast. Jesus stood and cried saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Of course that wasn't literally to be the case. This is a spiritual statement. Verse 39 the words in brackets, parenthesis. But this spake he of the Spirit. Which they that believe on him should receive.

For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified. Now what does that mean? The Holy Ghost was not yet given. What I want to concentrate on before we deal with that is that the giving of the Holy Ghost to the church that Christ spoke of here.

Is that which took place on the very day of this feast mentioned in Leviticus 23. So we're really looking at the subject of what this feast points us to. And this feast points us to the giving of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit Fulfills God's Word

Now the Holy Spirit was given in power for certain reasons. I want to mention those reasons to you. First of all, the Holy Spirit was given in power to fulfill God's word. This is very important. God will fulfill his word.

His promises are true. His threatenings will come to pass. And his warnings will be fulfilled. As well as the blessings that he promises. They will also come to pass. Look at John 14. With me please. In verses 16 and 17.

And we find here that the Lord Jesus foretold the day of Pentecost. When he was speaking to his disciples. John 14, 16. And I will pray the Father. And he shall give you another comforter. That he may abide with you forever.

Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive. Because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him. For he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter.

Now what's the Lord saying here? Well he's saying that the Holy Ghost is going to come in power. Now even before these words of Jesus. The prophet Joel. If you care to go back there in your Bible. To Joel chapter 2.

Had prophesied and had spoken of this event. The book of Joel. I'm sure you know is between Hosea and Amos. In case you didn't know I've just told you. Joel chapter 2. Reading from verse 28. And it shall come to pass afterward.

That I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days.

Will I pour out my Spirit. And so on. Now when you come to Acts chapter 2. You see some interesting words spoken by the apostle Peter. In relation to this prophecy. Acts chapter 2. Verse 15. For these are not drunken as ye suppose.

Seeing it is but the third hour of the day. What did they think? Well when the apostles were standing up and preaching the gospel in foreign languages. Even in the very dialects of the people. They'd never been able to do that before.

They couldn't understand that these heroes. They said well they must be drunk. But Peter says no they're not drunk. As ye suppose. Verse 16 of Acts 2. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.

And then he gives this prophecy. That we just read from the prophet. And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.

And your young men shall see visions. And your old men shall dream dreams. And so on and so forth. Right up until the coming of Christ. The people want to apply the last days. To the very last days just before Jesus comes.

But I want you to know. That the term the last days. Covers the period of time. From the time of Christ being on this earth. Right until the end of time. And it's easy to prove that as you look at various scriptures.

Hebrews 1. Half in these last days spoken unto us by his son. The apostles lived in the last days. And in those last days. The Spirit came. In mighty power. And there were many different features of his coming.

There were things that accompanied his coming. That was a day. When the Word of God was not complete. And therefore there were many things that were given to the apostles to do. That were as Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 12.

The signs of an apostle. And when that ministry was complete. When that ministry had fulfilled its course. Then those things passed away. In accordance with the promise of scripture. Whether they be tongues they shall cease.

Whether they be prophecies they shall fail. And so on and so forth. But the point that I'm making here. Is that the Spirit came to fulfill God's Word. Because he is. As my pastor is so fond of saying in his prayer before preaching.

The promised Holy Ghost. The blessed power of Pentecost. That's who he is. Now. Let me make this clear. It is not true. To say that the Holy Ghost was not in the world. Before the New Testament day of Pentecost.

That would be foolish. For we know that the Holy Spirit was in the world. In fact it's interesting is it not. To find that in Genesis chapter 1 verse 2. There's the first mention of the Spirit of God.

I'm always amused by people who say. To make it fit in with their view of prophecy. You know. If believers are taken out of the world. Then the Holy Spirit goes out of the world. And vice versa. If the Holy Spirit goes out of the world.

Believers have to go out of the world. Who said so? Because I read here in Genesis 1 verse 2. That the Spirit of God was moving upon the face of the waters. Before there was ever a man on the earth. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent.

The Holy Spirit is not located merely in the hearts and lives of believers. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. He's everywhere present. So the idea that some kind of a rapture will take the Holy Spirit out of the earth.

And all the believers with him. Is totally unscriptural. It's built on extremely faulty exegesis in the first place. But I don't want to deal with that tonight. I'm making the point that the Holy Ghost was in the world.

Before the day of Pentecost. Throughout the Old Testament. He's continually seen at work. We've been looking at the book of Judges in our Sunday morning services. And we've read of Gideon. How that the Spirit of the Lord clothed him.

Came upon him mightily. We've read of Samson. How that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily. And throughout the Old Testament. That is the case. But not only that. The Spirit of God had not only come upon men.

The Spirit's Old Testament Work and Permanent Indwelling

But contrary again to what some will tell you. He actually indwelt various individuals for particular tasks. For instance. Look at Ezekiel chapter 2. And that will be one proof text that you could look at.

There are many more. Ezekiel chapter 2. The first two verses. And he said unto me. Son of man stand upon thy feet. And I will speak unto thee. And the Spirit entered into me. When he spake unto me. And set me upon my feet.

That I heard him that spake unto me. The Spirit entered into me. So here's a man who was indwelt by the Spirit. At least for a particular task. For a particular period. It may well be. That the Spirit of God did not dwell in every believer.

In a permanent sense in the Old Testament. But it's certainly true. That after Christ died. Rose again. And ascended to heaven. The Spirit was going to indwelt permanently every believer. And he was going to indwelt them permanently.

As the vicar of Christ. Now there are those who tell us that. Papa. The Pope in Rome is the vicar of Christ. But he's not. He's not. In any sense. He's not in any sense. The representative of Christ on the earth.

Although he claims to be. That's one of his titles that he takes to himself. The vicar of Christ. Every Pope in succession through history. Has called himself. The vicar of Christ. As well as many other names beside.

But he's not the vicar of Christ. The vicar of Christ. The vicarious representative of the Lord Jesus. Is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. And therefore the Pope is guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

For he claims. The position and the title of the Holy Spirit. As well as by the way. Claiming the title of the Father. For people refer to him. Even our president to his shame. As the Holy Father. It's not the Holy Father.

There's only one Holy Father. And that's the Lord in heaven. There's only one time in the Bible. Where he's named that as well. And that's in John 17. But I digress. The Holy Ghost. Christ taught us. Would be available to fill every Christian.

With power for service. And so now in this day and age. The age of the Spirit. As we rightly call it. The Holy Ghost. Permanently. Indwells. Believers. How do we know that? Because Jesus told us. Again.

Referring to John 14. Another comforter. Who may abide with you. Forever. He says at the end of verse 17 of John 14. For he dwelleth. With you. And shall be in you. If you're a Christian tonight. The Spirit of God has not only placed you in the body of Christ.

But he has taken up permanent residence. In your heart. Of course on the other hand. If you're not saved. God's Spirit does not dwell in your heart. I hear some in the charismatic movement rejoicing. Because priests and nuns and other people.

Are able to speak in tongues. Therefore they're filled with the Holy Spirit. They're not filled with the Holy Spirit at all. Because John 14 .17 says. That the Spirit of truth is one whom the world cannot receive.

An ungodly man can't speak in the power of the Holy Ghost. He's not indwelt by the Spirit. But if you're a believer. You're indwelt by the Spirit. He lives in Christians. And in John 7 by the way. It tells us that the Holy Ghost was the person.

Which they that believe on Christ should receive. And on the day of Pentecost. If you look at it in Acts chapter 2. The Spirit of God came in fulfilment of the promise of God to those that believe. Look at those verses near the end of that chapter.

Acts 2 verses 38 and 39. Then Peter said unto them. Repent and be baptised every one of you. In the name of Jesus Christ. For the remission of sins. And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise.

What promise? The promise of the Holy Ghost. Is unto you and to your children. And to all that are far off. Even as many as the Lord our God shall call. So there's this promise. Holy Ghost. Given as the indwelling portion.

Of every true believer. When you come to Christ. The Spirit of God enters your heart to live there forever. The Holy Spirit was given. To fulfil God's word. Even to fulfil the type. Of the feast. Of Pentecost.

The Spirit Fills God's People

But secondly the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. To fill God's people. We're going to look more closely at Acts chapter 2. This is one of the most misunderstood portions in all the Bible. There are people who even will take their denominational name.

From the day of Pentecost. But actually if you look at what it says. About what happened on Pentecost. Then that's a misnomer. I'll explain. You'll see in Acts chapter 2 from verse 1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come.

That's the day of the feast. That's mentioned in Leviticus 23. They, that's the believers. 120 of them. Were all with one accord in one place. Isn't that a beautiful statement. They were all with one accord in one place.

There were no factions. There was no division. There was no fighting. No backbiting. No murmuring. No complaining. Didn't last mind you. When you come to Acts chapter 6. There were problems already. And it was about a very petty thing.

But nevertheless we should take account. And take note of this. They were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly. Suddenly. There came a sound from heaven. As of a rushing mighty wind. And it filled all the house.

Where they were running about and hanging from the rafters. No. No no. Where they were sitting. This was a dignified occasion. But people say we don't like churches like yours. Because it's too dignified.

We don't like the fact that you know churches like yours. Whenever they get a church building they put pews in it. We'd rather have a place where we can have a bit of a jamboree. And we can all move about and dance about in the spirit.

And feel free. And we don't want to have hymnals. Because that only restricts the spirit. You want to flash it up on a screen behind. So you can have a hands free service. That's what it's all about friends.

But I want you to see this. When the Holy Ghost came at Pentecost. It filled all the house where they were sitting. They were sitting. This was a dignified occasion. They were doing things decently and in order.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire. And it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. All of them. Not just some. All of them. And began to speak with other tongues.

As the spirit gave them utterance. Now what is this talking about? Well it's obvious what it's talking about. Because when you read on. It says there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews. Devout men out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noise abroad. The multitude came together and were confounded. Watch it. Because that every man heard them speak in his own language. That's interesting isn't it? This wasn't gibberish.

This wasn't turkeys at Christmas. This was a situation where men who had never been able to speak in those languages before. Could suddenly speak in those languages. Communicating truth. And people who were there.

From every nation under heaven the Bible says. Were able to hear them speak. Each of them in his own language. By the way. The word that's used here. Is dialectos. It's the word from which we get dialect.

So this is a really tremendous miracle that's taking place here. Because not only is Peter and James and John and so on. Speaking in a language that they'd never learned before. But they were speaking it with the accent of the people.

With their accent. In their very dialect. So that if they were preaching in my home city of Belfast. They would be preaching the word of God like that you know. And saying eight instead of eight. And grace instead of grace.

That's right. I'm being serious. In their own dialect. I tell you folks that was a miracle. That doesn't happen in charismatic circles. It doesn't happen. Never has happened. I remember a minister in our church back in Ulster challenged.

One of these neo-pentecostal fellas. He said I want you to come with me down to the docks in Belfast. Where there are ships that come in from Poland and Russia. And all these eastern European countries.

That was Dr. John Douglas by the way who preached here last year. He said I want you to come with me. And I want you to come down and exercise the biblical gift of tongues. In preaching the gospel to these men.

Well of course he didn't take up the challenge. Because you see that is the gift of tongues. That is the gift. And it's given right here in Acts chapter 2. The Holy Ghost was given to fill God's people.

Spirit-Filled Living and Repeated Filling

Now is it possible to be saved without being indwelt? No it's not. Is it possible to be saved but not to be filled with the spirit? Yes it is. Yes it is. Because the indwelling and the infilling are not exactly the same thing.

Yes one leads to the other. But why would Paul write to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 5 verse 18. Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit. If they were already filled with the spirit.

This is a command. And by the way it's in the present continuous tense. In the Greek language. Which literally means keep on constantly continually being filled with the spirit. It's not a one time thing.

Now notice they already had the spirit within. How do I know that? Because I've read the book of Ephesians. I've read chapter 1. And verse 13. Notice what it says there. Of Christ. In whom ye also trusted.

After that ye heard the word of truth. The gospel of your salvation. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit. A promise. So they had already received the Holy Spirit. They were indwelt by the spirit.

But now Paul is saying. Keep on being filled with the spirit. We believe as a church. In the infilling of indwelt believers. By the spirit. For power to live and witness for Christ. That's taken directly from our articles of faith.

We believe in that. One thing that's very important here. And I've already mentioned it. I want to emphasize it. Being filled with the Holy Ghost is not a one time experience. There are some who preach it.

As what they call a second work of grace. Subsequent to salvation. And it makes you from that point on. To live on a higher plane from other Christians. And it's false. I want to tell you that. It's a false doctrine.

And I think it's based on not only a misunderstanding. But probably also upon pride. The Bible says. And the tense we've given it already in Ephesians 5 .18. Keep on constantly being filled with the spirit.

Now that's borne out by the book of Acts. If you had time. You could look with me at Acts. Not only Acts 2 verse 4. But Acts 4 verse 8. Acts 4 verse 31. And you see these repeated fillings of the spirit.

Now you might well ask. How is it that you receive the infilling of the spirit? For me one of the keys to this. Is one of the verses that's mentioned there in Acts chapter 4. One of the references there.

And it is Acts 4 verse 31. And when they had prayed. It's simple isn't it? When they had prayed. If I want to be filled with the Holy Ghost. To live and witness for Christ. What do I do? Sit around and wait for tingly feelings in the end of my hands.

Or something else like that. No, no, no. Look chapter 11 verse 13. The words of our Saviour. Look 11 verse 13. If ye then being evil. Know how to give good gifts unto your children. How much more shall your heavenly Father.

Give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. And he's talking to believers. It's right and it's proper. It's scriptural. It's correct. For us to pray. Lord fill me with the Holy Ghost. But what are the evidences of being filled with the spirit?

Some people will say. Well the evidence of being filled with the spirit. Is that you have the gift of tongues. But that is not so. And we'll see that in a moment. But Ephesians 5 I think gives the key to this.

Because the verses that follow verse 18. Talk about how believers are to live. Be filled with the spirit. Doing what? Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submitting yourselves one to another. In the fear of God. If you're filled with the Holy Ghost. In other words.

You'll be filled with the joy of the Lord. Singing and making melody. Not necessarily with your voice. But in your heart. Unto the Lord. The joy of the Lord. You'll be joyful in the Lord. If you're filled with the spirit.

For the second fruit of the spirit is what? Joy. The fruit of the spirit is love. Joy. Something else. If you're filled with the spirit. You'll be full of the spirit of thankfulness. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. There'll be a submissiveness. In the heart of one who's filled with the spirit. So many things here. That have to do with being filled with the Holy Ghost. Wives being submitted to their husbands.

Husbands loving their wives. How's it going to happen? If they're filled with the spirit. If we have spirit filled homes. Then things will be better in our homes. They won't be perfect. They'll be better.

If we're filled with the spirit. May we seek. Not only daily and hourly. But as my pastor said to me on one occasion. Moment by moment. To be filled with the spirit. Now the third reason why the Holy Ghost was poured out at Pentecost.

The Spirit Forwards God's Church

Was this. To forward God's church. I think we need to again look at Acts chapter 2. And you see there. That in verse 4. When they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. They began to speak with other languages.

That's what the thought is there. As the spirit gave them utterance. There's an awful lot. To use a good UK word. There's an awful lot of rubbish taught today. On the subject of tongues and their purpose.

Now it's far too large a subject to discuss in detail tonight. But we need to be very clear on several points. Because I think there's a lot of damage done to the cause of Christ. Through what some men preach.

And their false and unscriptural view of this subject. For instance. And I remember one time. In my place of work. Being told. By one of these fellows. That I was not really a spiritual man. Because I did not speak in tongues.

He said if you really want to serve God in power. Then you need to seek the tongues. You need to seek the gift. I had great joy in telling them. That there's many places in scripture. Where people were filled with the Holy Ghost.

And there's no mention of tongues. Tons of places. This is a complete fallacy. That the evidence of somebody being filled with the Holy Ghost. Is that they speak in tongues. This simply is not so. For instance.

If you look at the very book of Acts itself. In chapter 7 and verse 55. It mentions my namesake. For whom I was named by my mother. Stephen. And it says. But he being full of the Holy Ghost. Looked up steadfastly into heaven.

And saw the glory of God and Jesus. Standing on the right hand of God. And there's no mention of any tongues there. All he did was to speak to the Jews. In their own language. And as a result of what he said.

He got stoned to death. No mention of tongues there. You see that in the ministry. Of our Lord. He was filled with the Spirit. And yet there's no evidence anywhere. That he ever spoke. With these other languages.

The Bible tells us. Of Zacharias. And of Elizabeth. The parents of John the Baptist. That both of them were filled with the Holy Ghost. That Mary the mother of Jesus. Was filled with the Holy Ghost. But there's no mention of tongues.

And so it is in many other places. But of course there's another false premise. And that is that. Every believer ought to seek this gift. Every Christian. Every Christian. Should seek this gift. I've had it said to me on more than one occasion.

Every Christian. Needs the anointing. They need to be filled with the Spirit. I agree with the first part. I also agree with the second part. But I don't agree with what they mean by that. But look at 1 Corinthians 12.

Verse 30. Even in the days when these things were being practiced. In the church. And I am a cessationist. I make no apology for that. There are even others in the reformed camp. Who are not cessationists.

But we can agree on this. By the way a cessationist. Is a person who believes. That these special gifts. Of the Spirit. Have ceased. Because the Word of God is complete. That's my view. I'm in very good company as well.

If you want to study the matter. But anyhow. It tells us there. From verse 29 of 1 Corinthians 12. In a series of questions. They're rhetorical questions. Are all apostles. And what's the answer to that?

No. Are all prophets. And the answer to that is. No. Are all teachers. No. Are all workers of miracles. No. Because John the Baptist never did any miracles. There's an interesting one. John did no miracle.

Yet the Bible says he was filled with the Holy Ghost. From his mother's womb. Didn't do any miracles. Would have been no good to Benny Hinn. Couldn't have had John the Baptist. To visit for a campaign.

That would have been no good whatsoever. Doesn't do any miracles. How are we going to get a crowd? Have all the gifts of healing. Again the answer is. No. Do all speak with tongues. The answer is. No.

But covet earnestly. The best gifts. And if you read the context. You'll find that the Lord. Sets the members of the body. In the body as it pleases him. And he gives the gifts to each of them. As it pleases him.

So the idea that every Christian. Should be seeking to speak with tongues. Is unscriptural. The early Christians. Did not all speak. With tongues. And then of course there's another fallacy. And that is that tongues actually are not a language.