What are tongues?
What is this "speaking in tongues" thing?
Some Christians speak about tongues. Some say it is of God, some say it is of the devil. Find out what the Bible says and what we at OVKOR believe is this mysterious thing called speaking in tongues.
At OVKOR we believe that speaking in tongues is of God, as his word, the Bible, says:
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"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Mark 16:17 (Authorized King James Version of the Bible)
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Can speaking in tongues be of the devil? / Can someone fake the ability to speak in tongues?
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We believe that true speaking in tongues, as God desires it, is of God. However someone can fake the ability or be under a demonic influence which is faking it.
It may sound highly repetitive if it is fake. But not always. One example is a very young Christian who is learning to speak in tongues. God may give a young or young-at-heart Christian only a few words when they first start. Then with exuberance they grab those words and delight in praying them to God over and over until they deepen their relationship to the extent that they receive more words. This can take some time. If you are unsure if you are speaking in tongues or not then just check your heart. Have you surrendered yourself completely to Jesus?
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How can you tell if it is of God or of the devil? And what if the person confesses Jesus as Lord?
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A demon-possessed man said to Jesus: "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29, Authorized King James version of the Bible.)
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And another demon-possessed man said to Jesus: "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." (Authorized King James version of the Bible, Mark 1:24.)
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Even the devils know that Jesus is Lord and that they are doomed. And they can speak about Jesus being Lord. So more than just speaking out words about Jesus' power and Lordship are needed for discernment of whether something is of God or of the devil.
Paul says: "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3, Authorized King James version of the Bible.)
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Yes Paul says this, but we know from other scripture verses that devils can say things like "Jesus is Lord" because they know he is Lord. Devils can say such things, but they can't actually love Jesus and have him as Lord of them. Devils have rejected him. They are broken or fallen angles. In essence they can't say "Jesus is Lord" with an all-encompassing devotion and surrender to Jesus as Lord of them. They can't live with "Jesus as Lord" for their existence. They are doomed.
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So the Bible says:
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1, Authorized King James version of the Bible).
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It is our belief that a true Christian can test the spirits. And that demons can be removed with the power of the name of Jesus. A demon doesn't pray stuff like "I command this devil to be cast out of this person in Jesus' name and may God protect them from evil", "Father God I repent of my sin, help me overcome sin and any sinful nature and any powers of darkness in Jesus' name, amen!", "I reject the devil and all his ways and I give all that I am to Jesus and may his name be glorified in me and my life forever."
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Should I speak in tongues?
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We believe this is a gift of the Holy Spirit and is a good thing to have. We believe it helps build up the believer who then, being strengthened, can help others more easily.
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself..."
(1 Corinthians 14:4, Authorized King James version of the Bible.)
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Can someone sing in tongues? And do you have an songs in tongues?
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Singing in tongues is a beautiful way to worship God. At the same time as strengthening yourself you also get to partake in God's beautiful gift.
Yes, we have, at present, one song which was sung in tongues. This song is called Saturday Cora Joy and it is sung by Ohroara.